Training Talk

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So I finally feel somewhat “normal” again, in regards to running. My hip/groin still acts up and my shins and calves still need TLC but overall I‘m noticing that my body is pretty well adjusted to running 3 times a week.

Great decision! You can tell by looking at my dailymile that I’m finally back on track in my running….

The only thing I’ve noticed is that I my body liked running 4 days last week – so I plan on trying to switch my long runs to Saturday and doing a quick slow recovery run on Sundays.

This will obviously be dependent on my work schedule but I’ll definitely be adding in some “junk mile” runs as my first half gets closer. I loved the looks of my training last week….

I haven’t discussed much about my half marathon training. To be honest I find reading about *most training boring. I like reading recaps much better :) However, lots of you have emailed me asking me how I stay motivated and why I’m only running 3 times a week.

So I’ll answer…..

Like anyone my motivation goes in waves and I tend to grab that wave by the horns and ride it out as long as I can. I also go with the flow when I’m not feeling my workouts – I don’t give up, but I have found that for me, it’s much easier to start to love working out again if I accept the fact I need a break instead of getting down about it.

Blogging will make you exercise more. FACT!

Racing a new distance usually motivates me. I tend to drag out my special races for that reason ;) I don’t know if I’d be nearly excited to race the same distance twice, but we’ll see after this half is over, as I think it has been my most favourite distance to train for :) thus far anyways…

Ali Mc’s top 3 motivators:

  1. Logan – I want to be a good role model for him.
  2. My body and overall health – I like to look and feel good.
  3. Being better than my past – I like to know that I’m constantly moving towards something – I like to be going forward :)
Why don’t I run very often??

I get by running 3 times a week because I focus on what purpose the run serves me and put my all into it. I do one recovery, one speed, one long. Since being injured, I’ve learned to stick to running at a pace that’s comfortable for my body and have also learnt when to tell my mind to take a hike and push my body when it needs to be pushed. On the flip side I have also learned to save the speed for SPEED WORKOUTS! 

…..and races ;)

* running with spatulas is optional – although not if you are on my team ;P 

My paces are considerably slower than where I left off but they’re improving. I have been doing a weekly speedwork session and even though I don’t love them, I feel a sense of accomplishment when I complete a pace faster than I thought possible :)

* like after yesterday’s speed work session – which I chose to do anyway :) sub 4 min 800′s made my day!

My long runs are always a joy. I don’t think I’ve had a bad one…..maybe half a bad one, but they’ve always turned around. I think the fact that you’re out there for so long just leaves you the chance to really get to know yourself. As an extrovert I enjoy it :) I also love the satisfaction of knowing that I’ve run further than I ever have before. It’s really amazing what we and our bodies can do!

* toss me a trail and I could run for days :)

I do a recovery run just to keep my weekly millage up. These runs are done without any pace measurement device and I usually don’t mind them. Their only purpose is to remind my body that it’s a runners body :)

I also do bi-weekly, or tri-weekly strength workouts and at least 1 cycle :) I try to do yoga daily and add in other forms of exercise whenever time allows. Switching over to morning workouts was the best decision I’ve ever made. I am seriously loving it :)

* what are Nic and Dan doing back there??

Anyway, I think I should add in even a small 4th run per week but overall I‘m really enjoying only running 3 times a week, and so is my body. If anything it takes the pressure off and really allows me to enjoy each run for what it is :)

and I love running!

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Questions:

1. how many times a week do you run?? how many do you workout??

As just stated I run 3 times a week and aim for 5-6 days of exercise :)  

2. what’s the longest distance you’ve ever run??

18km or 11miles I just came close to beating my PDR last Saturday so I hope to beat it this week :)  

3. how do you stay motivated?? what inspires you??

 

 

26 comments on “Training Talk”

  1. Oh man! I can’t wait till I can run again! I usually workout 6 days a week, but right now I’m limited to weight lifting and swimming. I usually swim 3-4 days per week, and lift 4 days per week. I can’t wait till I can do some other activities! :)

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  2. I use to run 5-6 days a week, but I switched to 4 days same amount of miles. I love this! Sometimes I will sneak in a 5th day here or there.

    I ran two 20mi distances training for my marathon, which is in 2 and 1/2 weeks!!!!

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  3. I try to run 3 times a week and work out 5-6 days also. Longest distance run is 26.2. Running only 3 days works for my body. I am actually a little scared to run more since I have had overuse injuries before.

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  4. You’ve got to listen to your body and do what’s best for you!!!! I run 5 days a week – but mostly because I’m a raging bitch if I don’t run. I need it. And my family thanks me for it as well! ;)

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    • I used to “need” running as well but for me, I’ve realized other exercise does the same thing for me too ;) so as long as I exercise most days I’m a lot better ;P lol

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  5. 1. how many times a week do you run?? how many do you workout??
    I have 4 runs a week on the schedule at the moment, I’m still finding my feet on different tempos for different secessions & distances (long and slow I can do ;-) ; I try for 1 to 2 other secession s(either Zumba and/or cycling)

    2. what’s the longest distance you’ve ever run??
    13.5 miles …. amiss measured half marathon in Feb this year.

    3. how do you stay motivated?? what inspires you??
    achieving a set goal and not getting physically injured; the olympics (and para olympics) have inspired be big time this year …. also having mini-me-jnr as your “coach” helps immensely :-)

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  6. I’m happy to see you’ve found your balance with running/working out. I miss my early morning workouts and watching the world wake up. It’s true, you do get so much more accomplished throughout the day when you take the initiative to workout first thing.

    When I was running consistently (pre-pregnancy), I was doing it 4 days a week with two easy runs, one speed workout, and one LSD run. It was also during my half marathon training and it honestly started to feel like a chore, like I *had* to get it done and I started to lose that love of running. I wasn’t excited anymore. I’m not sure if it was the hip pain I was dealing with (any distance over 6 miles), the fact that I felt like a chore that had to be done, or I was running too often during the week. I’m sure I’ll figure things out once I can get back into running/training next year. Overall, I like to get my sweat on one way or another 5-6 days a week.

    My farthest run to date has been 13.28 miles at my first half marathon.

    I’ve found motivation to be hard to keep in my grasp at times. When I’m feeling particularly bored with things, overwhelmed, or physically & emotionally tired, I have a hard time running/working out. I try to remember why I do it in the first place: for both my sanity & my health, to set a good example for my kids, and to be the best person I can be. Plus, in my family, it’s pretty badass to run at all let alone say I ran a half marathon so that makes me feel pretty good, too. ;)

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  8. I like that training doesn’t have to be running every possible day of the week. I like your training philosophy. I’m new to your blog so I just have to ask, do you actually run with spatulas all the time?

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    • Nikki! I just got this comment on my phone and almost died!!! lol ….no no, I don’t run with spatulas ever ;)

      I have run one race holding them – we did a relay in honor of a virtual race I was hosting and our team was the “spatula runners” so we ran with spatulas you can check out the recap here.

      You can also check out some of the awesome photo submissions we had last year here :)

      I hope to run with spatulas AND host the Spatula Runners Virtual Race again this March!

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  9. Haha “running with spatulas is optional – although not if you are own my team”!

    I run 4 times a week and workout 5-6 days depending on what we are training for, the other days/workouts are swimming and biking and some strength training.

    The longest I’ve run is 20 miles, soon it will be 26.2!

    I stay motivated by my goals and by others around me, and knowing that Mike is depending on me to go run, swim or bike helps too!

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  12. 1. During tri season I tried to work out eight times per week with three runs. Now I’m training for a half Mary and running five times per week and only 5-6 workouts.

    2. Longest distance is 13.2 miles which I did as my long slow run the last two weeks. Thinking about running a bit further tomorrow.

    3. Haven’t figured out the whole motivation thing unless it’s a big race.

    Funny, I like long slow runs by myself because I’m an introvert :-)

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  14. Different things work for different people and I like to run about three times a week but on a week I have a half I don’t run at all usually. I do better if I rest my legs and give them the week off. I definitely need to use my 3 month gym pass to get in more weight training and cross training though.

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