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August 20, 2007
Rebounding
My last entry was a bit of a downer so I am itching to remove it from the top of this blog! So many of my friends who commented put the race into perspective and Corrado asked some excellent questions. While I cannot wiggle my way around the fact that I still am disappointed in the outcome, I do realize that one race is not always a sure indication of fitness level. Hence, no more distance classic talk - H. made sure that I closed that chapter on Tuesday.
How did H. do that? He refused to feel sorry for me. I took my usual Monday off, and then it was back to work on Tuesday. On Tuesday, I hit the lakefront @ 5:15AM to warm-up, and then I met up with the group and we ran 7 miles @ tempo pace. The goal was to start at 6:30 pace and finish closer to 6:15. I headed into this workout thinking "there is no way in hell I can do this tempo after a race; my legs are too tired; I don't feel good; I suck." Negative self talk! When we started the tempo, I felt like a hung-over twenty year-old; my legs were unresponsive and my entire body just ached.
However, three miles into the tempo, my shoe came untied and I was forced to drop off the pack and tie it up (double knotted this time). This tiny hiccup lit a fire under my heels and sent me into an angry tirade . . . not really, but it injected me with a burst of life and energy. I clipped off the final 4 miles around 6:15 - 6:18 pace. Once again, H. was right - I needed to be pushed on Tuesday whether or not I felt like it. We also ran in pouring rain and lightning - I think the elements made me work harder as well. 12 miles total.
Wednesday: easy 10 (well, not totally "easy" - I ran with a woman who has run 2:43 and her definition of "easy" differs from mine.) Fortunately, she "slowed" to 7:10 - 7:15 pace.
Thursday: 2 mile warm up, 2 cool down. 4 x 1 mile with 60 seconds rest. The goal splits were 6:30, 6:20, 6:10, 6:00. It didn't exactly turn out that way. H. took us out too quickly on the first one and we hit 6:15. H. ran with another group for the rest of the workout, but I got sucked into a fast pace on the second one and clocked a 6:02. H. rightly "lectured" me on the point of the workout :) The next one was a 6:15, and the final one was around 6:00. The pace felt relaxed, but obviously a little schizophrenic.
Friday: 3 easy. "Butters" as I like to say - over 24 minutes.
Saturday: 15 miles of HILLS @ sub 7:00 pace. This was possibly the most difficult training run I have ever done . . . but it was also one of the most rewarding. J., the woman who qualified for the 08 trials with a 2:43, pulled me through this one. She soared up and down the hills like a ballerina - it's quite beautiful to watch her run! If she weren't running beside me, I would have slowed down.
Sunday: 20 miles. H. and I ran through a monstrous rain and thunderstorm to log these miles. I was worried that this run would mark my death as a runner - especially after running 15 miles on hills the previous day! We ran all 20 @ sub 7:30 pace with a few miles between 7:00 - 7:10. Miles 11-15 were a death march, but I got a serious second wind from miles 15-20 and really felt like taking off around 20. I have never run a 20 mile training run so quickly or felt so good at the end. I really thought I was cooked at mile 11!
Today: REST REST REST! I got a massage this morning - which I desperately needed. My legs are admittedly DEAD and trashed, but I have gotten used to this cycle: it never ceases to amaze me how our bodies recover and revive.
It's back to the lakefront tomorrow for another Tempo . . . .
This week also marks the beginning of the school year! I have no idea yet how I am going to maintain my current training intensity when the semester kicks into high gear, but I just keep telling myself that I have to make it to October 7th and then I get a nice, long break :)
Posted by bridget at August 20, 2007 1:49 PM
Comments
That's some great training you've been doing, Bridget! I'm glad you have a 2:43 training partner to help pull you along. If you keep this up, you'll just need to find the right people to latch on to in October and you'll do great! I hope you're able to find time for everything as school starts, and that you're able to keep enough rest and down time in your schedule.
Great work and good luck!
Posted by: Alison at August 20, 2007 5:16 PM
second alison
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at August 21, 2007 4:45 PM
second alison
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at August 21, 2007 4:46 PM
i love that you got to see what it's like to feel "cooked" at mile 11, run through it, and finish strong. maybe that's the beauty of the marathon - the race is so damn long that whatever you're feeling (good or bad) is only fleeting.
and as far as school goes, i'll GLADLY cover your classes for you to keep up this intensity. right now, your running is more important than your students! (they'll forgive you come november...)
Posted by: carrie g. at August 22, 2007 9:08 PM