Distance - 10.3
Pace - 10:07
Rawwrr! :)
I'm not sure if I've mentioned, but the training plan I am following to prep for Chicago is kind of my own creation. ... and .. it's already a thing ;) .. Michele was asked what plan she was following, and she said, 'its called the Crazy Judy Plan. Its like Hanson, or Galloway, but crazier. lol. Really, its just a mesh of the Atlanta Track Club Peachtree Plan, last year's marathon training plan, with adjustments because we were already trained well to 13.1 when we started, we were eager to see at least 16 sooner rather than later, but we also wanted to train for a good bit longer so that we weren't total old lady newbs when we got out there. So far so good. This week, mainly because of the Peachtree road race, the plan called for a (relatively) shorter PRO run. PRO = progressive. I had on the calendar 8-10. Michele, however, needed to get in her overdue 16 from last week. I was tempted to do at least another 4 with her, but the last stretch of the Riverside course (starting at about mile 8) begs for a bit of zoom.zoom, so I kicked like a loon, and took the natural "out" at 10.5, when we hit the parking lot. I hope my legs thank me for staying the course next Monday!
At 10:07, compared to 10:40ish for 16 miles, I feel like I for sure covered the task at hand: shorten it up now and again, and put a little zip in it. Just like on the 16 miler, my last mile was my fastest .. a very good indicator that the effort was easy. In fact, because it was cool, and relatively flat, I'd say this took VERY LITTLE effort to maintain (on the relative scale of running 10 miles, of course).
After the run, some family time, and then we all met back up for an End of Peachtree Training Run Lead celebration.
Fave part: hangin' with my spud bud
Monday
Distance: Rest or XT
I did: nothing. Mergh! Really have to get on myself about either swimming more often, getting on a Jillian tape again, or SOMETHING. But its not the best week to be 'good.' PMS is real, and all I wanted to do is rest, eat, and channel my inner whale-i-ness. Mergh.
Random trending topic side bar of the week: Sports Bras
On Saturday, I had a participant (male) apologize to us two women he was running with, because he was so uncomfortable, he really needed to take of his shirt. Of course, he doesn't know me very well, because I am like the least prudish person on the planet. And even more so on behalf of others. Whoever made me gave me almost absolutely no filter about 'getting things done' when it comes to quickies like peeing, changing, etc. I clean in whatever state of dress I feel like. I get ready for runs in my car, or the parking lot. I wouldn't bat an eyelash at women protesting their right to go topless, breast feeding in public, heck, I couldn't say I'd immediately spook at the thought of one of those nudest hot tub meetings out in the woods that are always the hot topic of some movie or t.v. show.
BUT .. it would take ABSOLUTE Armageddon for me to ditch the tank. (the tank I only accepted just last year over a full t-shirt). Mainly because I am still SERIOUSLY uncomfortable with my middle .. (It being PMS week, even more so). Needless to say, though, the guy we were running with was a good bit bigger than I. And this got me thinking. Not 'I'm READY,' but more: what would it take, can I ever get to a point where I would be ready to even call that a goal, and what should I do to get there? Plus why the hell am I so good to other people, but not to myself, and why the heck are we (the social, all of us we) so good to men, and so harsh on women?
The uncooperative middle: Exhibits A and B
I came to find that this thought seemed to be on the minds of many a woman this week:
First this article popped up on my feed: http://www.ajc.com/news/news/national/i-got-tired-waiting-womans-bikini-photo-encourages/nrmWG/
Then this one: http://www.runselfierepeat.com/blog/bye-bye-insecurities-bring-on-the-sports-bra
Soon, even my friends were apparently giving this thought: http://10ktuesday.blogspot.com/2016/06/peachtree-training-week-1213.html
Possibly all converging right now because .. IT IS HOT AS BALLS!
After all this thinking, what I've got is: I *DO* want to get there. Its not an *impossible* thing, or a thing that I find un-okay to aspire to. I WANT to have a 'bod.' I haven't had a 'bod' since high school. I don't think every runner, every woman, needs to get to, or even want to get to, the same place. But for me, it would rock.
Regarding the sports bra, I'm not there yet, but on the other hand, I would do it if the situation truly mattered. Like my participant, if my skin was about to bleed off, I am going to be good to myself, and say F U judge-y people. Yes, I am still overweight. That doesn't mean I have to be deathly uncomfortable.
Mainly I want this for the fashion. How many CUTE outfits at Victoria Secret *hinge* completely on the matching sports bra?? ALL. OF. THEM.
On the other hand, I found the CUTEST couple of #babysteps tank/bra combos at Athleta:
Possibly the best of both worlds!! ***so excited*** Am I 100% ready for these by nit-picker's (including my own) standards .. nope! So I can do something a little daring, a little rock the establishment .. but not making the nit-pickers totally puke .. and all while beating the heat and staying much more comfortable! WINNING!!!!
Tuesday
Distance: 5 miles
Pace: 9:46
Best of times, worst of times run. Good: I did it! Solo runs are TOUGH for me to stick to, and in 85+ degrees, the odds of me actually doing what I say I am going to do are slim to none. The other good: the pace averaged out to be not-total-crap, which is usually what I put out there on a solo run in blistering heat.
The bleh: I had NOOOOO motivation to run. I *never* found a zone, a rhythm, or my pace. I went out a little fast, hoping to channel my own inner #10kTuesday momentum, like I am forced to do when I hang with that squad. But I went from zippy to dead stop, and zippy, and oh look at the flowers, and zippy, and maybe just stop at 4, and okay, I still have 10 more minutes, so might as well get in 5, and then 'oh look, I'm late for cheer carpool .. run!' Yucky mental game. But .. um.. done!
These are getting really LONG, so lets publish this and add to it at the end of the week. Says who? Says the owner of this dang blog! ;) If you're mid-read, come back on Saturday or Sunday for more good ramblings. :) :) :)
.... okay , I'm BACK ...
Wednesday - Sunday
Distance: 1 WU mi, 1 mile / 400 recovery, 800 / 400 recovery, 400 / 400 recovery, 1 CD mi
Times: 8:05 (whaaat? Goal would have been about 8:40); 3:52 (compared to 4:03 goal); and 1:46 (compared to 1:59)
Speed work this week actually resembled speed work. With only 3 intervals to run, it was easy (read doable) to disregard the disgusting 90+ degree heat. Because .. only for one mile .. only for two laps .. only for last lap.
Kyle came to Gwinette track for this one and we CRUSHED 'pod' running together. Enrique's tip to "pod up" and run the track together, rather than alone as part of a racing strategy has really stayed with me. Of course, I can't always bang out these times, but a little motivation to crush it every once in a while is just perfect. There's still the matter of racing strategy; if you are pod running, when do you pull away, when do you chase, etc.? For the mile, I had Kyle, and for sure didn't feel "all out" about it. The next two, he really took off in the last ~100m. The second one, I let him lead; I had my target pace crushed .. no need to race it. The last one, I had hoped to really CRUSH again .. but dude TOOK OFF at the 50 m mark. I wanted to .. but nope. Lots of nope. So notes for the books: don't leave a race with Kyle to the final sprint. Tee hee. That said, mission: ACCOMPLISHED. :)
Thursday
REST
Piggies are ready for Peachtree. Sure they'll be in socks and sneakers, but relax / confidence building time is important. :)
Friday
Distance - 4 miles (Riverside)
I am just so thrilled to have found this meet up! Traffic is doable, because its Friday. The time is "reasonable" at 6:30, so it almost feels like sleeping in. The group is mainly "fasts." But the conditions are perfect, because: 1. they are running their easy day 2. its a relatively shorter distance. 3. Riverside is flat, and cool.
For the second week, I ran a 4 mile PR, besting last weeks time by 2 seconds. :)
After that, I had some chores to take care of so .. impromptu day off! Woo. Unfortunately, after the car repair was done, I felt the "too much time on my hands" panic creeping in. So I took the girls and Bella for a nice walk / swim at Roswell Mill. So relaxing. :)
Saturday
Distance: 3.1 easy
Did: 29:31, 9:31 .. maybe not SUPER easy, but conversational for at least 2 miles. ;)
The 7:30 start was supposed to get us (Harley, Katie, Michele & I) a little closer to race conditions. The Greenway (flat and shady) negated that. I could feel the heat threatening its would be status later in the day, but I could also feel the breeze of the morning. Another run with company means running at my best fairly naturally. This was a good run, and just what the doctor ordered in prep for Peachtree, both mentally, and for shake out purposes.
After that, To. The. Expo!
These things can both be really, really fun ..
And extremely overstimulating ...
Sunday
Rest .. if you can call it that. ;)
Total - 27.5
Upcoming
Peachtree
This video is life right now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT91YSVkXUA&feature=youtu.be
Chicago
Dude, look at all the green boxes! #ctso method (cross that shit off) works! :)
Michele was in Chicago earlier this week for work. Very jealous. She went on a stealth mission to take notes for us. Verdict: its as flat as they say it is. :)
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