Remember how I talked about falling at the last trail race I did? Well, not only did I look silly, but unbeknownst to me at the time, I got a nasty case of poison oak. So the last few weeks at work (and in life!) were torture. I couldn't wear pants, although I had to, so I was literally sitting on the edge of my chair so that nothing itchy would be touching it. Then I would get home and all I would want to do was take off my pants and stand somewhere without touching anything.
However, I am on a training schedule. For the first week, I endured it. For the second week, I almost punched somebody or scratched my own leg off, but I muscled through. However, the third week, which was last week, I decided to take a few days off. After a long run on Sunday, I did not run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Maybe that doesn't seem like a big deal to some, but running is my crack and without my crack, I am whack.
So on Friday when I was finally not quite as itchy as before, I did a 9 mile speed workout to make up for the days I had missed. On Saturday, when a friend asked if I would run her long run with her, I said sure. It was 20 miles. I was pretty sore by the end of it. Then on Sunday, I ran a few miles with a different friend in order to get in my 36 miles for the week.
Let me tell you, there is a reason you are supposed to take recovery days after a long run.
Monday I was off and I could not waste a beautiful day off by not running, especially when my other runs would have to be done at night, so I ran again. This was a great run, a slow ramble through the forest, with no destination or set mileage in mind. It was sunny and about 50 degrees and I couldn't have asked for a nicer day or a better run.
This training cycle I am currently on calls for 6 days of running a week. SIX. Usually I am a fan of schedules and planning and of things being a certain way and of knowing what that way is going to be. However, this time, I am just running. I am making my own schedule. I am running three or four days a week. I am cramming two days miles into one. If I am putting on my running gear, I am going for it.
Yes, I am still doing a long run and I will most likely get in a hill or a speed workout each week, but other than that, I am enjoying running with friends, and running on the days where it works for me. Sure, sometimes this means running 9 mile and upward runs four days in a row, which isn't the best idea, but it's good. It is testing different boundaries and teaching me (yet again) new things about myself.
It's teaching me things like: running for a long time or many days in a row is good practice for an Ultra. Specifically, the Oholone 50k, which I just signed up for. Yikes.
Have you ever had poison oak? Do you follow your training schedule to a T? Have you ever had to cram all your mileage into less days?
However, I am on a training schedule. For the first week, I endured it. For the second week, I almost punched somebody or scratched my own leg off, but I muscled through. However, the third week, which was last week, I decided to take a few days off. After a long run on Sunday, I did not run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Maybe that doesn't seem like a big deal to some, but running is my crack and without my crack, I am whack.
So on Friday when I was finally not quite as itchy as before, I did a 9 mile speed workout to make up for the days I had missed. On Saturday, when a friend asked if I would run her long run with her, I said sure. It was 20 miles. I was pretty sore by the end of it. Then on Sunday, I ran a few miles with a different friend in order to get in my 36 miles for the week.
Let me tell you, there is a reason you are supposed to take recovery days after a long run.
Monday I was off and I could not waste a beautiful day off by not running, especially when my other runs would have to be done at night, so I ran again. This was a great run, a slow ramble through the forest, with no destination or set mileage in mind. It was sunny and about 50 degrees and I couldn't have asked for a nicer day or a better run.
This training cycle I am currently on calls for 6 days of running a week. SIX. Usually I am a fan of schedules and planning and of things being a certain way and of knowing what that way is going to be. However, this time, I am just running. I am making my own schedule. I am running three or four days a week. I am cramming two days miles into one. If I am putting on my running gear, I am going for it.
Yes, I am still doing a long run and I will most likely get in a hill or a speed workout each week, but other than that, I am enjoying running with friends, and running on the days where it works for me. Sure, sometimes this means running 9 mile and upward runs four days in a row, which isn't the best idea, but it's good. It is testing different boundaries and teaching me (yet again) new things about myself.
It's teaching me things like: running for a long time or many days in a row is good practice for an Ultra. Specifically, the Oholone 50k, which I just signed up for. Yikes.
Have you ever had poison oak? Do you follow your training schedule to a T? Have you ever had to cram all your mileage into less days?
I Only tend to run four days a week, not really by choice, but it seems to work out pretty good and I find it works better for me if I don't cram too much mileage into those days.
ReplyDeleteHope the poison oak is all cleared out, that is definitely miserable! Another 50K, exciting! I've crammed in mileage before and sometimes it worked but I think that method created some problems for me last year too! :)
ReplyDeleteoh wow, poison oak sounds AWFUL. I have never had it but my one nephew has gotten poison ivy multiple times and yikes it looked awful. He gets it to bad, he gets blisters from it, I think because he has been exposed multiple times now?
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are back on track, though! I totally could not run 6 days a week. Mentally it wouldn't work for me, and physically it wouldn't either. The max I will run is 4 days a week. I am just not hard core enough to do more than that, and my body seems to handle lower mileage better!
Oh no that sounds like it sucks!! I used to be the one at softball practice that they would send into the bushes because I never got anything. No thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy training plan has me running 4 days a week...two easy runs, speed work, and a long run. 6 days is a lot!!
Poison oak sounds just plain awful. I'm a terrible patient, so poor Sweets would take a verbal beating from me if I ever got it. (Hey, at least I know my weaknesses!)
ReplyDeleteRight now, I'm actually following a schedule (I won't call it a training schedule, because it's really just to get me back into running). I'm following it without straying, because I need it to feel comfortable with running again. When I was training for endurance races, I'd follow a training schedule. And if I missed days, I just missed them; I never tried to cram multiple day's of mileage into one.
I'm glad to hear that some of the itchiness has finally abated. I haven't had poison ivy or poison oak since I was a kid, and I'm hoping to keep it that way.
ReplyDeleteI'm following a schedule that calls for 4 days of running a week right now. My level of conditioning is definitely not currently ready for six running workouts each week.
Wow, I didn't realize poison oak lasted that long. I hope you are on the mend:) Very impressive running while itchy:)
ReplyDeleteugh, poison oak sucks! We get poison ivy a lot down here. I try to avoid it, but can't always do that.
ReplyDeleteYikes!
ReplyDeleteI've never had poison oak, but I fell into some stinging nettle once and it was miserable!
Omg, worst stuff ever! I can't imagine having it where you wouldn't be able to sit down! I had some on the palms of my hands (from yanking some old vines out of a tree) over Christmas break and I really almost just gnawed my hands off. That stuff lasts forever!
ReplyDeleteI've never had poison oak. It sounds like I really really don't want to.....
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty anal about following training plans to a T. But I also have to, or it won't get done. I'm amazed at you folks who can just go knock out a 20-miler!
I'm glad the poison oak cleared up! That stuff sucks pretty terribly.
ReplyDeleteWow, a trail 50k - go Kyria, go! I am looking forward to not following much of a plan these next few months. I love the flexibility to do what I want!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your 50K! Poison oak or poison ivy is terrible. Glad you are doing better.
ReplyDeleteWow poison oak, that totally sucks. Glad it seems better.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like your training plan is working for you, so that's awesome. I love that you just busted out a 20 miler with your friend. Awesome!