This week was by far my most successful week EVER in training!! I logged a total of 69 miles, 38 of them running in a 4 day period. Never before have my legs been able to endure those miles in that short time frame. The most in 4 days was 28 miles. I can't believe it! I had two cross-training days where I did a hour on the cycle and worked my legs over on the weight machines. I've been trying to increase strength particularly in my hamstrings after some serious soreness last week. This week? Just fatigue on the legs, no major soreness. I've also been adding yoga to my daily routine and swimming if my day allows it. I also added a couple new core exercises that left me sore for about 3 days, lol! But they are good.
Day 1 of my four day running stint was a 10 miler and a nice one at that. I ran the first 5 for pace control and a 9:30 and the last 5 I let my legs go and I was at a 9 or below the whole time. :) Day 2, another 10 miler but a little easier. Day 3, I was scheduled for another 10 but made it 14 since hubby was going to have to be working that night and wouldn't be home until around 8:30-9am the next day. So I ran my 14 and it was tough but I hung in there. Pace stayed around 9:45 most of the time but I was okay when I was at a 10pace. I woke up knowing it was going to be a bugger of a run so pace was not my goal. The night of day 3 I gave my quads an ice massage, put ice under my hamstrings and used a tennis ball to massage my feet. I also rubbed in Hammer balm into my quads about 10 minutes each before I fell asleep. Day 4, I woke up, at some oatmeal and went for a short run when hubby got home at 8:30. It was VERY hot and sunny the whole time. My legs surprised me though. I held between 9 and 9:30 and went for 4 miles. I could have done another 2 but the heat was bad so I had to stop for safety reasons.
I am very proud of myself this week. My cross-training and nutrition and care for my legs has shown with the miles I put on them in 4 days. I'm getting stronger and soon I will be getting faster and these runs will be getting easier.
Monday is a rest day for me but I'm sure I will still squeeze in some laps at the pool and my yoga. I am very grateful to God for giving my legs the power this week. I look forward to the weeks to come!
To succeed, you must believe. (and I do!)
May the wind stay at my back and may angels give me wings to fly.
I started avidly running in April of 2007, 8 weeks after my little boy was born. I was only running about 15 miles a week just to lose baby weight but a friend of mine was thinking of running the Honolulu Marathon. I made the bold move of doing it with her with the simple goal of just to finish. I finished my first marathon in 2008 with a time of 5:13. In 2009 I started running more miles, up to 40 a week when my schedule would allow that much. I signed up for my second Honolulu marathon and finished with a time of 4:48. That was with only 6 weeks of training, two of them being taper weeks. I finished with tears of joy and one other thing, the strong desire to run every runner's dream...BOSTON! I have some real good days and some real bad days but I hope someone finds inspiration in my spirit and strength. If you dig deep enough you will find the strength to do whatever your heart desires. "Don't follow your dreams...CHASE THEM!"
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- Jennifer
- I am a mother of two, a wife, a full time student and last but not least...a runner. I am 35 years young and feel that I have many more ahead of me (God willing). Other than running I am a student majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, with the hopes of one day going to med school. My husband is in the Navy and we have two children, a boy and a girl. My daughter is 5 and my little boy turns 3 in February. My kids have grown up seeing me run and everytime I go out they want to go with me. Many times they have been in the stroller for a 9 mile run (lucky for me they fell asleep!) Right now I live in Hawaii and have been here for 4 years now. It is truely paradise and I will miss it greatly when I leave to go back to Virginia. Hawaii holds many memories for me and a part of my spirit will always remain here.
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