7 Miles

I am back into marathon training mode.

Most of the time, I am in "maintenance" mode.  That means that I do a 5K each time I run, trying to improve my time on that distance.  But when a long race is looming, I have to change what I do to get ready for it.

You can't simply run 26.2 miles out of the blue.  You will damage something.  The body can't withstand that kind of abuse, not cold turkey.  Endurance runners have to build up tolerance and resilience for that kind of sustained pounding on the joints and bones.  It takes at least 18 weeks of slow build up of miles to be able to pull it off.

And so, I have begun.

Last year, I ran 4 days a week to get ready.  This time, I am doing something different.

I am only running 3 days a week, but I am throwing cross training in on two more days for a total of 5 days of training per week.  My week of training looks something like this:

• Monday - Long Run 
• Tuesday - Swim
• Wednesday - Cycle Class + 5K (3.1 mi.) tempo run
• Thursday - Swim (+ occasional Cycle Class)
• Friday - Off
• Saturday - 3-5 mi. intervals run
• Sunday - Off

The 'Long Run' started out as a 6 mile run last week.  This week it was 7 miles.  Each week it will increase by 1 mile, until I hit the 20 mile mark in late May.  Then I will taper off for a couple of weeks before the race to allow complete recovery of the muscles for the big day.  The slow increase is critical for avoiding injury.  I think the cross training with swimming and cycling will also aid in injury prevention.  Not to mention I have to keep up with those disciplines in order to train for the triathlon happening in late summer!

A 'tempo' run means running at your normal pace.  Not pushing it.  Since it is right after a cycle class, it is a good way to work on that tough transition between the bike and run portions of the triathlon.  That is, by far, the hardest part of the triathlon for me!

An 'intervals' run is what it sounds like.  You break your running into intervals that are varied in some way.  It may be a speed interval (med/fast/ recovery/repeat) to increase your overall speed, or a ramped interval (low/med/high incline) to improve your running abilities on a hilly course.

Sundays are off for the obvious reason that it is a day of rest.  Fridays are off because it is Date Night!

Finding time for all of this is not easy, and it would have been impossible when my kids were little.  Any of you reading this and feeling like you could never find the time for such a crazy workout schedule, don't despair.  There are times and seasons for all things!  It may not be your time for crazy exercise schedules... but you should DEFINITELY find at least 30 minutes 3-5 days a week to dedicate to your own health!  A healthy Mommy is a happy Mommy.  And a happy Mommy has a happy, healthy family.  I just wish I had taken my own advice all of those years!

I did my 7 miles on the indoor track, today.  I know I am a wuss when it comes to cold.  It was almost warm enough outside for me to run out there.  Almost, but not quite.  The treadmills were all taken, so I had to run on the track.  Bill thinks I am nuts for liking to run on either one.  He sees the monotony of both as mind numbingly dull.  I see the monotony as mind freeing.  You have no idea just how far and wide my mind wanders while my body remains in place!

Even the track was packed with people, although most of them were walkers.  At any given time, there were only about 3 joggers making the circuit.  I will admit, it gives my a rush to be one of the few instead of one of the many.

My gym is city owned.  That makes it more affordable than the local Golds Gym.  And, admittedly, more run down, too.  That's okay, though.  I'm all about affordable.  Because it is city owned, the local fire department comes to my gym to keep in shape.  A complimentary pass is one of the perks of the job.  I often see the guys there.  The developmental center also uses the gym.  The developmental center is a residential facility for people with severe mental handicaps.  They are brought to the gym with their assigned helpers (I mentally think of them as 'handlers'.  I hope that isn't too offensive.  I don't feel it is when I think it.  Rockstars have handlers, too.)

Today, I was about half way through my run when both the firemen and developmental center residents showed up.  It increased the amount of dodging and weaving I had to do, as I worked my way around the handicapped, who would stop in the middle of the lane, or even walk the wrong direction.  I didn't mind.  How can you mind?  They may have adult bodies, but they have the mind of a little child.  They are certainly not doing it on purpose.

There was one woman in particular who would stop in the middle of the lanes and watch people pass by.  She seemed very happy to be there.  I noticed she was giving high fives to the firemen as they passed.  That made me smile!  I started wishing she'd give ME a high five, too!  But every time I passed... no high five.  And I passed her a lot.  I was done with my 7 miles and was in my cool down walking laps when it happened!  I got a high five!  Ah, that just made my day!

There you have it.  7 miles today.  Next Monday it will be 8.  I will be hoping for a treadmill or warm weather.  It is something of a pain to count out all those laps.  13 laps/mile.  It is not a big track.  Oi.