Today, I finally made friends with the track. I know, shocker. Also, this post will be a tad long because it is going to include my last three runs. But back to the matter at hand -- I made friends with the track, and even fell in love (a little) with it. It is no secret that I don't like the track, well really the running in circles part. The flat, even surface with the chance to get faster is appealing. However, I did a 4x1200 workout today with 400 recovery in between and felt amazing afterwards. I even texted my mom that my track workout was fantastic -- I would have paid good money to see her reading that text.
I set out with the intention to complete all four intervals under six minutes. I did them in 6:10, 6:00, 5:45 and 5:47. For running 10 miles yesterday and driving home from Stone Harbor last night at 10:30 (we will get to that later) I surpassed my expectations. I was really feeling strong, striding well and the best part? I wasn't wearing my compression socks. It was just me, my watch and the track. However, there was another part of the workout that made it worth it -- it was an encounter with a fellow runner when I finished. I saw this man arrive to the track on his bike and take an outer lane to complete his run/walk workout. At one time I pace off of him for a lap, but most of the time I kept passing him. I have no idea what his name is an I probably won't see him again, but he made my day. When I finished and started walking off the track, he came over and said that he was impressed with my run and I was inspiring him during his workout. It turns out he is coming back from meniscus surgery in his knee (just a month removed). I was so happy that I gushed to him how this was my fourth track workout, but my best one yet. I couldn't believe how happy I was and how great my body felt -- it really is an amazing machine. We traded marathon stories for a bit and I went on my way and he went back to his workout. Hours later I still cannot decided what had more of an impact -- the fact that I inspired someone or that he noticed how hard I was working. Both make for a great feeling. If we go back a few days, it is Monday and I am awake at 4 a.m. to drive to Stone Harbor, NJ for three days with my aunt, uncle and cousin. I was on the road by 5 a.m. and in Stone Harbor by 8:30 a.m. As we know, Monday are supposed to be track days, but if you are still reading, you know I did this week's on Thursday. Due to the excitement of the shore and seeing my family, I decided that I would make this Monday my rest day, Tuesday track and back to regular schedule for Wednesday. I did play tennis on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in addition to the running. On Tuesday, I went in search of a track in the southern tip of Jersey. There was probably one in Wildwood, but not wanting to go too far, I decided to again rearrange the schedule and do my Thursday run on Tuesday, keep the tempo on Wednesday and do the Monday track workout on Thursday. That left me doing an easy six before playing tennis on Tuesday. It was quickly becoming one of hottest days of the summer and it took me a 1:02 to finish my six miles -- I had to stop and do some rearranging of my outfit, I took off the compression socks midriff, they were too hot. Tuesday wasn't really anything to write home about except for the fact that I had gone so hard in tennis the day before, my forearm was very sore. Wednesday was my seven mile tempo run and I was running with my friend Jon. He is also trying to BQ and his family was in Ocean City, NJ for the week. We agreed to run in Stone Harbor so we didn't have to run on the boardwalk and that we were going to do a total of 10 miles. We hoped to do the seven tempo miles with a 8:15 pace, but according to my watch did it in 9:22 -- equating to somewhere between a 4:00 and 4:15 marathon pace. We ended up okay with our slower pace because of a few things -- the humidity was gross, this was the first time we were running together and the first time we had seen each other since May so we were using it to catch up with each other. However, if you have been reading along, you know I don't run with very many people so it is kind of a big deal that we ran together. Granted we have been supporting each other for the BQ training and plan to run the same race in the spring if we need to BQ for 2017. It was great fun to run with Jon and it would have been even better without the humidity. As you can see from the picture, it was a scorcher out there. The motto for this week has been adaptability and I believe I rearranged my workouts so they fit nicely and I still got all the milage I wanted. The lesson thus far has been the body is an incredible machine. I look forward to the rest of the week. Especially after today's track run, I am starting to believe in myself even more!
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I have been waiting for a run like this for a long time. If you have been following along, you know that the last couple of weeks of training have been difficult and I haven't really had good mojo. Today that all changed. I believe I was rejuvenated from running Van Cortlandt Park yesterday, but whatever it was, it worked. I did my easy six miles in 59:09, not a PR, but better than the runs that were taking over an hour. I tried to find a flat course and was successful until mile two when I went through two rolling hills. I felt like I was hitting my stride and finding that runners high again. I also believe part of the reason the run was so easy was I only had my watch on -- no phone on my left arm and no compression socks. I have started to run with my phone more because of safety precautions, but I wear a Road ID (I highly suggest it) and normally tell someone my intended route, so I wasn't too worried today. As far as the compassion socks, I really wanted to feel free and have an easy run. I'll go back to wearing them tomorrow at the track.
In a week, I will have one more night left before I start to ~adult~ so this week I am going to enjoy myself for a bit and focus on my running. Part of this week will be dedicated to thinking about how I will be able to continue to dedicate as much time and energy to my training while starting a job. I am very lucky to have an amazing support system and I know I will have to rely on them. But for now, I am going to enjoy the high of today's run and head back into the city to enjoy a beautiful skyline. I've done 19 runs thus far in the cycle -- seems like a lot more. Some have been abysmal, some have been out of this world, but none were quite like today. I have a running joke (pun intended) with my dad about Van Cortlandt Park -- "did you know they sodded it?" -- usually said as we drive by on the Henry Hudson. This joke came about a few years ago when the New York City Parks department sodded the grass in the fields of VCP. It really is a lame joke and to you reading this post means nothing, but for me, it encompasses what VCP means. As it is home to countless cross country races, I have heard stories from my dad and godfather for years about VCP and the trails. I called him this morning as I was getting ready to meet my really good running partner, John. My dad said something to the effect of "you are going to have so much fun, that is where my running career started." And for me, even though it has taken me 22 years to finally run VCP, to some effect it was the start of my running career. Stories have a way to make you feel like you have lived through different periods of someone else's life. When I was younger I would always ask my dad to tell me stories and a lot of running stories included VCP. I guess that is where my love of this crazy sport came from. I always dreamt of running VCP.
Yesterday I did 12 miles as my long run, so today's run was really about seeing the course for the first time, having good company and shaking out the legs. All three were accomplished and I know for sure it won't be the last time I'll run VCP. The last time I had seen John was at the Oakley Women's Mini 10k in June when he was cheering me on. It was a real treat to be able to run with him in New York as we both claim it as "home" (most of the time). John also brought along his friend Neil, an avid runner going to compete at the WMA Outdoor Championships in France. It was very kind of them to run me through the "tortoise and the hare trail"-- it had some killer back hills, but a picture perfect finish. I was able to hit the runner's high today, mostly due to the location and everything that it has meant to me. So, thanks Dad for always talking about Van Cortlandt, introducing me to running and never letting me forget that they sodded the park. And, thanks to John (and Neil) for running with me, today and always. But, especially today in a perfect setting. And Dad, yes I did know they sodded it. I am speechless after this run. And not for a good reason. Except for the view that I got at Weed Beach, a little less than halfway through, it was an uneventful and hard run. My watch was ticking off the mileage, I was putting one foot in front of the other but I wasn't inspired today. I managed to get up and start running by 6:20 a.m. -- what should be the perfect time for a long run. But I didn't really ever get in a grove. Maybe it was because Friday are not my typical long run days. Maybe it was because I wanted to run it under two hours and didn't. Maybe it was I had to listen to music for the second half to get through the run. Any way you slice it, it wasn't an inspired run. However, I did put one foot in front of the other and pounded out 12 miles, the longest run on the cycle so far. That has to count for something, right? I believe that is the lesson from today's run. I still did it. How many people woke up this morning and ran 12 miles before 9 a.m.? Even with how crappy I thought this run went, it counts and there are two good things that came out of it. The first -- the view in the picture, it was a perfect morning in Fairfield County. The second -- since it was a long run day I got to enjoy Dr. Pete's Recovery Drink from the Berkey Creamery at Penn State (I only have one left , for next Saturday's long run). Tomorrow is a new day, with the chance to have the best run of the training cycle. At least it will have a great venue -- Van Cortland Park in the Bronx. Honestly, I didn't even know if I was going to post about today's run. There really isn't anything to write home about -- I slept in instead of running at 6 a.m., I felt slow and sluggish and it took longer than I wanted. I also found a new enemy -- trashcans. Part of my run took me on sidewalks where it had been garbage day and no one had taken them off the sidewalk, forcing me to feel like I was running through a maze. But I got the run done and finished stronger than I thought I would.
I chalk up today's run in the column of how the h-e-double hockey sticks did I ever run 26.2 miles five times?! I got it done and hopefully tomorrow's will be better. I have the chance to run in Van Cortland Park on Saturday so I am going to do my long run tomorrow (12 miles). The best thing -- there is no rain or thunderstorms in the forecast for tomorrow, meaning it will be me and road! I was very excited for today's workout. It was my second tempo run and again it was six miles, which would really end up as 8.24 miles with my warm-up and cool-down. However, two upsetting things happened -- first, before I ran (at 5:45 this morning) I updated my email and received an email regarding something I thought I fixed last week. The second, at .28 miles into the run, my watch decided that it wouldn't track my mileage anymore. I was lucky that I was doing the same run as last week's tempo run so I had an idea of how far I had to go before I turned around. I really wasn't upset about my watch not working, it was more that I wanted to have my watch do the pacing without me having to do mental math throughout my run. At the end of the run though, I felt really strong; stronger than I have in a while and thought I had done listened to my body well and pushed it in the proper spots.
After using MapMyRun to figure out my total distance and then my tempo speed, my high burst. I had run my six tempo miles in 53:58 or 9:26 per mile (which is consistent with my two 10k paces, but not the marathon pace I need for a BQ). I thought I ran faster and stronger. I went out earlier to beat the heat and to make sure that I was mentally all in, but my watch didn't have the results I wanted. Again, this is part of the mental game that comes with running and as I told a friend today who has been sidelined for two weeks with a foot injury, we need to get you to the start line, not the sideline. This is going to be the hardest training cycle I have gone through and with that fact, I have accepted that I am going to be permanently sore in some capacity until Oct. 10. With my off day, I started my cross-training. Yesterday was leg day and I was going to do arms today, but #life got in the way. Tomorrow is an easy seven miles, I'm intrigued to see if I can do a 5:45 a.m. run two mornings in a row. Last week I said no pain = no gain. Well today, heat = lots of pain. As I set out to complete my 5x1k track workout, I knew it was going to be hard. It was 9:30 a.m. and the temperature was already above 90 degrees. I took Nick with me again, while he isn't a runner he competes in crew. While I was mentally strong today -- and that is more than half the battle I have found with this training cycle -- I only completed three of my five intervals. The saving grace of the "incomplete" workout was that I finished all three 1Ks under five minutes -- the maximum time that I set for myself. I mentally could have finished the workout, but with Nick looking pale and me looking like a tomato (even with sunscreen on) we decided it would be best to do our cool-down mile and call it a day. The best part about where we live is a refreshing pool that we jumped into as we were dressed to cool off when we got home. I don't think I had ever been so happy to see that pool before. I also had my favorite breakfast/recover meal -- yogurt parfait, fried egg and chocolate milk (see picture). As I have mentioned before, I am using Hansons Marathon Method to complete this training cycle. Since I decided to compete in the Hartford Marathon 15 weeks out, I needed to modify the advanced training program -- I took out weeks four and eight and will take out week 11 if need be. It cuts out four (total) speed and tempo runs, but doesn't change the weekly milage that much. Part of the reason I run is to eat whatever I want and I did that today with an ice cream cone. It was a little reward for mentally being strong enough to know I could finish but having the smarts to know I shouldn't cause myself heatstroke or have today ruin all the work that has been done. Here is to my off day tomorrow and a tempo six on Wednesday. Sunday runday was a mild success. After a strange 10 cardio miles on Saturday and then throwing my mom a surprise birthday party, getting six miles on Sunday was a little bit of a struggle. I tried to find the flattest course I could...not that easy where we live. It was also the hottest day of the summer so far and I was running around 9:40 a.m. I got the first three done without little problem but I had no hydration and I was racing against a clock to get to brunch for Mom's birthday.
The last three miles I kept telling myself that struggling through these six miles, however easy they were supposed to be, would all matter on October 10th. Having gone through five marathon training cycles, I know that every little miles counts, no matter how slow -- it is part of the mental game. I believe this cycle, more than any of the ones before this one is more about my mental game and ability. I am asking my body to give more, to do it during a time of transition in my life all with hopes to run a BQ time. My six miles took me 1:03, a 10:39 average pace. Not the greatest, not the worst, but I was dripping sweat like I came out of a pool when I finished. Also for the second time in the last four runs I took my shirt off. Not completely, as it was around my neck, but I feel confined in my shirt when it is so hot. I do not normally take my shirt off because I am self-concious about my body, but with the heat, I need to make sure I don't get heat stroke. Tomorrow is Monday -- we all know what that means, my favorite workout of the week, track day. If I hated running in circles two Sunday's ago, I really hate it today. With thunderstorms and pouring rain keeping me from running 10 miles outside, I had to go inside to a track that was 1/16th of a mile. Meaning 16 laps to a mile or 160 to 10 miles. One of the reasons I don't like running in circles on a track is because I cannot let my mind wander -- I have to count laps and make sure to avoid other exercisers. To me, nothing is worse on a run than not being able to clear you mind. Having done 40 laps, I thought I could do all 160 but I decided to do 80 laps and then five miles on the stationary bike. My five miles on the track took 54:32 and the bike took a respectable 20:08. I thought transitioning to the bike was a good compromise because it still got my body to complete the cardio necessary for today's workout and I would keel over from boredom of the track. Granted, I don't think the stationary bike is any better, but it certainly wasn't worse.
I'll take a -10 degree day as long as I don't have to run around a track 80 times ever again. Another thing, I don't usually listen to music while I run -- part of the mind clearing; but today, I wouldn't have survived without my pump up playlist on Spotify -- thank you Billy, Bruce and Ed Sheeran. The whole time I was inside I didn't see a drop of rain or hear a crack of thunder, but I knew I made the safe decision. At least my mom is happy and it's her birthday so she gets whatever she wants today. Still, I made sure she know how unhappy I was running in circles. Here's to lots of cake and an easy recovery run tomorrow. This is going to be the week I finish all my runs, even if one of them was done a day later. With all of life's curve balls, this is a great feat. Now, it has to happen for the next 13 week so I am ready for race day. But, the training and the curve balls are part of the journey -- something I have known since 2011.
I was sore as anything this morning. I haven't felt this sore since I finished NYC last November. So today's run was truly a "junk" run of six miles. I had to pound pavement and get it done; I barley did it under 1:05, but I did it. Granted, I enjoyed the run and it was a beautiful summer day in Connecticut, but it was hard as s***. Part of the reason it was hard was because I decided to run on route 106 or Hoyt Street, which isn't the most runner friendly road. With multiple curves and not the most runner conscious drivers, I was constantly making sure I wasn't going to get run over (obviously I survived). The second reason it was hard was because of Talmadge Hill Road, a kick a** hill in Darien. So hopefully the hills help with the speed work on Monday and I was feeling all of the gain with loads of pain. As promised early this week, I will make sure to run my long run tomorrow -- 10 miles! I plan to have some more kick a** hills in the second half of the run to test my mental power. We shall see how that goes! |
Megan FloodMegan is 29 and a 14-time marathoner. She is hoping to Boston Qualify one day. She doesn't know exactly how this blogging will go, but she is giving it her best shot! Archives
June 2019
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Marathoning Megan