Last week was one of the longest ones I’ve had in a while – waiting anxiously to hear some news, dealing with extreme GI issues and the ever-remaining feeling of unsettled-ness. Things are starting to look up now (I think. Keep some fingers crossed for me?), and I’m trying to get myself into a more positive mindset. I like to think I’ll look back on this time as I do most of my teen years – glad it happened for the experience but OMG would never do that over again ever.
Anyways, last week’s training:
Monday – rest, easy yoga and stretching
Tuesday - 9 miles, 5 x 1:30 hill repeats on Cat Hill, lifting
My second workout since the Achilles injury, and it was hard. I warmed up about a mile before hitting the hills hard, and was definitely struggling towards the end of the workout. Coach John made a surprise guest appearance in Central Park as I was heading down for the last repeat, so that kind of helped get my butt up and over the hill once more. After the workout I ran almost a full CP loop and did some strides on the way back to my apartment.
Wednesday – 1 hour vinyasa yoga at NYSC, 8 miles easy
Because of extreme GI issues after Tuesday’s run, I let my stomach settle in the morning and went to yoga. I was feeling better as the day went on, so I went on my first afternoon run in years.
Thursday – 8 miles easy, lifting
Gave afternoon running another go and set out at about 3:00 p.m. after a lunch commitment. It was a gorgeous afternoon, I wore shorts and started to understand why people like afternoon running so much.
Friday – 3 miles on the TM, 45 minute spin class, corework
I wanted to get a few miles in before spinning, and this was my first TM run in at least a year. Slowest 3 miles ever in life – I have no idea how people do that on a regular basis.
Saturday – 13.2 miles in 1:57:04 (8:52/mile)
Oh, this run. I had a really great plan – get out of Central Park, take a nice trip down the Hudson, run up the Brooklyn Bridge and back up the East side home. And it started out fantastically well – I hadn’t run down the Hudson River Path since at least October and it’s one of my favorites. It was around 34 degrees out and I was wearing tights, a tank base layer, long sleeve 2012 NYC Marathon shirt and two pairs of gloves. I was hot and started to worry that I had overdressed…
I stopped at Whole Foods TriBeCa to use the facilities, and tucked my gloves under my chin as I turned around to flush the toilet. Obviously, I moved my head and they all fell into the (yet-to-be-flushed) toilet. Really? Seriously? Fine. I fished them out and thew them in the trash, and cursed myself for not bringing any money. Whatever, you have 6 miles left. Sack up, dude.
So I tucked my hands into my very thin sleeves and ran down Chambers Street to the Brooklyn Bridge. Obviously, the winds started to pick up and it began to snow. OBVIOUSLY. Now, if I were a normal person this may have been ok, but my hands get reallllly cold and I can’t even feel them after running with gloves on. So this sucked. I began to look longingly at people running with gloves and considered begging for them. The winds along the East River were brutal, and I realized I had also failed at mapping my run. Coach John’s plan was 13 miles, and to get home it was probably going to take me at least 14.5 – 15 miles. OOPS. So without much thought, I did what any New Yorker would do and jumped into a cab around 35th street. Luckily the nice cab driver let me run upstairs and get my wallet upon arriving at home without much argument.
the route
Sunday – 7 miles easy
Easy run along the bridle path, WITH gloves.
Total: 48.35 miles
I’m happy with most of my runs and the mileage, and love that I ran in the afternoon and lived to tell about it. Hopefully the workout this week will go well and my long run will be without incident – I haven’t done anything that dumb since I lost my only apartment key in Central Park mid-20 miler a few years ago.
Question: Dumbest thing you’ve ever done during a long run? I also asked/begged construction workers if I could use their porto-potty this past summer (desperate times…). How’s training going?
