Training log - Week ending 3/18/12

This week was 30 miles of “real running” and 20 “miles” pool running, plus 3000 yards of swimming breathing drills -- training log is here.

Tapered and raced.  And had a very good race.  The time is not what I’d like to run for a half, but the race was in many ways a BIGGER confidence booster than a massive PR would have been.   I ran in challenging conditions on a tough course, and kept my mental cool and focus all the way to the end.

But that wasn’t the best part of the week.  

***

My sig other and I celebrated 5 years together on Saturday (we’ve declared St. Patties day to be our anniversary, since we have no idea what date our anniversary actually should be, and we first bonded over our dislike of “amateur night.”)

5 years ago, I had a hellish Saturday at the office.  I had been there until 11:30 the night before, and returned at 6:30 am, to work feverishly.  Once the urgent thing was done, I hit the gym to vent, and then returned to work.  About 8:30 pm that night, I was DONE with work, but too stressed to sleep.  So I went to a club.  Still in my gym clothes.  I really didn’t care.  REALLY didn’t care.

Us - the early years

And sat down at a random table and had a random conversation punctuated by the backdrop of angry industrial music.  I had absolutely no intention of getting into a relationship – I was pretty happy as a single person, and not looking for a change in status.

And 5 years later, here we are.    Some people describe relationships as great because the parties never fight; I think ours is great because we debate/discuss/argue/call each other on our mutual BS about 20 times a day.  And we never take it personally.  And we take each other as we are, without trying to “fix” each other.

And he's been amazingly tolerant as I've gradually evolved from someone who spends her late nights dancing to someone who spends her early mornings running. When you're a nightclub regular, and you start dating a nightclub regular, you don't really expect that she's going to eventually be falling asleep at 10pm on Friday night....

Brian and Basil

Bliss is getting to a place where you’re totally happy and comfortable as a party of one, and then finding someone whose company makes you even happier.  Bonus points if they’ll meet you at race finish lines carrying your lavender backpack and groom your horse for you and take you out for steak dinners.

***

Next race is Cherry Blossom in 2 weeks.  This week is recovering from my half-marathon for a few days, followed by tempo on Friday and long run on Sunday.

Dailies

Monday:   In the morning, 70 minutes of poolrunning for “7 miles”, plus injury prevention exercises.  Foam-rolling and stretching at night.

Tuesday:  In the morning, 10miles including a track workout of 2x 1600, 800.  Splits were 6:09, 2:55, 6:08, 2:56, 2:55 (added an extra 800).  Followed with injury prevention work and 25 minutes of shakeout pool-running.    Floor barre and foam-rolling at night.

Wednesday:   In the morning 40 minutes of easy pool running for “4 miles” and then 2000 yards of swimming breathing drills.   Pilates and foam-rolling/stretching at night.

Thursday:   In the morning, 6.5 very easy miles (8:46 pace), plus injury prevention exercises. Foam-rolling and stretching at night.

Friday:  1000 yards of swimming breathing drills plus injury prevention work in the morning.

Saturday:   1 mile very easy jog warm-up, drills and strides, then half-marathon in 1:28:57.  Later did a “modified to gentle” version of a yoga class, plus gentle foam-rolling and stretching.

Sunday:   65 minutes of recovery pool-running for “6.5 miles.  Also foam-rolling and restorative yoga.