This week in running: week 4

This was the week where things started to feel right in my half marathon training. I'm getting used to running at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays (it's still miserably hot, but I know what I'm dealing with) and 7 a.m. (GAH!) on Sunday morning.

Tuesday
 
This was our first night of intervals, and I loved them! I'm not sure if it's because I haven't done them in awhile, I'm crazy or it just broke up the monotony of just running. 

Our coaches split our group into fast runners and the not-so-fast runners. I know this is shocking, but I was in the not-so-fast group. We did an easy run down to an area with a circle sidewalk, and then the intervals started.

The interval site

I think there are fancy ways to write this, but I don't understand it, so I'll write it the only way I know how: we did 5 sets of 1 minute hard/2 minutes recovery, 5 sets of 30 seconds hard/1 minute recovery and 5 sets of 20 seconds hard/40 seconds recovery.   

Overall, it was just 50 minutes of fun. It was a challenge, and I did end up walking some of the recovery times. But, I felt like I pushed hard and got in a great run.   

Distance: 4.2 miles

Thursday  

This week is full of new running things. Today, it was a tempo run. I remember these pesky tempo runs from last training cycle, and I remember not liking them. It's hard to pick a faster pace to maintain for a sustained period of time ... well, it is for me at least.

The plan: run a 10-minute warm up, do a 16-minute tempo run, and then do a 19-minute cool down run. 

As much as I don't like tempo runs, and as bad as I think I am at them, I think this one went pretty fabulously. Granted, my faster time was only about 30 seconds faster than my warm-up time, but it was faster. I'll take it as a starting point. 

Happy after a decent tempo run

Distance: 3.6 miles

Sunday

In my fogginess early on Sunday morning, I thought someone was taking pictures outside. It was only after I threw my clothes on and ran out the door in less than 10 minutes that I realized this was lightning. Morning person I am not. 

Another thing I am not: a lightning person. I'm frightened of this stuff in a serious way. But, since I was already awake, I headed to running group anyway. Being in Florida, a thunderstorm where I live doesn't mean lightning 10 miles away.

But, I didn't think the continued lightning and then the pouring rain on the way there were a good sign. 

I arrived at Fit2Run, our meeting spot, in the rain. I ran inside the store (thank goodness we have it) and found exercise stations set up around the store. We couldn't run due to the lightning (thank goodness the coaches are smart and safe about this), so they set up some stations throughout the store for our workout. We did lunges, push-ups, dips, crunches, squats and climbed stairs for a minute at a time before rotating to the next station. After 20 minutes, the coaches decided it was safe to try and run.

We headed out to tackle a 5-6 mile run (depending on the weather). Unfortunately, it got cut to 2.5 miles. As my running buddy and I were running toward the rest of the crowd, a girl came running back at us saying that rain was coming down in a sheet ahead (and we heard scary thunder rumblings). We promptly turned around and booked it back to the store ... with everyone else on our heels. We then promptly went to breakfast and talked running.

I'm hoping to make up some miles tonight.
Distance: 2.5 miles

How was your week in running? Did you run intervals? A tempo run? What is your favorite? Any thunderstorms that prevented getting a run in?

The half marathon that wasn’t

I had a half marathon on Sunday. I woke up at 4:30 a.m., got ready and left the house with my dog and boyfriend.

A bit concerning: the wind and rain and the possibility of lightning (thunderstorms were forecasted).

We drove to the race site (about a 20-minute drive). I was hoping the rain and wind would stop by the time we got there. It did not.

I sat in the car, watching people struggle even walking in the strong winds and dodging rain. It did not look fun. At all.

I kept watching. I debated whether or not this would be enjoyable. I decided it wouldn’t be. So, we drove home. But, not before stopping once or twice for me to think about it some more.

Many other runners dealt with the conditions. And, it even stopped raining early in the race (so I hear). The winds continued, but people said it was still a really enjoyable race.

I’m regretting not running the race now. I don’t have the sweet medal in my hands, and I should (but I’m a wimp).

I got the sweet shirt, but I’m going to feel like a fraud wearing it. 

Oh, joy!

One of my biggest fears (along with dark water, fire and Crocs – the shoes, not the animal): lightning. 

So, you can imagine my excitement when I saw this.

Why, yes, 6 a.m. is the start time of my half marathon. Gah. 

I keep obsessively checking the race Facebook page. The word: "The race will go on rain or shine. The race will only be cancelled if weather conditions present imminent danger to participants. At this point, everything is on at the scheduled times. We'll be keeping an eye on things and will update with any new news as we get closer. Please stay tuned."

Aside from my extreme fear of lightning, I have an aversion to waking up early. So, I really don't want to wake up at 4:30 a.m. just to find out the race is cancelled. But, I guess as long as it prevents me from running around screaming and crying like a little girl in lightning, I'll do it. 

Day 31 (Oct. 18)

Ah, the Tuesday run that wasn’t.

I’m not really sure what happened. I was feeling a little blah-grumpy-annoyed (for no reason), my stomach was a little iffy, and I had it in my head that there were going to be heavy thunderstorms (the weather people told me this – I didn’t just make it up). After the last heavy thunderstorm incident, I’m a little hesitant about driving to my running group meeting location (without a boat). So, I guess all of these factors played into me not going to run.

Of course, when I left work, there were no thunderstorms in sight. There was a sprinkle here or there, but no significant rain (lying weather people!). And, no lightning to be seen (thank goodness – I hate that stuff). So, the weather wasn’t really a factor. It was just my attitude. And, that irritates me.

I know I would have felt better had I gone to run. I always do. I just couldn’t get myself there. Man, I was unhappy with myself for not going. I still am, actually.

I'm even more unhappy at myself for not making up the run (55 minutes with four, five-minute intervals). I guess this is my first skip of running group. But, knowing how I felt for skipping it will definitely make me never do it again.

Day 19 (Sept. 20)

Oh, the dreaded three-minute speed intervals!

We started out with a 10-minute warm up. Easy enough. That, I can handle. Then, the workout really begins. We had to do four, three-minute hard intervals with three-minute recovery jogs in between each.

I managed to do all four of the hard intervals (struggling mightily during that dreaded fourth one). After the fourth interval, I walked the three minutes instead of jogging. I needed more recovery than a jog allows. But, after walking those three minutes, I ran the remaining time for a total of 45 minutes.

Typical of most every Florida afternoon, there were thunderstorms in the area. It wasn't raining where we train, but there were dark clouds and rain in the distance ... and lightning! Lightning is a great fear of mine. Yikes! I scream like a girl and run if it gets too close. I was on the verge of screaming and sprinting inside, but after two strikes (that honestly probably weren't that close), it stopped. Whew. I'm glad I didn't have to blow people away with my speed. I'm at my fastest when lightning is near.