Run Run Run

Training to get a Boston Qualify time is in full swing now. I did end up hiring a running coach. I am currently working with Peak Run Performance. This is the first time I have not been in control of my own running schedules and in a lot of ways it is really nice to not worry about planning it each week; and making sure I’m getting the right number of intense run days, easy days and rest days.

My new training plan has me running 6 days a week. The program is focused on effort and time based running verse pace and distance focused running. This has been a maybe the largest shift in training. Trying something new, getting outside your comfort zone is always scary, but to achieve your potential you have push outside the comfort.

Running 6 days a weeks feels like full time job, on top of working 12hr shift work full time. It’s been rough to fit in all the workouts but to make it happen I have been getting up once a a a week at 430am before work and running a lot of time at 8pm when I get home from work. The weeks I work night shift, I just get up earlier, and run before I head to work. Usually my rest day ends being a day at work that I do not have get up early or stay up later. That being said work is not exactly restful it more like active rest. I am convincing myself that it will also help my stamina and endurance as well prevent me from getting tight and sore.

My weeks consist of:
– organic cut down run: this is a fast finish run + strength training and running drills
-easy run: these runs also incorporate strength training and mobility exercises
-intervals
– long slow run: the LSD run alternates each week between being consist pace/time and runs with intervals in the middle ranging from 5km pace to marathon pace
-recovery run +strength training & hip mobility
-recovery run/cross training +strength training
-rest day: with some yoga usually

I am currently 8 weeks out from my first goal race; BMO Vancouver Marathon on May 3rd 2020. This about half way through the training program and I also tend to feel a little anxious about my goal. My goal marathon pace (4:50min/km) still feels challenging something I should be able to pull for half marathon not sure that will be able to for the full.

Today workout was one of the harder workouts I have ever done: Michigan Beginner:
15min warm up
15min at marathon pace
7min at 5km pace
7min at marathon pace
3min as fast as possible
15min cool down

I had been dreading this workout since I saw it my training plan especially with no rest and my coach note of “trains your mind to let go of its perceptions about what you can do” -J. Puzzy. That within itself does not sound like a great time even though I know its going to be ideal for my training.

Finding the motivation to get out day after day is not always easy; there are multiple days that I just do not want to run. I would rather be relaxing, eating, sleeping, or just getting errands and house work done but I know I have find the time to get the run in. I use simple motivators to get out such as that nice hot coffee at home, a hot shower followed by hot breakfast. However, the biggest motivator is knowing how good it will feel afterwards, knowing that you can push your body even harder again and of course the bragging rights that you have.

My post hard work out recovery is always the same. I have big glass about 500ml of Vega sport recovery drink. The Vega recovery drink is plant based; it helps to restore electrolytes, support carbohydrate recovery in the body and it additionally reduces inflammation. I also try and stretch and do some physio exercises post workouts, that being said it does not always happen.

As a lot of the training has been based on time and effort rather than pace and distance; I have been focusing way more on how I feel durning each run verse the data. It has been a good way to connect back with body and reasons why I love. When I do look back on the data I notice that I am not usually very far off what my pace/distance times would be as well that i am achieving these goals more organically. This way of running helps to reduce injuries from starting out too fast or too long quickly, it allows your body to adapt with the training in very natural way.

Even with all training that I am doing I still have a fear of failure. The pressure of preforming is always there, that every race should be a person best race. I know that very race can not be a personal best and that is okay; that pressure of performance comes from within. That I create it because I love constantly pushing my body to be better. I have created a goal that is just at my out reached fingertips and the only thing I need to do achieve is to focus, to work and not give in to my fears, not give into the negative space in my mind. It’s just one day at a time, one run at time and one mile at time. Soon enough it will be race and I will be ready.

“Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, But it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes” – Buddha