Reflecting on April- Running, Strength, Life

May 01, 2020 by Stacy McAllister in 100 Miler Training, Training Rundown

For a month of quarantine, April seemed to go by pretty fast for me! I think my birthday month always does. It also signified one year since I left my full-time job and went back to school full-time (SCARY! EXCITING!). I had a BIG month of training with some of the best long runs I’ve ever had. I mixed in middle tempo miles on roads that weren’t flat and just pushed along at a steady pace. I stayed with it when runs felt like a slog and really tried to slow down on my recovery runs. I honestly still want to slow down more -> goal for the month of May.

I also still continued to do strength training generally 3 days a week and yoga 2-3 days a week. I’m really proud of continuing to both of these because my mileage jumped quite a bit this month from last (~30 miles). Normally when my mileage goes up = strength/stretching goes down.

I’m also proud that I was able to find some elevation to gain during my hilly recovery runs (over 1,000’ is pretty good when you don’t necessarily live in the mountains)- they’re actually one of my favorite days because it reminds me vaguely of being on the trails. All of our trails are closed here, so sadly exploring isn’t an option right now.

I celebrated my 30th birthday! Also weirdly since then I’ve been feeling achier than normal- is that what happens when you turn 30? IDK but oddly feeling no longer ‘like a Spring chicken everyday’.

I’ve got ~14 weeks left of classes before entering the “REAL WORLD” again full-time and am currently starting to apply for jobs. Right now, I’m really interested in working in an ICU-type of environment (also currently interested in becoming a CRNA someday)- so trying to figure out the best positions to help set me up for that later on. I’m also trying to decide on how far I want to travel for a job! It’s exciting/scary. Yup, just adding more fun into the whole pandemic situation over here ; )

I’ve also been loving a lot of Epsom Salt baths lately given that it’s been basically windy/rainy/cloudy for 30 days straight (or so it seems…)

I’d love to know how your month went! Anyone else feel like it went by really fast? What were some of your ‘silver linings’ in April?

What Training Looks Like Right Now

January 15, 2020 by Stacy McAllister in Training Rundown

It’s kinda funny how different seasons of life bring different expectations, viewpoints, perspectives, and goals. I was just thinking back to this time last year where I was super vigilant on training for my 50 miler/ Eugene Marathon and honestly, I feel like maybe it was too much training? It’s funny how it takes a while to look back at something and see it from a totally different perspective. I can almost envision the why I never actually reached my goal at Eugene because my training was crazy intense during an already stressed-out time in my life. I’m so happy I decided to take a complete month off of running because it allowed my body to regenerate and honestly, I’m feeling fitter than ever right now. I’m excited to begin working with a running coach for the first-time and focus on just a few races this year. I also really want to continue to improve-upon my nutrition as well as the ‘little things’ like strength training, yoga, and maybe some cross-training activities or run groups! Speaking of healthy -> we’re still mainly eating vegan (since November!), but have been loving the vegetarian options from Hello Fresh! Last nights Mediterranean Chickpea Couscous Salad:

I’m also getting stocked-up which can only mean one thing: race training season is upon us!

I started 3 mornings last week with some yoga and it was amazing. I really really love to begin my days like this if I have time.

Epsom Salt baths are also my jam lately. I add a side of Hot Lemon-Lime Nuun & some Gilmore Girls for the background -> amazing.

Last weeks training looked a bit like this:

Monday, Jan. 6th: 7.03 miles 9:33 min/mi avg in the slushy snow and yoga

Tuesday, Jan. 7th: Bike for 20 minutes & strength

Wednesday, Jan. 8th: 7.5 miles with 6 x 800m (see below for splits) and 15 minutes of strength work and yoga

Thursday, Jan. 9th: 3.5 miles at 10:46 pace on snow-packed trails after a day at my mental health clinical

Friday, Jan. 10th: 10 miles with a faster finish overall average 8:59 pace and yoga

Saturday, Jan. 11th: 6 easy miles at 9:24 min/mi avg and yoga in the morning

Sunday, Jan. 12th: 6.24 easy treadmill miles at 10:29 min/mi avg and yoga in the morning and 342 yard swim

Total Mileage: 40.3 miles

Total Elevation (treadmills don’t count the incline which is a bummer!): 1, 322’ up

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-What’s your training look like right now?

-Ever had a point in your life where maybe you over-did it?

Loco Marathon Week 12 RUNdown

October 29, 2019 by Stacy McAllister in marathon training, Training Rundown

The second week of taper for me included running 6 days and one day off. I didn’t do much strength training last week- just a few planks and squats to keep my core engaged. Overall I worked on keeping my pace easy and lots of hydration.

Monday, 10/21: 5 easy miles 9:33 pace

Tuesday, 10/22: 3 easy miles 9:44 pace

Wednesday, 10/23: 3 easy miles 9:37 pace

Thursday, 10/24: 5 easy miles 9:39 pace

Friday, 10/25: Rest Day

Saturday, 10/26: 2 mile shakeout with 4 x :30 strides

Sunday, 10/27: 26.2 mile race day!

Total Miles: 44.3 miles

Total Elevation: 1,132’ up

Loco Marathon Training RUNdown Week 12: 10/14-10/20

October 23, 2019 by Stacy McAllister in marathon training, Training Rundown

Last weekly recap before race day! This past week was my first taper week and I felt pretty great. I had to keep slowing myself down on my runs and feel like my fitness may be peaking at just the right moment. Cheers to 4 days left until race day.

Monday, 10/14: 5 easy miles at 9:43 pace and 6.54 mile bike ride

Tuesday, 10/15: 10.02 mile bike ride

Wednesday, 10/16: 5 easy morning miles at 9:25 pace

Thursday, 10/17: 9 morning miles with 6 x 1 mile repeats (7:30, 7:30, 7:30, 7:29, 7:45, 7:31). Half on the treadmill and the remaining outside during the crazy windy/rainy Bomb Cyclone

Friday, 10/18: 10 easy miles at 9:35 pace and band work/ yoga

Saturday, 10/19: Rest Day!

Sunday, 10/20: 5 easy miles at 9:34 pace and band work

Total Miles: 34.1 miles

Total Elevation: 528’ up

Loco Marathon Training RUNdown Week 11: 10/7-10/13

October 16, 2019 by Stacy McAllister in marathon training, Training Rundown

It was a BUSY week last week and I finally got a bit of a break this past Monday/Tuesday from schoolwork/ working/ commuting/running. It was MUCH needed. Last week was my big ‘peak week’ before the marathon! It’s so crazy to me how quickly the past 13 weeks have gone and it’s even crazier to me how well-executed it went! This is my first race that I actually ‘marathon trained specifically for’ in over 2 years and I’m really excited to see how well I can execute this race coming up! It’s all about recovery, rest, and mainly easy miles from here until race day. Let’s recap last week’s 55 miles! Also side note: I’m really excited that I can finally start to put my hair up in a nice bun on top of my head again- it’s been so long!

Monday, 10/7: 1 mile warm up / 12 x 400m (400 R) (7:20/ 6:59/ 7:05/ 7:22/ 7:01/ 7:07/ 6:59/ 6:54/ 7:21/ 7:07/7:06/ 7:04)/ 1 mile cool down & strength