Marathon Season, Week 1: Welcome to the Good Life

Love him or hate him  . . .

It's the good life
Better than the life I lived
When I thought that I was gonna go crazy

-Kanye

I used to do something called the week in song lyrics.  This evolved out of songs that got stuck in my head during my long run that seemed to really stand for what was going on in my training life that week.

Pink started playing on my Slacker Radio station right around the midway point of my 9 mile run this weekend.  I was feeling pretty pissed that I was so slow.  I mean, I know the heat index was over 100, but I've been doing this for almost 8 years now.  Shouldn't I be faster!!? That led to all these thoughts about how will I ever get close to a BQ? 

And then this song came on.

Where there is desire there is bound to be a flame
Where there is a flame, someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns, doesn't mean you're gonna die
You gotta get up and try, try, try
You gotta get up and try, try, try

OK then.

Week 1.

You'd notice something odd about my training plan if you looked at it: it is unconventional.  For the most part, that means I go CONSERVATIVE as hell.  My long runs are light and not as frequent as most. To keep injury at bay, and to keep my triathlon fitness, I also cross-train more than usual: at least a weekly ride that ends up being 20-50 (even 60) miles, and/or a swim, plus strength.  And then other times I have to be aggressive because of my schedule.  Rarely, this means put two hard workouts together, or my long run only 3 weeks before my "A" race (many reasons).  That's the point of having a Coach, even an online one.

Now, I know I probably can't keep such an oddball schedule and BQ, but that's ok. This isn't a PR or BQ year at all, but I've still PR'd every single marathon I've ever run. I have a goal for this one (because if I didn't, my Type-A tendencies would cause me to twitch), but I am perfectly ok just getting through it considering the circumstances.

Which brings us back to that 9-miler. Pissed. Slow.  Hot.  Rainy. Etc.  That Pink song came on and, for some reason, I thought back to when running 10 miles was so challenging that for a few days after I did what I affectionately called the "10-mile waddle."

Now I start the first week of a marathon plan with a 9-mile run.  And then I go ride hills the next day.  And weights the day after that.  And there ain't no waddle. And, thanks to KDub, I have found a gel that doesn't make me poo my pants.

Better than the life I lived
When I thought that I was gonna go crazy

So maybe I'm not exactly BQing yet.  But I'm getting there.  I'm well enough to be somewhat consistent.  And I'm finally feeling fit enough to not be killed by a 9- or 10-mile run.  And I've maintained enough fitness to jump into a 9- or 10-mile run whenever I need to do it.   

Welcome to the Good Life.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey . . .
I'm good

Help, I've fallen, and I can't get up!

Because I believe humor is a major element in diffusing tense situations, I possess a general proclivity (often irreverent, and bordering on inappropriate,) to humor-ize even the most somber moments.  (Also, to create my own words.  Topic for another day.)


FOR example: when my oncology nurse wheeled in my dose of radioactive iodine, I snapped a quick picture of the biohazard sign on the container.  Then when they ran a Geiger counter over me to ensure I was contaminated, I laughed incessantly.  The idea of being a walking mini-Chernobyl just seemed preposterous.


So when a bad episode of vertigo hit yesterday, and I tripped and fell - knee-skinningly hard - on the way into a restaurant, I walked up to the hostess stand (which offered a prime view of my spill) and quipped, "Guess they oughta keep me out of the bar today!"


The truth is, the whole thing was kind of scary.  I've had vertigo for over 6 years, so spinning rooms and really crazy swims are de rigeur.  But I've never actually fallen.


I know, lots of people trip and fall, and my vertiguous ass has certainly stumbled in public (let's not even discuss drunken falls), but for some reason falling like this bothered me in a way your average stumble wouldn't.  Not having control over my balance - that's just another level.  I mean, 31 is WAY TOO YOUNG to be the "help, I've fallen, and I can't get up!" lady.


Of course, I did NOT work out.  My day was already jam-packed: a massage, pedicure with a friend, studying, workout, and more - all following work at Big University (My Small Liberal Arts School project is on break and I work at Local Technical College tomorrow).  After all that, plus the tumble, the idea of spinning during a swim, falling off the bike, or taking a faceplant on a run were just not appealing.  I took some medicine, cut my errand list down and just finished my grocery shopping so I could get home.


The person who usually inspires me to consider things, once again, asked me a pointed question: shouldn't you wait to enter Augusta until your health is more stable?


My answer: NO.

My answer was “no” for many reasons.   For example: this is only my first week back to training; I’ve been training off and on since the marathon; I’ve successfully trained at an aggressive Olympic volume (VERY close to Half Iron) very recently; my health is more stable than it has been in years; I’m undergoing a new type of treatment that should improve my vertigo; and this is only one workout missed in the first week of the maintenance plan that bridges me TO my 70.3 plan which doesn't even start for another 8+ weeks.

But, more than that, my answer was NO because I absolutely refuse to let my limitations stop me from pursuing my career and fitness goals.

Seems both tenacious and noble, but could be a recipe for disaster.  That’s why I’m deferring to common sense in ALL cases.  I’m not going to create a situation where training (or racing) takes priority over my health.  But, as long as my previous experience indicates that I am perfectly capable of training and racing successfully, and as long as my track record also demonstrates that actively training, even racing, IMPROVE my mental and physical health, then there is ABSOLUTELY no WAY in HELL I will let missing a workout here or there hold me back.

Life happens.  Even people without major health issues find themselves missing a workout here and there.  As long as I have my physician's approval, it's all systems go.  When I miss a workout, I'm treating it just like a "well" person would: shrug it off and move on to the next day's.

Dig In, Bitch!

It’s funny how things work out. Sometimes the things that we dread the most, or that are the most difficult for us to endure, happen specifically to help us appreciate when things DO go our way.

Yesterday, for example? Asstacular. Just one of those days where everything went wrong. I ran late to work, forgot my fruit, ate a less-healthy-than-usual breakfast, didn’t work out in the morning but forgot I had to meet my GRE tutor after work so didn’t get a workout at all, and then ate a couple things for lunch I wasn’t happy with. On top of that, I was having a Fat Fatty Fat Day. The scale has decided to give me the wonderful gift of a couple pounds back despite my heroic efforts.

Fast forward to my drive home from tutoring: my new practice score was up almost 300 points. I was on cloud nine. I had a great dinner and slept like a baby. Then this morning I had the OPPOSITE day of last week: everything went perfect. I had a great breakfast and got to work early on a gorgeous day after a great workout.

I spent about 12 miles on the bike and a 2.7-mile run done as a baby brick. Definitely a maintenance workout, but still a breakthrough (if not in volume or intensity, then in spirit). I felt outstanding; in fact, at one point, when I looked down at my pace and saw that I was only running at marathon speed, I thought: what the hell!? I can run THIS pace for 26.2 miles, let alone 2.7! Dig in, bitch!

After my workout, I was drinking my protein/flax/veggie/fruit drink and getting ready for work when, out of nowhere, I was hit by the overwhelming realization that A)I feel dramatically different when I AM working out regularly, and B) I like it so much that (wait for it, wait for it . . . )

Racing is not a requirement of my training.

This is something I’ve never really felt. In the past, RACING kept me TRAINING. But I may not be able to afford to race a lot (or at all) once I’m a starving PhD student, and my entire outlook about the subject was piss-poor: if I can’t race, what’s the f)#(!)@ing point of training?

Now, though it sounds like a no-brainer, I’m finally at a place where I can see ways to put aside the money for the future, but even more importantly, where I can enjoy TRAINING for TRAINING.   It takes off 100% of the pressure I felt about missing workouts or not doing races, and it reinforces my belief that what’s amazing about my body is how much it can do, and not how it looks. I’m not saying I’m going to stop having Fat Days, but if I’m training year-round for the sake of feeling great and making fitness progress, I’m sure it will keep those to a minimum.

Gotta tell ya – it is a very happy (and healthy) place.

Today is the first day of the rest of my training plan

Honestly, I was shocked at this week's plan (and its extremely low volume), but when the coaches agreed with it, I rolled with it.

I'm already glad.

This morning's workout was originally scheduled as a brick, but poor Ruby hasn't been out on the road in a week, so I didn't realize her tires were desperately in need of air.  The extra couple minutes it took for me to fill them cut out my run time - which is fine, because I already have two mini-bricks later this week.

This is what this early plan is all about.  Building up my efficacy and ability slowly.  So there's no need to get all crazy-like the first day of my workout back.

The weather was brisk - about 48 degrees - so I threw on a compression tee and tights under my jersey.  And, in a bold move, I opted NOT to wear my cycling shorts over my tights.  (I do this sometimes on short rides to develop what I call SST - Skinny Seat Tolerance.) 

After that, there isn't much to report . . . averaged about 15.2 mph, didn't get stuck at many stoplights, and except for the holyfuckmyfingersarefreezing sensation caused by forgetting my gloves, it was an ab-so-lute-ly perfect little ride.

 

Later on in the evening I had a delicious piece of venison and some fresh spinach, and as a special treat I made tiny potatoes.  I think I've expressed my general apathy about carbs in general, but I've made a serious effort lately to eat veggies instead of starches.  I have to say, the overall experience of eating only veggies is more satisfying than including a traditional "carb." 



They taste about 1000 times
better than they look!

Since I'm helping the B work on his eating as well, and since he frequently looks for some type of dessert after dinner, I made whole-wheat, bittersweet-chocolate-chunk cookies.  You'd never know they were also low fat and lower sugar.  Even this non-carb, non-sweet fan gave them 2 thumbs up. 

Tomorrow I think I'm supposed to meet with the math tutor for more GRE-approved goodness.  I've been hitting the vocabulary SUPA HARD (in fact, if I weren't so tired, I'd be using some of my fascinating new words to write this blog.)

Tomorrow is another day.

Marathon Training, Week 1 Recap: Lost and Found

I will be back later today or tomorrow with some photos and notes from the Great Floridian Triathlon (140.6) and the Florida Challenge (70.3) from the volunteer stations I helped man.

Here's the quick recap of the last few days of Week 1:

• Seeing the tri group really got me motivated!!
• Saturday I made a huge (and obvious mistake): I didn't properly feed myself for the 5+ hours I was out in the sun. I also didn't drink enough. (I'm a triathlete and naturally dehydrated/sensitive to blood sugar changes; shouldn't I know better?!?!!) So when I went for my 5-mile run I had a massive headache, a bad dizzy spell and almost threw up. It turned into 3miles at a 12.5min/mi pace.
• No long run on Sunday. In my defense, one of my new medicines or the flu shot - not sure which - is making me queasy every day, so my illness on Sunday and even Saturday could very well have been the combination of meds. Today I'm trying them at different times and I'm not wearing my contacts in case they contributed to the headache.
• Lucky hat discovered lost Thursday.
• Lucky hat FOUND on Friday!
• Total workouts this week: 4 runs (just under 2 miles Wed, just under 3 Thurs, 3 Friday and 3 Saturday) for a total of around 10 miles - this doesn't include the 5+ miles I walked with the dog between Friday and Sunday. There were 4 runs on my schedule of 3,3,5 and 9 - so even though my mileage suffered I got in 4 workouts.

All in all, not a bad first week "back." Today is a scheduled rest day so I will walk the dog and maybe throw in some weights or yoga. Or a bit of both.

More later.

Marathon Training, Week 1, Day 2: False Start

I'm a big football fan. (Well, that's a bit of a misnomer - I am a big SPORTS fan. In fact, as I sit here typing, I'm watching the World Series.) Growing up, I watched a lot of sports - live games, televised games, even played a few sports.

Anyway, my favorite thing to do on Saturday and Sunday during fall was watch football with Dad. And my favorite football pastime was trying to call penalties before the refs. A personal speciality of mine? Telling the difference between offsides and false start. I still get those two mixed up to this day, but according to some sports nuts, so do a lot of coaches, so I'm in good company. The difficulty? When you're waiting for the snap, any tiny move on the field can look like a penalty and it can be hard to tell whether it was on the offense or defense. A false start is when an offensive player who is not supposed to move moves before the snap.

This week? I moved before the snap.

I got a flu shot Wednesday, and it made me sick. Probably shouldn't have started training the week I got both a flu and tetanus shot, right? But I figured I'd just take it easy and get moving. Tuesday I got in about 2 miles Today I get ready for my 5-mile pace run - the dog is all over the place, it's raining, I don't feel good, it's now pitch black, and then - and then - AND THEN. . . .

I can't find my Hammerhead finisher's hat.

Anywhere.

I can't run without this hat.

I can't race without this hat.

You don't understand. I am superstitious as a m'f'er when it comes to sports. This is the hat from my first Olympic tri, my first race attended by my parents, and my first medal. From the race that got me into Nationals. That hat can't be purchased anywhere, and it means a LOT to me. I am not exceptionally fast, smart or pretty. This has not been a great year. I need all the luck I can get.

I dig through the laundry, all my cabinets of race stuff, my boxes of beacons, body glide and race belts - even my swim bag - everything I can think of. No hat. By now it's drizzling, windy and night time. A 5-mile run is not feasible. So I snap on one of my road beacons and take the dog for a walk. Which turns into a run. Altogether about 3 miles, mostly walked, but I'll take it. I'm still seriously bummed, though - and it's not because I didn't make my planned run.

It's because of that hat.

So tonight I'm sending out telepathic signals to the universe about two things: a good 5-miler in the morning, and That Damn Hat.

Marathon Training, Week 1, Day 1: Dances with Bulls

Today was my first day back to training. My goal race is the Melbourne and the Beaches (Inaugural) Marathon on February 8, 2009. My half marathon will be the OUC Half on December 6, 2008 . This will be my second marathon (first in Florida), and my 3rd half marathon (second time running the OUC Half).

My goal for both races?

To finish.

I don't think I can honestly expect a PR with only 6 weeks of training (16 for the full) and the year I've had, so I'm counting it as a PR to be able to log another running of the OUC Half and another marathon. I'll be loosely following Hal Higdon's Novice 2 Schedule, although I have the training base to use the Intermediate 1 schedule, since I've decided to make my goal a little more conservative than I would have made it in weeks past. I'm jumping in on week 2 of that plan, since I have 16 weeks untilthe marathon and the program calls for 18. I'll also be doing more strength and flexibility training since it worked for me during PT last year. This week's runs are a 3mi, a 5mi pace, a 3mi, and a 9 LSD. For my first few weeks, my long runs will include walk breaks.

Also, my schedule for the rest of the year will include more spectathleting - this weekend at the Great Floridian Triathlon in Clermont and hopefully for Ironman FL on November 1. IM FL is a 12-hour drive, so I'd need to be able to get the day off on October 31, which I don't know if I can do.
My training schedule will also include something it didn't have before: a running partner. I'll be running at least part of my distance, or an additional 1-3 miles, every day with my four-legged buddy. (Yes, he is sitting next to my bicycle on the trainer in that picture.) Tonight I'll complete one of the shorter distances since this week's two rest days have already been taken and the schedule will need shuffling. This morning we went almost 2 miles in about 18 minutes, mostly in Z4 because he runs so much faster than I do.

And that's why I decided to call Day 1 Dances with Bulls. (Or bullies.)

The Megg-Run-Run-Run . . .

This has been the most runningest, least swimmingest week EVER. Kind of by accident. I am focusing on bike this week, so most of my cycling has been on the trainer, but there's a lot of running and I'm doing a new thing I haven't ever done before in my run training: cadence. I aim for 21+ foot strikes every 15 seconds. The odd thing is, keeping my foot turnover high seems to keep my legs faster without raising my HR as much. The other odd thing is, I just can't seem to get my HR above 160BPM unless I'm near death. Damn low heart rate.

Sunday I had an easy 60-minute spin.
Monday I was supposed to swim and do weights, but I had the gas can incident.
Tuesday I ran (cadence, zone 1) and spun. Spinning: another new thing on the trainer - STOMP sets. Where, instead of spinning, you put it in a really big gear and use your lower body to STOMP all the way through the pedal stroke.
Wednesday I ran - accelerations (damn heart rate) . . . . . I was supposed to swim again, but the pool was closed all night for lightning. Blah.
Tonight I spin and (guess what?) run.
Tomorrow I rest.
Saturday I swim and (go out on a limb here) run.
Sunday I (yet again) run and do strength.

I'm wondering if it'll kill me to sneak in a swim tomorrow . . .

"If at any time you feel like doing nothing, do nothing."

. . . . . Or so says Joe Friel about the few weeks following 70.3 and Ironman-distance races in his book Going Long.
Well, the truth is, I don't ever really feel like doing nothing, but my body has crashed pretty hard the past couple of nights, so I've let it. The last few mornings there was just no way I was getting up at 3:45 or 4am to travel almost 20 miles for 4:45 or 5am Club workouts. It looks like I'll be seeing the club on the weekends this week!

That isn't to say I did nothing. Tuesday night I went out for a little more than two and a quarter miles of light hill repeats. I felt AMAZING: the strongest and quickest I've felt in months. My body is recovering so fast from the HIM. (I actually went more like 2.5mi, but I don't count the part where I dropped the pooped puppy back off at home.) And I could have gone a lot longer, but I'm not pushing it on my 2nd week back from a big race for which I was undertrained to begin with. Besides, it's all too easy in the first week or two after the race to push too hard to get back because you're still on a race high.

So yesterday I took my first complete rest day of the week - no running, no swimming, no cycling, no walking. I sat up till about 10pm and paid my bills, ordered my Road ID (now everyone can stop panicking when I'm out alone in the heat running 8+ miles or riding 30-50), ordered my Infinit, did some laundry and continued hanging things in my house, piece by piece. Tonight my plan is to do some light strength work (using my resistance bands and focusing on my problem areas as well as doing some tri-specific moves) and a swim/spin brick: ride to the pool, swim a few hundred; hop on the bike, ride 5-10 miles; back to the pool, swim a few hundred; hop on the bike, ride 5-10 miles; repeat a few times. 3x20-25 at very low resistance:

• Hip adductors
• Hip abductors
• Chop squats
• Dual-armed pushes and pulls
• One-armed pushes; one armed pulls
• Multi-directional lunges
• Flies
• Core

No more than two hours total.

And speaking of eating . . . I'm still not eating as well as usual, but I'm eating less like an elephant than I was before FL 70.3. I've come to the conclusion that I'm a freak of nature when training: I lose weight as soon as my training load decreases. When I weighed in for the race, I had lost 4 pounds during taper week alone. WHO (besides me) GAINS WEIGHT WHEN THEY'RE ONLY TRAINING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE OLYMPIC AND HIM LEVEL and then LOSES IT as soon as THE TRAINING GOES AWAY!?!?!!?!?!? JEEBUS!

Anyway . . . that's the haps.