Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Some updates and thoughts bullet style!

Warning this is totally random...

  • Here I am with my two little ladies after my 20 miler last week. We were at our favorite art museum that includes a cool sculpture park.
  • Two weeks ago was tough. After being inhaler free for several months, my asthma came back with a vengeance. I took off three days from running, did eventually start feeling better, and wound up being able to run a 20 miler that Sunday at 8:02 pace. The week ended with 47 miles, which isn't so bad. 
  • Last week was much better. I ended up with 60 miles. This week will be my last build week and my last loooong run. Next week I start tapering! Woo hoo!
  • I hate the Kinvara 3s. I found a pair of Kinvara 2s online, and have had no issues with them. Stupid shoes. Why do they always feel the need to change a good thing?
  • Kaylee loves school so much she cried last weekend when she couldn't go on Saturday and Sunday. She is definitely an intense child. I have no idea where she gets that from...  ;)
  • This has been my best marathon training cycle. I have no idea what that will mean on race day, but it should be interesting at the very least.
  • I've been experimenting with a few new workouts. Well, new to me anyway. Every couple weeks I try to do some variation of 6 x 1 mile repeats at 10K pace. Last week I did 6 x 7 minutes at slightly faster than 10K pace with 2 minute jogs in between intervals. (7 minutes is more than a mile for me.) I did it, but it really was hard. And why is this workout worth my time? I don't know. A few years ago I read something about Dean Karnazes (I think) saying that was an awesome marathon training workout. So I'm trying to figure out just how awesome it is for me.
  • I've also been experimenting with another workout. It's mile repeats at marathon pace. Boring I know, but a fast friend suggested 8-10 1 mile repeats at marathon pace. I completely ignored the suggestion at first, but I've found that it's a very interesting workout to run the day after a super long run. Interesting in that it's really really hard, but doable (most of the time). I take 2 minute rest jogs at (or slightly faster than 8:00 min pace) in between intervals. Mentally it's easier than a regular marathon pace run, but in the end it's really not much slower than a MP run.
  • During this training cycle I've lost a little weight. I wasn't trying, but increasing from 40 miles to 70 miles must have led to a calorie deficit. Don't worry. I'm still not skinny. I just went from a 22.5 BMI to a 21.5. Just something to note. With society being so weight crazy, I hate to even mention it, but I suppose it could make a difference on race day.
  • I haven't been posting much. There are a ton of things floating around my brain, but at night when I would have time to post something, I wind up spending my time with Nick. And that's a good thing. It just means I'm left with little posting time.
  • I got into Boston. I hope everyone else did too!

5 comments:

Karen said...

I always love your posts. You're so honest about stuff :) I'm anxious to see how your awesome training affects your race day too.

PS- I'm with you on the shoes thing. They keep making my Brooks Ghost heavier and heavier that now I almost want to switch to something else, but haven't found it yet.

Ana-Maria RunTriLive said...

You had an awesome training cycle! Lots of miles AND lots of intensity. You will fly on the 21st! I don't believe in BMIs. You have always been all muscle, Katie, so, so strong and powerful! I am probably the only person who does not lose weight no matter how much I run, ha! Glad asthma is under control again.
Super awesome Kaylee likes school. And yes, so often I look at my super intense child and see myself or Chris in him..Ha!
Oh, and to answer your question, Chris is not training for anything. I just convinced him that running on trails prevents injury due to the big hills, jumping over roots, etc. Truthfully though, I just wanted company in the woods and I am not brave enough to go alone.
You and I should do some running after your Baystate recovery:) Miss yoU!

Raina said...

Those are some really good experiments you are doing, Katie! I like the idea of MP repeats.

Being lighter should help the race time, I think. Less to carry- but you are also just better prepared and that can mean a huge difference. You are going to do so well this time!
Too funny about Kaylee!. My son would like NO SCHOOL. :)

Katie said...

@Karen: Thanks! I'm very honest in my posts (though maybe a bit vague on the details). I'm always hoping to convey that running is awesome and I love it, but definitely not without its own obstacles. Sort of like life, I guess.

@AM: Yes! Yes! Yes! We need to run together again! It sounds like your mostly back to your old self, which is awesome. Just as an FYI, I'm planning on running this race on November 18: http://www.facebook.com/LisasLungCancerAwareness5kRun3kWalk
It's the same fast course in Lowell, and there's no 10K, so it's not long...

@Raina: Mile repeats at MP just seems so boring to me, but it's very different on tired legs. And with Kaylee, it's crazy. That weekend we went into Boston, went apple picking, and went to the playground. So it's not like she didn't have fun, but she was still all "but I just wish I could go to school today..." Kids... ;)

Michelle said...

I can't wait to hear about your race! Interesting work outs- I may try them next time. Yes, next time. I signed up for Napa March 2013! yay! At least I pick pretty places to race.