it’s been a while since I last talked about running on this here blog. To be honest, my head hasn’t really been in the running/training game game since starting my new job and I’ve had what seems to be a bit of residual burnout since the NYC marathon. For the last month or so, my runs have been pretty blah, I’ve felt sluggish and had a mostly terrible 15K race in mid-December – not the best combination, to say the least. After that race (I think it was December 12?) I felt SO DRAINED and took it as a sign to back off for a bit. The timing was pretty good, actually, since I really wanted to focus on my work and the holidays were right around the corner. So I ran less, did more yoga and some spinning and tried not to have too many irrational fears about having to walk the Boston Marathon in April.
absolute favorite boston pic – Meb on his way to winning the 2014 race. EPIC
just when I started to wonder if maybe things weren’t going to get better (like, last Tuesday), the feeling started coming back slowly – you know, when running feels good, the endorphins kick in and you just go. I went out for a long run of 12 miles on Thursday and managed to do 2×2 miles at goal marathon pace (~8:00/mile) without feeling that awful, get me home feeling of recent longer runs and wasn’t totally wiped the rest of the day. I’m considering this a step in the right direction, but also have not a whole lot of interest in increasing mileage that much or changing what I’m currently doing. Right now I’m at about 45-50-ish miles per week with one day off and try to get in yoga almost every day, which I love and think really helps physically and mentally. During past training cycles I’ve gotten up to 70+ miles per week – though last year I think I peaked around the low 60s – but probably won’t come close to that this time around (or maybe ever again? it’s tiring). I’m becoming more and more a fan of being a well-rounded runner – so, getting in a decent amount of miles (for me) but also doing other things I enjoy like yoga and the occasional spin class, even if that means running a bit less.
That said, I should probably start doing more regular workouts as this marathon is not going to run itself in 14 weeks and it’s kind of an important one. And one that I’ve wanted to run for what seems like 213958273957 years. So, some thoughts:
hills and reverse hills
love me a good hill repeat and typically this workout is: 6-10 (depending on progress) repeats up Cat hill in Central Park (about 1:45). Upon talking with Baker (and founder of my team The Battalion), I may also do some reverse hill repeats given those famous and pounding Boston downhills. This would pretty much be running a fast but controlled downhill with a slower uphill on Cat hill – haven’t tried it yet but will report back when I do.
400s and 800s
before I get into longer tempos, I think a few shorter speed workouts like this may help with turnover and also get those fast twitch muscle fibers working again as I think they have been hibernating for a while. Typically, I do 10-12 400 meter repeats with equal rest and 6-8×800 meter repeats with I think (?) 400 meter rest.
mile repeats up and around harlem hill
this is a pretty specific workout, but I did it a lot leading up to the san francisco marathon last July and think it paid off in spades (and a BQ). It’s basically a one mile repeat starting at the bottom of the gnarly (counter-clockwise) harlem hill and continuing down and over the 102nd street transverse, which contains another smaller hill, while maintaining a fast, mile repeat pace. The rest is about 0.25 miles and I do it 4-5 times.
long run workouts
these have never let me down – doing some sort of marathon pace workout within the long run helps me get used to the feel of the pace and gives a ton of confidence that I can maintain it for longer period of time, even on tired legs. Usually this is a tempo of sorts and depending on how far the training cycle and long run is, can range from 4-12 miles at goal marathon pace. Usually goes something like x miles easy, x miles at marathon pace and then a few miles easy to finish the run, depending on how long it is.
yoga (#yogaeverydamnday)
if I don’t go to yoga, my muscles feel noticeably tighter (and also my brain), so if I can make it happen on most days I do. Sometimes this may mean not running as much or at all, and I’m ok with that. Not to totally jinx it, but I haven’t been injured in more than a year and attribute a lot of this to a bit less mileage than in the past and my growing yoga practice. Current favorite pose: bird of paradise.
so when it comes to running and where I’m at right now, the end goal is to get to the starting line in one piece with some confidence that I’ll have a good race. The fact that this particular starting line is in Hopkinton still (and will probably always) gives me all the feels. I think we are now about 100 days away, and when the going gets rough (it probably will, we haven’t actually had a winter yet), all I need to do is think about turning right on Hereford and left on Boylston on April 18 and remember why the hell I’m doing this.