NYCM Training: 6 weeks to go!

We interrupt this weekly training post, with a special announcement:

The Banana's Splits Virtual Race medals are in! 

If you're registered, I will be putting them in the mail this week. 

If you're not, what are you waiting for?! It's for an amazing cause and it's a cute medal! There are spots left, but I wouldn't wait if I were you. You can check out all the details here.

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: Rest

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 8M

Sunday: Rest

Yes, you're reading that correctly. I'm even in shock of it. How did I do absolutely nothing for an entire week? Oh, that's right! I have a full time job that does not involve running or blogging. 

Looking back, could I have done more? Probably, but I would've sacrificed my health.

Could I have gone to the hotel gym Thursday morning after a full day of work Wednesday, flying to Florida to attend events until 10pm, followed by getting a late night emergency email and designing until 1AM to get up for an entire day of workshops only to fly back to NYC that night as well?  Yea, no. Just typing that sounds insane- which granted, there are tons of people out there who are busier than I am and still do it, and kudos to them! That is not my normal schedule and I was tired. Traveling twice to 2 different cities, I was already playing Russian Roulette with my immune system (sidenote and knocking on wood: I haven't gotten nearly as sick traveling as I used since I've started taking vitamins. I highly recommend them.) And the added factors of work and life, my anxiety level was already on overdrive. . . so I'm going to go with no regrets! 

So, why does it feel like I should?

Luckily, my 8 mile run went swimmingly and all is right in the world. Sometimes I forget how important it is for my mental and emotional state to run. Even if it means another early wakeup call, just getting it in makes everything kind of fade away. It was a good run. My hip and ITB weren't really feeling it, but I made sure to ice bathe and roll afterwards. I don't have time for injury- especially since we're getting super close now. Next week marks the first 18miler of the season and I am not mentally prepared yet. I need all the physical health I can get!

Dumbo Training week 10

MON: Rest

TUES: Yoga 

WED: Rest

THURS: 2.5M

FRI: Rest

SAT: 2M

SUN:  9.5M

This week was crazy weird with all the time off- not that I'm complaining! It was definitely needed. It just snuck up on me. . kind of like the workout week, too. I wish I would've planned it better. I'm sure forgetting my gym card on Tuesday didn't help matters (they won't let you in if you do it more than once. . . seriously. rude.) If I was smarter, I would've run on Wednesday and rested on Thursday so I could've moved my back to back runs to Friday/Saturday and had today to rest. C'es la vie. Live and learn.

For the record, 2 back to back 5 mile races might equal 10 miles but it's definitely NOT an 8 mile mental boost. 9.5 was pretty daunting considering the longest straight distance I've done previously was a 10k. Yikes! To top it off, we're having another heatwave. So, yea, those miles weren't pretty. They were slow and sweaty and mentally painful (physically good- a few minor aches but all stretching related I'm sure) but at the end of it, I think I finally feel like I'm a runner again. After mile 6, I felt like I could really let my mind go and it's been awhile since I've done that on a long run. It was definitely missed. I was even looking forward to the ice bath around mile 8! 

I was a little weary about the Galloway plan taking me up to 14 before the race, but now I'm really liking it. It's really boosting my confidence (when I do it correctly ;) I also really like the up and down week process instead of the beginner ones that only progress. It's really nice to know next week I can chill a little, since it goes back down. I also like that once Dumbo is over, I can chill a week and then jump right back into a 15 or 16 to further prepare for NYCM. 

Did your workouts change because of the holiday? 

WoW: Ice Bath recovery

aka The ICE BATH!

It's about that time in training; I can't wait! 

 

I know, I know. I'm a weirdo, but I swear by them. I am able to bounce back so much faster than if I wouldn't have. Don't worry, I didn't love them at first but I have definitely grown to appreciate all the good things it does for my body. Now, I even start to look forward to them when I have about a mile or 2 left in my long run or when I'm really hurting.

A few tips:

-Put the ice in AFTER you get in and the more the better. Fill the tub with cold water, get in and then add the ice. I usually get 2-3 bags of ice from the bodega before I come in to the apartment, or if I'm in a hotel, I bring a heavy duty plastic bag (Or just my runDisney bag check bag ;) and fill 2 of those.

- Wear a sweatshirt/ long sleeved shirt. I roll mine up so the bottom doesn't get in the water. I also usually just get in with my running clothes on, too, depending on my mood. I'd also suggest remembering to keep your socks on. My feet and toes get wayyy too cold without the socks and it's really painful.

- Bring some tea/ coffee in there with you. It will warm your insides. 

Do you have any tips to add?