Week In Review: Oh the Places You'll Go!

Monday
Last blog

Tuesday

Today's running motivation .. Happy national Dr. Suess day!

Distance - 3 miles, under 35 minutes, even with .3 WU and CD walks!  Zoom, zoom ladies!

Avg Pace - 12 

Wow! This girl is ON IT!  I didn't even have to beg or bribe.  She actually asked if I'd pick her up before heading down to Women's 5K training!  She also set her sneakers, and (.. cotton .. grumble, grumble) shirt and shorts out the night before!  She thinks she's doing it for Spring Break, but I can actually see the activity sucking her in a little, too. ;) She's already made a few comments about 'if she did a 5k.' Woop. :)  Official Peachtree in-training participant?  Stranger things have happened! 

Another proud mama moment:  Emily's kicks are seriously the highest I've ever seen. Lol.  She impressed with her cheer flexibility!!  Go kid.

On the run, participants had two options: a distance workout, which some would cover as full runs, and others would tackle with run/walk.  And then option 2 was a speed work out, of descending distance (for them: 2 x 600, 2 x 400, and 2 x 200 + WU, CD, and recovery intervals).  I knew for Emily, its too soon for speed; she needs to focus on covering the miles.  Most of the participants I typically lead were thinking the same thing for themselves, so that worked great.  I started with 3 plus Emily.  Unfortunately, at 2-1 intervals, there is still A LOT of variety in the pace.  There was another run lead with me, who covered the last participant happily enough.  Then of the two left, one hung with us for about half of the work out.  When we passed another run lead, the 2nd began to trail somewhere between myself and that other lead.  Unfortunately, I don't think that lead could pick up the pace to stay with this trainee.  (There isn't really much in-between as far as pacing .. we have a handful of run leads comfortable with 9/10s and faster, and then a bucket full of run leads that fall under 13s.  Its tough to be an 11-12 participant this go around).  Its hard to decide where to go at that point, but Emily and I stuck with the faster participant.  I figure if I fall back, there is no one motivating at the fastest speed.  (which by the way, was keeping top participant still able to get through full sentences .. this one is for sure my "graduate" to all-run, but we want to encourage, not push .. sooo I'll let her make the final calls).  Anyhoo, if I stay with the top, the one falling back can at least see the two of us in front of her, and have someone in her line of sight to keep track of at least.  And I didn't really realize that the run lead running without participants wouldn't be able to go with the 2nd.   So not the same, but best I could do.  The 3 of us must have REALLY been booking it though, because even with WU and CD walks, as well as the recovery 1s, we were in the 12 minute avg pace range at the end!

And Emily?  She did phenomenally until about the 2 mile mark.  Then I can tell she was losing steam.  Her breathing got a bit more ragged, and when she looked at the ATC building, I could just about see the thought bubbles:  I think I'll stop here.  But I coached them both a little then: typically here, I go with either ..   make the last one the best one.  Or, if I think its too much to ask for, then: we can drop back the pace, but we will finish!  Its almost Cool Down. sostrong.  I think I ended up saying both at different points.  And so after a moment where I reigned the pace in a little, both her and the other participant gunned it for the last 2 minute interval.  We talked about finish lines, and people chanting our names, and photographers.  LOL.  That did the trick.  I actually came in just behind both .. which is awesome. :) 

Later Emily said .. well, I wanted to stop, because I hate feeling so out of breath and tired, but I had to be the fastest.  I'm the youngest. LOL.  She also said: it helps a lot that the people who put this thing on aren't like complete athletic beasts.  They're just like regular looking ladies too.  It makes me feel better than like gym class.  And knowing how to do intervals really works.  I can't even run a mile at school because no one ever even said that you don't HAVE TO just run as fast as you can from the beginning.  Ah, smart child, those are for sure the secrets of the tribe! :) 

Wednesday

What MiZuno WedneZday work out? ZzzzZZZZzzzzz

Thursday

Everything but the running!  I am sore, though, so it counts!

Interesting twist of events here! :)  Slush-ing rain and 40 degree temperatures caused a cancellation of Ocee Rogue speed work.  (If any of my NJ / NY running friends ever read this, I see you rolling your eyes already.  Don't judge! LOL).  

First I thought I'd just hit my treadmill for: 2 mi warm up, 1.25 interval, mile, .75, and .5 interval (with 400 m recoveries), and 1 mile CD.  .. then I noticed Emily had already set out a stack of 'gear.' HOT. DOG.  I hadn't even invited her to Ocee Park.  She just knows I run on Thursdays; I guess she doesn't know the difference between evenings I leave the house for Women's training, and evenings I leave for just running.  Soooo.. the idea of seeing if I could go to the gym with her popped in my head.  Eventually, I didn't figure that out (boo) .. instead I ended up with these two. (woo)  And .. instead of running, Michele talked us into swimming. Huh??

I like swimming and I don't like swimming.  I like feeling like I am working other muscles.  I like the feeling refreshed by the water while working out part.  I like having a new challenge.  I don't like being a newbie, drowning, or not being able to laugh during a workout.  I don't like not knowing that the bathing suit I have slides off at the shoulders, and is better suited for beach-momming, unless peek-a-boo boobies are the intention.  And most importantly, I don't like not having a plan, program, or specific schedule to start with.  Is there a couch to tri sprint program out there?  I am on finding one today, for sure!  

By the time we finished with who knows what .. (If I had to guess, I'd say I did 7 theres and 7 backs, but that's a REALLY rough guess), though, my arms were spaghetti.  I tried for more, but they literally said: no sorry, can't do it.  So .. hot tub time!  And that meant gab away time, and soon enough it was 9 pm, and no one wanted to do speed intervals at 9pm.  I think the looming thought of 13.1 Saturday morning, 6.2 Sunday morning, and 3-4 Sunday afternoon is enough to make me want to give myself a guilt-free pass for anything we missed.  (If you do the math, that's marathon distances .. in two days, but marathon distances! Eeeep).

Anyway, August Sprint Tri training, unexpectedly back on the books!

Friday

Does work stress count as exercise?  I think it must, because I am seriously worn out. ZzzzZZZZzzzz.

Up next
Will I stay or will I go?  The NYRR entry lotto will take place on March 8.  I am anxious to find out if I am running and training for my first marathon or not!  I am not sure if I am rooting for getting in, or rooting for being let off the hook .. but I am sure I am at the edge of my seat just to know either way!  I decided to leave it to the powers that be as to whether or not I'd tackle my first marathon this year, and the powers that be are going to make these next 5 days pretty painful!! LOL.