I think this is the first time in this training cycle that it feels like a I am 100% on track with my training, walking that fine line between peak training levels and over-training.
Week 7: August 21
After a morning Run with Dad and Tom
Total Mileage planned: 29
Mileage complete: 38.6
Monday is usually a rest day for me, so I agreed to go out for a small run with my brother Tom to start the week. We did an easy two miles, and it was a relaxing start to the week. After work I headed to orange theory fitness, and was hit with a hard workout - a strength day that involved lots of switching.
Got to Orange theory three additional times during the week. My favorite session was a endurance day on Saturday, where the challenge on the treadmill was to see how far you could run in 6 minutes, and then beat it the second time. I managed to hold about a 7:30 pace, and go about 0.8 mi.
I had my track workout scheduled for Friday, but the high school's football team was at the track, so I opted to just do track paces around the neighborhood, since the plan was for 800 m repeats. I set my Garmin to beep every half mile, and got the workout done.
My long run on Sunday was a good one - Dad and I headed to the path that runs through the Massapequa preserve, with 14 miles on the schedule. Starting out we went through an area that is more trail than pavement, and then eventually made our way to the main path. I kept the pace easy, averaging a 10:30 when the run was done, with the last two miles being the fastest. I felt really good when I finished this run - it was a reminder that I am strong enough to run these distances and feel good doing it.
Sunday's long run
Week 8: August 28
Total Mileage Planned: 40
Mileage Complete: 44.8
One thing that I really loved about this week was that I had lots of company while training! Throughout the week I got in workouts with my family, friends, and the tri team!
This week started the same way as last week, with a short run with Tom in the morning and an orange theory class after work.
My cousin Kasey started her classes for this semester, and with how her schedule is she won't be able to workout at night on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we agreed that we will plan to run together those mornings. So on Tuesday morning I set out for three solo miles, before picking up Kasey and running the next three miles together. I even managed to catch Tom, who was out for his morning mile, on the way home after I dropped Kasey off.
Wednesday morning was a track day, as I knew i would not be able to make it to the Tri team track workout that night. It was a long one, coming in with a total distance of just under 9 miles. I felt a little stiff and tired starting this run, so half way through my warm-up I took a Gu... one with caffeine. It was just one of those days where I needed the little kick! I managed to hit my numbers, and even successfully completed two mile repeats at a sub-8 pace, which is hard for me!
My favorite run this week was probably Thursday morning, when my friend Jennie decided to stop by to get in her run. I started the run by heading to Kasey's house with Dad on his bike, then Kasey and I ran about 3 miles together. After, I headed home and met up with Tommy and Jennie, and the three of us ran a little over a mile together. I totaled 5 miles, and was just so happy that i got to start the day with so many people I love, doing something that I enjoy. It set an awesome tone for the whole day.
The work week ended with some yoga on Friday night, followed by a easy two mile run with Rachel. We decided to bring her dogs along for the beginning of the run, and boy do those little guys have some force! Both dogs are cockapoos, so they're on the small side, but when they get going they can really pull you along.
I planned to do my long run on Saturday, because a few of the ladies from the Tri Team were getting together to run. Dad and I met up with them at 5:45 for what would be a total of 16 miles for me. The twelve miles I ran with the team flew by, and before I knew it it was just me and Dad heading back out for the final 4 miles to finish off the run. Unfortunately I failed at on-the-run math, and wound up running 17 miles instead of 16, but I felt strong at the finish, and would call this a successful long run.