Training?

This morning was my first post OC HM run. Not much of one, a little 5K at a very relaxed pace. Legs felt heavy still. NO PAIN though.

My run this morning had me thinking along my thoughts near the end of my recent HM this past Sunday. Maybe I was lucky for that day? Maybe the culmination of ALL the running I have been doing over the last 2 years is it? Yet, that HM (granted I did not push it very hard) was easy as pie. At NO time, even during and after the steepest of hills, did I feel uncomfortable, unconfident, or LABORED.

So, what am I doing wrong? :)

Seriously though. I really felt I could've done another 13 miles. I am sure it would have been labored and tough. Yet, obviously, since I am saying I could've - I am pretty confident and comfortable.

Training?

It is ALL about goals to me. From the overall purpose of it all, to each individual training run.

 I DO NOT run to BQ. I DO run to BBQ. Yet, the biggest reason I run is just to finish, fun it all up and dress it up for the Kiddo's. I run for them. I run to stay fit. Fit as I can, given my body is a walking/running mass of injured joints and tendons of the last 44 years. I run because I LIKE RUNNERS. I like women runners. I think they get this better than men. Yet, I run and keep running so that my Kiddo's see me always consistently pushing against the wheel. Aspiring for something is what is most important to me.

So, with that stated - what are my training goals? Well, faster would be nice. Yet, I am a pragmatist. My body just cannot do what it could 20 years ago. Not even what it could do 10 years ago, or 5. Mental strength is still there, if not more so. Yet, I cannot run every day any more. Especially, at fast paces. I NEED rest days. I NEED consistency as well.

For most Half Marathons it seems I am there. I can do them confidentally with my current training, even with 10 days or more of injury interruptions; and still finish them in happy style.

Full's? I am there - or almost. I feel I am where I was a year ago with Half Marathons. Semi - confident I can do a flat one.

So, how many miles, what pace, how many hills, any speedwork?

Miles - just enough no more. I really like my old voice training method in my singing days. Always, keep your voice (power) in 80% full strength mode for any singing engagement. Every so often - punch it - just to see what you can do. Yet, always keep it conserved in reserves. I like this for running as well. I never run 13.1 miles till the actual race. In training for one - 9 miles, maybe 10 tops. The rest I leave for the race. Now, this last HM this past weekend, I ran three times going into it. The longest run - 7.5 miles. Plus, I did not run for 10 days prior to the Family 5K the week before.

Pace - You know? I really don't care anymore. I know what is toooo slow for me. Yet, like the mileage thing - too much will put me on the IR faster than too many miles these days. So, with this said, speedwork is pretty minimal.

Hills - I LOVE running hills. Crazy I know. I love the challenge. I love the burn in my legs pushing through them. However, my Achilles cannot take that training anymore. I cannot do this weekly anymore. I am going to experiment with doing them every 10 days for only one training run. With two full days rest after each one (with lots of icing). Rest meaning - no walks with the Husky, Soccer, and certainly NO running for two days.

All in all, I am happy where I am at as a runner. Yep, too slow for most of ya out there. Just right for me. Not enough miles weekly for some. Yet, I know what I can and cannot do. What I do feel is helping though - running like a barefoot runner. Except with shoes.

Cheers!