The name of the book where I found training program I am following: Run less, Run Faster. I have to tell you, I disagree with the running less part. I am running faster, I'll give you that...but I feel like I am running so much more.
The book is actually aimed at those people who run 5 or 6 days a week. Hence the "run less". This training program calls for only 3 days of running, then cross training on the other days. This is how I run all the time. I have never been a run every day kind of girl.
I had fallen into a routine of running the same routes two times a week - 3.5 miles and 4.5 miles, then a long run on the weekend. I never did speed work or tempo runs, I just ran. I really want to get faster and improve my marathon time so I chose this program.
Its a 16 week plan that includes 4 long runs of 20 miles and all other long runs are over 13 miles. The weekday runs are all between 5 and 10 miles. So my weekly mileage has gone up quite a bit and I am really struggling to hang on.
I have been fighting a sinus infection the last two weeks and I am pretty sure my struggle is coming from that added bonus. I ran 18 miles this morning and felt pretty good. I mean, 18 miles is always a long ways and its always tough, but today wasn't quite the mental battle it was last weekend. I only thought of quitting a few times instead of constantly!
I mixed up my route a bit and ran on a path that I didn't even know existed. It parallels another path that I have run about 1000 times, it is just on the other side of some trees and I never knew it was there. I got to see both mountains - St. Helens and Hood. I saw the sun rise right before it went behind the clouds. I realized that I am lucky to be able to do this and that running 18 miles is a blessing.
I also had a lot of things on my mind and running really helps me process my thoughts. I did a lot of thinking today and the time actually went pretty quick, before I knew it I was done. Next week is another 20 miler, then the week after is only 13...can't wait for that!!!
In the meantime, I'm calling my plan "run more, run faster!"
1 comment:
Thanks for keeping such a great blog so frequently updated Tracy - I always enjoy catching up with you. Congrats on retiring your student loan and for continuing to inspire the rest of us to higher fitness levels. I am running the San Francisco Half Marathon this year - thanks in part to you! Hugs to Opal and to all of your peeps.....
Deb
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