6.24.2013

recap :: MoHud2013 week 14

After my realization that Boilermaker 2013 is quickly approaching I started to get serious again. Unfortunately this is exactly when BCC ended... so I have two weeks of forcing myself to do strength work on my own as an injury prevention attempt.  So far I'm failing miserably and re-upped my spin studio membership so I can take advantage of their total body classes and enjoy a little time on the (stationary) bike. 

Long run Saturday was completely miserable and I was completely bummed. After a (dare I say) fun 8 miler a few weeks ago, I thought 7 would be a cake walk. R met me on the path after his 15mi ride so he could listen as I complained about everything, including the bugs, blisters, a ridiculous antiques fair that ran through the entire bike path (yes - the entire thing - cars on one side, booths on the other, gobs of people on the path), the ridiculous antique fair attendees that refused to yeild the right of way for people using the path for it's intended purpose, the sun, the lack of sun, hissing geese, bugs...more bugs... Yuck. 

Monday: rest
                scheduled - 30min walk
Tuesday: 60min spin; 2mi
                scheduled - rest
Wednesday: 3.5mi
                scheduled - 3mi  
Thursday: 4mi
                scheduled - 3mi  
Friday: arms & legs strength training
                scheduled - 3mi  
Saturday: 7mi
                scheduled - rest  
Sunday: rest
                scheduled - 7mi

Weekly mileage: 16.5mi
Scheduled weekly mileage: 16mi

6.21.2013

recap :: MoHud2013 week 13

I used this week as my easy running week since I completely messed up my calendar thus far. Scheduled was two back to back 6mi long runs, but I turned those into a 6.25mi followed by an 8mi. Saturday was a fun 5K where I accompanied Q to her first ever (!!!) race. Unfortunately I didn't think about it when we signed up, but there was not chip timing at the event, so her recorded clock time was slower than her actual time by about 30 seconds. Boo. I'm pretty sure she had enough fun picking people to successfully pass the whole race that she'll be back for more. 

Totally forgot until now - but way back when I signed up for Boilermaker 2013...which is in 22 days...yikes!  

Monday: 60min BCC; .5mi
                scheduled - 30min walk
Tuesday: 3mi
                scheduled - rest
Wednesday: 60min BCC (arms); 1mi
                scheduled - 3mi  
Thursday: 3mi
                scheduled - 3mi  
Friday: 60mins BCC (cardio)
                scheduled - 3mi  
Saturday: 3.1mi 
                scheduled - rest  
Sunday: rest
                scheduled - 6mi

Weekly mileage: 10.60mi
Scheduled weekly mileage: 15mi

6.12.2013

warrior dash or epic fail?

Someday last winter I was clearly bored, clearly thought my athletic abilities in July would be outstanding and apparently had $50 burning a hole in my pocket. I found myself joining my sister and signing up for Warrior Dash before the next price increase and convincing R to do the same. I should have thought twice when I read "obstacle course".

no one looks like they're having fun
[source]
Like any race, took a look at the course to start to mentally prepare myself. First of all, it's up a mountain (like a super popular ski resort kind of mountain). Secondly, it's not just running in some mud. There are all of these ridiculous obstacles that I'm planning on skipping to ensure I don't bust an ankle. I'm convinced that the sole purpose of this race it to sideline people while caking them with mud. Here's what I will be attempting: 
deadweight drifter. wtf do you do with that?
[source]

  • muddy mayhem: looks like a gross mud pit.
  • warrior roast: running over fire (see above).
  • cliff hanger: some semblance of thin, tiny ropes to aid you in getting up and over a large wall
  • trenches: exactly what you're thinking - with barbed wire on top.
  • barricade breakdown: more barbed wire - I think you're supposed to hop over the barricade, then quickly hit the ground to crawl under the wire...that's going to be my strategy.
  • cargo climb: flashback to 6th grade gym class - I probably don't have any more upper body strength now than I did then.
  • great warrior wall: get your ass over a huge (7 or 8 feet maybe?) wall...right.
  • giant cliffhanger: another wall, this time on an angled incline with ropes to help you pull yourself along.
  • deadweight drifter: I have no idea.
  • hard rain: some kind of mud filled sprinkler attacks you as you try to climb something that resembles a ladder.
  • leaders ledge: think balance beam.
  • mortimers crossing: rope bridge across a body of water.
  • mud mounds: a hill full of mud...it looks like you slide down it. My question is, why don't you just walk?
  • petrifying plunge: a muddy slide down a tarp.
  • road rage: run over some random cars, then high knee it through a vast display of tires.
  • storming normandy: more barbed wire.
  • vicious valley: more angled wall climbing, this time in succession.  
sweet baby ray, is that fire?
[source]
 Yep... paid $50 for that. I'll be taping my ankles beyond recognition (hellloooooo cankles) and I might be the only participant in protective clothing.

 

6.10.2013

recap :: MoHud2013 week 12

I'm remembering what training feels like! This week was a running favorite (minus treadmill Thursday - Mother Nature didn't get the memo that summer in the northeast calls for sunshine, not torential downpours 4-6 days out of the week). Wednesday I took to the trails (and decided purchasing trail shoes is a must) with a newbie runner who was antsy to practice her trail running skills pre-Warrior Dash (...more on that later). We definitely added minutes to our time by finding a "trail" (not actually a trail, but a small clearing that sort of looked like a trail...kind of...not really), crossing a rickety bridge to get over a muddy creek and changing our route to avoid stallion like wild dogs pets on the trail.
some serious walk breaks on our trail run.

Sunday I planned to do an 8 mile race, but I was up and at 'em early and didn't want to wait until the burn lay by the pool all day. So I went out alone, still did 8 miles, had pretty consecutive splits (with mile 8 being my fastest) and finished the entire run 40minutes after the race would have started. Home just in time to sunburn lay by the pool all day.

In the spirit of not over doing it, I'm dialing it back next week. Long run Sunday will actually be a 5k race on Saturday.


Monday: 60min BCC (lower body); .75mi
                scheduled - 30min walk
Tuesday: 3mi
                scheduled - rest
Wednesday (National Running Day!): 60min BCC (arms); 3.1mi (trail)
                scheduled - 3mi  
Thursday: 3mi (treadmill)
                scheduled - 3mi  
Friday: 60mins BCC (cardio)
                scheduled - 3mi  
Saturday: rest
                scheduled - rest  
Sunday: 8mi
                scheduled - 6mi

Weekly mileage: 17.85mi
Scheduled weekly mileage: 15mi

6.03.2013

recap :: MoHud2013 week 11

The plan was to follow the plan, but somehow I've been incredibly successful at not following the plan. After the epic failure that was last week, I tried to get myself back on track. I missed one run, but attempted to up the miles the rest of the week. Sunday I went for my first "real" long runs of the season!
back in action for 2013.

By "real" long run I mean:
  • it was on a Sunday
  • I had to drive to a trail instead of aimlessly wandering the neighborhood
  • I worried about how much sunscreen I'd need
  • I "fueled" pre-run (ahem - ate a PBJ bagel for breakfast)
It was a balmy 85 degrees in the shade, so I even busted out the hydration belt for good measure. Although I
picked a seemingly shady out and back trail by the river, the unseasonably warm early June weather won out and I felt like I was melting into the pavement beneath my feet. Despite the heat and a few miserable miles, it was fun to be back on the trail I had spent to many miles on last year. I even passed the 2013 marathon training group cohort (heading back...not out, like me...this girl slept in on Sunday).


Monday: rest
                scheduled - 30min walk
Tuesday: 60min BCC (lower body); 1mi
                scheduled - rest
Wednesday: 60min BCC (arms)
                scheduled - 3mi  
Thursday: 3.50mi
                scheduled - 3mi  
Friday: 60mins BCC (cardio); 3.75mi
                scheduled - 3mi  
Saturday: rest
                scheduled - rest  
Sunday: 6.25mi
                scheduled - 3mi

Weekly mileage: 14.50mi
Scheduled weekly mileage: 12mi