MARATHON MONDAY: A DIFFERENT KIND OF LONG RUN
Hey everyone! Hope your weekend was as refreshing as you’d hoped. Mine was quite tranquil, but I must admit, I didn’t feel my usual vibrant self this morning. Opted to give work a miss for the day, with aspirations to bounce back to full strength by tomorrow.
But before delving into some new techniques in my training, let’s quickly go over my previous week’s workouts:
Weekly Training Breakdown
- Monday: Rest Day
- Tuesday: 6.2 miles, Avg. pace: 8:40
- Wednesday: Strength Training
- Thursday: Rest Day
- Friday: 6.2 miles, Avg. pace: 9:27 (Included 6 hill repeats) + Strength Training
- Saturday: 4 miles, Avg. pace: 8:29 + Strength Training
- Sunday: 14 miles, Avg. pace: 8:32
I’m quite pleased with my dedication this week; accomplished all my runs and clocked in three strength training sessions – a feat I haven’t achieved in a while. My next step? Incorporating yoga. If only I could magically transport myself to a yoga studio. It’s always the journey there that seems to be my Achilles’ heel. But I’m determined to integrate it soon.
Speaking of determination, yesterday’s run was a challenge with temperatures plunging to -7°C at my 7:18 am start. While I considered postponing it for a sunnier, warmer afternoon, I’m aware of my afternoon lethargy. So, in anticipation of the inner battle, I decided to venture outdoors. And even though Jack Frost tried his best to halt my strides, my will prevailed. Admittedly, it took time to find a comfortable pace due to the biting cold, but I eventually got there, pushing my boundaries in new ways.
A commendable strategy Phaedra introduced me to is ending my long runs with a swift pace, and it’s done wonders. The objective? Concluding the final miles at a race tempo. Though the plan was to close the last six miles at my recent half marathon’s pace, I managed to pull that off for the concluding three miles. The paces looked like this: 9:31, 9:17, 9:02, 8:47, 8:43, 8:54, 9:49, 8:50, 8:04, 8:10, 8:00, 7:47, 7:46, 7:47. I’m content with the results. It’s a tactic teaching me to ramp up the pace even when exhaustion sets in. It also shifts focus, breaking the monotony of extended runs. The mantra? Embrace the challenge to witness change. And as they say, if you want to run faster, well, just run faster!
On a lighter note, since a few of you inquired about my new hairstyle mentioned in my previous post:
There’s a stark contrast between how my hairdresser styles it and my humble attempt. While I do reminisce about my longer tresses, this new cut is undoubtedly winter-friendly. Gone are the days of waiting ages for my hair to dry post-run or stepping out with damp hair, risking frozen strands. This new style is a timesaver! Plus, my Equal Bones hoodie has been my constant companion.
Looking forward to sharing more about my plant-based athletic journey with you all. Stay tuned! 🌱🏃♀️🌿
