Training Update: Week #11
So before I get into the nitty gritty, thank you so much for all you said last week to get me out of the funk of a bad week. I’m realizing more and more how mentally challenging running is and sometimes I lose that battle. But after reading through your comments, it really did help me to reflect on how far I’ve come and how this is often so much more than just running. So thank you…more than you know. I was so inspired by all of you who have accomplished goals of your own and started running/exercising recently.
Ok, on to a quick update for last week!
Week #11’s Workouts
-Monday: two shorter {free} FitnessBlender.com workouts (this one and this one) late at night after spending the whole day thinking I might actually run 5 miles (hint: I didn’t)
-Tuesday: ran 5 miles in the early a.m. – loving that it’s getting light slightly earlier now. The run was pretty decent overall; I’ve been alternating listening to audiobooks and music. Changing it up helps my feet keep going.
-Wednesday: did a 30-minute strength training workout borrowed from my cousin (a Chalean Extreme workout and LOVED it, loved it).
-Thursday: ran 4 miles at our elementary school track in the early a.m. Track running’s a little boring but I was happy to get the miles in (even if it was a pretty slow run overall).
-Friday: rest day (oh man, I love rest days).
-Saturday: ran my 10K! A few overall thoughts below…
What I Think About 10K’s Now That I’m Obviously An Expert
-I was so nervous, it’s almost indescribable. I know that sounds silly because it’s only six miles but I haven’t run an official race in over a decade. And my nerves almost got the best of me – like, I almost backed out.
-Brian told me if I backed out, I couldn’t make a new recipe for a month. So I powered through my stomachy nerves because you know that I know that food is my life. It was a local race about 25 minutes away – I drove out there while Brian held down the fort (meaning: took all five kids to weigh Jackson in for his wrestling tournament and then took them all to two rainy, cold soccer games, one of which he was coaching, and I met them there after I was done running; he’s amazing and clearly very supportive).
-Running alone has been my style all along except for occasionally running with Brian or the kids. Which basically means I was a bit out of touch with how running in a pack like that would mess with my mind. I was worried when so many started out like they were sprinting a 400 meter race and it made me wonder, “am I running fast enough” or “why am I so slow” or whatever. Overanalyzing = me. It was easy for me to want to keep up with those in front of me but I had been warned enough not to start too fast out of the gate so I held back and tried to keep my regular ol’ pace.
-I ended up running it in about 1:01 with a couple gatorade stops and a potty break thrown in there and a little rain coming down at the end. I had absolutely no time or goal in mind for finishing so in my mind, I was just happy I finished. And I have no idea how that time fits on on the running spectrum but hey, it’s a PR, right?
-I’m really sore sitting here tonight. Like, I’m kind of worried to stand up and get ready for bed. I might need assistance.
-Since this is my most current race experience, my main take away from this is that running knows no stereotype. And I loved seeing that today. I literally was passed by a blazing fast 75-year old grandma and later by a rock star of a guy wearing a prosthetic leg. There were teenagers, middle-agers and strolling-pushing parents. Super thin, muscular runners and stockier, heavy runners. Runners that clearly had run 100’s of races and others who were newbies (hello, me!!). It was fascinating. I’m kind of a people watcher by nature and that facet of the race was so interesting to me it made the running time actually pass faster than if I had gone out and run 6.2 miles in my neighborhood. I was so inspired by all the levels of fitness out there running today. Even though I didn’t speak to another soul, it felt unifying somehow.
I’m obviously not the first person to ever run a race; it’s not like this is a unique, singular experience but I feel awesome for completing another milestone that I never thought would be possible 11 weeks ago.
This Week
This next week marks moving up from running 3X a week to 4X a week until race day (June 16). The plan on my training schedule is to run 3 miles Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday before upping the long run to 8 miles the next week (aaaahhhh!). Is it bad that I’m kind of looking forward to a week of all 3-mile runs or is that my inner laziness coming out?
Thanks for listening to me blab. Love you guys. PS: If you see me in Costco, you better grab me and say hi! Jackie, who comments here on the running updates, did just that last week and it was so, so fun meeting her in real life even if it was while we were in the freezing produce room and I was dreaming of my parka. I wish I could meet all of you like that (although you would have to promise not to judge me based on the 32 packages of dark chocolate pretzel packages in my cart)
How was running/exercising for you this week?
I’m a little slow, I know… but yay for you!! Thats great that you ran your 10K and with a great time to boot! I bet if all those people who ran with you had known they were running alongside THEE Mel from MKC, they would have had you sign their race bib!! 🙂
Keep on going, you’re inspiring many along the way, including me!! 🙂
Haha! Yeah, right, Tanya…I doubt that. 🙂
I’m reluctant to comment because I am not a “race” person. Never have run a race. For the last fifteen years, I have run 3 miles about 3 times a week never going beyond that unless it has been a super stressful week then I go out for a run. I run country roads and my route is long, long steep hills with little down time (i.e. flat areas). There are some smaller hills but I am so fortunate to live in a back woods country area where the hills are steep and long. My husband has saved a lot on not having “gym membership bills” to consider in the monthly budget. 🙂 The reason I am commenting is because I love bike riding. I can easily pull the hills running because it has been my regular habit to do so. But pulling the hills on my bike is a totally different story. By the time I get to the top of one of the steep hills, my thighs are tight, weak, and wobbly and I usually have to take a break before climbing the next hill. I don’t have one of those super, expensive sleek bikes that do a lot of the work for you by choice. I have an old WalMart one. I can’t keep up with the kids when pulling hills on the bike so have to run or they have to wait. Bicycle riding is a great trainer and I sincerely feel my legs and lungs are in the great shape they are because of the bike training. Oh, yeah, I never allow myself to cheat on hills by standing to pull them but force myself to stay on the bike seat and use my legs and core to get me up the hill. You can do this, Mel! Your training will put you in great shape and I hope you will continue being active and physical in a much lesser and more fun way after the race. The kids will reap the benefits of an active, physical mom that loves to get out there and run, bike, and play after a hard day’s work.
Thanks for chiming in and leaving a comment, Sheila! I’m impressed with you running and biking up and down what seem like arduous hills. You inspire me!
Way to go! I am so happy for you that you were able to run the 10k! Races are a fun experience and I am sure that the half marathon will be even better with your family there to cheer you on. There is something about seeing your husband standing there with your kids and seeing them all cheer you on that is so emotional. Maybe because they have been your cheerleaders in all the months and weeks of training ahead of time. Running is tough stuff but it makes you feel so good when you accomplish the goals you gave set. I am so happy for you! Keep up the awesome work!
I’m so happy you ran the 10K race. It will be good to have that under your belt when you go to the half. And just over an hour is awesome! It would totally make my day if I ran into you in Costco, but I’m guessing you don’t usually frequent my costco, so I’ll just have to look forward to meeting you at the Utah Valley Half in a couple months! Good luck this week – I know I’m late catching up on this update, so hopefully it’s going ok, despite your cold. Get well soon!
Thanks, Mollie! It’s been a lousy running week because of my cold but I knew I’d probably have a week or so like this (impossible to escape all germs with the five kiddos) and thankfully it falls on a light running week. I’m actually feeling a bit better so I’ll tackle a run tomorrow. Can’t wait to meet you in June!
Woo-hoo!! Well done Mel. Not only did you do it, but you did it in good time too. You should be very proud.
Congrats!!!
I knew some friends running it that same race this past weekend, and it happens to be only a few miles from my parents house (where I happened to be for a short time this weekend!) I met the gals from ourbestbites down in SL on Saturday and mentioned to them that your blog is another one that I follow (besides their’s) and they said that when they are looking for a new recipe to make their family they love going to you site. What a small, amazing world it is! You go girl! Congrats on your race, I hope you keep it up!
Thanks for your comment, Lisa! You are right – it is such a small world; your comment made my day. 🙂
I’m inspired by you! You are clearly a very busy mom and the fact that you are finding the time to train for a half marathon is amazing! I just started training for a 5k two weeks ago. I’ve been getting in shape and losing weight for the past 12 months now, but I’ve always stuck to HIIT videos and weights. Last summer I couldn’t have run a 400m, and now I’m planning to run 3.1 miles? It’s crazy to me. But I think it’s important to have goals to work toward, and as a SAHM to 3 kids right now, exercise has become an outlet for me – one of the only things I do only for ME. Good luck on your upcoming half! I enjoy reading all of your updates- keep them coming! 🙂
I love this, Vanessa! Thank you for taking the time to comment and way to go on starting to train for your 5K. I totally know that feeling you described of having what seems like a daunting distance staring you in the face. I’ve had some downer weeks but every time I get discouraged, I look back over the last 10 or so weeks and remember that back at the start, I could barely run at all. That motivation to do something for yourself is a great boost. Good luck!!
Congratulations on your 10k performance, you did awesome! 1:01 is a great time…good for you!
Just for fun, I went searching for the results. And according to the official times, you finished in 80th place out of 195 runners! Very impressive! Not only that, you were 19th out of the 35 females in your age group! That’s outstanding results for someone just starting out!!
I think I’m speaking for everyone when I say, we’re all very proud of you 🙂
Thanks, Rob! I’m such a newbie at races I didn’t even know I could go look up the official results. You’re awesome for helping me find out how I really did. 🙂
lol
Ya, Sheila just rolls her eyes at me when I’m studying race results. I go through the same ritual every time…after I finish a race I always spend WAY too much time analyzing my results
🙂
Hooray for a great race!!! I always feel nervous before races but love running them for many of the reasons you mentioned. People watching, being around a bunch of other people who you don’t even know but you have a strange running connection to, the energy of people cheering you on from the sidelines – for me, races are the best part of running!
I think 1:01 is super fast! I ran 7.3 this Saturday and thought of you while I did it. Glad you had a better week.
Thanks, Mary – I think “super fast” is a stretch but I’ll take it! I’m just glad I finished. Way to go on your 7.3! Maybe your good thoughts helped push me along in my race. 🙂
Link here. Seriously, this stuff is so great. Way better than Vaseline or even BodyGlide!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CJX1UY/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=40318498730&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10480615603006226009&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_2ycwv72zq_e
Isn’t the running community amazing? I remember being at my first race and looking around and just loving every single person around me. 🙂 it’s been the same for every race afterwards; I can’t even tell you how much I love the total strangers who became dear friends during my first marathon (running together for four hours gives you time to bond like crazy!)
I had an interesting running week thanks to a pickup game of soccer with my kids that reminded me I’m not as young as I used to be. Yowza! I had to take an extra rest day to ice a twisted knee, but got all my other runs in, including nine miles with my husband that were the chafing-est miles I’ve ever run thanks to complaining about a teacher while I was getting dressed and totally forgetting my 2Toms body glide stuff, which I’m mentioning here because it is like the holy grail of anti-chafing goop and you will definitely want some as your runs get longer and longer! 🙂
Nine miles! That’s no joke especially with a twisted knee. So about this 2Toms stuff, like, where exactly do you put it, if I may ask such a personal question? I’d rather not have chafing issues so methinks I should get some advice beforehand. 🙂
Hah! Great question! I find that the key areas (for me, at least) are anywhere with a seam. My bra line is the most important; for some reason it seems to rub horribly (even though I am, ahem, not exactly well-endowed!). So I usually just make sure that my back is covered underneath the bottom edge of my bra. The other key place is at the small of my back. And it’s reeeeaallly important to wear seamless underwear (forgot that one Saturday and I was miserable for the next 26 hours!). Sometimes I also need it under my arms, depending on the cut of the shirt I am wearing.
If I’m running more than 3 hours I will also put it on my feet, but I’m not very prone to blisters, so I’m more casual about it. Lots of my runner friends put it on their feet for every run.
Yes, 2Toms is the BEST! I tried a bunch of other stuff before finding this, and there is no reason to use anything else. I think different people chafe in different places, so I’d tune into any spots that you might feel the slight bit irritated after a long run, and always pre-treat those. I dealt with a lot of chafe before finding this stuff, so for me there were so question about where to put it! Arms (upper under where you have a seam) and upper inner thighs (TMI?) were my big issues. When I have a long run, I put it lots of places. Seams can cause big issues, even when they are the fancy covered seams you find in running gear.
You did it!!! Great job! I’m so excited for you that you did the 10k! I’ve heard its a pretty tough course, lots of hills, that should make the one in Provo seem like a piece of cake, right? I hope your boys games and match went well too.
My run Saturday went better than expected. I only planned on doing 1 mile to just kind of ease into it again but I was feeling so good I did 2. I probably could have done more but didn’t want to overdo it my first day back. I’ll hit it hard this week though, I’ve got a lot of lost time to make up for! So I guess I’ll see you in June, if not before then at Costco
Thanks, Jackie! So happy your first run back on went well – let’s hope that foot holds up!
Way to go!!! That’s just so cool. Also love your family support. You’ve done something right! Your last weeks post inspired me to pull out of my exercise rut and get into something new. That being said, I ate better this week and powered through the end of my lunge challenge. Sure won’t miss those lunges! And now my friend is trying to convice me to do a half with her in sept which terrifies me very much. But maybe.
Do it, Heather, do it! I’m still terrified, too, but you have a ton of dedication and determination.
Hoo – RAH … I SAY HOO RAH!!! Mel and family !!!! An incredible individual and team family effort.
So happy to hear you ran the race and thank you for sharing the details.
Thank you so much, Liz!