I'm linking up with the Weekly Run Down, please head over to Kim and Deborah to check it out.
How I planned the cutback: my strength training plan called for zero activity so that part was easy;-) On the running side I looked to a past running plan's recommendation of five 30-40 minute runs which I translated to five 3 mile-ish runs.
Why I did the cutback: my experience with cutback weeks is that although I don't feel like I "need" them that they give me an extra bit of "pop" when I go back to my normal training load. Also, for the past two years in a row I've gotten burned out on running toward the end of the year so my long term goal is to prevent history from repeating.
January was a sweet running month with 120+ miles (more than half of them outside!!!). Weather wise the treadmill was once again the only option this week. We have a lot of ice and it's fair to say that if the first digit of the temperature is a 1 that I'm not running outside anyway. The forecast is more of the same so I'm resigned to being on the treadmill for the foreseeable future. My fitness goals for February are finishing season 5 of Outlander and the latest season of Call the Midwife.
P.S. if you're in the market, here is a list of my all time favorite treadmill TV shows. I'd add Line of Duty and the first few seasons of Suits (both on Amazon Prime) to the list.
Monday: 3.3 miles easy
Tuesday: 3.3 miles easy
Wednesday: off!
Thursday: 3.3 miles easy
Friday: 3.5 miles slow, one of those rare workouts where I got distracted by the TV show that I was watching and went over my planned mileage.
Saturday: is it even Saturday without a long run? 3.3 miles with a bunch of 60 and 90 second speed bursts and I felt like I had a lot of time on my hands that day.
Sunday: off!
New Kicks Who Dis?
In other running news, I got new shoes this week. My go-to shoe is Brooks Launch and I've heard that the Levitate does everything that the Launch does and then some. Add to that that I have been hearing raves about the latest models of both shoes so I've been extra excited to try them. Both my treadmill and outdoor shoes are getting up there in miles, so even though I technically don't "need" new shoes yet I will by next month so I figured it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and throw a new pair into the rotation.
Thing 1: they are gorgeous. Hubba hubba.
Thing 2: as far as I can tell from the 3 mile treadmill run that I did
with them, they are awesome. They are just a little more lightweight
than the Launch and they felt really good.
Thing 3: there is no thing 3. My fling with the Levitate can be summarized as "it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all". We had a wonderful first date on Thursday. We met up for our second date on Saturday and during my prerun warmup I sadly realized that we were incompatible so I called things off then and there. I will let you make the call on whether it's them or me...
I have wide width feet and shoe shopping is a horror. For regular shoes if the box doesn't say W, I don't even bother to try them on. For running shoes life is a ton easier, because there is an entire gender with wide feet. That's right sisters: I wear men's running shoes.
The shoe fit the bottom of my foot and toes perfectly - not too small and not too big. But within about a mile and half into the run, I noticed the shoe felt tight on the top of my right foot. That's expected since my right foot is slightly bigger than my left and a frequent problem with shoes out of the box is that I don't loosen the laces enough, so the first few runs are always a trial-and-error loosening and tightening to get things just right. I took a quick break to loosen the laces without studying the shoe in detail. When I did my pre-run warmup on Saturday, I noticed that the right shoe was still rubbing into my foot and not in a nice way. So I took a moment to loosen the laces a little more and took a detailed look...
Oh Houston, here's our problem. The Levitate only has a partial tongue, so loosening the laces isn't going to help. Where the tongue ends is exactly where the shoe rubs into my foot.
Hard stop and fail.
No harm no foul, the Levitate are on their way back to Brooks. I wish that things were different but the height of my foot and the height of the shoe are two things that cannot be changed so they have been accepted. As far as I can tell Launch does not have the "all in one" tongue so a brand spanking new pair is headed my way for my next new shoe adventure.
I think it is really smart to take cut back weeks if you know you are prone to burning out. Also, with no real races to train for, seems like a good time to do it! I am a Brooks fan and wear the Glycerins which I love. Nice review on the shoe
ReplyDeleteDeborah, you hit the nail on the head - it is easy to take a cutback week in January. In April and May when it's gorgeous and I'm in the height of training and racing, yes I am likely to slip up on the cutback weeks.
DeleteIts smart to take cutback weeks! I love the Levitates but I know what you mean about the tongue. I've heard that alot of people love the Ghosts but I haven't tried those. I wear the Glycerins, Levitates, and Hyperion Tempos.
ReplyDeleteSigh, it's just one of those things. If my foot was a few milimeters smaller I'd be raving. I tried on the Ghosts last spring and they are very similar to the Glycerin, just a touch less cushioned.
DeleteCut-back weeks definitely pay off — that’s why the pros swear by them. Interesting on the shoes. I’m not sure I’ve seen a model like that. Glad the new model of the others still work!
ReplyDeleteAh that's the million dollar question if the Launch 8 will work! I'm hearing raves but I won't know until I try them.
DeleteGreat shoe review! So you wear the men's Brooks Launch? I struggle to find running shoes with a wide enough toe box, and I never thought to try the mens. I'll have to look into that!
ReplyDeleteYep, those are men's shoes. The first time I ever went to a running shoe store and got fitted they suggested men's. I'm an 8W for most shoes and usually 8&1/2W for women's sneakers which translates to a men's 8 (normal width). My husband is an 8&1/2 and his running shoes are too big for me.
DeleteI used to look forward to my cutback weeks during training. Even if I didn't feel like I needed the break, by day 2 of the cutback week my body always loved it, lol.
ReplyDeleteThose sneakers are so pretty! Sorry that they didn't work out :(
Oh well, it was fun trying them on.
DeleteVery smart to have a cutback! And yes, those levitates are very cool! I was a Ravenna girl, so I just ordered my first Launch GTS 8, which is different than the regular Launch, but the replacement for the Ravenna. Going to use them on the treadmill first to see if I like them before venturing outside!
ReplyDeleteI'm very curious to know what the difference between the Launch & the Launch GTS is. I've read up on it a bit but the differences didn't really stand out.
DeleteOne of the first lessons I learned as a new runner a billion years ago when we lived in England was the premise of a cutback week. So many benefits for your body whether or not you feel like cutting back. It's a good idea that will pay off down the road. I wish Brooks and I had a love connection, alas we do not. I've tried time and time again to make them work. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThe first pair of Brooks that I ever tried were a dead fail and for years I thought that they were scam. Then my running store hooked me up with Launch 5 which were very good to me. The 8's have some changes which sound good but it's not a done deal until I run in them. That's another reason why I'm looking for my next shoe now because I have a month or so left on my old shoes in case I have to go searching for another brand.
DeleteJanuary is usually a cutback month for me--between the weather and mental fatigue, I don't shoot for the stars. I did have 89 miles this month, which still was a lot, lol. I mean, what else is there to do?
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame about the Levitates. But better that you tried them--we can't always have a perfect match!
Trying the Levitates was exactly like dating, just without the 1st date anxiety. I had fun but ended things as soon as I could see that it wasn't going to work out.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous photo of your pup in the snow! So peaceful!
ReplyDeleteI have worn the Bedlam, which is stability version of the Levitate, and I liked them, but didn't love them. I hope you have better luck with the Launch!
Great job on your cutback week!
The pup loves the snow, even with all of the slipping and sliding that we've had on our walks. I'm pretty excited for the new shoes.
DeleteIn a typical year (like, with no stress fracture in the previous months), January is always an easy-peasy month for me as well. This year, though, it feels like more of a "maintenance" month while I await my next podiatrist appointment (this week). At least with my stair workouts back in the picture, it feels more like "normal" times...
ReplyDeleteNormal is good! Good luck at your podiatrist appt.
DeleteAlways good to take a cutback week...and it always feels easier to take one when the weather doesn't cooperate, right?
ReplyDeleteI've been eyeing the Brooks website for new shoes - I have a wide foot too and I can't believe it never occurred to me to consider trying a men's shoe. Sorry the Levitates didn't work out. What will you replace them with?
The Launch 8. The 8's have some differences to the previous models that sound good but I will need to try them.
DeleteYeah the new sock liners make lacing complicated. It's part of why I had to switch from the New Balance 1080s
ReplyDeleteWay to go on 120 miles running even with a cutback week
I'm keeping a list of Launch alternatives in case the 8's don't work out and New Balance comes up a lot.
Deletethe 1080s are sock liners, I think. Check the 880s. they were great
DeleteGreat job on your January mileage!!! That is a bummer about the shoes. Will you. now try the Launch?
ReplyDeleteYep! I've already ordered the 8's but as always it's TBD whether they will work for me or not.
DeleteGreat mileage!!
ReplyDeleteGlad the cut-back week works for you. I'm not that disciplined. I just run lol
Love Call the Midwife. Haven't watch Outlander. Maybe I should give it a shot.
I'm hoping that the cutback weeks will add up to letting me "just run" this November and December instead of being totally burned out like I have been for the past two years;-)
DeleteOh my goodness, you are a genius! I have narrow to normal feet, but with my gnarly toes I'm starting to have trouble getting running shoes that feel comfortable because they all seem too tight in the toe box. I'm going to ask to try men's shoes the next time I get fitted! If that works, I'll owe you a drink!
ReplyDeleteCutback weeks are great and I love how invigorated I feel afterward. I love it when I coordinate them with trips when we're hiking and I don't have time to run or lift.
Fingers crossed, I hope the men's will work out for you.
Deletewhat a bummer about the shoes!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently watching Gilmore Girls on the Treadmill. The jury is still out. My husband is watching some Icelandic drama series. How he can run, listen to Icelandic AND read Dutch subtitles I have **no** idea. Will have a look at your list for the future (already plowed through the last half season of Suits).
Wow subtitles on the treadmill is impressive!
DeleteSo sorry... I've run both Launch and Levitates, like them both, but the Levitates are my favorite!! Shows once again that shoes are a very personal thing.
ReplyDeleteI think the Levitates would have worked very well if they'd been big enough to get my feet into! I like a lighter, springier shoe.
Delete