8.21.2012

Tuesday Training (7)

I know, you are thinking...how many gosh darn weeks ARE there in this training program? Well, I can tell you that it has been approximately 17 weeks, 1 day, 13 hours and 17 minutes. Approximately. The good news is this is the last you will have to hear about training for a while. The bad news is that the next week will probably be full of race recaps instead. Sorry. I do have a few non running related (what!?) posts in the works for both this and next week though!

But first, I had fun with last weeks "you might be an ultra runner". How about just plain old "you might be a RUNNER"? Here are a few that pertain to me. You can find a lot more here!

One of my all time favorite trails: PCT!

 You know you're a runner when...
-          you have more running clothes than regular clothes in your laundry pile.
-          you smirk when non-runners ask you, "So how long is this marathon?" (remember this post?)
-          your runs are longer than your commute to work.
-          you go into Starbucks more often to use the bathroom than to actually buy coffee.
-          you no longer make fun of fanny packs because your running belt looks very similar to one.
-          you get an invitation to a wedding and you automatically think about what race the date will conflict with.
-          you're always hungry.
-          you know where your illiotibial band is located.
-          you spend more time researching running routes than tourist attractions when traveling to a new city. (I have a list here)
-          you know where exactly one mile from your front door is (in any direction). (and get made fun of for it!)
-          you get jealous when you're driving in your car and pass runners.(or when I am walking!)

Now, on with the training show! 
Week 1 - 4
Week 5 - 8
Week 9 - 11
Week 12 - 13
Week 14 - 15
Week 16

Week 17:

This last week has been better than the week before, not so much miles wise, since I am technically in taper, but motivation wise. Funny how that works. Now that I am SUPPOSED to run less miles, I want to run more. It's all mental.

Monday: REST -- walk 2 miles
Tuesday: REST -- walk 3 miles
Wednesday: 3 miles easy run with a friend (no Garmin) / walk 3 miles
Thursday: 8.5 miles @ 8:44 pace / walk 2 miles
Friday: hike 4 miles / walk 2 miles
Saturday: 11 miles @ 11:00 pace (hills/trail run) / hike 5 miles **
Sunday: 4.5 miles @ 12:00 pace (hills/trail run) **I cut this one short because I left a pot of beans on the stove accidentally. I kid you not.

Total Run miles: 26
Total Walk miles: 12
Total Hike miles: 9

I love hiking and walking as "cross training" and luckily have a friend who is willing to go with me. We have been walking or hiking 1-2 days a week after work and this week, we also got in a weekend hike, which was fabulous. It's been a great chance to catch up and get some exercise at the same time!

This last week is a low mileage one and I have to admit, I am kind of glad for taper this time. Madness there is not. Happiness there is. Thank you Yoda. Now all we have to do is get through this weekend without falling apart and then...well...then we will have to see! Most likely, then I will run.

Do you usually go crazy if you don't run or do you like a break from time to time? Do you have a go-to hiking/running/walking buddy? Can you relate to/add to any of those "you might be a runner if"s?

13 comments:

  1. We were just talking about taper at run club and most of us have a love/hate relationship with it. I love the break from the higher mileage as I am usually so exhausted by that point. But then I start to feel more achey and get paranoid that I am injured blah blah blah. I just basically have too much time on my hands to think which is not good for someone like me. But I still like taper time because you know the race you trained so hard for is in sight.

    I love the 'you know you are a runner when...' part of this post. I just had a conversation with my parents this weekend about how I usually run more miles a week than I drive!

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  2. Yay for the taper! SO excited for you! Love the 'You know you're a runner...
    So funny and I can relate to all.

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  3. That list cracked me up! I still do not consider myself a "runner" quite yet, but I do identify with most of that list! I know my spibelt looks like a fanny pack, especially with my iphone jammed in there, but I do not care, that little guy is a lifesaver and I love him! I also definitely run further than my commute (although it is DSM... ) and I use the Caribou on Ingersoll more for their large, CLEAN bathroom to change into running clothes so I can hit my favorite trail all the time- way more than I buy coffee there. ha! :)

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  4. I definitely go crazy if I don't get a good run in for a few days! And I've found that the more I run, the better I get at judging distances, even when I'm traveling those distances while not running (in a car, etc). It's a useful skill to have!

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  5. Hiking is great cross training. I have a tough time putting up with walking when I could be running though.

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  6. It seems like my mood to bike or hike or exercise in general comes and goes depending on the seasons. In the summer I most definitely up my outdoor workouts because I love being outside. In the winter it becomes a lot hard because I usually just want to sit in front of a movie with some hot chocolate every evening. It's hard finding a balance. The photo of the trail above is fantastic! What a view!

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  7. I totally know the mile distance from my house - and I get jealous when I see people out running when I drive by. Oh, and I also scope out the gear they're using.

    I like walking as cross-training too these days. Especially since I think my bike and the elliptical make things bad for my knee.

    Yay for happy taper!

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  8. Love your list:) So funny and I can relate to all of them:) Yay for taper time! Glad you are enjoying it:)

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  9. Yay for taper time. It's always a nice break but at the same time I get a little antsy and don't know what to do with myself. I can sadly relate to all the items on your list!

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  10. I love your lists!!! I definitely go crazy if I don't run...very cranky girl!!

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  11. I love hiking as x-training. My friend Christine and I used to have a regular weekly pre-dawn hike, but I can't do it now that I have to haul my kids out of bed earlier for kindergarten. Hopefully she and I can get it going again next summer while school is out!

    I love the runner list. Especially (sadly) the Starbucks one. I always try to go back and buy something later when I use their bathroom.

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  12. I can map 0.5 miles, 1 mile, 3.1 miles, 6.2 miles, 7 miles, 8 miles, and 10 miles from my door...and this was BEFORE I got a Garmin! Nerd.

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  13. Great list! Not running is so hard and I'm not a fan of tapering.

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