Tuesday, February 25, 2014

RNR Raleigh Training Weeks 7-11

I don't even know where to begin.

I tend to break my life up into three compartments: Family, Work, and Running. Right now all three are demanding my full attention and the unfortunate result is that I feel like I am falling short at all of them.

I'm happy that I am taking a relaxed approach to this marathon. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a time goal. But it is a modest one, my main goal being to finish strong and happy. I want to know if my body and mind can handle the higher mileage. This approach is making it easier to handle the unexpected snags that life is throwing at my training plan.

Over the past few weeks we've had a couple of big snow and ice storms. Perhaps you've heard the South doesn't exactly handle snow and ice well?


(Source)
Luckily it wasn't all bad!


In more rural areas like mine the roads were covered in ice for days with each storm, which meant that everything was closed, including my gym.

Despite missing more mid-week runs than I would have liked, the positive is that I have been getting in my long runs. I'm getting into the thick of the training and starting to hit mileage that is new for me.

Two weeks ago, I had a fantastic solo 16 miler. I set out to take it nice and easy. The result was evenly paced miles (a huge deal for me) from miles 1-12 and progressively faster miles for 13-16. Overall average pace was only 15 seconds slower than my goal pace. It was an amazing run.

This past weekend was an 18 mile run which I had been nervous about. We were running the same route we ran a few weeks back. During that 14 mile run the last two miles were straight up hill. I struggled a lot and was a bit demoralized by the end. This run was amazing. We took the pace nice and easy. I killed the hills at the end and felt fantastic at the end.

See? I look totally happy.

All in all, I feel like I am doing the best I can in terms of training. I don't want to sound like I am making excuses, but my reality is that I have a husband who works 70-80 hours a week, my own full time job, and two kids who have school, karate, swimming. I've been as flexible as I can fitting in my training and I trying to be proud of what I am doing rather than be disappointed in what I should be doing.

Luckily the weather seems to be changing for the better and I am super motivated to do the very best I can in these next 6 weeks.

4 comments:

  1. I think you are doing an amazing job. Like you said, we all have lives that exist outside of passion for running. I think the most important thing is that you are getting your long runs in! Yay to that! BOO to the winter that won't end.

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    1. Thank you Courtney! I can always count on you for a supportive word!

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  2. I'm behind on blog reading but I wanted to write a note to thank you. I also enjoy the slow pace and am training for a half marathon next month. Reading your post was just what I needed to get me excited for my "long" run this weekend. It's 12.5 miles and, having read your post, it seems much more manageable! I wish you the best as you continue your training! Thank you!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind comment! Have a great time on your long run and good luck in your race!

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