Each week I am going to post a short recap of my training as I work towards my goal of PR-ing my marathon time at Colfax in May. In total, we are about 19 weeks out from the big day, and although things are still up in the air, I am assuming that I’ll be toeing that line on May 21.
I began my training last week and kept it light. This was really my first introduction back to real running and I didn’t want to push it and risk injury. I had two key workouts and three easy runs, plus I did a lot of yoga. Lately, my yoga practice has been a lot more about focusing on my meditation than it has been in the past. I’ve always tried to cultivate a strong asana (or postures) practice, but lately, I need yoga as a way to clear my headspace. Yin yoga has been a real refuge as the world around me becomes a bit unstable.
Key Workouts: Tempo Run & 8-mile Long Run
Monday: Rest – was heading home from my trip
Tuesday: 4 miles easy pace (9:28/mi) + Yin Yoga – I was honestly worried that I didn’t even know how to do this anymore. I had taken a full three weeks completely off running and had been rather inconsistent before that. But I still knew how to run, and it felt good.
Wednesday: 5 miles with 3 miles at tempo (8:42/mi) + Hatha Yoga – I wanted to see if I still had my speed. Well, three miles isn’t much, but it definitely let me see how things were going. I didn’t lose as much fitness as I thought I had. The run felt great.
Thursday: Yin Yoga + Rest
Friday: 8 miles LSD (9:22/mi) + Yin Yoga – I dreaded the long run all week, and was surprised to find that it was actually pretty okay. I’m certainly glad I didn’t go any further, but the 8 miles felt just find.
Saturday: 5 miles easy (9:11/mi) – I kept most of this run pretty chill and then accidentally busted out a mile at 8:30. Oops. Guess I was feeling pretty good!
Sunday: 3 miles easy (9:49/mi) – I ran with Frank and he is a bit slower than me, so we kept it chill. I always like running with him because he forces me to keep a much easier pace.
Total: 25 Miles
Next week I am bumping it up a little with a total of 30 miles and another key tempo workout and 10-mile long run. My goal next week is to really focus on some strength training. Since I herniated a disc in my back, I need to be more diligent about abdominal and lower back strength work. Next week, I’ll be getting to a bit of that along with some stairs.
How were your workouts last week? What is your favorite kind of workouts (I love speed work
She Runs the Wasatch 
Love the hat! LOL
LikeLike
Thanks! 🙂
LikeLike
Great first week Kerry!
LikeLike
Thanks! 🙂
LikeLike
Great first week! I love that you’re using your yoga as meditation. I think that will be really necessary and helpful in our current, ahem, political climate/nightmare. Managing the stress of everything that’s going on has proved tricky for me. I want to be involved but I also have found I occasionally need a time-out so I don’t pull my hair out. You might be meditating for a different reason but either way, I’m sure it will help you keep political stress from impacting your training.
Three weeks off really isn’t that much, I doubt you’ve lost fitness as much as just being a little rusty. You’ll be back in form before ya know it!
LikeLike
Oh… politics definitely has me stressed out and taking some time out of my day to just chill is the only way I’m going to get through these next 4 years without a major anxiety disorder. The stress of figuring out if/when/where we are moving is adding to all of this. It’s just a stressful time, but I’ll get through it.
LikeLike
Fartlek for the win! My favourite kind of speed workout.
LikeLike
I like the track, but fartleks are definitely a close second for me. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice easy back in, Kerry! I haven’t done speed or tempo in so long. I almost don’t remember how to do it. Did it feel weird running after taking so much time off?
LikeLike
I felt like I might forget how to run or that I’d be so winded that I wouldn’t be able to do it. I don’t know. I think I might be a little crazy. I knew that I had to do a tempo run since speed work is always my favorite kind of running. Haha! I also wanted to make sure that I could still go fast.
LikeLike
Darlene says the same thing about running with me — that she feels like she could run forever. Of course, I’m dying! Not really, but it does push me & it’s easy for her.
Sounds like you eased back in quite well. I’m really impressed by an 8 mile LSD after weeks of no running! Not sure I could do that.
LikeLike
Nice job on your first week of training! I’m excited to follow your journey…again! 🙂
LikeLike
Great week! I’ve actually never done speed work yet and really need to, I just feel a little lost/unsure what to do. Look forward to following your training!
LikeLike