I'm Still Training. Kind Of.

Howdy!

Just realized that I have been kind of MIA for a couple of weeks.

Oops.

Still no full NYCM recap. No training updates. None of what I have been up to since.

So here is a little glimpse into the past couple weeks of my life.

I ran NYCM while feeling like shit. Complete and total shit.

I proceeded to take only two days off from training (since you know, I ran the marathon as a training run and all).

BIG SHOCK. I wound up sick for basically the next two weeks that followed. I am just starting to feel some semblance of normal... although I still feel just flat out EXHAUSTED at times for no reason.

Yawn.

So first up. I totally do not recommend doing that to yourself. If you wake up with a fever and shit, put yourself back to bed instead of running 26.2 miles.

But if you DO go run it. Maybe take the following day off. Me? I was in the office at 8am and had an 11 hour day the day after.

And when you do start running. Don't make the first run back a 10 miler.

Queen of Good Decisions.

I fought all urges for rest days and ran myself quite literally into the ground. 6 days after NYCM as I am running a long run with my friend...11 minute miles seemed like torture and with each passing minute felt worse and worse. I somehow made it to just under 14 miles when I wanted to die. I had nothing left in me. Major light bulb went off in my head that umm I need to not run. And maybe take a day off. You know get myself better.

So last week I took some time off. I didn't run for a full week! (lifetime for me) and to be totally honest, I did not miss it. I have drank the kool aide and am 150% in love with Flywheel and have been taking entirely too many classes and spending way too much of my money there.

That $32 a pop sure does hurt the bank account but oh how I love it.

So back to that whole training thing. Flywheel classes can totally replace actually running as training for the marathon. Right? Maybe? Just lie to me and say yes.

More confession time. I am supposed to run Palm Beaches Marathon in about 2 1/2 weeks. It is to be my sisters first marathon and I am heading back to Florida to join in the action.

I'm not entirely convinced any more that I am going to do it. I just don't know if I have another 26.2 miles in me right now. I am beat. Physically and mentally. I have checked out with running. I don't WANT to train right now and am attempting to get away with minimal in order to still be in shape enough for a marathon (although pretty sure that with only 5 weeks between them and still being highly active, no matter what I am fine).

I have nothing to prove. And I am about 99.9% sure that I am NOT going to run my sub 4 hour marathon in Palm Beach. I have proven time and again I run like shit in warm weather and am just not there at the moment physically. To beat my body up for another meh marathon, I am currently just sitting back and weighing the options of dropping down to the half.

Obviously taking into consideration if I will be disappointed etc. The good news is that I have until the day before to swap out my bib so I have some time. Until then I am going to follow through with the coaches training as if I am running it but I would be lying if I said I was actually all in and on board anymore.

Okay. I think I have babbled on enough.

I think for the first time in a while, I am not all do or die about running. And that is a reason to pause about this whole marathon coming up but as well as kind of be happy. Some times I let it consume me way too much and it is nice to not feel pressured about it right now.

I have so much going on right now and running isn't the number 1 priority. And you know, I am totally okay with that.

I am going to run on my own terms. And if I don't feel like it, I won't.

TGIF. Seriously.

Hey now, good seeing you Friday! I feel like this is a common saying lately but holy week. 

I cannot wait to wake up tomorrow at a time that does not begin with a 4 and not be in the office for 12 hours. The level that I have been functioning at on 4-5 hours of sleep has me impressed.

The good part is I have been so ridiculously busy between training and work that the week just flew on by. 

The bad news is, I am beat down, mentally and physically but powering through. Also, feeling bloated because I have been feasting on carbs, and epic amounts, at night due to starvation during the day and not getting nearly enough food in for the crazy activity level I have had this week.

I gave myself an intervention yesterday though and made sure that stopped. I puff up like a balloon and retain water on carb overload and I wasn't feeling my greatest. Happy to say the balance is back and I hope it stays that way! There will be a serious meal prep this weekend. That is for sure.

I am pretty proud though in the midst of all this craziness I am probably about to hit one of my highest mileage weeks and things really seem to be coming together for the half next weekend. 

Let's have a little breakdown of training so far this week:

• Monday - 6.18 miles - Easy pace - 9:24 recovery from the weekend
• Tuesday - 5 miles - Pace - 8:49 was going to go longer but I noticed some foot pain
• Wednesday - 10 miles - Tempo - Pace - 8:54 - as I reported this run was amazeballs
• Thursday - 4.5 miles (morning) - Pace 8:50, 6 miles (evening) Pace - 9:03
• Friday - 2 miles - Pace 9:02 - prior to lifting

I mean look at that, I am about 34 miles and still have long run tomorrow and a recovery Sunday. I'm pretty happy with how this shaped up thus far. 

Also my paces - are getting a lot better. My comfortable pace is inching it's way down. I love seeing training pay off.

Things I am not so happy with...I am having foot pain. I am in the process of self diagnosing because that is obviously the way to go. And it seems like it could be tendinitis. It only just started so I am hoping that ice and stretching can help. If it stays at the level it is at now I should be fine for the half. Running doesn't hurt per say (and also my crazy threshold for pain sometimes can be my worst enemy because I tend to work through things until too late) it's the flexing motion that hurts. 

Meh. That's all I can say about that. 

So here is to making it through just one.more.day and sleeping in tomorrow. NO ALARM for this girl. And if I wake to the clock saying anything after 7 I will consider it a victory. And lounge around gloriously in bed. There will be no rushing out the door in the morning to run. It is supposed to be chilly still so I will be waiting until mid day regardless. 

Happy Friday and for all of you racing this weekend, GOOD LUCK!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!