Running to the Great Wide Somewhere.

[bovie]

So, after getting sucked in reading training logs while I should be sleeping, I've decided to make one of my own. I've run a total of four half marathons: one in 2013, Princess 2017, Wine and Dine 2018, and Princess 2018. My PR was at Wine and Dine, 2:44:01. I started working with @DopeyBadger (he's amazing!) during Princess this year, but I had a lot going on work wise and wasn't really able to follow the plan. I also ran the 5K and 10K during that weekend, and my time was quite a bit slower. I have plans to run a half in late May, and I'm gunning for a PR there- wishing for 2:40, but we'll see. I really want to run the Disney full marathon in 2019, so that's my mid- range goal.

My biggest obstacle, like most I imagine, is finding the time to run. I work a relatively intense job with frequently long and sometimes erratic hours, and I often struggle to run as much as I want. I figure posting here will give my accountability and perhaps provide some extra support. If nothing else, I've learned a ton about running by lurking around and posting (very) occasionally.

All that said, I just started my @DopeyBadger plan for the Great American River Run in Memphis in May.

Runs scheduled for this week:

Tuesday EA 2 miles @ EA
Complete! Did it on a treadmill so keeping pace was easy. My easy pace is 15:05 (yep, I'm slow), so it's easy to go too fast outdoors. I very much prefer running outside, but it was nearly dark when I left work, so the treadmill it was.

Thursday TEMPO 1 mile WU + 1.5 miles @ Tempo + 0.5 mile CD
Saturday EA 3 miles @ EA + Strides
Sunday Long Run 4 miles @ Long Run

I hope everyone else's running is going well, and I looking forward to posting here with y'all!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Congrats on starting a journal! Excited to follow along!

 

[Chaitali]

I'm excited to follow along with your training! I did my first attempt at a full marathon at Disney in 2018 and I didn't finish but I'm going to try again this year with a Dopey Badger plan and hopefully that will help

 

[KSellers88]

Excited to follow along!

 

[bovie]

Tempo run today! Was meant to be yesterday, but work stuff got in the way. The plan was for 0.5 miles WU/ CD (16:00) with 1.5 miles in the middle (12:15). The results

0.5 @ 15:44
1.5 @ 11:38 (11:30 for the first mile, 11:52 for the second 0.5)
0.5 @ 16:33 (I walked the first half of this because I thought my walking pace was close to this. Not so much- it was quite a bit slower. I jogged the last quarter mile)

Overall, I'm reasonably pleased. I got ready to run and the Garmin was dead, so I depended on the Runkeeper app for pace. It doesn't seem as accurate, and I had to set it as a different workout for each section. I think my pace would've been more on point with that to help. It was hard to tell if i was going too fast or slow. Guess it's better to be a touch fast?

 

[DopeyBadger]

Guess it's better to be a touch fast?

Honestly, it's better to be too slow if the slowdown isn't caused by a fatigue fade. Being too fast puts you at risk for changing the adaptations from the workout. It's early though so don't sweat it. Nice to be too fast a few times...

 

[bovie]

Honestly, it's better to be too slow if the slowdown isn't caused by a fatigue fade. Being too fast puts you at risk for changing the adaptations from the workout. It's early though so don't sweat it. Nice to be too fast a few times...

Okay, I will remember that for next time. So much of this is counterintuitive!

My mom is in town and she went for a walk yesterday during my easy run. She was so confused as to why I had to run slow on purpose! That said, goal for yesterday was three miles at my EA pace, 15:05. For some reason, my Garmin connect isn't showing me splits for this one, but my average pace for the three miles was 14:58. I'm 95% sure that all three miles were within a couple seconds of that. Today was the first time I've actually sent a planned run to my watch instead of just looking down to check my pace as I went. Once I got in the groove, maybe a quarter mile in, it was pretty easy to lock in that pace I needed.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Okay, I will remember that for next time. So much of this is counterintuitive!

My mom is in town and she went for a walk yesterday during my easy run. She was so confused as to why I had to run slow on purpose! That said, goal for yesterday was three miles at my EA pace, 15:05. For some reason, my Garmin connect isn't showing me splits for this one, but my average pace for the three miles was 14:58. I'm 95% sure that all three miles were within a couple seconds of that. Today was the first time I've actually sent a planned run to my watch instead of just looking down to check my pace as I went. Once I got in the groove, maybe a quarter mile in, it was pretty easy to lock in that pace I needed.

If you set it to do a planned run (like 3 miles), then it counts that as a lap. On some watches it supersedes the 1 mile lap split function. For those, I usually write a plan on Garmin Connect that has 3 x 1 mile. That way it's still three miles, but also still gives you intermediate splits.

 

[bovie]

If you set it to do a planned run (like 3 miles), then it counts that as a lap. On some watches it supersedes the 1 mile lap split function. For those, I usually write a plan on Garmin Connect that has 3 x 1 mile. That way it's still three miles, but also still gives you intermediate splits.

Ah, I tried this and it worked. Thanks!

Hit my long run (not actually long at this point in the cycle today. Goal was 13:40 and I hit the intervals at 13:33, 13:44, 13:38, and 13:32. I kept feeling myself want to pull away faster, but the Garmin beeped and slowed me down.

All in all, I hit all four runs this week. Yes, 3/4 were on Fri/ Sat/ Sun, so not ideal for recovery, but at least I got it done. I'm happy.

 

[bovie]

plan for today: 3 miles at EA (15:05). Hit them at 14:56, 15:05, 15:12. Nothing crazy exciting, but got it done.

 

[bovie]

Working a lot this week, but proud of myself for running anyway. I was scheduled to do my tempo run Thursday night but wound up working late. I got up before five Friday morning and did it on the treadmill before work. Super easy to hit pace on the treadmill; it's like cheating. Hopefully the gym treadmill is reasonably accurate! Worked a 24h call Friday and just made it home. Call was unusually light, and I got like three hours of sleep, which is unheard of. Still need to squeeze in a five mile long run before the weekend is over- probably either after a nap today or after tomorrow's workday.

I'm trying to show myself it's possible to work a lot and keep running. I love what I do, and I love to run. I know there will definitely be weeks where I'm better off resting than running, but I want to hit the pavement when I can and not make excuses.

 

[bovie]

I didn't pull off my five mile long run this weekend, but I did do it today (Monday). Gym was closed by the time I left work yesterday. I got done at a reasonable time today, and it was much nicer to run outside anyway. Haven't synced Garmin to see my splits yet, but I think I was reasonably close, maybe a touch fast. I feel like I should be able to do my planned 3m @ EA tomorrow and get synced back with the plan.

 

[bovie]

I have a cold this week and I've felt moderately crummy. I skipped my easy run on Tuesday in the hopes that it would get better. Can't say that I'm all that improved, but I did my tempo run today. It was beautiful outside. I had a hard time slowing down, even on the tempo portion. Haven't synced the Garmin yet, but I think I was closer to 11:55 than 12:15. My WU/ CD pace is 16:00, and it's hard to go that slow and still be running. Next week I do 2.5 miles at tempo, so I'm sure that will be harder than today's 1.5. Overall loving this plan @DopeyBadger! Drank some chocolate milk after too.

 

[DopeyBadger]

 

[bovie]

Took call Friday, worked a regular day today, and ran after work. Four miles at LR (13:40). Hit them at 13:35, 13:39, 13:27, and 13:30. I'm happy.

 

[bovie]

Tried for three miles at EB today, 14:08. Wound up averaging 13:43. I had entered the workout in Garmin a long time ago, before i figured out how to split each mile into a segment. I really struggled to slow down today. @DopeyBadger, at what point during the training cycle would you consider reevaluating and changing paces? Not saying we should, just curious.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Tried for three miles at EB today, 14:08. Wound up averaging 13:43. I had entered the workout in Garmin a long time ago, before i figured out how to split each mile into a segment. I really struggled to slow down today. @DopeyBadger, at what point during the training cycle would you consider reevaluating and changing paces? Not saying we should, just curious.

That's pretty close (14:08 vs 13:43), so I wouldn't worry too much at this point. Generally we change paces if:

A) You prove it in a race.
B) I get some indications in training.

How have the Tempo workouts been going thus far? Have you been doing almost 100% of the scheduled mileage? I'm really wary of changing any paces within 8 weeks to racing because of the bodies adaptation scheme. You're at 7 weeks to go, so we're unlikely to change anything until after the HM.

 

[bovie]

Tempo workouts have been fine- actually had to work to slow down- but they get longer tomorrow, so I'm sure it'll be harder. I've been doing just about 100%. Think I missed one when I had a cold last week. I'm happy with not changing things now; I was just curious. I still have a lot of work to do in terms of learning how to run at a ace without having to spend the whole time slowing down when the Garmin beeps. Thanks for your help as always!

 

[bovie]

New longer tempo run today! Goal was 2.5 m at 12:15 with 0.5 m WU/ CD at 16:00.

Results:
0.5 at 15:41
1.0 at 12:02
1.0 at 12:09
0.5 at 12:09
0.5 at 15:14

I feel pretty good about this one. It felt nice to run hard. I had something on my mind and ran the first chunk with no music without even realizing it (this never happens for me). Even so, I feel solid, not completely depleted.

Looking forward to two weekend runs this weekend!

 

[bovie]

Not working this weekend. Enjoyed a lazy day today- read almost a whole book and snuggled with the pup. Ran four at EA in the rain this evening. It was hard to leave the warm couch for the wet! Goal 15:05; I hit them at 14:50, 15:01, 15:20, and 14:50. Looking forward to long run tomorrow.