Reverse Taper, Running Blind, & Half Marathon Training Begins This Week!

Lots of things to discuss....  I ended up earning that climbing badge!! and I ended up having a big mileage week last week.  I ran 46 miles!!  That's a lot for me considering I'm not training for a marathon.  I chalk it up to having a really light work schedule and perfect running weather.

Reverse Taper
After my marathon  I had a take some necessary time off of the road.  I would get a little bummed out on some days because instead of running at lunchtime I would be forced to go Christmas shopping...And I would miss my endorphin high.... But, I know that it's good to have a break every now and then.  Here is a snapshot of the first four weeks after the marathon.

The calendar starts from the bottom end.

  I took this picture from my Strava training log.   The first week I ran 5 miles, the next week I ran almost 14 miles, then 21 miles, and finally back up to 30ish miles.  I really like how Strava organizes my data for me.

I'm glad that I didn't race at all in the month of December.... The previous two years I have raced the LVTC Holiday Half marathon, and while I like this race a lot, it would have interfered with my recovery and my training for my upcoming half.  I plan on racing the Saints and Sinners Half Marathon on February 20th.  I have about 5-6 weeks of workouts followed by a 1 week taper.

Running Blind
It worked out almost too well, but also at the beginning of December my Garmin Forerunner 10 died on me.....For the last month I have been running without a Garmin or a running watch.  Too say that it has been liberating has been an understatement!!  The downsides are that I end up losing track of time and running farther than I planned.

I recently purchased the obsolete Garmin 220, however Best Buy is taking forever to send it to me.  I purchased the watch online on Dec 18th,  and I was supposed to pick it up on Dec 31st.  Now the watch is on back order until Jan 8th....  The only reason I went with the 220 was because it was a sweet deal at $149.99.  I hope this isn't another bait and switch...

I couldn't take not wearing a wrist watch, so over the weekend I bought myself a TIMEX Ironman watch.

I hope I don't
destroy you too
quickly.

I found it at Target and I really like the blue hue. For my data I'm using the Strava mobile app on my phone.  I start the app, and then just put my phone in my waist pack and forget it (until I finish running )...  It's the best of both worlds.  I get to run free as a bird, but I still get to keep my data!!! Win Win!!
However, I am supposed to start interval training tomorrow, and I don't have access to  a track... How am I going to do speed work without a Garmin or track?  Well I guess I can use my simple watch to do intervals by time.  400 meter repeats=95 seconds of hurt   800 meter repeats=3:30-3:35 of hurt....    We'll see how the first week goes.

Since I only have about six weeks of training, I'm just going to go back to the same training program that I have used for my last two half marathons, and that is the Hal Higdon Advanced Half Marathon training program.

I like the flexability of this training program, and I like the fact that I can swap my days, and move workouts around.

Latest Workouts (Since the last post)

Tuesday 12/29- 10.5 Miles at the Hoover Dam with my Ana Conda!!  I recently reconnected with my  friend Ana on Strava.  I don't get to meet up with friends too often to run, and it just so happpened that we both had Tuesday off from work.  We decided to run through the train tunnels that head out to the Hoover Dam.  This run ended up having some wicked climbs. and we had so much fun taking photos.

Here's the data

Wednesday 12/30  8 Miles...  I was beyond beat, after running 10.2 on Monday and 10.5 miles the day before.  but, I wasn't sure if I would be able to run the following day, and I still hadn't climbed enough meteres to earn my Strava climbing badge.  I ran about seven miles and when I saved my run, I noticed that I still needed to climb 30 more feet..... Crap!  I went for another one mile run, where I ran up and down a stretch of road to make sure I climbed 30 feet.... Here's my prize.

Thursday 12/31-Rest

Friday 1/1- 6 miles....  I was in big hurry to leave the house. PMS was getting to me... I had planned on taking my son to the park, after my run.  He saw me dressed and asked if he could go too.

We ran a mile (sprints and walking mostly)  but man I love this little guy and I hope he enjoys running as much as I do someday....

When we got back home, I was feeling pretty froggy and I decided to do some speed work.  I didn't have a watch, but I used street signs, and lamp posts as markers....I also made sure to stretch really good before I got started. 

My first interval was on the long side.... I think I was trying to shoot for a mile but I only ran 3/4...  Then I slowly jogged for about two minutes (gusetimate) and then my next interaval was around 600 meters,  followed by a recovery jog, a short 100 meter interval, another longish 600 meter interval.... All together I did about 7-8 surges, and then I ran a mile and a half to cool down.

Here's the data

Saturday 1/2  5.8 miles. I think I may have been a butthole at the park this morning.... Maybe not.... I was tired from yesterday's speedworkout.  I jogged around the corner to my local park, and I decided to just run laps around the half mile track.  It was early and there weren't very many runners at the park.  A woman comes hauling ass right by me....  I ignored her because I was running easy pace....  Well after her sprint was over  I ran past her, but then I kept the tempo pace going,  (stupid I know.)  I'm guessing that she didn't want me to lap her, because she started her next interval soon after.  When she finished running she jumped in her car and angrily flipped a u-turn, and gave me  a dirty look......I ran a few more laps at the park, and then I left the park to run  a few more miles.  Here's the data.

One of these things is not like the other.

Sunday 1/3-  6 Miles and they felt tired.  Easy run, but I felt tired and sluggish...I could have rested, but I wanted to add on a few more miles to this abnormally long week of running....

Well that's all I've got for now....  Thank you for reading.

Holiday Running, Training Updates, Running without a watch and Shoe Talk

I could have sworn that I posted last week....But, I guess not.  I had a wonderful Christmas, and now

I have about two weeks of training updates to tell you about.  Last week on a whim I decided to try to earn a girl scout, I mean Strava badge for climbing while running.

  I didn't read all the fine details.  I thought I would only have to climb 1500 feet in the month of December.  It turns out I have to climb 1500 meters...  hahahahaha. I have about three more days to tack on some elevation.

Training Updates and Running without a Watch

Thursday 12/17- Just shy of 9 miles.  I've managed to kill both my Garmin and my cheap digital stop watch.  I have been running blind, but I'm hoping to purchase a GPS watch soon.

No more arm parties for you!

I went for a run on my lunch break, and I totally lost track of time.  I planned on running for an hour, and I ended up going over.  I was also really trying to go after a Strava course record during the third mile, and that sucked the life out of miles four and five.  This was an out and back course, so the second half was a nice downhill ride.  I pushed the pace, when I realized that I needed to hurry back to work.  Here's the data:

Friday 12/18- I did a short strength training workout, and then I ran two miles at recovery effort.
For my weight training I did the following exercises:
Incline dumbbell press 
Back Flys 
Around the worlds for chest 
Side step downs off of a bench. 
Tricep extensions with rope 
Around the world lunges 
Handstand against the wall 
Mountain Climbers

Saturday-12/19-Rest

Sunday 12/20- 4.7 Mile shake out run.  My hip is feeling oh so tender...  I really aggravated it when I ran super hard down the hill on Thursday.  I was able to run, but I didn't want to run really far on it.


Monday 12/21- 3.6 Mile run.  Another easy run.. Nothing too exciting to report

Tuesday 12/22-Rest-  I had  a very hectic day at work.  No time to run.

Wednesday 12/23-  7.4 Miles...  I needed two miles to warm up, but my hip was still feeling tender.  I think I aggravated my hip from over striding during tempo pace.  I watched a few videos online to work on my running form the night before, and I decided to do some form drills, A-skips, butt kicks, and high knees, then I decided to do some short strides.  After that I was nice and warmed up, and the rest of my run was quite pleasant.  Here's the data.

Thursday 12/24 Christmas Eve!  Rest,  No running, only baking.

Friday 12/25 Christmas Day-  7.3 Miles. Since I entered a climbing challenge I decided I wanted to run up a big hill in the area.  Owens St. has one of the steepest residential climbs in my neighborhood.  It's not a very long hill, just very steep.  It was also really freaking cold and windy.  Like a dummy I wore shorts, and froze my ass off.  But, I did take a selfie at the top of the hill.  Here's the data.

Saturday 12/26- 7.6 miles. It is so bloody cold!!  There isn't any snow on the ground. But, our early morning lows are in the high 20's-low 30's with wind chill. It sucks... It's so funny because normally I would be talking myself out of going for a run, but my husband has been so encouraging of my running lately.  It's almost like he is daring me to go for a run in this weather... I'm not turning down a run, even if the weather is brutal.  I headed out again for another hour long run... I had a little more spring in my step this morning, and I headed back into the neighborhood with the stray dogs....
I have avoided Los Feliz drive for the past few months, because a home owner was letting their dogs roam freely in the neighborhood.  I figured it was too cold for the dogs to be up and running around.
Here's the data:

Another attempt at a Selfie. Derp.

 

 Sunday 12/27- Six miles, and never a dull moment in my hood rich Las Vegas Neighborhood....   I didn't want to run very far, but I did want to get some elevation in....  I stayed close to home and ran loops around the neighborhood.  During the 5th mile I'm running up a steep hill at the end of a fairly busy road (Charleston Blvd.)  This road dead ends at the base of Sunrise mountain.  This area isn't super deserted and in the summer months I have run further into the trails in the mountains....

This picture is from earlier in September.

Anyway...As I"m running up the hill a car drives past me up the hill, then they flip a u-turn to come back down the hill.  As they are driving close toward me, the car intentionally swerves in my direction to probably scare me. (I've had this happen in the past)... That didn't scare me.... When I ran to the top of the hill to flip a u-turn to come back down the hill, I notice that the car is parked on the shoulder of the road... If felt like they were waiting for me....

I yanked my headphones out my ears, and pulled out my phone, and set the dial to 911... I also slowed my pace down to a near walk.. I wasn't in any hurry to run towards this car... After what seemed like forever the car took off...  I ran the rest of the way home scared....  I made a point to run the turns really wide, and I also ran on the much busier road, as opposed to running down one of the quieter residential streets. I kept waiting for a car to come rolling up next to me.  When I run, I'm always paranoid, but this took things to a whole new level... My neighborhood isn't the best, but it's okay. However, if you go a few miles up the road, things get pretty real...  I don't want to take my safety for granted...I'd to think that I'm not the only runner that scans the ground for possible weapons when I'm out running...

Here's the data:

Monday 12/28 10.6 Miles-  I didn't expect to run this far today.  I wish I would have planned better and brought fuel with me.  I did dress more appropriately today, and I wore tights.  I ran my old favorite 10 mile loop.  The first half was uphill, and the second half was downhill.  I also plan to run something long tomorrow, so I took the pace easy.  Here's the data:

Shoe Talk

I bought two new pairs of running shoes for Christmas!! I needed to replace both my Nike Air Zoom Structure 18's, and the Brooks GTS Adrenaline 14's that I recently wore for the marathon. 

Both pairs have around 250 miles on them..  I will still probably wear the Nike's as casual shoes, and the Brooks have another 100 miles left on them.

I really liked that the Nikes' they did an excellent job of correcting the effects of my heel striking, and I feel that they helped fix the plantar fascitis issues that I was having earlier this year.  My only complaint is that I wish they lasted longer than 250 miles. It's  a very stiff shoe, with a very responsive ride.  I liked this shoe for tempo paced workouts, or when my feet needed TLC.  My only complaint is that it's a pretty pricey shoe.

The two pairs of shoes that I ended up buying are the Saucony Guide 8 and a new pair of Brooks Adrenline 15's   

I bought both pairs of shoes at a deep discount!!  I paid less than $80 for the Adrenaline 15's and $50 for the Guide 8's,

I chose the Guide because I had worn the Guide 7 previously, and while I wasn't blown away by the shoe, $50 is too good of a deal to pass up on running shoes.  It's a stability shoe, with a lot of cushion, I feel that these shoes are a softer ride, than the Brooks Adrenaline, and that this would be a great shoe for tempo workouts.

The Brooks Adrenaline 15 is last year's model, and one generation newer than my previous pair of Adrenalines.  While I love the snappy colors, I noticed that this pair of shoes has a firmer more stable ride than the last edition.  Which is good since this will be the replacement pair to my Nike's.  But, the fit is also a little larger too. I noticed that my foot was sliding around a little bit in this shoe, and I will need to make adjustments to the laces and fit...

Well that's all I've got for now.... I will try not to let too much time pass, before you have to read a long wall o' text.

Thank you for reading!!