Training Rundown: 4/12-5/2

Humpday! I’m collecting the past three weeks of training into one recap because I’ve been slacking (being completely honest over here). I really enjoyed my break from work over my birthday and just getting back into the swing of things (I.e. need to continue to list things on eBay & pare down all the things we never use before our closing date at the end of June). The transition from my marathon to now hasn’t been anything crazy, but it has been gradual.

Total Run Mileage each week: 21.25 , 35.19, 38.19

Longest Run: 13.36 (2.5 hrs)

Average Runs Per Week: 5

Total Miles Biked: 21.11

Total Swam: 3,007 yds

I focused mainly on really good nutrition and adding in walk breaks to my runs to transition from my marathon back into ultra training. I think it’s important to focus on recovery after any sort of race/big training and sleep is also a part of that. Sleep is certainly hard to come by when I’m switching between day/night schedules at the hospital, but I’ve been trying so hard to make that my number one priority.

-How do you transition from races back into training? What do you like to focus on?

7 Things

I had a shortened weekend with half off Sunday and worked both Friday/Saturday nights, but was able to get outside with Alex and go for a bike ride!

And then an hour run after the bike ride/night shift was SO HARD, but these moments are the ones that will help me get to my 💯 in August.

Lots of puppy snuggles were had 🥰

Also tried my first sour beer and WOW I’M OBSESSED. This one was so good (almost too good). Also- very surprised with how high the alcohol content was ?!?

I’m also all for the complimentary ‘it’s your birthday’ treats. Yay for Panera last week.

I’m working 3 night shifts in a row this week, so thinking that there’s going to be a lot more 5am coffee runs in my future.

I’m looking forward to more pool swims in my future. I swam the farthest I’ve ever gone on Monday!

-What’s your favorite cross training activity?
-Favorite ‘birthday treat’ from a restaurant?

Race Recap & It’s Been A Minute

Happy Friday! I’ve honestly been putting off writing this race recap from The Cheap Marathon because this race was a huge disappointment. I was so excited to get back to a ‘real live race’ and knew I had built up so much fitness- so, what could go wrong? Well, it did not end in a PR and I walked. A lot. I also stopped to make sure a runner on the side of the race course was ok as he was lying down (he was OK- we found a spectator who was able to call the race director and the runner didn’t hit his head and was able to answer basic questions). So, I finished 20+ minutes behind my goal in 3:58 and change.

Mentally, I felt frazzled leading into the race. I didn’t feel strong or confident, but felt like ‘meh’. I think part of it was I couldn’t believe that the race was actually going to happen when training. Last year with everything getting canceled and training so hard really took it’s toll on me. I also peaked at 45 miles for the race and every other marathon since I broke 4 hrs has been above 55 miles a week for several ones. I do believe in the importance of having ‘good miles’ as opposed to ‘junk miles’, but I think it also just added to my shaky confidence leading into the race.

My life is also just busy and stressful right now. We’re in the final stages of buying our first home, thinking of moving (UGH), just got a puppy, and I’m still commuting 2.5hrs to work (staying at a hotel between my shifts). It’s been really stressful beginning a new career and rotating between a day/night shift (that’s what our hospital does for all bedside nurses), really takes its toll. So, needless to say that it’s been challenging coming into the race mentally focused and strong . It’s also been a lot moving from Colorado to Maine over the past two years and to find my running groove here. I’m looking forward to finding its place again in my life and maybe explore other activities too (….. maybe a triathlon?!?).

In hopes of making this post relatively short, here are my takeaways from the race (besides the fact that it just hasn’t been my day or year for running honestly).

• The race was put on so well. I loved Millennium Running’s safety factors at the start and finish line.
  

• The race was a 2-lap out & back on a bike path. It was very flat (boring to me HONESTLY!) and many runners who passed you did not even try to social distance. It was super frustrating (& I’m even fully vaccinated!)

• The race also got extremely congested with the half marathoners joining in the second half. Would have loved to have had just marathoners one day and half marathoners the next day.
  

• Parking was easy and portapotties were accessible. Forever thankful for the race volunteers and aid stations that they had there. Their cheers were everything those last 6+ miles.

Also, here’s a photo of Sadie because that’s really why you’re probably here for!

Training Rundown: 4/5-4/11

Happy Humpday! I’ve been gone at work the past two nights, so I can’t wait to come home and snuggle my puppy today 🥰Last week was a cut-back/taper week for my race, so it mainly consisted of all easy runs and I focused on recovery and sleep as much as possible. I also worked an extra shift last week (over 50 hours), so I had to get pretty creative with when I was able to fit my workouts in.

Monday, 4/5: Rest day

Tuesday, 4/6: Easy 60 minutes before work & 10 minutes of PT exercises

Wednesday, 4/7: Felt super exhausted, so skipped my morning run and opted for 20 minutes of yoga before bed.

Thursday, 4/8: Easy 30 minutes with 10 x :20 sec pick-ups and 10 minutes of Pilates before work

Friday, 4/9: Easy 30 minutes & 20 minutes of abs/ PT exercises

Saturday, 4/10: Easy 20 minutes & some stretching!

Sunday, 4/11: 26.2 miles! Race day!

Total miles: 40 miles

7 Things

Happy Monday! I’m multitasking over here today with some easy indoor cycling and blogging (also have put in my to-go grocery order). Anyone else feel like multitasking is the only way you get some things done?!?

We’ve been bus over the weekend with our new puppy, Sadie! We adopted her on Thursday and she is a terrier/husky mix. She is the absolute cutest.

She also gives the BEST puppy snuggles.

Ran my 9th Marathon yesterday! It wasn’t the time goal I was necessarily capable of, but still thankful to have been able to finish it without any major injuries and under 4 hours.

Looking forward to testing out the new Puma Running Shoes! They sent me some to test out and I’ll make sure to write-up a full recap when I’m able to get 50 miles on them. The color is SO BEAUTIFUL 😻

The best husband award definitely goes to Alex. Made me dinner last night and drove us home from the race too.

Sorry I’m not sorry for all of the puppy photos. She’s basically the queen of our household now.

Finally starting to burn through all of the downed trees we collected over the winter and Sadies here for the large bucket of water in case our fire gets out of control.

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-How was your weekend?!? Tips for having a new puppy and getting the cats adjusted to her? She’s 10 weeks old.