Ta-Da!
One week in to my training and I have, more or less, kept to my training plan!
Ok, so maybe I've been "less" using the training plan rather than more. Unless you count that my training plan said to run six out of seven days a week. Because I did that.
But otherwise? Ehh... Not so much.
One week in to my training and I have, more or less, kept to my training plan!
Ok, so maybe I've been "less" using the training plan rather than more. Unless you count that my training plan said to run six out of seven days a week. Because I did that.
But otherwise? Ehh... Not so much.
I’ve expressed my concerns over training plans before. I’m not one to follow them at all, much less follow them religiously. In fact, I think my feelings towards training plans can be best summed up by this response from my friend Nicole when I told her I was going to start using one:
“Whoa. You are using a training plan!?! Are you sick?!? You don’t use those!”
Yupp. It’s not that I don’t TRUST training plans. In fact, I’m sure that they are well founded and based on reasoning and science. But my running has always been based on feel. I feel like running today. I feel like running faster. I feel like running further. I feel like I’m sore and stiff, so I’ll take it slow. I feel like I need a day off, so I’m not going to run today.
To have someone, or in this case, a piece of paper, dictate what I should run and when and how fast? It contradicts everything about my style of running. I worry that strictly following a plan will ruin my love for running. Will lead me to “over training” and injuries.
So when I say I followed a training plan this week? Let’s just say it was more of a training “guide” rather than a strict plan.
MONDAY
Plan says 3 miles
Jessica says “RUN CLUB – WHEEEEE!” and proceeds to set out to run the five and quarter mile loop with the rest of the group. That being said, I took the pace slow and ended up running alongside a new girl who had joined the group that night. We got to talking and about 1.6 miles in, when I noticed she was struggling I offered up “You know, my training plan said to run three today, so we can turn back whenever you want…”
3.69 miles at 10:55
TUESDAY
Plan says 3.5
I set out with the intention to do three, since I had done 3.5 the day before. But it felt GOOD and Rory was game for as many miles as I was willing to do. It was dark and cool, but the hills felt good and I ended up running further than planned. Again.
3.54 at 9:46
WEDNESDAY
Plan says 3
I woke up, intending to join one of two running clubs for a group run. I love the social aspect of running. But when the weather turns cold, and dark, and rainy, I bailed on outdoor running to try out the new treadmills in my apartment gym. WORST. DECISION. EVER. I had run 3.5 miles the previous two days, outside, with hills, but those three miles on the flat treadmill were the longest three miles of my life. I thought my heart would explode and I would die. That was enough to keep me from treadmill running for a few more months.
3.01 miles at 10:17
THURSDAY
Plan says 1 mile warm up, 1 mile tempo, 1 mile cool down.
Repeat of Monday – “RUN CLUB – WHEEEEEEEEEEE!” Seeing a pattern yet? So yeah, I set out for five miles. A FAST five miles. Thanks to Rory, who had more pent-up energy than I’ve seen in awhile, we were running at a good clip. I had been joking with one guy before we started that Rory had helped me set all my PR’s and would happily loan her to anyone who wanted to go faster. So once we started, he said “Lemme try!” It last less than a quarter mile before Rory had him running at a low six pace and he hurried back telling me he’d had enough. Yupp, my dog is fast. It may not have been the speedwork the plan intended, but there was definitely speed.
4.76 miles at 8:59
FRIDAY
Plan says 3 miles
Say hello to Rest Day! Seriously, why would rest day ever be on the weekend? Weekends are FULL of time for running. No wonder people get bored on rest days – they plan them for days when they have too much free time. But Fridays NEVER have free time. So Friday is the new rest day. It’s like Pink is the new Black.
SATURDAY
Plan says 5 miles
“Hey Jessica, wanna join me for 10 miles on the trails?” I may not be able to do a full ten, but I will join you for at least five of those miles! The good news is that these were great trails and my first time out on them. Even better, since my friend hadn’t run trails in a long time either, she was ready to call it quits after one loop and five miles. So much fun and since my first 25k will be a trail race, it’s good to get some trail runs in.
5.09 miles at 12:42 (I am NOT concerned about this speed. The hills on this trail are MAJOR!)
SUNDAY
Plan says rest
Since I made Friday my rest day, I did Friday’s workout today. I have tons of free time on Sundays and usually end up being too lazy – hence not making this a rest day. I would go stir crazy! A nice leisurely three miles was just what the doctor ordered on this gorgeous day. I don’t know how many more beautiful days we will get like this, so I enjoyed a nice run on the greenways with Rory.
3.10 miles at 9:42
All in all a pretty good week. As you can see, I’m horrible about following a strict plan. Definitely more of a guide… In the loosest sense of the word that says “Hey Jessica, you should go run today.” Whatever works though, right?!?
I logged a total of 27.2 miles and just over four hours of training for the week. I’m happy with that and it’s a great start to achieving my long term goals of running a 25k and a 50k race.
Anyways, keep on keepin’ on my friends! The training continues!
#runlove, y’all!
“Whoa. You are using a training plan!?! Are you sick?!? You don’t use those!”
Yupp. It’s not that I don’t TRUST training plans. In fact, I’m sure that they are well founded and based on reasoning and science. But my running has always been based on feel. I feel like running today. I feel like running faster. I feel like running further. I feel like I’m sore and stiff, so I’ll take it slow. I feel like I need a day off, so I’m not going to run today.
To have someone, or in this case, a piece of paper, dictate what I should run and when and how fast? It contradicts everything about my style of running. I worry that strictly following a plan will ruin my love for running. Will lead me to “over training” and injuries.
So when I say I followed a training plan this week? Let’s just say it was more of a training “guide” rather than a strict plan.
MONDAY
Plan says 3 miles
Jessica says “RUN CLUB – WHEEEEE!” and proceeds to set out to run the five and quarter mile loop with the rest of the group. That being said, I took the pace slow and ended up running alongside a new girl who had joined the group that night. We got to talking and about 1.6 miles in, when I noticed she was struggling I offered up “You know, my training plan said to run three today, so we can turn back whenever you want…”
3.69 miles at 10:55
TUESDAY
Plan says 3.5
I set out with the intention to do three, since I had done 3.5 the day before. But it felt GOOD and Rory was game for as many miles as I was willing to do. It was dark and cool, but the hills felt good and I ended up running further than planned. Again.
3.54 at 9:46
WEDNESDAY
Plan says 3
I woke up, intending to join one of two running clubs for a group run. I love the social aspect of running. But when the weather turns cold, and dark, and rainy, I bailed on outdoor running to try out the new treadmills in my apartment gym. WORST. DECISION. EVER. I had run 3.5 miles the previous two days, outside, with hills, but those three miles on the flat treadmill were the longest three miles of my life. I thought my heart would explode and I would die. That was enough to keep me from treadmill running for a few more months.
3.01 miles at 10:17
THURSDAY
Plan says 1 mile warm up, 1 mile tempo, 1 mile cool down.
Repeat of Monday – “RUN CLUB – WHEEEEEEEEEEE!” Seeing a pattern yet? So yeah, I set out for five miles. A FAST five miles. Thanks to Rory, who had more pent-up energy than I’ve seen in awhile, we were running at a good clip. I had been joking with one guy before we started that Rory had helped me set all my PR’s and would happily loan her to anyone who wanted to go faster. So once we started, he said “Lemme try!” It last less than a quarter mile before Rory had him running at a low six pace and he hurried back telling me he’d had enough. Yupp, my dog is fast. It may not have been the speedwork the plan intended, but there was definitely speed.
4.76 miles at 8:59
FRIDAY
Plan says 3 miles
Say hello to Rest Day! Seriously, why would rest day ever be on the weekend? Weekends are FULL of time for running. No wonder people get bored on rest days – they plan them for days when they have too much free time. But Fridays NEVER have free time. So Friday is the new rest day. It’s like Pink is the new Black.
SATURDAY
Plan says 5 miles
“Hey Jessica, wanna join me for 10 miles on the trails?” I may not be able to do a full ten, but I will join you for at least five of those miles! The good news is that these were great trails and my first time out on them. Even better, since my friend hadn’t run trails in a long time either, she was ready to call it quits after one loop and five miles. So much fun and since my first 25k will be a trail race, it’s good to get some trail runs in.
5.09 miles at 12:42 (I am NOT concerned about this speed. The hills on this trail are MAJOR!)
SUNDAY
Plan says rest
Since I made Friday my rest day, I did Friday’s workout today. I have tons of free time on Sundays and usually end up being too lazy – hence not making this a rest day. I would go stir crazy! A nice leisurely three miles was just what the doctor ordered on this gorgeous day. I don’t know how many more beautiful days we will get like this, so I enjoyed a nice run on the greenways with Rory.
3.10 miles at 9:42
All in all a pretty good week. As you can see, I’m horrible about following a strict plan. Definitely more of a guide… In the loosest sense of the word that says “Hey Jessica, you should go run today.” Whatever works though, right?!?
I logged a total of 27.2 miles and just over four hours of training for the week. I’m happy with that and it’s a great start to achieving my long term goals of running a 25k and a 50k race.
Anyways, keep on keepin’ on my friends! The training continues!
#runlove, y’all!