Running Slow

This last weekend was a wash. In more ways than one!

I didn’t realize until the alarm went off Monday morning how exhausted I was from the anxiety, prep and clean-up from Hurricane Irene. The alarm went off and I mumbled something to Woody like “I just want to sleep longer” to which he mumbled back something to the likes of “you do? okay.” We realized we’d both rather sleep than go to the gym, so that’s what we did! I know, I know…I should have gone to the gym, but the thought of waking up at 5am for four days this week was exhausting. I’m really glad we slept in, it would have been a bad way to start the week. You’re pretty much 99% assured to have a lame workout when you’re tired, and if you start the week off that way, it’s only going to get worse as the days go by. I did run this morning – I’m not a fan of the fact that it’s staying dark later into the morning, I much prefer waking up and having the sun rise as I’m getting out there. There were quite a few people out this morning. What a relief it is that Battery Park isn’t still flooded, we’re really lucky down here.

I’m trying to figure out the best/smartest way to get back on track for my training since I took a week off from running because of the ache in my right leg. Thankfully I haven’t felt that since I ran Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, so it’s a good thing I took the break, but how do I pick back up? I’m also having trouble getting my legs to move faster. I don’t know what’s up with that. My times are super slow but I just can’t get going faster. It’s frustrating, no doubt. Given all my injuries, my main goal right now is to run the Detroit Half Marathon. After that, I’m going to focus on getting faster. Maybe I’ll sign up for the NYRR running classes again. I was raking in PRs like nobody’s business when I took the classes a few years ago.

I realized I didn’t tell you about some races I signed up for. I’m looking forward to these as I haven’t run a NYRR race since the Mini 10K. It’s really odd because for years I’d run a race just about every weekend (no joke).

• Sept 24: Fifth Avenue Mile – The course goes down 5th Ave from 80th to 60th. I’ve heard of people getting injured in this race cause they race it out as fast as they can then pull muscles; this will not be my strategy. The race is run in heats according to gender and age and professional men and women compete in the last heat. I’ve never run this one before, but it’s supposed to be a lot of fun.
• Oct 30: Poland Spring Marathon Kick-off – 5 mile race that kicks off Marathon week. What could be better? I won’t be running in the Marathon but at least I’ll get to enjoy some of the excitement! I also signed up to volunteer at the Marathon Expo, which I’m really looking forward to.
• Nov 20: Race to Deliver – 4 mile race that supports Gods Love We Deliver, a non-profit organization here in the city that provides thousands of meals every day to people in need. Grace and I volunteered in their kitchen earlier this year. It’s a fun race the weekend before Thanksgiving.

The Detroit Half is October 16th and I might add in one or two others. We’ll see how things go…

• How do you get back on track with your training when you take a break for injury or sickness?
• What races do you have coming up?
• Have you ever volunteered for a race?

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Sunday’s workout -

• 5mile run
• 2x16 upright row
• 2x18 bicep curl
• stretching

Monday’s workout -

• stretching

Tuesday’s workout -

• 4mile run
• stretching
• ab exercises