Pandemic Running: Week 6

Even though it feels like Groundhog Day, Spring is clearly arriving. I even saw the first of the black flies today, which is less than stellar!

It's good to see nature continuing in a normal way. spring is a lovely season (even though we are supposed to get SNOW tonight!) and it has been a very productive week for me in the yard work department.
For about 10 year I have been meaning to clean up the woods in front of our home, and to remove quite a few fallen trees, and crappy looking sticks/brush/mess. (and it was quite a mess!) Bottom line-I have NOT had the time. It occurred to me that I simply might not have had the motivation- but I got to it last weekend, and have made huge progress. Evidently, I really just didn't have time!

In the running department I met my 33 (point 7) mile goal, and felt good about the (junk) miles that I completed. Definitely low key running, but miles are miles and they were pretty enjoyable this week. When I am not training, I do tend to go out and cruise around mindlessly (hence- my "junk mile" description.)

Thanks to my new weird virtual teaching job, I also fit in a couple (livestream) workouts- and if you ever want to see someone fall down while leading a workout- join in. OMG. I should stick to running because I tend to do my strength work on the depths of my basement, and NOT on the internet! The whole thing is very hysterical.

So last week was about as even keel as one could ask for during this time. The weather was pretty decent, I was productive at "work" and got some long neglected projects done. I managed to get through my to-do lists daily (AND we are still living on the groceries we bought almost 3 weeks ago- winning!)

This coming week looks pretty hideous in the weather department, and I feel that might take a toll on my motivation and focus (and secretly, I am disappointed in myself for being so fragile! but seriously, I can handle a crisis if the sun is out. if we are getting 6 inches of snow, losing power for days, then getting wholloped with multiple days of pouring rain..... that's just a shitty bummer!!!)

I'm in the process of writing myself this week's to-do list, and I plan to keep it on the easier side.

I hope to run a full 26.2 over the total week. A little cut back, but I really don't feel like dealing with the treadmill for more than a couple runs.

So, there you have it. No end in sight but I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation.

Also, thanks for the comments. I can't seem to leave comments because blogger sucks, but I read and appreciate.

Stay healthy, stay safe, and may the odds be ever in our favor.

Pandemic Running: Week 5

So, of course, we are leading up to what should have been Marathon Monday. 

And GUESS WHAT????? Perfect weather in the forecast. If this isn't a rude kick in the face, then I just do not even know what is. (I mean, mayyyyybe a pandemic. maybe. possibly...)

So what the frick am I up to. 

I ran the appointed 30 miles last week and they were just fine. I enjoyed my running and was happy to get some relatively decent miles in.

I see some people getting in a 100 mile week challenge, and I have to admit, I am intrigued. Why the hell not? Basically, there are no rules anymore, from what I can discern. 

Usually, at this point in the year I take a moment to reflect back on my 18 or so weeks of training, and make a prediction of how I'm going to do on the big marathon day. 

Here's how I feel about this training cycle. I came into it a bit unfit. Last summers hiking, injury, creative fall marathon, and subsequent recovery really didn't give me anything to work from. I really felt that I came into this cycle in kind of "meh" shape. In all honesty, I didn't have too many "great" workouts until after the Hampton Half. (that is a lot of base building....) 

But dudes, here is what I know. 

In the 13 weeks of training that I stuck to, I did the work. I got in the miles (except for pre-plague-plague week/s) I did "speed" I did "hills" I sucked it up on cold long run days. And I REALLY could feel it all come together. 

Even today, I had a run that felt horribly laborious, tedious, gross, and it was faster than what I could do in a "pretty hard" workout a few months ago. So. Running always gives you a pretty solid payback. It might not always be in a marathon, or a PR, but fuck yes- I'm in WAY better shape now than I was in back in December. And that is good. 

Upcoming. While I know that nobody knows what September will bring, I plan to train this spring and summer as though a 2021 BQ will be on the line on September 14th. This means (if I have counted correctly.....) that round two if actual training will begin on May 11th.

All of this is so weird! So damn weird. What the hell are any of us doing!? 

Well. Apparently I am going to run a 100 mile week (or, more likely, NOT.) And resume some level of structured training in just a few weeks. 

For the upcoming week I would like to add a few (like, 3, not 60) miles to my plan. I hope that people  are smart enough not to go to Boston tomorrow, and run the course in big groups like idiots. Yep, we all miss it, but stay TF away. 

Oh, and this is TOTALLY a year when I will buy a finishers jacket at the expo. I had one from my first year, and the RAINY year of 2018 (that I got online for only $30 post race!...) And you BETTER believe that if I find myself at that damn start in September, I will have an overpriced jacket in my hot little hands really to wear daily until the end of time. UNTIL THE END OF TIME. 

So. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, and may the odds be ever in our favor. 

Pandemic Running: Week 4

How is it already week 4 of zombie apocalypse training??

I'm sure I'm not the only one who is having a hard time keeping track of what day it is. Not to mention, time seems to be going both in warp speed, and super slow. 

If you asked me when the last time was that I ventured into public, I would confidently say 14 months OR 6 days. Very confusing!!

This particular week should be taking me straight into my 8th Boston Marathon. The weather has been about right for it, fluctuating madly between 55 degrees, 8 inches of snow, 55 degrees, then a huge wind storm with a deluge (pretty sure Mother Nature thought that day was marathon day!!)

Typical

So, yeah. Hanging in there. 

It has been a vastly superior Spring to last year, when we were still buried under massive amounts of snow. We really haven't had ground covering snow in a couple weeks, and the ice went out on the ponds and lakes last week. It's rare. There are also more birds, and robins in particular, then I have ever seen. It's just a bit odd, no real reason for it. We have had early springs before, but the bird activity is something outside the ordinary. 

Despite my good intentions, last weeks mileage was low. About 21 miles. I was working hard creating content for my new channel, and that took up a good bit of my time. 

I did, however, manage to get in a FEW strength workouts which is RARE! 

I'm including workouts in my video series, and when you are suddenly a fitness influencer (HAHAHA) you have to make videos which require about a million takes. SO, lots of extra reps for me. 

Anyway. Here we are. I ran today, on the treadmill as it was pouring. This got the week off to a good start, and I'd love to finish up with close to 30 miles. 

Anyway. Stay safe, stay healthy, and may the odds be ever in our favor. 

Pandemic Running: Week 2 and 3

So, things here are weird. 

We are on a "stay at home" order, which will continue through May 1st, at least.

Eric and I have been staying home for about a month, so this doesn't really change much for us. 

Of course, lots has changed. 

My business has gone from 60-0. 

Avoiding human contact has become the norm. I had to go to the post office the other day, and almost bugged out because there were 2 people in there. 

I work adjacent to my parents home, and we maintain 6 foot space. (and it pisses me off to see people casually flitting from work, to home, to in-laws, to friends. THAT IS NOT ESSENTIAL.) 

I see people in movies, and worry because there are so many of them. 

I have dreams that all my clients show up at once, and I panic, not knowing what to do. 

Out of all the "worst case" scenarios I have imagined, this was not one of them. 

The good news? My family is still healthy. That is all that matters. 

I have started a Patreon to teach "virtual riding lessons" which is making me step far, far out of my comfort zone. I figure, using creativity and sharing my knowledge is something I can do right now. It certainly beats sitting around, sad, being useless!!!

(BTW, here's the link) Patreon.com/thewec

2 weeks ago I ran about 38 miles, and it was great. 

Last week, I ran 17 miles, and that was the correct number. 

Running is only available to me as a stress reliever at the moment. So, I use it when I want to. 

I hope everyone is well, and safe. 

May the odds be ever in our favor.