What are you training for?

10 01 2013

Nothing. And I like it.

I ran with a new running group last night. It’s one I’ve known about for awhile and just have never made it to a run before. It was fun. It reminded me of my running group in DC. Lots of chitchat, talking about local races, plans for the year. And then someone asked me “What are you training for?” And for the first time in as long as I can remember I responded “Nothing”.

And that’s true. I’m not training for anything right now. Sure I have some events on the calendar, but nothing major and nothing I’m training for. It was really nice to say that. It takes pressure off myself. It’s exhausting to always be training for something. Why I felt like I need to is beyond me. There is nothing wrong with running for the sake of running. I like to run. I like to race, but that doesn’t mean I need to always be training for something. No wonder I was burned out.

51QlqI3yaOL._SL500_AA300_So far I’m really liking my plan of race less and be smart about my running. In addition to running I am actually doing some strength and core work for the first time in years. I hate(d) strength work, but it’s supposedly important and all so I guess I’ll give it a try. I started Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred this week. I bought maybe a year ago, and then promptly ignored it. Since I decided to mix things up a bit I dusted it off, removed the plastic (more evidence I never touched it), got out my hand weights (also still with the tags on them), and my mat and pushed play. I’ve done it four days in a row. Day two was the easiest. I’m not sure how I feel about it on the days I run, but since my mileage is (purposely) low I’m giving it a try. By starting it last weekend my goal is to do it every day before I leave for South America (the timing worked out quite well, there was no forethought on that one).

The plan will continue to be run and have fun, mix it up, and finish #30DayShred.

In the mean time I’m heading to Madison for Badger Basketball and shenanigans with Katie and Jen.


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Categories : Training

Finding my Inner Fish

28 08 2012

I’m not quitting running or anything crazy like that. I’m just not running the marathon. I’m switching things up a bit. I’ve been talking about and thinking about getting back into the pool for quite some time. I finally just went ahead and registered for masters swimming for the fall. I signed up through our rec sports and decided to do it two days a week. They have a nice option where you can pick which two days you want to do. They will be my non-running days.

I love the pool. I love the smell. I love being in the water. I love it all. I used to get myself to the pool. Then I quit the gym and had no access to a pool (not that I was using it anyways). Turns out masters swimming is much more economical than joining a gym. Plus I get to swim with other people. Other fish. Other people who like to be in the water.

I don’t know what will come out of this. I don’t know what I want from this. I just need to do something other than run. I won’t stop running, I am just adding two days in the pool. Maybe this will be my way back to triathlon. Maybe this will just be a break that I need. Maybe this is just going back to where I started. And now I can’t wait to get in the pool.

Of course my next step is to find my suit, cap and goggles that have been in hibernation for well over a year. Details.


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Categories : Just Me, Training

The Marathon Journey

27 08 2012

Training for a marathon is a journey. A very different one for each and every one of us who decide to register for 26.2 miles. My journey has been full of ups and downs as I already wrote about. The Lakefront Marathon is six weeks away. That’s not far at all. I registered in February. That seems like a million years ago.

I had some simple goals this time around like have fun and don’t get injured. I am very excited that I have not sustained any injuries or visited an orthopedic doctor in a long time. This is big people. What has happened is I am not having fun. I’m getting increasingly worried that marathon training is going to make me hate running. And while I know a lot of the shitty runs I had this summer were weather related, but that doesn’t change how demoralizing they were.

I do not doubt my ability one bit to finish the Lakefront Marathon, what I doubt is my desire to do it. And there is no way I will be able to run 26.2 miles on October 7th if I don’t want to be doing it. Two Saturday’s ago I ran through Madison on my way to another half marathon finish. Of course I somehow managed to get the summer plague (or just a cold) the day before the race and wasn’t able to have the race I wanted, I did still finish. I remembered how much I enjoy racing the half marathon.

This weekend is my first scheduled 20 miler and I will not be running it.

My marathon journey has come to an end.

I will not be running the Lakefront Marathon this October.

And I’m okay with that.


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The emotions of marathon training

6 08 2012

I had one of those terrible horrible make you question why train for marathon runs this weekend. I know those are bound to happen. I know it’s the weather, but it is so defeating. I was mad. I was upset. I wanted to get to my planned mileage. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. It just wasn’t going to happen.

Now I expected there to be ups and downs during my marathon training. That is bound to happen. This is the third time I have trained for a marathon. I kind of know what to expect. I also know to expect the unexpected and that so much is out of my control. But I wanted this to be different. I foolishly thought it would be easier. I have no idea why, but I thought it was going to be. I have the experience of having run a marathon and having not made it to the starting line. I know the good and the bad. That doesn’t make it any easier. Not even a little bit. I wanted this to go smoothly.

I was supposed to be training with Sara, but it’s summer and life happens. We are both really busy. We still get to do a lot of out weekday runs together, but we have barely been able to match up any of our long runs. We did have one totally amazing run on what can only be described as a magical day. It wasn’t hot, it wasn’t humid, it was actually nice running weather. I want that all the time. I know that’s unrealistic, but it’s what I want.

I never expected the summer from hell. I know summer running isn’t easy, but this is horrendous. It’s killing my spirit and my desire to run. But I am not ready to give up. I still want to run the 26.2 miles. I still want to cross the finish line. I still want to do it all. I want to do the 20 mile training runs. I am prepared for the ups and downs that will come over the next few months. And on October 7 I will toe the start line with Sara by my side and we will both cross the finish line with smiles on our faces.


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Categories : Training

Running Break

12 07 2012

I’ve been pretty much training consistently since November 2011. A few weeks ago my coach threw out the idea of a break. I immediately responded with the dates I was going to be in Phoenix knowing full well I had zero desire to run there. Lows of 87, highs of 111. It was hot to say the least. Little did I know that Milwaukee would get blasted with a disgusting heat wave right before I left.

I live in Wisconsin. I train in Wisconsin. I do not like running in heat. I would rather run at 30 degrees than 80. I like snow running. I like a cool breeze on a fall day. I am not meant to run in the heat. I was fairly convinced another summer running in DC would have killed me. That was gross. When it is 80 and 81% humidity at 5:00am I know there is no hope for the day. Some days (run date with Sara days) I can drag myself out of bed and run in that crap. Do I want to? No. But will I want to run when it’s 97 degrees after work? Hell no.

Let’s just say this vacation came at a good time. I needed the break I was close to burnout and running wasn’t fun. Instead of running I floated in the pool, drank beer, ate, drank margaritas, floated in the pool, drank wine. It was rough.

And there was my cousin’s wedding so I did have to get dressed up, but then there was more food and drinks.

Blue Marriage-rita

image

I caught the bouquet.

I come from a large extended family and now that we are all grown up we don’t get to spend a week in the summer on a lake together. Weddings seem to be the only time we do get to hang out. I love getting to see my cousins. We may have grown up 1500 miles apart, but we spent time together every single summer. That being said, we have lots to catch up on when we see each other ever year or so now. People are married. They have kids. They bought houses. They have careers. We decided that next summer we need a cousin get together. I would call it a Hill Cousins Gathering, but too many of them no longer or never had that last name. So watch out for next summer when we choose a lake house and play for a week. Just like our childhood, except no parents and booze.

All in all, the break was awesome and much needed. I came back this week and have run all three runs so far including my speed work. I’m hoping I can build off this and quick marathon training ass.


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Categories : Just Me, Training

Marathon Training: The Beginning

6 06 2012

Remember when I signed up for the Lakefront Marathon back in February? So it’s been a few months and while I know it’s out there I haven’t really thought about marathon training. Well that’s not completely true. I have thought about it, but not in the sense that it should start soon. Then Kelsey had to go and tell me it is in 18 weeks. And then Mo blogged about it too. Stupid friends. I was happily living in my own world.

The good news: I have a ridiculous base to go into marathon training with this time. I have run 25-30 miles a week almost every week since November. The only month under 100 miles since October was January. I run 12-14 miles on any given weekend.

The bad news: I have never successfully trained for a marathon. Yes, I have completed one, but I got injured, never ran my 20 mile training run and had to completely change my goals

The good news: I am a strong and smarter runner now. I am not training alone or blindly. In addition to having a running coach I have Sara. Running with Sara is fantastic. I know I have gone on and on about this, but I never truly understood how helpful it is to have a running buddy so well matched to your own abilities.

So in essence I’m not exactly sure when “official” marathon training starts, but it’s going to happen and I am going to be ready for it.


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