First of all- seriously? This month REALLY flew. I know it’s not over yet, but if it’s time for Runfessions, then I know the end of the month is near. Thanks as always to Marcia for hosting! Let’s start runfessing right away.
The first thing on my list is that I’m really, really tired of running slowly. Over the past five or six years, the speed has just seemed to drain out of my legs. To make the situation even more frustrating, every time I try to do speed work, I end up injured.
But I refuse to give up! I’m currently trying some less structured speed workouts. This week I did a “7-11” where you run fast for seven breaths, and then slowly for eleven breaths, repeated indefinitely. It was pretty fun, and nothing hurt. We’ll see how that goes.
Meanwhile, I ran on my old favorite trail this week, and I did NOT see my “running spirit animal” as I usually do here:
Instead, I saw… a RABBIT. Well! Maybe it’s a sign from the universe that I can get some speed back, after all.
Next up in the “runfessional”: soon I’ll be officially training for my February race, and I’m realizing that putting together my weekly workout schedule will be a challenge. My long runs will be Wednesdays… I want to do two leg days at the gym, but I don’t want either of them to be right next to my long run day (or each other, obviously)… I want to run four days a week, and when the race gets closer I want to do some back-to-back long runs… one day should be a day off…. GAAAAHHH! Is this even possible?
I’ll just have to piece it together week by week. It worked (more or less) this week, but this was a relatively easy week compared to what’s coming. Well… as always, I’ll work it out.
The last runfession is that the heat continues to beat me down. It’s become clear that my longer runs are going to be all about heat management. I was doing okay with the shorter runs, but soon I’ll need my cooler of ice and my ice hat, because I have some long runs coming up- and it’s a long, long summer here.
Thanks for listening to my runfessions!
What’s your “running spirit animal?” – I wish I could see cheetah.
Arm sleeves in the heat- yay or nay? – I’ve been hearing that some people like to put ice in them, but I think it might feel annoying to have an extra layer on my arms?
41 Responses
No way to arm sleeves! I like feeling the breeze on my arms, even if it’s a warm one!
I’m not a trainer, but maybe as you get closer to your race (6-8 weeks out) you could drop one of your leg days?
As for pace, I realized this week that I was running so easy I wasn’t even breathing hard when I had to stop for a traffic light. OTOH, I do work harder on the tread.
Well, it’s good to run easy! It sounds like you have a good mix of easy and hard days. Yes- I’ll definitely drop a leg day when my race gets closer. But for now I want to keep two a week. I need to get stronger!
No to arm sleeves. I wear them to keep warm. And often remove them.
Wow. Feb training. I need to pick my race. Do I try Ft Lauderdale again? Not you. This time you can take me to your trails.
I see a lot of rabbits. But my pace is slower than molasses. I’m trying to embrace it until after the marathon. As you said I don’t want to get injured.
Yes, your main goal right now is to run and enjoy that marathon. It’s really hard to have a time goal at NYC anyway because it’s so crowded. Staying healthy is #1 priority!
Your training plan sounds intense, but good! Everything, or most things, are doable.
My husband has the opposite problem – he’s had problems with IT band syndrome and gets more pain if he runs more slowly. He’s been doing a few park runs and has been doing great! During the summer he hasn’t been running a lot, once a week or so, otherwise a lot of cycling and strength training. But he needs to start getting the body used to the load of running, since he wants to do a marathon next summer! We’ll see.
I’d absolutely keep my arms uncovered in hot weather!
That’s interesting! It is definitely the opposite problem. ITB syndrome can be painful- I hope your husband can work it out. Cycling and strength training should help!
It never occurred to me to wear arm sleeves for heat. That’s probably because I run on very shady trails when it’s hot. Honestly I’d do only one good leg day per week while you’re in race training. My spirit animal is the gazelle! My mantra is light and fast. Whether or not that’s true is a different story. Haha!
Hmm, “light and fast” used to be one of my mantras (I love three syllable montras.). I should bring it back, even if it’s not true. It’s a good mental image.
My arms are not thin and arm sleeves always kind of bothered me. I am definitely a turtle. People can seriously walk faster than I can run right now, but I’m okay with it. I’ve never been fast, and I’m doing it to stay healthy.
Good luck with your training! Even running 3 x week and not training it’s still hard to juggle. Do the best you can, and let go of attachments to the outcome. It literally is the journey, not the destination!
Judy, you are very right! Nothing is guaranteed so you just have to enjoy the training. Thanks for the reminder.
I feel you on losing speed. I do love to run fast, but that only happens in short sprints now. Since I’m running mostly trails, running slower fits and I’m learning to accept those unacceptable paces that show up on my Garmin. As long as my heart rate show that I’m working, it’s all good.
I agree with what Coco suggested–maybe as you get closer to your race, you might want to drop a leg day. Your focus should be on running–you can pick up the strength training when you’re done with the race.
I will drop a leg day when the race gets closer, for sure. But for right now I want to keep up with two a week. I need it!
Yes, trails are great because you really can’t compare paces. My long run felt so slow this week, but then I had to remind myself- it was on SAND. Of course I’m going to be slower! Of course, I’m also just slower. I can’t deny that.
NO way on the run sleeves! Too hot! I admire you for getting all those long runs in with your heat. It sure is frustrating not to be able to run the same paces or distances we once did.
Yes, it really is. I keep thinking I can get those paces back but I’m probably delusional.
I haven’t tried them but I know a lot of desert runners wear arm sleeves in the heat, and often stuff them with ice too to stay cool!
I don’t really like or do traditional speedwork which is tough to do on trails anyway, but I do love hill repeats, which are speedwork in disguise. I’ve been doing them for a few years almost every single week and they’ve really helped me become a stronger uphill runner. I suppose it may be tougher for you in FL to find a decent hill to do repeats on, so I feel lucky that I have more hill options available to me!
I see a whole bunch of animals on my runs! Just this week I saw a desert tortoise, a few horned lizards, a lot of other kinds of lizards, tons of rabbits and a tarantula. I’ve seen a lot of rattlesnakes too this summer, which are cool but definitely a bit unnerving when you hear them before you see them!
Good luck with your training! It’s always tough to balance running/other workouts with life, especially as training ramps up for a race. But you’ve still got plenty of time to get into a groove!
Eek. Tarantulas and rattlesnakes? I just listened to a Sally McRae podcast where she mentions seeing rattlesnakes on the trails. Tarantulas creep me out, although I know they wouldn’t hurt me.
Yes, if I want hills I have to run on the treadmill- and I didn’t end up doing a treadmill run this week. Next week I will, for sure.
I’m thinking arm sleeves would work in the dry heat, because the ice would cool you off and then evaporate. In the humidity everything would be really gross and wet. But, I’ve heard people who use them in humidity too, so I don’t know.
Team Turtle! And also Team Yes Dammit I Want It All. I don’t know the solution to being able to fit in everything that you want to do, but you’re great at figuring this stuff out.
I feel like arm sleeves would get annoying quickly. They’d be great at first while they’re cold, but once the ice melts you’re left with a heavy wet layer on top of the heavy wet layer that you’re already getting from the humidity.
I’m feeling the same way about arms sleeves- I can see it more in dry heat.
Ha ha, I like your team. And thanks for the vote of confidence!
That 7-11 strategy for intervals sounds interesting! I just realized I meant to do speedwork this summer, but it hasn’t happened (except for a few random tempo runs that kind of happened on their own). I blame the bike crash (mid-June)…
Yes, the bike crash probably pre-empted any speedwork plans you had. But some of your runs end up being like tempo runs, so that counts. The 7-11 workout is fun to break up the monotony sometimes.
Ugh, this made me flashback to when I was in my running phase years ago. My boys were little at the time; I ran several half-marathons and a full marathon in the span when my youngest was 2-3 years old, and I was working 12 hour shifts at the hospital back then too. I remember just twisting myself into knots trying to make my training plan work!! I had to work every other weekend, so I couldn’t commit to weekly long runs on Saturdays or Sundays. I did have some set week days off, but then I’d have the same issue with trying to time my other workouts and runs so they didn’t bump up against my long run, etc. Plus, on the 3 days per week I worked, I left home at 6 am and didn’t get home often until 8:30 pm. I could occasionally squeeze in a very short run at like 4:30 a.m. (but then I stressed about running alone in the pitch dark at 4:30 a.m…..) but when my training plan ramped up to longer 7-8 mile tempo runs during the week, I could NOT fit those in before work! And after work… forget about it, I was exhausted. I also tended to have stretches of days either on or off work (e.g work Friday, Saturday, Sunday 7-7:30), so it wasn’t ideal to just not run for 3 days in a row… OR necessarily RUN 3 days in a row after, depending. Add in attempting to squeeze in strength workouts and it was a disaster. I’m having PTSD just thinking about it! hahaha. I used to get SO frustrated! I think it was part of the reason I eventually got out of running races- it was just way too complicated with a hospital nurse’s schedule + little kids!
Um- I can see why you stopped running! Yes, work schedules like that make it extra hard (not to mention also having kids to take care of.) 12 hour workdays make it almost impossible.
Your life seems pretty busy now, but I’ll bet it feels much easier than those days were!
Heat. Hmm. I definitely dislike our nasty south florida “summers” (aka 7 months of the year . . .) but have sort of . . . accepted it? Sort of? But I start MUUUUUCH earlier than you for long runs, I think! I like to be out there by 5 or 5:30 (I have 16 tomorrow so will probably aim for 5 or 5:15) so that I only have one hour in the sun. (My neighborhood feels decently safe in the dark and I often see other early runners, I know that’s not the case everywhere).
The thing I had never experienced before marathon training in the summer here is the absolute SATURATION of shorts and shoes. We call it “wet diaper” weather bc that’s what shorts feel like 3 hrs in. And somehow my shoes / socks get saturated from sweat too? UGH!!! Disgusting!
(Also my earbuds will never stay in the whole run).
Okay i guess i do have a lot of heat related complaints. But let’s just hope it means we will both be FASTER in cool temps!!!
First of all- YES. I keep thinking how much faster we’ll be once it cools down. And, also- you do start much earlier than me. Starting my run after dropping my daughter off means I’m running pretty late, for a Florida summer day. I have been thinking about that. The other problem though is that I want to do my long runs on a trail, and I don’t want to run on a trail in the dark. So… I don’t know. I have to think about it.
Yes- I definitely return home soaking wet.
Today was so much better than usual – I thought of you!!!
Honestly, I’m so impressed you’re running outside in the heat. We had a couple of miserable days here (highs in the 90s/real feel 105-110) and I wanted to curl up and stay inside until the weather returned to something manageable.
Your scheduling conundrum makes me think about San and how she does like a million Peloton challenges at once. It’s like a puzzle for how she can piece it all together! I suspect once you figure it all out, you’ll make it work.
That’s true- I should look to San for inspiration. She definitely fits in a ton of stuff and makes it work.
Yep- you had Florida weather this week! It’s fun, isn’t it?
I read this earlier today and didn’t comment right away because I didn’t think I had anything to add to the conversation. After all, I haven’t been running, I don’t miss running, and I feel like I have completely lost interest in it completely.
But then I was on a long bike ride with my son this morning and I thought “this is all I want” and then it made me think of your post for some reason, and your dissatisfaction with your speed.
I’m going to preface this by saying I think if you are happy striving for more speed, and that is a healthy thing for you to do, then you should. BUT. This circles back to your post about comparisons. Comparing yourself to anyone is always going to lead to distress and dissatisfaction, and that includes towards your younger self. Think about what you’ll be like five years from now, I wonder if you’ll think “why did I think I was slow, look at how great I did! I ran an ultra marathon!” It’s like looking at a bikini photo of our 20 year old selves and wondering why we didn’t just walk around in bikinis all the time, why did we take those gorgeous figures for granted. Do you know what I mean? What I am trying to say is that you are doing so well right now, you are not injured, you are still running all these miles, maybe…maybe that’s where you’re at? I mean, by all means, go for the speed if you want to. But if it leads to injury, well, what is it all for? I think that having goals and something to strive for is absolutely great, don’t get me wrong. But, and I say this with love and friendship, sometimes maybe you are just a bit hard on yourself? Look at all you can do! Look how strong and healthy you are right now! This is amazing, Jenny, and I hope you don’t lose sight of how amazing you are JUST AS YOU ARE.
And yes, all this DID come to me while I was on my bike! I guess I’m just in the stage where I just want to be fit and healthy to do things I love. I am definitely not as fast on my bike as my son, but you know, I’m doing great. AND SO ARE YOU!!! I just want you to know that.
I hope you don’t think I’m being negative or lecture-y, I just think you’re awesome as you are, full stop.
Nicole, have you ever thought of writing an advice column??? I totally get everything you’re saying. I think I’m in a phase where I’m still resisting it- the same way you resist any part of aging- but I can see myself coming around eventually. You’re right, I shouldn’t compare myself to my younger self. I should appreciate where I’m at, because there are so many good things! I do like certain elements of speed work, so I’ll keep at it- but not if it leads to injury, because then it’s just not worth it.
Thanks as always for your kind and thoughtful comment!
I’m a hell no on arm sleeves. Even with ice. I would not want that much material on my body in the heat!
We had a taste of FL or TX weather this week. Maybe Texas? It was 114F with the heat index for a couple of days, air temp was close to 100 and it was so humid. I’m sure your sister has complained to you! I can’t imagine running in that weather but I thought – geez, this is probably what Shu and Jenny run in every day! We had that kind of weather on my office days so I didn’t run and was glad to not be out there…
I’m not fast anymore either, or not as fast as I was when I had tons of time to focus on training and fueling my body. Now I am just fitting it in where I can. I was shocked by my 10k time last fall but don’t see myself repeating that this fall, esp since I have yet to even sign up for a 10k!
So August has not felt like a fast month for me. My trip to Banff feels like it was months ago. We knew Paul’s summer program would end on 8/23 and we’d have to piece together car until K starts on 9/7. So I feel like I’ve been kind of “living in the future” as I’ve thought through who is watching him when. So it feels like August should be over except we have another week of it… I’m just very very very ready to get back to some semblance of a routine/schedule!! Next week should be better as I take him up to my parents tomorrow and then I come back Sunday so we’ll just have 1 kid to manage next week… but he’s starting a new daycare so I expect a lot of BIG FEELINGS. Hopefully some extra attention is helpful.
Oh yes, I’ve heard all about your heatwave! I think it’s actually hotter there than it is here. Or, it was- I think you’ve cooled down by now/
It’s weird because my August was also kind of eventful- trip to Texas, starting school- but it still feels like it flew by. But now for the last week I’ll probably feel the way you do- that it should be September already, but it’s not!
Jenny, I agree with Nicole. You are incredible. FULL STOP. It’s absolutely awe-inspiring how dedicated you are to running and strength training. I think we all struggle with comparison and wanting to push ourselves and self-competitiveness can have a place…but I’m trying so, so hard to just relax and accept that I am finite. I am getting older and things I used to be able to do, I can’t do the same way. This is okay. I am enough as I am.
If it’s fun, I’ll push. If it’s not, I’m trying to just…be? If that makes sense. Life’s too short to be miserable or hurt or frustrated with the limitations of my body or mind.
I think making the switch to intuitive eating has been a transformative life moment for me. I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but after 25+ years of disordered eating to stop putting intense pressure on myself has been more liberating than I could have EVER imagined and it has had similar trickle-down impacts on other areas of my life.
Again, you’re incredible. Do what feels good and right and maybe that will mean pushing harder, or maybe that will mean looking into the mirror in the morning and saying: “Wow, Jenny. You’re a kickass, powerful woman.”
Oh, THANK YOU ELISABETH! I don’t know why i put that pressure on myself. Am I a professional athlete? Am I training for the Olympics? Does anyone else care how fast I run??? NO! I can see I have some more thinking to do on this subject.
Also… I’m glad intuitive eating is working for you. I also have a long history of eating disorders, and I think that possibly ruined intuitive eating for me- I’m seriously not sure if I can do it. Sigh…I feel a blog post coming on!
I feel you on the “tetris play” of fitting in all the workouts during the week. It’s not easy to coordinate it all… 😉 Sometimes it’s good to go week by week depending on how you feel overall.
I only use arms sleeves when it’s cold outside. I can see how they could be nice way to block sun and cool down the body though.
For now I’m definitely going week by week. And I have to remind myself if I don’t get it all in on one week, I can adjust in the next week. I don’t know if I’ll ever get it perfect!
I am in love with tortoises. Can you please share more of you running spirit animal? I will read every running post then… ha.
Ha ha! I’ll post more photos as I see them! There are a lot of them on that trail, normally.
I think the heat is making quick (or slow) work of all of us. It’s so draining. We will get back to it. Eventually.
It’s true that we’re slower in the heat. I mean I can say that, but it’s almost always hot here, so…
I do not know how you deal with the heat. I will say, though, that you are inspiring. You always persevere! It’s seriously impressive. I hope you are still hanging in there – and persevering – and know that you will get to your finish line strong and healthy. 🙂
Thank you Anne! I persevere because there’s no other choice (until I move away from Florida, ha.)