Sunday, February 28, 2021

Weekly Sweats: Long Term

On paper nothing remarkable happened this week.  25.4 miles of running (11.5 of them outside thank you very much!) and one strength workout.  One of the most frustrating things about this winter is that the weather has kept me stuck in a holding pattern where I'm not really working toward anything except keeping my fitness for better days.  Increasingly signs of spring are emerging, and I'll soon be able to start working on my long term goals again instead of just passing the time.

P.S. the screenshot above is from SmashRun.

I'm linking up with the Weekly Run Down, please head over to Kim and Deborah to check it out.

Monday: 4.5 miles easy.  I enjoyed being back outside very much and having the goal of my run being an easy effort.  Sadly I also realized that morning temperatures of mid 30s are going to mean slick spots on the roads until the snow melts.  Last month I figured out that if the roads are iffy that I can drive to my neighborhood park with a dirt walking trail, but that's currently not an option since it has a foot of snow that will turn into a mudslide once it melts.

Tuesday: hey I'm all about reality...if it's not safe to run outside then my options are the treadmill or not running at all.  I hopped on the tready.  The first mile clicked by and then I had what I refer to as a "treadmill temper tantrum".  I did not want to be on the mill and that was that.  I dragged myself through 3.3 miles and called it a day.  To my credit, that night I did the final workout from my strength program that I wasn't able to do last week when I hurt my back (this was supposed to be a rest week from strength before starting a new phase next week).

Wednesday: off

Thursday: I had a busy workday on tap and there was not a prayer of being able to run outside.  I surprised myself by getting on the tready dark and early and pounding out 6.3 miles like it was no big deal.

Friday: another busy day, so I got on the mill and got 'er done.  4.3 miles.

Saturday: FREEDOM!!!!!!!  Out of nowhere it was capri weather AND the stars aligned and I was able to meet up with some running friends.  We went to the same park as this race.  We did 4 miles and were going to call it a day but a few of us decided to stay for "one more mile" which in runner's speak means that we ended up with 7 miles total - but you knew that right;-)

Sunday: off!

Things From the Week

Thing #1: winter sucks

I knew going in that winter was going to be very hard this year, so I put my head down and barrelled through it.  Kind of.  Now that spring is coming, I'm starting to realize how bad it was and how much better things will get with each passing week.  It was so wonderful to be able to meet up with fellow human beings in person on Saturday like it's a totally normal thing.  It will soon be warm enough for outside family dinners...the kind of things that make our quality of life go up exponentially.

Thing #2: heart rate training

I'm kinda keeping an eye on my heart rate these days.  I've never really been sold on heart rate training because it sounds tedious and honestly pretty stressful to "have" to keep your heartbeat within a certain range.  Yes it's fair to read into that that my heart rate when exercising is pretty high.  The only reason that I'm considering it at all is that my last few 5k averages have been high 180's/low 190's and it makes sense that if I want to get faster that I might have to do something to address that...

Anyhoo, my Monday "easy breezy" run was an average of 172 and my "OMG I hate my life" Tuesday treadmill death march that I ran fast just to get it over with was an average of 164 so getting back to the point that formal heart rate training is probably not something that I am going to pursue.  And the point that heart rate wrist monitors may leave something to be desired in the accuracy department.   I'll continue to do easy runs "just to see what happens" but I don't plan to look at the numbers with any more intensity than I'm doing now.

Thing #3: hey races!

As I'm emerging from my winter hibernation I'm seeing a world with races in it.  Here's whats on the calendar for March.

The Hilly 15k is a maybe!  My first race cancellation last year was a 15k, and I learned the week before the race that the course is extremely uphill on the back half.  It's so steep that I had to downshift into second to drive it (translation: I have a small car with a manual transmission so on uphills I have to put in physical effort instead of just keeping my foot on the gas).  I love a challenge but hmm if it's difficult to drive the course...

The racing company is very old school and low tech.  After last year's race was cancelled they said they would email registration codes for this year's race, but I didn't get one and other people that I've talked to have had similar issues.  At first I thought that I would just let this race go, since it's only $30 and I'm lukewarm on the course, but my friends are running and I know I'll have FOMO if I sit it out and it would be good for me to run some frickin' hills already.  

I reached out to the company to get my race code and they responded but ouch, their technology is terrible so I still don't have the code.  I reached back out for the third time, but I'm wondering if I should take the communication snafu as a "sign" that this race was just not meant to be? 

The Chicago Shamrock Shuffle is a yes! For context, we usually go to Chicago to visit my SIL over spring break, which lines up with race day for the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle.  In 2018 we drove by the race and thought that it looked fun.  In 2019 we drove by the race and I realized that DUH instead of watching the race I could be running it!  I registered for 2020 and we know how that turned out - wait, let me clarify that turned out with the company not only refunding registration and also refunding the cost of shipping for my shirt and bib, which I was not expecting since they had already shipped me the goods.

The catch is that the 2021 Shamrock Shuffle is virtual and even if it wasn't we're not going to Chicago this year.  BUT I recently learned that if you run the Shamrock Shuffle 4 years in a row that you have an in for the Chicago marathon which would get me in to the 2025 race.  Which seems like a "sign" because I know that I'm not ready to run a full now but I think I will be in "a few years" which in my head translates to 2025 which is the year that I turn 50.  Long term planning my friends.

The swag bag for the Shamrock shuffle arrived this week and (1) I love the shirt and (2) it tickled me no end that the package included a full size Zone Perfect bar.  The hallmark of my rinky dinky local race company's swag bags are mini Zone Perfect bars.  Nothing like going big or going home.

It is amazing how much things change within a lifetime.  Remember when 50 year olds were...old???  And now 50 seems like the right age to run my first marathon. 



28 comments:

  1. Glad you could get outside for some of your runs this week! I'm also dealing with some slushy snow and mud, but hopefully that will be gone soon. Your race plans sound exciting!

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    1. We're down to just a few patches of ice and snow and it is wonderful. I feel like I have my life back!

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  2. Did you say marathon????? Even if not until, 2025, woot!!!!! That's exciting! Just gotta warn ya, once you do one, and drink the Kool-Aid, the temptation is pretty compelling to do another...and another. Anyways, your Shamrock race still sounds fun, even if it's a virtual endeavor. Although I'd much rather toe a real start line (like most people), I did gain a new respect for virtual races in 2020.

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    1. Ooh you have no idea how badly I want to run the real race. Some people dream of running Boston and I just want to run the Shamrock Shuffle. Hey I have two years' worth of shirts honestly acquired so it's a start.

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  3. 100% agree with you that winter sucks! I don't mind a little snow and cold, but it's just too long here. I saw the swag for the Shuffle and was tempted, but do i really need another t-shirt from a virtual run? Sigh. Yes, being a legacy runner would be a good thing. The Chicago Marathon is my favorite all time race. I've run it 3 times and would do it again if my old body would let me!

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    1. I think that everyone loves the Chicago marathon. It's the closest world major to me and a relatively easy path for me to get in. This could happen...

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  4. Ooh, the Shamrock Shuffle sounds like just the thing to get you out of your winter slump and into spring! And I like your long-term planning. A marathon to celebrate your 50th would be perfect.

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    1. I forgot to mention that there is a 5 mile race in my town so I can use the race course for my Shamrock.

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  5. Hooray for some outdoor runs! That had to feel great after being cooped up. Based on the mileage you're running now, I'd say you're going to be ready to tackle a marathon before 2025. Yay for the Chi Shamrock Shuffle. Can you believe I've only run it once??

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    1. It's so nice to be back outside, I just hope that the weather holds for next week. I'll need to get a lot more comfortable with the half before I can consider a full, but surely that will happen in the next 5 years.

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  6. Glad that you were able to get outside for a run! This winter has been really rough, I hope that March is better.

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    1. It's got to be. Being able to be outside means being able to be with people.

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  7. It's in writing and on the internet so as far as I'm concerned you are officially committed to running a marathon in 2025 for your 50th birthday! Even if it's long, it's a wonderful distance and I'd run another in a heartbeat if my body would let me.

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    1. Yep, I can't back out now, though somewhere in the archives I threw down the idea of running my first full in 2020 and I'm nowhere near ready for that. But surely by 2025....

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  8. What a great month of running!

    Hope that the weather continues to improve and there are outdoor runs in your future.

    Um...60 is young too! I have vry active 70 year old friends. They put me to shame.

    That is exciting to run a marathon. And Chicago I hear is a great one. If my feet would let me I think I'd run NYC again. But I am so glad that I took the plunge and ran ONE. Nothing like it!!!! I think everyone should no matter how slow you choose to get tot he finish line.

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    1. Let's not forget our friend Jeannie Rice! She puts all of us to shame. In one of her podcasts she said "no one runs marathons when they are 100" but I'd put money on her doing it.

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  9. 50 is the new 20! What a time to be alive!

    I think it sounds like everything is lining up for your marathon! How exciting!

    And yes, winter does suck. I'm glad it's almost over <3

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    1. For real! The difference between my grandparents' health and my parents' health at the same age is astonishing.

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  10. a marathon when you turn 50 sounds amazing! Chicago is a great race. So nice to hear about races happening again!

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  11. OUTSIDE RUNNING!!! amazing!! must have felt so good.
    I haven't even run the marathon in Chicago yet but it would be amazing for a first marathon. I have done course support two years in a row which had me clocking up a half-marathon just in walking steps to see the hubs (and Marcia and Wendy the 2nd time). Since I lived there a bit more than half my US life, it's actually the only US marathon I want to run. And if the stars align and the world is healthier, I hope that is next year. 50 is a great age to tackle the distance!

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    1. My family visited CHI often when I was a young 'un so the city has some vibes for me. And of course I'll take any excuse I can get to visit my SIL.

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  12. So glad you got outside this week! And yay for having some races on your calendar!

    I also love that you are mapping out a plan for your first marathon! Chicago was my first (currently only) marathon - I was 53 so I say go for it ;)

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    1. I've heard such great things about it and there's a pretty easy path to entry with the Shamrock Shuffle so...

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  13. I miss the Shamrock Shuffle! I am not signing up because, well, I don't want to run a virtual race. Yay for the Chicago Marathon! That is exciting!

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    1. Totally agree that if I had run the real Shamrock Shuffle I wouldn't be interested in the virtual race. I hope so much to run it someday. Some people are obsessed with Boston, but I just want to run Shamrock.

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  14. Chicago Marathon would be an awesome 50th event! My HR will be in the upper 180's for hard effort runs also. I agree, the HR training seems a bit awkward, but I know everyone who sticks with it really loves it. I'm just too impatient ;)

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    1. Yep! I feel like I see a lot of "I"m trying HR training" posts and not a lot of "I tried HR training and got a ton faster posts". And yikes I've seen a few "my target HR was 140 but my actual was 141 so I am a failure" posts that just turn me off.

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