week 8 training recap

Miles run: 38

Cooler temperatures brought better running this week, and I am so grateful for it!

What was planned:

Tuesday: 5

Thursday: 30-min run / 8x 20s strides/ 30-min run

Saturday: 18

Sunday: 9

What got done:

Tuesday: I finished work relatively early, so I headed to the CVT (Chester Valley Trail) and completed my 5 miles. I seriously think I smiled the entire run because it felt so good. Cooler temperatures make all the difference.

Wednesday: I moved my run planned on Thursday to Wednesday. I haven't done this type of run (workout-ish) in over a year. My coach throws these into the plan to spice things up during training. I wasn't looking forward to this, and I'm unsure why. I think the "30-minute run" felt daunting for whatever reason. Regardless, I turned my auto-lap off and started the run (again on the CVT). Once it came time for the 8x20s, I remembered that I actually do like this workout, and it's really fun. It feels good to pick up the pace and move your legs! I finished the run and headed to the REI nearby to pick up my new watch! Talk about the ultimate post-run treat.

Saturday: Saturday was going to be a busy day, and for many reasons, I wanted my long run to be easy (there's irony there, I know). I decided to "cheat" and run on the SRT instead of at Valley Forge. With the cooler weather and the busyness of the day ahead (we had a wedding in the early afternoon), I just needed to have a good run and get it done. I ran from my house to the SRT and connected to the Perkiomen Trail. This is one of my favorite routes to do. It was an effort to finish the run, but overall, it felt so good (which I mentally and physically needed). I finished the run in Schwenksville, where my Dad picked me up and drove me home. Point-to-point long runs are the best. We stopped at Wawa so I could get something fast and easy to eat (Coke, bag of pickles, and a wrap), and then I came home to rush through my stretches, shower, and get ready for the wedding. I did not get to take my beloved post-long run nap.

Sunday: When we got home from the wedding, I took one more nap for extra recovery. I'm starting to feel a little under the weather and just so tired. I was feeling it because I didn't fully recover properly from my long run the day before. I eventually started this run right before 1:00 (when it was about 82, feeling like 88 degrees). The first few minutes were sore, and my legs were so heavy from the previous day. I think the most appropriate word for this run is "trudging." I ran local, but a lot of the roads and neighborhoods I ran in weren't as shaded as I had hoped. I tripped a few times, my feet getting stuck on the road, legs unable to pick up and move forward. More than a few times, I cursed my coach for planning me to run 9 miles the day after 18, and then I quickly realized this was all my doing. I laughed and shifted my mindset to, "How cool it is to be running this much?" I've never run these distances back to back, but I've dreamed of the day when I was doing it and could do it, so I soaked it all in. Once I hit 8 miles and realized I had a marathon on my legs, I got a second wind and picked up the pace for the final mile. I finished strong, got home, cracked open a beer I was saving for post-run, and hopped in the shower.

This was a big week, so I'm prioritizing recovering hard and listening to my body. I have one more higher mileage week starting tomorrow before a cutback week, which will be very welcomed.