July 7th, 2009
Life is looking up – I had a great night of sleep. The noisy cardinal disappeared almost a week ago (maybe a neighbor took a BB gun to it) but instead of peace and quiet returning, the house next door is in the midst of a complete renovation, so yesterday I was out on my deck at 7:30 am, yelling at the workers for using a nail gun so early in the !@#$ morning. I scared the guys pretty good, crazy bed-hair and all, so they stopped for about an hour and this morning they waited till a more reasonable 8am.
On the running front, things are going great. The IT band is (dare I say it?) normal again, though I feel it’s one of those injuries that once you have it, you’re always open to reinjury, so I take it with a grain of salt. It ended up lasting 6 weeks exactly, but now that I know what to do about it if it returns, I don’t foresee it being so drawn-out again.
Last week was a nice, fat, undramatic 61 mile week and boy, did that make me happy. Pacing was slower than usual because it kept being mid-80s by the time I got out and with all that had been going on, I was satisfied to plod through most of them, so my runs averaged 8:51 to 8:08, depending on the day.
Continuing the trend, yesterday was a 7-mile recoveryish run at 8:53 (87 degrees) and today’s 9 averaged 8:24. I’m just running by feel – haven’t worn my HR monitor in weeks, either.
Here’s what my tentative calendar looks like for the rest of the month. I’ll probably get a day off in there somewhere, just not sure when.
Except for progression runs starting the 19th, I haven’t marked any quality runs in yet, choosing to play it by ear since I’m not training yet. I figure I’ll start with a short tempo this week, then alternate intervals and tempos till August. I’m still feeling very much in “taking it easy” mode after being in running rehab the last few weeks. Funny how easy it is to get out of the quality work habit once you’ve let it lapse.
One interesting note is that if I started Hudson at the 20-week mark (instead of doing my own base-building this month), marathon training would have begun this week. As it is, I have no interest in calling anything “marathon training” 20-weeks out, so I’m ignoring the little numbers to the left of the calendar until August. Nod to Hudson for the progression runs, though.
Besides that, I’ve been quite industrious these last few days, adding 10 new designs to The Gifted Runner, so check it out if you’re curious. But ladies, don’t ask me why the pink wicking shirts are showing up as white, I’ve got a tech support email out to Zazzle to fix it. It’s not my fault, I swear.
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Guys, Don’t anger the Wild-Haired Crazy Lady!
Are those all GA runs apart from the progressions on Sundays?
The Monday run and the day after the fast day will be recovery, so that leaves 3 GA runs. I’ll play it by ear on those, depending on what the weather dictates.
I do think Hudson’s 20 week plan is a little excessive. I wonder why 20? Because it’s 5 months? That’s a lloooonnng time to train for a marathon. You would think he’d have multiple weeks to choose from, like Pfitz. Glad you are on the mend, but dear… you’ve GOT to get up earlier to beat the heat! That cardinal was trying to tell you what’s best.
I’m scared of you already! LOL. Just kidding. Can you tell me what you consider a good beginner running pace is? On my treadmill I am comfortable at 5 mph but many think that is just a jog. Are they right? Should I be pushing to run faster. I am doing the C25K program right now and really have no idea what a running pace is compared to a jog. If you could respond on my blog page or at my e-mail address if you have the time. I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Hudson’s plans are intended as get-you-started templates. He expects us to hack them around. He figures that elites can prepare for a marathon in 8-10 weeks. My current cycle is Pfitz 12/70, as I’m foolishly running marathons 13 weeks apart. I’m looking forward to adapting Hudson for the following one, a whole luxurious 19 weeks later. Good to hear that the ITB is behaving, Not so good about the heat.
LA, you’re right, I was good about alarm clocks last summer but I can’t seem to get to bed before 1am. I’ll try better though, it’d make for nicer running for sure. About those 20 weeks, I’ll echo Jim that it’s for those starting from scratch, it gives those people a healthy dose of remedial base-building.
Wyndymoon, I can’t tell you the right pace, everybody’s different, but you can ask questions at the Beginner Forum of Runners World, they’re really helpful and nice. It’s where I started posted when I did C25K.
Jim, are you going for Maniac status? I don’t remember what the rules of that are but it sounds like you could qualify.
I’ve got into a pattern of using each marathon as the base for the next one, like climbing stairs. Assuming I run the CIM (pretty sure I will), Boston will be the 6th in a row. No coach, no textbook put me up to this, it just happened that way. I’m promising myself a pause after Boston, but who knows?
Here’s how to be a true maniac. I’m not even close.
http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/criteria.html
Jim, why stop at Boston? Go for the Boston Big Sur double!
I agree, 20 weeks, too long. If I followed that, I’d be in week 3 for NYC. No thanks.
Even Pfitz has said the 18 is the most a plan should be in some of his RT writings, with 16 being ideal.
I think if you go out on your deck with a cat or two that will scare your construction workers more then anything. Nobody wants to mess with a crazy cat lady heh heh.
So glad that you are able to run comfortably again! I ran 11 yesterday..my longest since the ITB saga began. I felt good through 8, and felt some tweaks for the last 3…but I made it. I have no residual soreness today, so I hope that is a good sign. I go to PT this afternoon to continue to work on it.
I can’t wait to run without thinking about it! I’ve been freaking out a bit with every little twinge. It does seem to be getting more and more under control….knock on wood. It has been 6 weeks for me, too.
I checked out your new GR designs….no wonder you’ve been up late….you’ve been a very busy lady doing all of your creative stuff!!
Doggie – I thought about the Boston 2 Big Sur thing, but not for long. Big Sur would have been a pricey 26.2 mile recovery jog, to get a jacket that basically announces “I am Insane!”.
Jim, the stair climbing analogy is great. And even if you’re not an official Maniac, you’re a maniac to me (albeit a pretty mild-mannered one).
Your take on Boston 2 Big Sur is exactly what it looks like to me, an expensive recovery run.
Doggie, in a way, we’re doing those 20 weeks anyway, just not calling it that. ;-)
Preston, ha, crazy cat lady…I could double as a scarecrow to future wandering cardinals, too.
La Casalinga, that’s fantastic! What a huge relief that must be, just to know you could get through it. I’m so happy for you. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to “run without thinking about it.” I feel like I’ve been living inside my leg these past few weeks, so sensitive to every little thing. Cheers to us being healthy and unfettered!
PR Pink shortsleeve is white too. The wicking one I saw was pink.
Glad the ITB has settled down – enjoy the non-training running.
But others are white!
flo-sshhhh, dont tell my legs that.
The only reason I give boston big sur any thought at all is I can go see my old home.
Sweet, glad the ITB decided to shut the hell up!
I got a notice from Zazzle that my “Almost There” shirt has shipped. If it’s not here before this weekend’s race I can at least wear it for a 10K I’m doing at the end of the month, and can probably get a few laughs wearing it for my Monday a.m. trail run crew.
Ewen, lol, you’re playing Where’s Waldo? Except it’s Where’s Pink? I haven’t seen any pink ones showing up in days, they tell me it’s still being worked on…annoying.
Dog, I’ll keep mum to your gams, don’t you worry.
Kazz, good luck this weekend! Hope the shirt arrives in time. Thanks again for purchasing, you’re a sweetie!!
I have no idea how you all can run so many consecutive days without rest. My knees hurt just thinking about it…
Glad to hear that you’re IT Band adventures are seemingly behind you. And, best of luck with the base building.