“At first an ordeal and then an accomplishment, the daily run becomes a staple, like bread, or wine, a fine marriage, or air. It is also a free pass to friendship.”
~ Benjamin Cheever, Strides

Monday, May 7, 2012

Rainier Training: Detour


Quick Look Weeks of April 30-May 6:
# of Workouts:  9
# of miles ran/walked/hiked/climbed:  25
Starting Weight: 220.8
Current Weight: 175.2 (Up 0.6 lbs from previous week)
Total Lost to date: 45.6 lbs
Chest: 40" (No change)
Hips: 45"  (No change!)

Monday: 2.2 mile walk, 40 min ST with Adam
Tuesday: 1 mile walk, 4 mile run; zoo trip
Wednesday: 1.5 mile run; 40 min ST with Adam
Thursday: 2.5 mile walk
Friday: 1.17 mile run
Saturday: 13.23 mile run - Cap City Half: RECAP
Sunday: Rest/carried Avery in Bjorn 30 minutes
Another week, another gain.  I also feel the need to admit, that when I first weighed myself it was 175.8.  They say if you hydrate properly for a race, you should gain about 2-3 pounds...but I don't want to see it on the scale after the race!  HA!

It's hard not to get bummed about a little bump on the scale for a second week in a row.  Especially when I actually counted calories for the first time ever.  I have to remind myself that I almost always gain weight the week of a race, and that I'm in this for the long haul and long term conditioning, not the weekly scale.

Other things I've learned this week???  Don't write a race recap when you are TIRED.  I focused more on the negative in my recap than I should have.  This perhaps reflects what I wasn't admitting to anyone out loud, that I was bummed I didn't meet my post-Knoxville time goals.  I know, I KNOW it was hot and humid....but I'm competitive, especially with myself.  :)

Positives of Cap City that I feel the need to share even if I've already posted that recap:  
  • Nice relatively flat course with LOTS of crowd support.  It is a nice loop that starts downtown, goes to the Ohio State campus, and back to downtown, with an extra 5K looping the German Village (the home of the cobblestones).  
  • The post-race food was just what I want after a race: water bottles, orange slices, and bagels.  They also had Calcium Chocolate truffles and chocolate milk courtesy of Snowville Creamery!   Because I stayed until the very end cheering in friends and chatting, the Snowville Creamery people gave me one of the extra cartons of chocolate milk to take home.  I also got an extra pile of chocolates. 
  • My absolute favorite part???  Cheering friends in at the finish line.  
  • They also had lots of fun family and kid activities at the Finish Line that would have been fantastic for Avery if she were just a bit older.
  • One of the best looking (and largest) medals in my collection.  Perhaps it's true what they say, it's all about the bling.
Thank you for all the nice congrats on my race!!!

Now it's time to shift gears.  I try to give myself a couple of days of little to no work the two days following a big race.  Then, I ease back into it, listening to what my body says.   As such, this week will be considered a "fall back" week for running, but next week I will actually be increasing my mileage in preparation for Relay Around Columbus.  I also will be splitting my long runs into two shorter runs as a relay leg prep.  (the total distance will approach distance records for me though).
For mountain climbing???  As my wonderful friend's countdown email showed this week, I only have 9 weeks left.  I can't baby my knees any more.  Time to build up the Rainier workouts.  My plan is to ramp up the intensity on days I workout, but give myself one extra rest day a week to compensate.

Any one else ever prepped for a long-distance relay??  Suggestions?

How long do you usually give yourself off after a race?

7 comments:

  1. I know you are super bummed, but 0.6 pounds isn't that much when you realie how much your weight fluctuates in a day. Also, that is the greatest cat picture of all time. And you should let me know if you want to take a recovery walk sometime this week.

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    1. I keep telling myself that. And then my evil said says - but it's 1.2 lbs if you take your first AM weight. I'm too neurotic. I should only look at weight when it's all over.

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  2. I've done two relays and never trained for either of them specifically. But they both happened during marathon training, so I guess I'd say that lots of miles helps. If I were going to train for one, I think I'd throw in a few two-a-days.

    I know what you mean about the weight gain (even though I agree w/ Sarah's comment). I'm actually scared to get on the scale this week. My carb cravings have been out of control for the last nine days or so.

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  3. I can't believe we're just weeks away from RAC & you are 9 weeks away from Rainier! Yay, Cassie is coming to visit. LOL. .6 is no big deal - you will fluctuate week to week but you know this!

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  4. I know Jamie has done a long relay, I never have but I've heard to pack light :) and You had a GREAT week!!!! I would give yourself as many days off as you feel like you need. there's no harm in trying to go for a slow recovery run and cutting it short either ;)

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  5. I usually take one day to recover, except for ultras. Then I take like 2 or 3 days depending. Running is my drug, so it's hard to stay away for long.

    I probably gained more weight than you in the last week, does that make you feel better? :)

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