This week will go in the books as perhaps the highest quality week I have ever done. Monday hosted a 10 miler with 4x1mile @ sub 10K pace. Tuesday hosted 3X (1', 1'15'', 1'30'') hill repeats on a hill with a 10-10.6 grade. Thursday hosted 5x1000m on 400 active recovery @ sub planned 5K pace. Saturday hosted 13 miles @ 7:07 with 3 miles aerobic pace, 3 miles in way sub 19 min, 4 miles aerobic pace, 2 miles in way sub 13, and 1 mile cool down. There were also 3 recovery runs in there, and 2 more tomorrow. My legs continue to impress me, but I think this has more to do with my smart coach. He knows his thing and he has gotten me here progressively. Lets just say that my MAF test in early February was done at 9+mile min/pace. Can you says LOTS of improvement?
The nice thing about how I am training right now is that it is more...pleasant. I am not going all out unless I have a TT, or I need to hit paces in 20+MPH wind (when really I should just slow down, ha!). These workouts are crafted to keep me challenged and motivated, but also to show me that I am getting faster and closer to my goals. It is amazing to me that last year around this time I was chasing a sub 20, and now running a sub 20 seems so easy, and here I am , chasing a sub 19. At 38! Love that! Age is really just a number (BTW, Melanie McQuaid just won Oceanside 70.3 @ 39. Boom!!!).
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Last night Chris and I went to see "Hunger Games". I have not read the books. I am a nonfiction type reader and generally stay away from popular fiction books (maybe my loss here, who knows!). The movie was good, but it left me a bit sad. I may be reading too much into this, but I can certainly see us, as a society, 10-20 years from now no longer being satisfied watching "Survivor" or "Fear factor" (OK< I have never watched this one) or other such shows. Could watching people kill each other on a live TV show become the new "reality show" in vogue someday? Perhaps I am just getting old, ha!
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And just because, some stats for those with such interests:
Current running streak: 43 days (about 2-4 doubles/week); 435.7 miles. (by the way, I have no streak goals here and could really care less about this).
2012 mileage: 862.3; 7:48 avg pace
March so far: 307.2 mi 36:06:55 7:46 / mi
Things are good!
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17 comments:
I am so happy and excited about how nicely you progres!!!
Although I have always been ver impressed by you, I am even more now! Such an inspiration.
I hope this does not sound too harsh but you know, I am 10 years younger and 38 just seems quite old to me. With this itb issue I have already lost 3+ years and I was getting worried that I have already passed the age when I can reach my running/tri goals, but you and your progress show me that I can continue getting better even in my 30s!
I think it really depends on when you start racing - I only started racing in 2008, whether you take breaks or not - I think it does a body good to take breaks from running, and also your genetics, etc. You are VERY young and great things are in store for you:)
AMAZING week! I'm telling you, your coach sounds better and better. And wow, so cool that a sub 20 seems so easy now when it used to be a challenge. So impressive AM...this is exciting as usual. And yes, you're doing this at 38. I'd say that gives me hope for more PRs but I suppose starting my running at 14 (even though never reaching my potential) probably takes something out of how far I can go?? Who knows. Just having fun right now I suppose. But a coach sounds tempting as I get older.
Hunger Games...saw this the other night. Loved the books. Movie very much like the book. Yes, scares me too. I thought of these things as well. Could surely happen...at least the idea of people being numb or indifferent to injustices in the world all in the name of entertainment, leisure, etc. Well, it has happened...I mean think of the bloody Roman Colosseum...talk about reality show...and people watched for fun. Yikes!
Well-I hope you feel very justified in your recent Lulu indulgences:):) Well deserved! Well deserved indeed!
Holy Canoli on today's run!! Yes, 3 miles at a 5K PR pace in the middle of 13 followed up with a couple more wicked ones! 7:07 OA avg. pace!!! HoooAHH!
Crazy week, crazy streak, crazy mileage, crazy paces! Maybe when I'm 38-ha!! Awesome!
@Jenn, it is ALL about justifying those Lulu indulgences...seems like I am doing all that reinforcing backwards though:)
@Amanda - yes about Hunger Games. Yes, yes.
And yes about my coach too:) I think you have ways to go with your running. You took a huge break after college
You are just doing incredible, AM! All these days of consecutive running. I can draw a mental picture of your schedule because it reminds me a lot of what I was doing over the summer, except that the hill sprints were strides and on the same days as the other workouts...and I wasn't nearly as FAST as you! Lots of doubles help keep these legs fresh...and lots of hard work is building speed. I can't wait to see what you do with a 5k!
Hope you find a good course soon.
And ..Wow.. NEVER 43 days in a row. I just needed a break. So did Jon. :)
"The Hunger Games" is what it looks like with me after a long run or ride! haha I need to get caught up with society and see the movie and read the book!
How awesome is it to be in a place where training is not necessarily difficult, but flows?
Solid work :)
@Raina, as I said, I could care less about the streak, but why rest if I don't feel I need it? No complaints from Chris - he gets plenty of time for his basketball and tennis.
Holy canolli woman! You are going to be ripping up the pavement when you actually race! If we do run more long runs together, I'll have make you wear a weighted vest so I can keep up. ;)
Seriously though, I can't wait to hear about your 5K and half this Spring. Way below 19 min in training? Looks like you'll be breaking 18 for sure! Boom!
Thanks Katie. Ha, I can't wait to train together for something. Baystate maybe? The sub 19 was for 3 miles, 18:42, so would have been a 19:10 0r so, but I was not trying to break 19:)
AM: I sooo want to train with you for something. BayState seems the most logical. I'd love to run some 5K's with you too, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to make the one in Cambridge. Maybe over the summer?
Katie: YES! Fo sure the mile race in July? Baystate, yes! 5-10K June? I've never done a 10K! Yayyyy!
No worries about the Cambridge 5K. There will be more. You have the marathon to focus on for now:)
Melanie McQuaid is the best! I remember following her career when I was doing xterra training. She's a beast and total inspiration!
I love your love for work and improvment in running. I think women are redefining age all the time. And your no exception.
Hunger Games - I wonder what people who didn't read the book think about the movie. The story is intense for sure. But I feel the book definitely shows you more details about how society and corrupt power. The movie kinda fast forwards through it :)
38??? you're so old! (since jokes don't translate well in text i should probably tell you i am turning 38 in october this year).
speaking of things we have in common, i'm excited we have the same race goal on the same date. my course is flat but windy, how about yours?
I felt the same way about The Hunger Games--both reading it and watching it. I was moved, and then very sad following both experiences with it. It takes elements of our collective past (the Romans putting humans into the ring to watch them fight to the death--against another human or beast, for example)--and then our future--not so far-fetched at all based on our current predilections.
Just awesome about your training. Just incredible. :)
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