week 15 training recap

The second week of training is complete.

Miles run: 11.

Meltdowns had: 1.

This was my first week back to running, and it started out rough.  On my first run back on Tuesday, I broke out into sweat or heat-induced hives and was uncontrollably itchy for the entire 3 miles, clawing at myself on the SRT, trying to get some relief.  It was easily one of the worst runs of my life, and I was so discouraged.  It felt like I had never run before.  I couldn't get my brain to quiet, and I was so apprehensive, overthinking everything I felt in my body.  My knee felt tight, on and off, through the run but never hurt - which is good.  I finished, feeling horribly discouraged and uncomfortable - immediately opening my Final Surge app to cry to my coach. She told me, "The only issue with this run is that you're judging the fate of a 50M run on 1 single 3M run - think about that"(and then she told me to re-read that a few times - which I have).

I ran 3 miles on Tuesday and Thursday. Thursday’s run felt significantly better and different from Tuesday's. With that, I was upgraded from 3 miles on Saturday to 4-5, depending on how I was feeling.

My husband and I were taking a neighborhood walk Friday night (yes, in the horrible humidity).  I shared I was a bit nervous about my run the following day, considering how disgusting it was outside.  I said, “It’s going to suck”, and he said, “If you think it’s going to be bad, then it’s going be bad”.   When I woke up the next day, I walked my dog at 5 AM, embraced the humidity, and told myself it would be good… sweaty, yes, but good.   I started my run right before 6 AM. And while the entire run felt like I was swimming instead of running, it honestly felt good and was a good run.  I ran from my house to the SRT, and then I got to run up a closed Bridge Street in Phoenixville.  I saw my friend, Katie, heading to her Pilates studio, so we walked together. I stopped in for a nice AC break and cold water.  I got home around 7, just as it was getting hot and sunny.

It’s funny how we so easily give the same advice we need to hear to our friends.  On Wednesday, I was talking with my friend, who was feeling overwhelmed.  I shared my favorite story for times like this.  When I was in grad school, feeling overwhelmed, my boyfriend (now husband) asked me, “How do you eat an elephant?”… to which I replied, “Eww?? You don’t eat elephants!” to which he said, “One bite at a time.”  Fine, I get the point, and it was solid advice.  So, I shared this story to help motivate my friend and let her know everything would be okay, one bite at a time.

The irony, huh?

I couldn’t help but laugh at myself at the advice I was giving, realizing that I needed the same.

How do you run 50 miles?

1 mile at a time.

Better yet, how do you train for 50 miles?

1 mile - 1 run at a time.

I’m looking forward to this week ahead.