Training Update: Week #17
I’m a day or so late on this post thanks to last week being the end of the school year (this picture sums up my boys’ feelings about that) and Memorial Day weekend…but better late than never, right? And I promise I did run, so we might as well dig in to the details.
Thanks to all of you who chimed in about the soreness in my right hamstring; your advice is appreciated so, so much. I was a little anxious to see how that sore spot would fare especially since I had my 10-miler to tackle. I decided to ice, ice (baby) every chance I could. Or rather, when I remembered to do so. I have a cute owl rice bag a friend made me long ago that I popped into the freezer and I rested my leg on it after every run and also in the afternoons (when Cam naps and I’m sitting at my laptop catching up on blogging tasks – perfect time for icing!).
I think it made a huge difference! That and a lot of stretching. I felt twinges of discomfort every once in a while during the first mile or so of every run but after that, it was nothing like the pain of the last couple weeks. So that was a huge relief.
Monday: I ran three miles and as scatterbrained as it sounds, even though that was only a week ago, I can’t remember if I did it in the early morning. Or was it mid-morning with the double jogger? No, I’d remember that horror. I think it was early morning. Wow, I think I’m losing my mind. Clearly it was uneventful enough to not warrant a significant memory.
Tuesday: I had thought about some type of cross-training workout but I decided to rest today because I was still figuring out how that ol’ hamstring would feel. Good choice, I think.
Wednesday: Ran five miles at 5:45 a.m. I was surprised at how pleasant this run was. Not easy by any means – maybe it was just the audiobook I was listening too (thanks for all of your suggestions!) but I didn’t feel like dying at the end. Another reason may be that I tried to run a little slower (which is funny because I am far from being a fast runner on normal conditions) this week to see if that would help my leg feel better. Slow = less painful.
Thursday: Even though my leg felt better this week, it was a bit achy after Wednesday’s five miles so early this morning I rode my back to a track and met a friend; we walked briskly for a few miles and then I ran one or two laps at the end and rode my bike home. It felt good.
Friday: This was supposed to be a rest day but I remembered we had company coming to stay with us Friday night and the probability of me waking up Saturday morning at 5 a.m. to run my looming 10 miles was slim (I’m a late night chatter when old friends come to town, what can I say?) so late Thursday night I decided to get up at 5 a.m. today and get my long run in.
The good news: it was a beautiful morning…
…and considering the longest I’ve run so far has been 8 miles, it could have been a lot worse. I took it slow and steady and other than one blasted hill that honestly felt like Mt. Everest and forced me to walk halfway up it’s mountainous ascent, I plodded along. I made a conscious effort to stop and stretch halfway through and that helped me (mentally and physically).
The thing that made me cry: my sweet friend, Deb, who recently had a baby knew I was running my 10 miles that morning and said she’d meet me for the last mile. Running has made me totally emotional because I started bawling when I saw her coming my direction. I was on mile 9. I was so tired. And it was the pick-me-up I needed. Then (then!) as we were jogging that last stretch, I saw a figure in the distance and realized it was my husband, Brian. He didn’t know I was meeting Deb and had used the Find my Friend app to track my progress and he ran from our house to meet me that last stretch, too (which is more of an act of love than I can express because he really does not enjoy running). Insert more tears. So the three of us jogged the last mile/mile and a half or so together. I’m not sure I would have had the mental stamina to get through if it weren’t for those two angels.
The bad: I was very, very, very sore. As in, walked like an old grandma (no offense to you cute 90-year olds out there) all day Friday and Saturday. I stretched like crazy before, during and after but it didn’t counteract the soreness. I know, I know – some of you will say MEL, GET OVER IT AND DO THE ICE BATH but I haven’t gotten brave enough to sit in a tub of ice yet (can you blame me?) plus it was the last day of school and I had about 20 minutes to get cleaned up before I had to be up there with my two littles to serve ice cream, watch a 5th grade graduation assembly and stuff like that. No time for ice baths (phew!). Surprisingly my hamstring issue didn’t really bother me during the run or after (thanks to all that icing maybe?) it was more just general agony everywhere else. You know, cause running 10 miles isn’t exactly something I do every Mon, Wed and Fri.
The stinky: I was so stinky and sweaty. That is all.
Overall: I have to admit I was pretty darn proud of myself for getting through the longest run I’ve done in over 12 years. TEN MILES! It kind of boggles my mind. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t fast, but it was still 10 miles. It reiterated to me the same thing I’ve thought a million times since I started training for this thing in February. If I can do this, anyone can do this.
Saturday: mostly a rest day (if you count working on finishing the chicken coop, taking care of our new bovine charges, gardening and cleaning the house resting)
This Week
-Monday: run 3 miles
-Tuesday: rest, cross-train or yoga, not sure which or what or how long yet
-Wednesday: run 4 miles (if I’m feeling good, I might go a little farther, maybe 5?)
-Thursday: run 3 miles
-Friday: rest day or yoga/stretching (still working on keeping that hamstring happy)
-Saturday: run 10 miles (again – yikes – breathe slowly – still scared); high likelihood I might do this again Friday morning since we have company staying overnight just like last week
With my five kids now out of school, I’m more determined than ever to get my runs in before the household wakes up and demands my every waking minute and for my shorter runs during the week, I’m hoping to prod my two oldest boys out of bed to go with me to get them moving along for their upcoming 10K.
One Note
I can’t believe the Utah Valley Half Marathon is creeping up! It’s less than three weeks away and I’m excited and nervous. I know many of you are running this same race and I can’t wait to meet all of you! I’m working out the details for after the race but as it stands, we’ll have a little designated meeting area near the finish line. I’ll keep you posted on exactly where it will be. I know we’ll all be finishing at different times so if you speedy runners promise to wait for me, I’ll wait for every last one of you. Deal? I think I need to be wearing a shirt that says something like this so if you blaze by me, toss me some of your gatorade, will ya?
Mel, if you’re afraid of ice baths (like I am) just put a few drops of peppermint essential oil in a warm bath and it will do the same thing. Additionally rubbing peppermint oil on particularly sore or tender areas before climbing into the bath helps to. Peppermint oil baths were a life-saver for me when I was training for a 50-miler and doing back-to-back long runs on the weekends. They work!
Serious? I’m trying that tonight! I use peppermint essential oil all the time – why did I not know about this? Thank you!
So inspiring,Mel! Truly amazing. π
I have been bitten by the running bug myself. I think for me it all started about this time last year when I almost died having JD. I could barely move. I couldn’t even walk. But in my heart I knew it would all be okay. As I slowly(vey slowly) got my body moving I wanted it to keep moving. I determined once I could walk I was going to run. Once I could run I was going to run further. Then a few months ago I decided to train for a 10k. At the time the idea made we want to throw up! Now, I feel the miracles of heaven open on my behalf and I’m humbled to see where this body of mine had come in a years time. I share that only to say that we were meant to do hard things. And therefore we become greater.
Love you and I am grateful for your influence in my life.
I love this so much, Deb! But am kind of sad that we both didn’t get bit by the running bug when we were actually sort-of neighbors. I’m proud of you! I know how much you’ve overcome in your life physically and think you are a rock star. Thank you for your sweet words. You inspire me!
Nice! 10 miles is a big deal! I made it to 10 miles last Saturday too. I’m training for my first full marathon and it was crazy after finishing the run to realize that I hadn’t even done half the distance of the race. What am I thinking??
As far as your injured hamstring goes, I’m glad the ice is helping. I agree that ice and stretching are so important. I am also a firm believer from my own experience that injury and pain are a sign that I need to make adjustments to my running form. Usually it means I am over striding. Try shorter, quicker steps and make sure your feet don’t land in front of your body. Should be right underneath you or even a little behind as you lean forward from the ankles. There is a great diagram of good form here: https://www.altrarunning.com/run-better#LearnToRun
Good luck! If you can run 10 miles you can do a half marathon so you’re there!!!
Thanks for the tips on stride, Nicole. And good luck on your marathon! Wow!
Totally impressed you did your 10 miler early! Way to plan ahead.
I also can’t stand the thought of climbing into a tub full of ice, but I know it probably helps a lot, given how much icing my injuries helps. I am always amazed at how much better I feel after icing, I always end up kicking myself for putting it off too long.
Looking forward seeing you at the finish line!
I’ve been following your blog for years and even felt like I knew you more when you lived in Wisconsin for awhile. I started running myself 2 years ago and did my first 10K that fall. Since then, with the lovely Wisconsin winters, and life, my running has stopped. I was catching up on your running posts since I knew your 1/2 was coming up soon. You’ve done so awesome in your training. You should be so proud of yourself already! I am reading all your running posts to give me the motivation to get back out there. I was never fast but that was never my goal. My goal was to run and since I’ve done it before there’s no reason why I can’t do it again. Thanks for being a motivator from afar. Good luck on your 1/2 marathon next month. I’ll be thinking about you.
Thanks, Becky! Keep me posted as you get back out there on the running bandwagon. I know you can do it! Especially since you’ve run before. I agree that being fast is not my goal – it’s all about finishing. You can do it! Thanks for the words of encouragement on my half-marathon; I’ll need every single one!
Way to go, Mel! Congrats on your 10-miler!! I am proud of you, just as any avid-reader from far-away Ohio would be! π You should be so PROUD!! Busy mom, wife, friend, blogger…I am impressed and really excited for you!
I run 8-10 miles twice a week, and I whenever I get-up off the couch (I know, who has time to sit on the couch?!?!) I walk like a granny. And that’s been quite a few years of running longer distances. If you do the ice bath, I might, too.
Best wishes on your half coming-up in a few weeks. I think I told you a while ago that I run just for me, and races make me so nervous and just ugh…but if I lived out west I would totally get over it and run that race to meet you and congratulate you. You’ll do great!!
You are so cute, Jolie. Thanks for your comment! I’m holding you to that ice bath thing. The minute I do it, I’m emailing you and pressuring you to do it, too. Thanks for making me realize I’m not the only one who walks funny after running that far (and wow, twice a week? you are a rockstar).
Yea, 10 miles — you go girl! And nothing could convince me to do an ice bath unless I was unconscious. π Truly loved the beautiful actions of Brian and Deb. What lovely people! And loved reading about your tender heart and the tears. And it will be so much fun having your older boys running with you. So happy for you, Mel.
I cried when I read how your friend and husband meet you at the end of your run. You are successful in your running journey.
Yay for you! So glad your hamstring is starting to feel better. I was thinking of you Saturday morning as I was not running my 10 miles. Change of plans here, I will now be coming home from girls camp on June 13 instead of running with you. (I’ll probably be just as tired as if I had run 13.1 miles however… I hear I won’t get much sleep that week). I’ll be thinking of you and all the other half crazy people I won’t get to meet though. Maybe I’ll see you at a local race some other time. Hope those raspberries do great and we see lots of raspberry recipes in the near future! Good luck Mel, I know you will rock it!!!
Oh, that’s such a bummer, Jackie! I was looking forward to seeing you there but I can understand how crazy the summer gets. You’ll have to look at the FitOne half-marathon in Boise in September. I’m kind of tempted to sign up for that one.
I’ve actually wanted to do that one for years but never have. Did you know if you sign up on June 3 it’s only $15 for any distance?
Serious?? That’s good to know! I think I’m going to sign up – you should, too! π
Woo-hoo!!! Great news on your week. Hope the hammy continues to feel better.