Las Vegas HALF Marathon RUNdown Week 16: 10/29-11/4

Last week was probably one of my worst training weeks ever. Just putting it out there. I know part of it was because I was sick and part of it was because I was tapering, but man oh man did every single run feel just TERRIBLE. My schedule called for 5 runs instead of 6 (which I did) and I did not get in my surges, I cut-out my last 2 x 3/4 mile repeats at 5k pace in my speedwork (because running fast while sick is just really not fun), and reduced down one run by 1.5 miles. Overall, I’m proud that I took the sick days and really slowed down on my easy runs to keep my heartrate low (since I was sick - my heart was already working overtime), but I would be lying if I said that it didn’t mess with my head a bit and have me readjusting my goals COMPLETELY. I’m still playing it day-by-day so I don’t want to make any rash decisions and I do still really want to mentally push hard in my race, but if it’s not there- I’ve got to be OK with that. More on my goals for this race coming on Friday!

Monday, 10/29: REST DAY / 60 minute Jumpboard Pilates class at lunch

Tuesday, 10/30: 5.54 miles easy 10:50 135’ up

Wednesday, 10/31: REST DAY

Thursday, 11/1: 2.51 miles at 10:09 19’ up, taught skating, then 4.5 miles at 10:33 47’ up

Friday, 11/2: 1.1 mile warm-up @ 10:03 21’ up / 3 x 1 mile at 10k pace (splits: 7:22 - good/ 7:41 (pretty bad)/ 7:44 (really bad) + 2 x 3/4 mile at 5k pace (skipped- I just felt like my speed was not there)) / 3.0 mile cool down (accounted for the skipped 2 x 3/4 mile repeats and instead did some easy miles) at 10:39 39’ up

Saturday, 11/3: 3.5 miles easy @ 11:15 on the treadmill because it was an icy/snowy/ windy mix outside + 30 minutes of strength (and 30s Plank for another day down in the #Planksgiving challenge!)

Sunday, 11/4: 9.38 miles easy on the trails @ 11:56 685’ up —> basically ran this in a blizzard on the muddest/ wettest trails. not so fun and it was definitely below 30* out. SO CHILLY. Probably my slowest long run for several years. I didn’t take a photo so here’s me before my run cuddling with Brady (also I kinda wanted to be here during my run too ha)

Elevation gain: 966’

Mileage: 32.53 miles

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Shaken confidence in the taper- how do you deal with it?!?

What’s the weather like where you are?

Channeling that Nervousness Into Power

Happy Tuesday! The roads were STILL a complete mess this morning from Sunday’s snowstorm, but I managed to still get out for some speed work (which I didn’t realize that the roads had patches of black ice sooo that was FUN). I hit one of my 6 target paces, but I never gave up on myself and I continued to fight when things got really though so I’d say it was a WIN.

So I’ve been starting to feel a bit all over the place the past day or so (it’s a lot of work to take care of all the furry ones with Alex gone for a work trip until tomorrow) and wanted to share my thoughts here because I’m pretty sure I’m not alone (and if I am…well it’s still out there)! “Twitchy bitchy” is what one of my running instructors at the Pilates studio tells me I should be and that is one of the best ways I can describe my feelings right now (plus a bit scatter-brained).

Here are a few tips and tricks that help me harness all these bugs buzzing about in my head:

• Looking over & reviewing my training schedule. What you’ve done in the past is a great confidence booster

• Reminding myself that I am definitely in the BEST shape I’ve ever been in. Also that I WILL PR on Sunday. I’m not sure by how much, but I am going to get a new PR.

• Making lists. Lists of things to do, things to pack, reminding myself to breath. It all helps me realize that it can be done by just working down the list.

• Meditating. This is so key for me when things get crazy - it helps ground me and also make me realize how small these things that I’m obsessing over really are in the grand scheme of things.

• Journaling. I love to write down my thoughts- sometimes they flow out really quickly and others it’s just a few bullet points.

• Rather than worrying, reminding myself what I have to LOOK FORWARD TO! That post-race feeling, in the race the lights/ energy/ meeting new runners, the fantastic food, etc.

Here’s a photo of Stella thinking about her post-race food treat (she’s actually staying home in Steamboat, but really any particle of human food gets her excited):

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What are some things that you do when you start to feel scatter-brained and a bit “all over the place”?

Las Vegas HALF Marathon RUNdown Week 15: 10/22- 10/28

Happy HALLOWEEN! How are you celebrating today? I’m celebrating by going to the DENTIST?!?! Ha. It’s my yearly tradition : ) Then I feel less guilty about eating all the Halloween candy ; ) Also it’s a rest day, soo I definitely deserve extra sugary goodness!

SOURCE

I cannot believe that I leave for Vegas so soon and that I’m officially in the taper! I hit my highest mileage week of this training cycle last week with 46.68 miles! It was definitely mentally challenging to continue to up the ante when I raced the Saturday before, but I’m proud that I pushed through and never gave up! Let’s recap the week, shall we?

Monday, 10/22: 6.06 miles easy @ 9:59 341’ up / Jumpboard Pilates class at lunch

Tuesday, 10/23: 1 mile warm-up/ 1 mi @ HMGP 7:34, 3 min rest/ 1 mi @ 10k 7:14, 3 min rest / 1 mi @ 10k 7:17, 3 min rest / 1 mi @ 10k 7:19, 3 min rest/ 1/2 mi @ 5k 6:55, 2 min rest / 1/2 mi @ 5k @ 7:11 (slower than goal pace of 7:04), 3 min rest/ 1 mile cool-down. Overall, I’m super happy with my paces and bummed I didn’t get that last 5k pace! Oh well, still improving!

Wednesday, 10/24: REST DAY

Thursday, 10/25: 8 miles easy @ 9:48 303’ up & 25 minutes of strength

Friday, 10/26: 6 miles easy @ 9:40, 6 miles at HMGP @ 8:05 (slower than my goal pace of 7:42-7:47), 1.61 miles easy @ 9:46. I’m a bit bummed that my goal paced miles were slower than I wanted, but still happy with my effort. 238’ up

Saturday, 10/27: 6 miles easy @ 10:36 110’ up / 30 minutes of strength

Sunday, 10/28: 6 miles easy @ 11:00 on the treadmill!

Overall mileage: 46.68 miles

Overall elevation gain: 1, 065’ up

Also here’s your dose of cuteness for the day : )

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How’s your week going?

When is your rest day normally?

Las Vegas HALF Marathon RUNdown Week 14: 10/15-10/21

Happy Wednesday! I’m really beginning to love Wednesdays since I’ve switched to having them as my rest days. Sometimes it’s really refreshing to just do a simple switch like this. I’m looking forward to sleeping in a bit, cooking a full breakfast (eggs/ avocado toast/sausage), meditating, reading (I took a book out at the library and when I tried to renew it, I saw that someone has it on their wait list sooo…looks like I’ll be finishing it by tomorrow night!- definitely the biggest drawback to library books, but it does also get me to read more which is pretty great), and hopefully some yoga.

Last week I had a GREAT week of training, exploring, racing, and just in general. I’m finally starting to feel fitter, faster, and gaining more confidence in my goals (after a few weeks of feeling “meh”, I’m really glad that I stuck it out through them). I hit my highest mileage week since I switched to the half (46.28 miles) and have just one more week of higher mileage to go before I begin tapering?!? I know I keep saying it, but time has gone by way too fast!

Monday, 10/15: Speedwork on the treadmill. 1 mile easy to warm-up/ 2 mi @ Half Marathon goal pace (7:45), 2 min rest, 1 mile @ 10k (7:22), 2 min rest, 1 mile @ 10k (7:16), 2 min rest, 1/2 mile @ 5k (7:10), 2 min rest, 1/2 mile @ 5k (7:02), 2 min rest, 1 mi cool down. 7.54 miles total. I definitely still have some work to do on the 5k times, but otherwise felt really strong throughout and pretty pumped to have gotten it done on the treadmill (which sometimes feels harder than outside (except that it was 9* out so yeah…indoors it was!)) - also on a Monday which is HARD. 60 minute coreBarre class at lunch

Tuesday, 10/16: 5.05 miles easy @ 10:16 715’ up

Wednesday, 10/17: 7.56 miles —>7 miles easy progression miles (splits: 10:39, 10:27, 9:39, 9:30) with 4 x :30 surges 413’ up (originally planned to do 5-6, but ran out of time!). I forgot how to use my watch (eye roll) and didn’t hit it for one of my splits, so I’ve got just the four - oh well! It was also still very dark when I finished, so no photos today!

Thursday, 10/18: 4 miles easy @ 9:43 36’ up / taught skating for an hour/ 4 miles easy @ 9:57 77’ up. 30 minutes of strength. I slept in this morning because I was feeling a bit worn-out, so I had to fit my 8 miles in around running errands/ teaching skating/ strength after packing up the car… it isn’t always ideal, but we still make it work!

Friday, 10/19: REST DAY —> travel day to Lake Powell!

Saturday, 10/20: RACE DAY! 1 mile warm-up @ 11:26 (included some running drills on the grass), 13.1 miles with first 1-6 miles easy @ 8:48, miles 7-13.1 working towards Half Marathon Goal Pace avg @ 7:58. Splits: 9:16, 9:03, 8:40, 8:27, 8:58 (singletrack trail), 8:26, 7:25, 7:58, 8:02, 8:23, 8:25, 8:01, 7:32

Sunday, 10/21: 4.03 miles easy at 11:22 113’ up at Capitol Reef National Park! My legs felt a bit sluggish so I just went out without music while the sun was just beginning to rise and enjoyed the quietness of the park. I stopped to take some photos (kept my watch going) and relish in the opportunity to experience a National Park by foot! How lucky are we (runners) to see places by our feet when many others cannot? It was really nice to not care at all about the time on my watch and just be present in the moment.

Total Mileage: 46.28 miles

Total Elevation: 2, 298’ up

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Ever ran in a National Park?

Ever used a race as a workout?

Ever read How Bad Do You want it?

Library books- yay or nay?

Training Tuesday: Lake Powell Half Marathon Recap & 3 Easy Tips For Getting Faster On Your Runs!

Happy Tuesday! My Monday went by so quickly and I have a feeling that it’s going to continue to go faster until Vegas in 20 DAYS?!? How is it even possible that we’re less than 3 weeks until the race and only 2.1 weeks from when I leave?! I LOVE running the Rock ‘n Roll Vegas race - the energy is contagious, the weather has always been spectacular, and there’s just nothing else like it. After my race on Saturday, I’m feeling even more confident going into this race to achieve my goals. I’ve got my second-to-last speedwork session this morning and am so thankful that it’s finally warmer here (compared to last week’s single-digit weather)- 30* feels like a heat wave!

You can check out my race recap for the Lake Powell Half Marathon HERE.

I also wanted to share with you 3 tips that have helped me get faster over the past year or so. These are simple things that I had never really thought about before when I was running (more just for fun/ less than achieving any sort of time goal). I’d also love to hear if YOU have some easy tips that have helped you get faster. Make sure to share them in the comments below!

1. VARY your training paces. I.E. don’t just run the same paces everyday. Have a day where you run EASY (either keeping heartrate low/ being able to recite the Brady Bunch etc.) and then have one or two days a week where you vary/ play with your speed (whether that’s in tempo runs / speedwork/ surges at the end of an easy run, just try to get faster for a bit and then slow it back down!)

2. Join a running group/ class/ find a running buddy/ get a coach! I started doing the Running classes at Steamboat Pilates and immediately learned that there was something called speedwork?!? Ha. I had literally NEVER heard of this for us amateur runners out there and got so much faster by incorporating this once a week (it helped me break that sub 2 hour half marathon barrier)!

3. Try out different training plans to find the one that works for YOU. I tried out Hal Higdon’s for Revel Rockies Marathon one year, Jeff Galloway’s for Disney, and Hanson’s Marathon Method for Vegas last year - it took me awhile to find what worked best FOR ME. Everyone’s different and remembering that maybe getting a coach might be the best option for you instead of following a typical ‘run of the mill’ training plan

Tips for getting faster?!?

Favorite training plan you’ve ever followed?