Boston training week 12: the one where I get Boston Mail

For the first time in a few weeks, last week's weather did not involve a multi day snow storm. This is nothing short of a miracle, as March has been pretty aggressive this year.

However, Spring must be coming because I got my annual Boston Mail, which makes things feel very real and exciting. I will confess that I was probably the only runner in the history of ever who did not immediately Insta this piece of paperwork. Whoops. So, I will just post the pic right here at the top of the blog to make up for my indiscretion.

Yay! I'm going to Boston!!

The temps are NOT springlike yet. I do not mind running in the chilly weather, but I could make do with a bit less wind. Every year at this time, while running in 35 degree, 20 MPH wind, I reflect on how we are bound to get a brief Early Summer anytime soon. April 16th would be my best guess on that.
(for people who are getting sick of my doomsday weather predictions for Boston Marathon Day, just take a look at the weather history from 2012 on. The odds are stacked against us, and that's just the reality of the situation. Oh well.)

Last Monday I did several downhill repeats on the 1.6 mile route that I use for such activities. The elevation drop is remarkable, but runnable.
I made several changes to my Boston prep this year, and it seems that lengthy downhill training replaced the Bitch Hill (this does not break my heart!) Since I have not yet cracked the code on "how to run the Boston Marathon and not feel like a jackass" I have no issue trying new training techniques. (the year that I *finally* win the thing, I'll know I have it figured out! hahaha)

The final decent. 

Eric managed to catch a really horrible cold/virus on Tuesday but before it struck him full force he joined me on Wednesday for some mile repeats.

Sick husband 

One of my goals at the beginning of training was to see improvements in my speed in the shorter distances. Despite the rigors of having already tapered/marathoned/recovered, I continue to be pleased with how my speed work has developed. My mile repeats are at least 30 seconds faster then this time last year, and even faster then when I was training for Hartford in 2016 and felt more fit then I had ever been (however, it was extremely hot then and really ideal conditions now. Due to that, I would have to guess that it's a wash.) I'll take cold mile repeats over blistering hot ones ANY DAY. Give me some muddy snowbanks over humidity.

The muddy snowbank

I had a tired, but successful 20 on Saturday (after an easy 6 on Friday.) I have been very busy at work, to the point where if I was not marathon training I probably would not have run once last week. This is just part of life, and while I think it would be fun to have more time to focus on my hobby, I am extremely pleased that my business is ramping up.  When you are self employed it is pretty annoying to be asked "so..... when will things slow down so you can do more of x-y-z??" Hopefully never, as I wish to be able to meet my financial goals! The only way that I can write myself a paycheck is by working hard, and being available to my customers. So despite not having much time for myself (or anyone else, sorry) I feel really accomplished that I have created a sustainable and popular business! (and when I have paid off my business mortgage many years earlier than I had thought possible, I will never regret the choice to work hard and often!)

All that being said, I did manage to squeeze in that 20 at the end of a long Saturday, and the end of a long week (and hey! I work most Sundays too, so it wasn't over!) The weather was chilly but not bad at all, and Eric and I (shockingly) finished up at the pub.

We made it! Bear Bones sponsors my long runs, yet again. 

Of course, we met up with Lee and had some cheese and a beer.

Same pic different week (same hat!)

We also got to chill with Winston the bar dog, who (for the first time in his life, perhaps) was even more exhausted than I was. We basically sat on the floor together like "woof".

WINSTON <3 td="">

I had considered the possibility of getting downhill repeats back to their appointed day on Sunday, but it seemed like a dumb choice. So, I moseyed along for a nice recovery run at a 9:50 pace, as all recovery runs should be.

So overall, a really good week of training. This was the first time in 3 years that I did not run the Eastern States 20 on Sunday. I missed it, with a lovely course, no elevation (well, maybe 90 feet) and good people to run with, it has become a perennial favorite of mine.
After running Hyannis earlier this year, I really could not take another weekend off, or spend the money on another race. I decided to take a positive view on this, as my long run this week has a wonderful course profile similar to Boston which makes for great training. Nothing like a steady hill from mile 17-18.5 to get those legs ready for what's to come!

Miles Run: 48.3

Elevation this week: 1,645

Lowest low temp: Cold, but not as cold. I really can't remember but it was like 14 on Sunday?

Highest temp: 48 for exactly one minute when the sun came out once....

Total snowfall: A dusting on Saturday night. Basically, we finished our long run and a blizzaster blew in. 

Coldest day that I ran outdoors: I ran outdoors every running day. And it was not warm once. But it wasn't terrible either, I think it was no colder than 25 and no warmer than 39. 

Random fact: Eric and I both play Pokemon Go, and we take it pretty seriously. 

Boston training week 11: the VERY TARDY edition

It is almost so late that I could easily combine last week's training log with this week's and save time.
But that seems like that lazy way out.
(So I'll write a crappy training journal blog post instead, lucky us! But FFS it is after 9:00PM on a Friday. This is the best I can do! And in a year, when I'm like "how was training in Mid March '18? I will be glad that I wrote this terrible entry...)

Last week, winter was still in full swing. 17 inch snow storm (shit) a return to single digit temps (CRAP!) and a long run done in 24 degrees and wind (it just means Boston will be 90, I am used to it.)

Aside from that nonsense, things were pretty decent on the training front.

Eric and I hit the road for some easy miles on Monday (which feels VERY long ago at this point.)

Easy day

Wednesday was supposed to be some 800's, but my lady parts were like "FUCK NO." I really can't argue with that, and so I put speed work off until Friday. I managed to do some pretty quick repeats successfully, if rather painfully, as my return to speed post Hyannis. It also snowed, A LOT. We got 15" overnight and then about 2-3" more. HELLO SECOND WINTER.

And it kept snowing 

Saturday was a quick 4 on the treadmill. Winter was being a terrible pain in the ass, and it was seriously 22 degrees with wind up to 45 MPH. I had been out in it all day at work, and was done with the bullshit!

Sunday was not much better, but a couple extra degrees and a wind reduction meant that running outdoors was far better than running 15 in the basement. Eric joined me for 10 of the miles and it was quite good, a good pace, no issues, and a nice finish at the pub.

The best way to finish a run

Only a couple more weeks of training until I taper AGAIN, for Boston. I am entirely pleased with the way the my legs have come back after Hyannis. This is a huge change from my last good marathon (Hartford, in 2016) when recovery was basically a nightmare. My legs feel strong and pain free, and don't feel burnt out, or ready to quit running forever. The outcome of Boston is so weather dependent, that I have few expectations. I am due to run a 20 tomorrow, and if I am actually back in good form this run will let me know.

Miles Run: 35.7 (but technically the downhill repeats that I did *this* week belonged in *last* week.(as in the week I just logged here)  So this  current week will look high, and this past week looks low. whatever.)

Elevation this week: 1,415

Lowest low temp: 9. Because why not. 

Highest temp: Fucking cold. Maybe 38 for a hot minute. 

Total snowfall: 17" WHY

Coldest day that I ran outdoors: 23 or some shit with high wind. 

Random fact: Despite all this bitching I really prefer winter running to summer running 

Boston Training Week 10: the one with the snow, and more recovery

I took most of last week "off" as no signs were pointing to my readiness to return to full time training.

This should come as a shock to nobody. The elites take 10-14 DAYS (I accidentally typed "weeks" in, and that would be a lot of time!) off post goal race, and if they say it is a wise move, who am I to argue? Goal race pace is a huge effort, no matter what your speed happens to be.

I may have mentioned before, that I have a quite active lifestyle. So recovery does not mean sitting on my couch, eating chips (which sounds fun, but would last 5 minutes because I need activities, haha.) My job has me walking a solid 5k a day on a SLOW day (so there's that. and I have very few slow days.) I also ride horses 5 days a week and participate in all the physical labor that running a horse stable requires.
So, my recovery is active. And I don't mind that.

Apparently, winter has arrived along with some of the biggest storms of the year. Rude! February was so mild and benign that one could almost hope that Spring was here.

WTF??

Not the case, I'm afraid.
We got a solid 12" of snow last week, with much more in the forecast. One can only hope that it melts quickly.
Even if it doesn't, I'm sure it will on Boston Marathon weekend, when it will surely be 90.

More snow than we have had all winter... Dumb!

I did some sort of easy run last Thursday (like 3 miles at solid mid 9's) and then I rode my bike (in the basement, because snow...)

I also baked a cake. So fancy.
I have a friend who is dairy free/gluten free/fun free (kidding) so when I saw a recipe for an Almond Torte in Run Fast, Eat Slow, I knew I had to give it a try.
Like any cake made with almond flour, it was dense and a bit bouncy. It had nice flavor though, and had nothing in it that wold discourage you from eating it for breakfast.
(so, not really cake. I'll have to make a *real* cake before I run out of time when my mileage gets high again...)

"Not Real Cake"

Eric and I ran 10 miles on Saturday, in some snow, and some wind, and some traffic, to the pub! YAY! We were pretty happy to get back to our regularly scheduled Saturday pub run, a tradition which will continue at least until Boston training is wrapped up.

Bear Bones with Lee

Eric celebrated his birthday last weekend too. We celebrated by biking for many hours (him), getting back to downhill repeats (me), taking a walk to look at ducks (per the photo) seeing a movie (Black Panther, very good) and having a relaxed dinner. It was a good time!

Duck Hunting

So, to wrap up my final post about recovery (until after Boston, when I shall recover ALL SUMMER LONG!!!!!) Here are my words of wisdom. This bit of advice is sponsored by my friends who actually ask me questions about race recovery that I am horribly unqualified to answer.
That being said, I actually think that I take post "goal race" recovery seriously, and do it pretty well. So read on:

1: Sit yo' ass down. Recovery does not mean running miles at a minute under race pace 2 days after your race. Despite what people on Instagram are doing, it's not smart.

2: But get yo' ass up. Low impact activity is your BFF.

3: Don't be me. EAT A LOT, especially in the 48 hours after your race. I failed at that this time, and did not recover as quickly as I normally do. Lesson learned.

4: I quit looking at Instagram/or any other social media for advice many years ago. Like I said in #1, that is not the place to go for actual logic and reason. If the best runners in the world take 10-14 days off after a goal race, I can't see why that isn't a tried and true method. In a day and age when we want to "keep up" it is easy to feel bad, lazy, and like a slacker when you look at what others "say" that they do. Screw them. Do what is right for your body, and remember that your legs will only hold up if you treat them right! *lecture over*

5: You can't go wrong with cheese, beer, pizza and bourbon. (as part of a healthy, well balanced diet. duh.)

Miles Run: 20.5

Elevation this week: 732

Lowest low temp: I don't even know! Not cold.

Highest temp: 40 something, so not hot

Total snowfall: Stupid 13"

Coldest day that I ran outdoors: 31 and clammy on Saturday

Random fact: Before I became a runner, baking was my hobby. Basically every time I have a low mileage week, I fill that time by baking something. 

The one about race recovery

My first week of recovery went well.
I was fairly sore on Monday and Tuesday, but nothing terrible. Normal stiffness and some tight calves, but no pain or agony.

By Wednesday I was feeling as though I had just had a hard week of training, and by Thursday I felt "basically normal."
My biggest "work out" was walking our elderly dogs. I was almost able to keep up with them. #win

Also, basically no snow

After a marathon where I manage to run at goal pace, I take my recovery time much more seriously than when something (life, weather, basic shit) causes me to run easier than planned. Both at Boston, and then Providence last year I was much slower that expected, and was not unhappy to get back out on the road fairly quickly (although I still had some very easy weeks.)

This time around, I planned to have a zero week last week, but I was having a terribly hard time getting a full nights sleep. After a couple days of tossing, turning, worrying about things that don't exist, and growing exhausted I caved, and ran a few miles.
It was a toss up, I ended up *finally* sleeping, but I stayed tired because I wasn't really recovered enough to run. The plus was that I kept my sanity. No sleep takes a toll on my mental health.
So, a couple of short runs got me sleeping somewhat more restfully.
So, rest- check. Sleep, sort of a check in that box. An easy couple runs, check.

In a completely random situation, Andy and I ran a few miles together. I went to Portland to run a couple errands and decided to take a short run while there. As I was preparing to head out, Andy ran right by my car. (neither of us live in Portland, or knew that the other person was going to be there. HAH!)
So, we ran a few miles together, and I talked a LOT. As usual.

Random run with Andy

Post race, there was one area that I basically failed in.
I did not feel that I adequately met my nutritional needs during the first few days after the race. I felt pretty well (I did not have gross mid race, or post race GI issues. Those can leave me feeling "off" for a day or two, but not this time.) However, I was very busy at work and had a lot of loose ends to tie up with a variety of things. Eric was out of town, and when he isn't home I get very lazy with cooking dinner. Clearly, I ate, but it wasn't enough, and by the end of the week I could really feel the deficit. I got back on track with being more mindful about enjoying some nutrient rich meals, and was feeling like myself in no time.

At this time, I have no plans for a fast Boston Marathon. (although, I would not mind being faster than last year. That would be ok.) I do not think I have enough time to recover completely and then build back up again, not to mention that it will probably be 300 degrees. Not fast conditions.
Once I decided to race at Hyannis, all my energy was put towards being ready on that day, and then being able to run for fun at Boston. Which sounds great! I'm really looking forward to it.

It has been a couple weeks since the last big pub run. Since some of my cousins were visiting, we drove over (like normal people, so weird!) for this weeks selfie to prove that we were there.

We were there!

And finally.....
I will leave you with this race pic.
We shall call it "agony in the deluge" which is quite poetic, if you want to be honest about it.
I should probably give a huge copy of this to my Mom. She has a lovely daughter.

Dear Lord