CIM Week Five–Stepback

I’m feeling the need to disclaim this weekly recap – even though I think I’ve said it in the past – that I’m using a made-up training plan.

Yes, I have 16 weeks of workouts mapped out.  Yes, there was some level of thought and strategy when putting it together, but the fact is that I made it up.  Based on what I’ve done in the past, what I like find tolerable, and what I’ve read are “key” to successful training (step back weeks, 10% rule, recovery days, etc).

No coaches, no Higdon, nothing but me on a plane one day with a spreadsheet and no wifi.

So each week, please keep that in mind.  I’m not big on myself enough to think anybody’s reading OUaL for a miracle marathon training plan, but just in case… Grain of salt. Consult a doctor. Don’t follow me to the bridge.

Where’s this sudden public training self-consciousness coming from?

1. Peak week high mileage is affecting my brain in weird ways
2. A few “that many miles, already??” comments I shouldn’t have taken to heart but sort of did
3. Worrying that there are more bodies at stake than mine (namely, Kristina, marathon virgin, who’s been CIM Long Running with me)

• update : just talked to K and she pinky promised to tell me if things are too much. I’m not “coaching” her – she’s got her plan and I’ve got mine – we’re just company for boring long runs

I’m pretty in tune with my body – I can tell when something’s off or I need to reign it in.  But the thought that there might be others following along, or feeling pressured to keep up (term used loosely as literally keeping up would not be that difficult), has me feeling nervous about the quick-out-of-the-gate peak week.

Because that’s what we did this week.

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CIM Training – Week #4

Su – 30 min easy bike, abs

M – 4mi easy, paddleboard, bike, vball – Labor Day smorgasbord

 

yes, those are violet rogas SUP’ing

T –  7mi Track  – ladder-type interval. 1200 – 1000 – 800 – 400 (x2) with 200m walk/jog recovery.  Ball buster but it was good to get away from repeats for a second .

W – 6mi easy

Th – 7mi fartlek’y mile repeats – 4x1mi (7, 7, 6:59, 6:44) with .25 recovery (9-10 min/mi). Lost the pace screen for 3 & 4 (stupid garmin), and was WAY surprised to see how spot-on my paces were. Confidence boost – check.

F – Rest

Sa – 20 mi Long Run ~2:52  ** NO DATA, SEE BELOW

    = 44 miles – highest week since Ragnar week in April, and highest (ever?) without double long runs (Sun one week Sat next so they both fall in same 7-day span)

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When making long run plans with a friend, and they say “let’s meet here, it’s perfectly equidistance for both of us!”, and that spot is <1mi from your place, assume the plan is to run there.

I kept telling myself this AM how stupid it was to drive .87mi to Starbucks, but when it comes to 20milers I applied the ‘spend as little extra time on your feet as possible’ principle.

So I’m sitting in my car waiting for K to pull in, and suddenly she knocks on the window.  She’s sweaty.

OF COURSE it made sense to run there.

Anyway, no big, I’d just tack on the extra mile solo at the end. Let’s get going!

 

WTF Garmin. What have I done this week to earn such spiteful hate from you??!

Kristina talked me off the ledge – once upon a time people ran without instant feedback on pace and distance and splits and all those other things we obsess over!  We can just go off total time!  It’ll be nice!

I called her stupid and sat on the curb and cried.

Not really.  But I did say our first 20 miler wasn’t the ideal time to be trying out these fandangled hippie running theories.  Damnit I want my data.

Truthfully, if I’d been solo I would have put off the run.  But I sacked up and we took off.

We ran to Back Bay (2mi), around (10mi), tacked on a quick out-and-back (4mi), ran to K’s (3mi), and then I ran the final mile back to Sbux solo to finish off a no-garmin-required 20.

Turns out : It was kind of calming to just run and not stress over pace or distance or “OMG 7.19 MILES LEFT TO GO BLARARAHGHHH!”  I mean, once the withdrawal symptoms and hysterical crying ended that is.  I won’t be purposefully running without it anytime soon, but I’m (reluctantly) happy to report that the run world still spins without the aid of Garmin satellites.

Peak week – COMPLETE.

 

this pic (from susan) has nothing to do with this post, I just thought maybe you were missing HTC talk and would want to see it

*  Would you consider a data detox?  Have you had a (forced or willing) break up with your watch??  I hear chirping about unplugging improving people’s times, but not sure I want to test it…

Sarah OUaL