"Ultimately, the best runners are the ones who are willing to work very hard but who have a little bit of a lazy streak in them."
Benji Durden, Coach
I love that this quote validated my very lazy decision to skip my tempo run last week. I had been feeling a bit guilty about it but no more. My laziness will make me the best runner I can be! Thanks Coach! Seriously though, I have definitely got a lazy streak in me lately! Seems that I'm proving that with every day and every run that goes by without a simple bleep on the bloggy world radar. Sheer laziness! Well, I have been crazy busy with life in general, too. You know the usual suspects- running the kids here to there, cleaning the house in preparation of a visit from the in-laws (they come tomorrow!) and trying to squeeze in my runs in the absence of any real downtime. Exhausting. So, here's a little of my training thus far this week-
Tuesday- long run- 12 miles- 9:28 pace
I dropped Little Red off at preschool and headed out to blaze new (to me) trails. My favorite local trail is closed due to the construction of a bridge (until Fall 2011 no less) so I'm looking for a new route for my long runs. I ran about 6 miles around some neighborhoods north of here and started to get some IT band pain (dang road camber!) so I decided to head home a finish up on the treadmill. Once I got home, I had done about 8.3 miles. I jumped on the treadmill and ran the final 3.7 and rewarded myself with some slow, PAINFUL stretches on the foam roller. Hurts so bad but gotta love the magic in that roller. I wouldn't be running without it!
All in all, a good run but not a good route. My IT band hated it. I need to keep looking...
Today's run- 3x1600 intervals- 8:27 pace
Let me preface this by saying I never run in the early mornings. Like never ever. Well, maybe 7 or 8 am once in a blue moon but never 5:30-6:30 in the morning. I'm just not a morning person. That's why it's worth noting that today I ran at 6:30...in the morning! Crazy. You see at about 6:20 I awoke from this terrible nightmare (and of course, I don't remember even a bit of it now) and did not want to go back to sleep so I decided to go ahead and try to get in as much as my run before having to get the boys out of bed and ready for school. I was dressed and on the treadmmill by 6:27. My training plan called for a 20 min warm-up with 4x1600s at an 8:17 pace. I knew I wouldn't have all that much time so I got in about a 5 min warm up and 3x1600s instead of 4. And then a 5 min cool down. So, a run that would've normally got me 7 or so miles ended up being 4.2. I'll take it!
The best part if having my run done before the boys got up? While Little Red was at preschool, I went shopping. For 3 blissful hours!!! Maybe early morning runs aren't such a bad thing after all.
My plans for this weekend include a 10k training "race" with the local running club + a couple extra warm up and cool down miles. I've never met with this running club so I'm looking forward to it!
When I first started running, I only ran about 3 or 4K and I would do that in the morning before starting my day (usually around 7am)...and I loved that feeling of having accomplished something physical...it stayed with me throughout the day. But then winter set in and I started running "relatively" longer distances and I stopped running early...but, I've been thinking of going back to it as soon as the days are a little longer and the weather a bit warmer. Your post reminded me of what I liked about morning runs :)
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing better in life than having your run done before little ones are up. Nothing!
ReplyDeletenice job running at 6:30 this morning. the very FEW times I've accomplished that, I have also reveled with the 'free' time of the mid morning usually taken up by the run;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't have little ones but there is still nothing like that feeling of having run and the rest of the day is wide open with possibilities. And the nerve of closing your long run trail for a lengthy time. Did they consult you?
ReplyDeleteEvery runner deserves to be lazy sometimes. Good luck with your "training" race ...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great week of runs! I am supposed to do 3x1600 on my marathon training plan, but I can bring myself to do it. You have inspired me that it can be done (although it will be a little slower than your 8:17 pace).
ReplyDeleteEmail me the info (ihaverun@hotmail.com) about tomorrow's run. I will talk to my hubby to make sure it will work, but I think I'm in!
One missed run won't make or break you. Don't sweat the tempo run. Re the a.m. running, I always run in the morning, because I have no other option, but if you can do that regularly, you'll find that it will help you on race day because you'll be used to running at that time of the day. And of course, it's nice to go on with your entire day knowing you've already hit your workout.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the running club this weekend. Sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a morning runner either but hubby and I did that this week and it was actually pretty cool. We're going to continue doing it, especially as the mornings get lighter and we can go earlier. My kids are older so they get themselves ready and we just have to be home in time to drive to school. Though ... I could pay for the bus and then I wouldn't have to worry about it - hahahhaa.
Yeah, getting your run done in the morning is nice. Hope you find a good running route and have fun at the training race!
ReplyDeleteAm new to your blog (and my own running blog), but will be a new follower. Plus, when I saw that you are running the Shamrock 1/2 on the 20th, I couldn't NOT comment! I just signed up for that today! I might just have to try to find you!
ReplyDeleteLove the Quote! I am totally lazy. If I didn't have weight to lose I don't think I would run. But I Run for ME time so it works for more than 1 reason.
ReplyDeleteTrying to fit in a run is so hard with kids and Life in general. Great job getting your runs in. And in the AM too...that is hard. I am so much slower in the morning. Getting a run in before the kids are up...AWESOME!
Enjoy your time with your in-laws.
I am inherently lazy but have an amazing run group/hubby that helps me keep up the insane training schedule we have. Great job on the workouts!
ReplyDeleteYou are anything but lazy crazy!! OK guess I need to get caught up.. What are you training for?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that quote...laziness in running is just listening to our bodies...it is a GOOD thing! =)
ReplyDeleteYou are running awesome!
Love the Quote! I am totally lazy. If I didn't have weight to lose I don't think I would run. But I Run for ME time so it works for more than 1 reason.
ReplyDeleteTrying to fit in a run is so hard with kids and Life in general. Great job getting your runs in. And in the AM too...that is hard. I am so much slower in the morning. Getting a run in before the kids are up...AWESOME!
Enjoy your time with your in-laws.
I absolutely love that quote...laziness in running is just listening to our bodies...it is a GOOD thing! =)
ReplyDeleteYou are running awesome!