Another two weeks of training down. Time marches on! I’ll be honest, the last couple of weeks have been challenging. In mid August, I felt like I was in a solid groove with running. I had a great workout and long run the week before we left for Italy and I was positive and motivated. We had a fun week in Rome and Florence and I actually surprised myself with how much I was able to run, but I crashed a bit with rentry. We returned home Labor Day weekend and I S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E-D this past week. Jet lag (+ kids with jet lag), first days of 1st grade and pre-k, Brian’s MBA program starting up again, a new freelance gig for me….well, it all felt like A LOT. I got the miles in and I felt….fine, but was definitely in a funk. I’m sure part of it was being tired, but it’s also tough to readjust after a much-anticipated trip and then jump into a new season (my seasonal depression is looming!). I am finally feeling caught up on sleep and slowly clawing my way out of this funk. I am very grateful I’m running a late November marathon, because I don’t think I’d be able to run a race in mid-October (like last year’s Boston or 2019’s Chicago). This year, I really need the extra time.
Also, sleep. My god, I am a high sleep needs woman.
Training Stats!
August 29-Sept 4
Monday, Aug 29 — 7 easy miles in Rome
Tuesday, Aug 30 — 4.25 easy miles in Rome
Wednesday, Aug 31 — Rest Day
Thursday, Sept 1 — 5 miles w/ strides in Florence (my 38th bday!)
Friday, Sept 2 — 4.25 easy miles in Rome
Saturday, Sept 3 — Rest Day
Sunday, Sept 4 — 10 easy miles at home + 20 minutes strength training
Total: ~30 miles (which is about 30 miles more than the last two times I did this type of traveling….In 2014 and 2015 when we were in Italy, I think I ran…once? We spent less time on our feet this trip because #kids so that helped me feel a bit fresher for running)
Sept 5-11
Monday, Sept 5 — 45 minutes cycling
Tuesday, Sept 6 — 5.25 miles w/ strides
Wednesday, Sept 7 — 10.75 miles w/ 10 x 2’ @ threshold pace (~6:30), 30 minutes strength training
Thursday, Sept 8 — Rest Day
Friday, Sept 9 — 6 miles w/ strides
Saturday, Sept 10 — 16 miles with some 45” surges at miles 5-7-9-11-13-15
Sunday, Sept 11 — 30 minutes strength training, 4 easy miles
Total: 42 miles running, 12.5 miles cycling, and 60 minutes of strength
Both of my kids are in school 5x week this year which is amazing. But alas, it’s still not anything close to a full day and there’s no wrap around care available for the prek kids, so I have about 25 hours of child-free time a week. I’m grateful, but also feeling a bit anxious about the upcoming months. I’m planning on working about +/-20 hours a week, so I’ll be using every minute! Add in some travel, my husband’s MBA, and all the usual fall sports and weekend birthday parties and well, I’m just hoping to hang on with this marathon training. Everyone is busy, I know this (you know this!), so it’s just a matter of prioritizing what’s important and letting go of what is not.
Last week’s priority was sleep and getting back into a routine, this week’s priority will be work. On the other hand, I haven’t really cooked anything besides sandwiches in weeks and my house is always kind of a mess. It ebbs and flows, right?
We can do everything, just not all at once.
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