Pages

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Back to it!

Are there people out there that seriously take 3 weeks off from running after a marathon?  I took one week off and by Day 3 I was dying to get back out on the road.  I did wait a few more days, though, because of my poor aching neck. By Saturday, I was thrilled to get in a quick 3 miles before my pump class. The neck still hurt a bit but I think a run was exactly what I needed to loosen me up.  Ahhh, just felt right!

However, after that one run without a training plan, I felt lost.  After just ONE run.  Over the past 5 months,  I've followed 2 separate training plans and now it's like I'm paralyzed without one! I ran for 3 1/2 yrs before ever having any type of plan.  Just ran when I felt like it.  Ran hard when I wanted to. Scaled it back when I needed to. Was just happy to know I was burning calories. Well, apparently that part of me is gone.  Now, I have to know that I'm building speed or mileage or my VO2 max (not that I really know what VO2 max is.)  I just need to feel like I'm working towards something.  Running for no reason makes me feel like I forgot something. You know that feeling when you leave the house some mornings- "I just feel like I'm forgetting something.  I can't think what it is but it's going to drive me crazy until I figure it out."  But still you leave and can't believe you are leaving without "it" even though you don't know what "it" is.  That's how I feel running with no plan.  Just not quite right.  So, in order to calm my crazy side,  I have signed up for my next race- Red Rock Canyon Half Marathon- and I have a new training plan. Yay for training plans!

It's on the fridge and ready to go! In fact, I've already done the first 2 workouts so I need to get "X"-ing all over this bad boy. *sigh* All is well.  (Although, for some reason after uploading this I feel like maybe I should be doing the full.  But the race is at the tail end of our Disneyland vacay.  Not the sort of rest week you need before a full. I'm just aching to do another full!)

A couple things about the race and training plan:
  • Red Rock Canyon Marathon and Half-Marathon is put on by Calico Racing which is the same racing company that organized my first marathon.  I can't tell you how much I loved the organization of that race. It was small but obviously put together by someone with a pure love of the sport.  I will go back for Calico's races again and again.  In fact, we already have plans to run in the Angel marathon again next year.
  • My training plan is from the Furman Institute of Running & Scientific Training (FIRST) and it's seems great. It's based on having just 3 runs a week- speed intervals, tempo and a long run.  This is perfect for me as I love my rest days and I've been wanting to get in more weight-training on my off days.  Can't wait to see how it goes!
And I leave you with a pic of today's cheat- Lindt Dark Chocolate with Chili! Surprisingly spicier than I thought it would be but SO good.  Just what I needed today. 


Have a happy week!!

10 comments:

  1. Mmmm, my favourite chocolate! I keep a bar of that tucked away just for me. Though that's one I don't have to hide from the kids because they don't like it anyways.

    I've tried to follow a plan a few times but it doesn't seem to work for me. I truly admire people who do follow them. I have a mental plan and right now I'm gradually increasing my mileage as I work up to my first half. I take rest days when I need them and do speed/interval work at least once a week. It works for now, but I suspect if I ever decide to do a full I'll have to be a bit more serious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have never ran with a plan, but I am far from calling myself professional. I have just always got out there and had fun, time wasn't really important, I usually just go for distance.

    I am sure that once I get more into it I will come up with a plan.

    I can understand how you wanted to get back into it right away it's hard to take a break!

    Great work getting back to it. That chocolate combo is suppose to be really good, glad you enjoyed it.!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yum, the chocolate looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Can't wait to hear what you think of FIRST! It has always delivered for me.
    Red rocks and canyons oh my!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I actually enjoy my time between training plans although I do like those lists I can cross off..........such satisfaction! Good post!

    ReplyDelete
  6. :) my post today is basically about finding it very difficult to figure out what I should be doing when.
    I've never followed a plan, but start one in a couple of weeks for my first half...I can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Interested to hear how the training plan goes! I have to scale back to 3 days of running this summer & this may work!

    Love the chocolate picture!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I didn't run for a month after my marathon and the funny thing is... I didn't miss it all that much! (probably due to hectic holiday schedule) Though I dont necessarily need a training plan to run, I DID have to decide on the next race to motivate myself to run. I don't think I could enjoy running as much without a goal in mind!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love this post! This is basically exactly how I feel. I had to get back to running ASAP!

    And I'm glad I'm not the only one who posts my training plan on the fridge. i like to have the visual of lots of X's every time I open or close the frigde!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love this post! This is basically exactly how I feel. I had to get back to running ASAP!

    And I'm glad I'm not the only one who posts my training plan on the fridge. i like to have the visual of lots of X's every time I open or close the frigde!

    ReplyDelete