I had only discovered running around the age of 36 after my husband passed away. And I did run a few races here and there but all my PBs are mostly from runs.
400-87s
800-3:20
Mile-6:58
2 mile-15:16 (race)
5k- 25:14 (race)
10k-58:36
Half-2:21:00
Longest run ever was 20 miles on a treadmill at 10 min pace.
I had only discovered running around the age of 36 after my husband passed away. And I did run a few races here and there but all my PBs are mostly from runs.
400-87s
800-3:20
Mile-6:58
2 mile-15:16 (race)
5k- 25:14 (race)
10k-58:36
Half-2:21:00
Longest run ever was 20 miles on a treadmill at 10 min pace.
So, you see, my times are nothing to write about.
Cool, what's your age now? It might not be too late to get a PR.
I had only discovered running around the age of 36 after my husband passed away. And I did run a few races here and there but all my PBs are mostly from runs.
400-87s
800-3:20
Mile-6:58
2 mile-15:16 (race)
5k- 25:14 (race)
10k-58:36
Half-2:21:00
Longest run ever was 20 miles on a treadmill at 10 min pace.
So, you see, my times are nothing to write about.
Cool, what's your age now? It might not be too late to get a PR.
Whoops, nevermind. Saw that you just turned 42 earlier this month. Still curious to know what your times were like in early 2020 before you quit the first time.
Those times were all in the months before lockdown/me quitting. I was also 40ish lbs lighter than right now.
And to be fair, I really didn't know what I was doing for at least 18 months of that. I started couch to 5k, then did the 10k version. Then I just ran for like 3 miles a day, a few times a week. Some where in 2018 I decided to copy the workouts the cross country kids did... which is essentially what I'm doing now, plus a Sunday long run. Except they do different distances on their intervals each week.
In October I tried to do intervals and immediately hurt myself. It took over a month to recover. So when I started this time I left out speedwork for a few weeks. And even when I do them I don't really push very hard or let myself focus too much on the time. Instead I'm just trying to focus on building up mileage. My highest mileage month ever was 161. That was January 2020. I would say I averaged 30 mpw in 2019 until the last few months bc I had a half marathon in April 2020. February was only lower bc there were less days and I quit running March 23rd. I tried to restart a few times but was really having trouble finding motivation.
I had only discovered running around the age of 36 after my husband passed away. And I did run a few races here and there but all my PBs are mostly from runs.
400-87s
800-3:20
Mile-6:58
2 mile-15:16 (race)
5k- 25:14 (race)
10k-58:36
Half-2:21:00
Longest run ever was 20 miles on a treadmill at 10 min pace.
So, you see, my times are nothing to write about.
Perhaps not, but they are your times, you worked to do them, and you're willing to race. That earns you a certain amount of respect here.
I've looked through your training log. If you're dragging 40 lbs extra around, that's more than a little hard on the joints. I think you'd do best to focus on getting the volume up, even if you have to slow way down to do it.
But maybe you need the workout days to help keep motivated. In that case, you might consider moving your repeat days to a nearby hill. Running uphill is a little easier on your body. It doesn't need to be a long or steep hill. Right now, 50-100m would be enough. Find such a hill, go up hard, jog/walk back down, and keep doing it for a set amount of time -- say, start with 10 min and work up to 20 min. Do this once a week for three weeks, then go back and do your 8 x 400 as a progress check.
And I agree with you about the run every day thing. Take some very easy days when you need them, or maybe a little before you need them, but get out every day.
But consider not doing that 800 cal/day thing. It's not healthy. Instead, you want to eat just a little less, and run just a little more. If you want to be a little obsessive, put your effort into figuring out how to stuff your face with fewer calories for cheap.
Opposite to you, when covid hit, at 35, I started running because there was nothing else to do. I got to similar PRs, then got too addicted to speedwork and injured my knee. Anyway I suggest getting into some light weight/resistance work as well, really helps to strengthen the joints.
Sunday-6.2 miles (1:14:43). Centr 6 Day 1: 6 rounds of 6 reps. Burpee curl press, bent over rows, bodyweight squat, single arm snatch, zottman curls, sit thrus.
Monday-5.95 miles. AM-3.56 miles easy. (43:04/12:05). 30+mph winds. 4x strides. PM-2.19 miles. (25:44/11:46). Centr 6 day 2: 6 rounds/30 seconds. Jumping squats, quad hold, High knee running, crunches, sit thrus, reverse lunges. Woke up sore from Day 1 but bearable. Running on this day was still enjoyable.
Tuesday-1.91 miles. warmup. 4x.25. cooldown. (2:11.7, 2:15.9, 2:18.8, 2:18.8) Intended 8x.25. Form was all off and I kept taking weird steps where I felt a sharp tinge in my knee. Decided it was not worth getting injured. 100% sore. Centr 6 Day 3: 6 rounds of 6 reps. Reverse lunge, close press tricep ext, squat curl, push up, bicep curls, mountain climbers.
Wednesday-5.75 miles. AM-3.56 miles. 40+ mph winds with 60+ mph gusts. Mentally and physically fatigued. Stopped 2x and almost walked home. The only slight incline on this run is also where the wind was funneled around the houses. I looked at my watch and was running 18 min pace. (45:48/12:51) PM-2.19 miles (26:39/12:10) Centr 6 day 4: 6 rounds, 30 seconds. Jump lunges, jack knife, mountain climbers, toe crunch, ice skaters, bent knee v-sits. Soreness 80%. I was surprised today was so hard bc I was actually less sore. At this point I regret the workouts. Inner voice is asking if I should just go back to running.
Thursday- 2.48 miles. Supposed to be a warmup, 1 mile TT, cd. Actual- warmup, .5 TT, quit. Did a long easy cooldown. Wind still 30+ mph. Centr 6 day 5. 6 rounds, 6 reps. thrusters, deadlift to row, forward lunge, squats, gorilla row, stationary gorilla. I slept a full night and woke up exhausted. 2 days now like this. Drank 2 cups of coffee and fell back asleep. My attitude is downright awful and I keep thinking, "Do I even really enjoy running?" I might quit everything. Soreness 50%. Still don't understand why my soreness is going away but I feel worse.
Friday- 5.85 miles. AM-3.67 miles easy. (44:42/12:10) My legs feel so much better! Made it through about a mile of this before I started to feel fatigued again. PM-2.18 miles. (25:26/11:39). First mile easy then started to feel that tiredness again. Centr 6 Day 6. 6 Rounds, 30 seconds. Burpees, Toe tap crunch, push ups, toe tap crunch, jogging, plank. Soreness 20%. Wasn't as tired today, running was easier. Feeling renewed motivation.
Saturday- 1.83 miles easy. (21:12/11:34) Centr 6 Day 7. 6 rounds, 6 reps. Burpee, bent over row, squat, single arm snatch, zottman curls, sit thrus. Soreness 0%. I'm not sore but I feel a weird sort of fatigue in my legs. Not sure if that's the right description. I am so happy that running is feeling better. I honestly almost quit completely Wednesday/Thursday.
I went into this week knowing that I would be sore and so I didn't want to focus on pace. What I didn't expect is that even the easiest pace would have my heartrate elevated and breathing labored. Is it normal for such easy workouts to zap someone? Any idea how long my legs might feel this way and what I can do to help expedite the recovery? My ankle feels much better unless I sit Indian-style which apparently I do more than I realized.
The Centr 6 workout plan calls for 6 days a week and then a rest/recovery day but my INTENTION was to do them 17 days straight, then take 3 days off (8th, 9th, 10th) so my legs will be fresh for the next club race on the 11th. Complete the 18th day the night after the race. That way I won't get behind. I'm still on the fence about the workouts and keep having a lot of internal dialogue wondering if I should just go back to solely running. I feel a sort of need/compulsion to finish out the 6 week commitment though. There are no gyms in my city and I don't want to drive an hour each way to use one so I thought this was a good workout using mostly my body weight and dumbbells that I already own.
Total miles: 30
Weight: 174.8 to 173.0
Run streak day 90. Monthly mileage 96.3. Yearly mileage 176.6. Run streak mileage 261.2.
Goals this week. Stick to the Centr workouts. Same mileage. Going to swap the 400s for hills on Tuesday. Schedule Nordictrack to come fix my bike. See if I can get one of my daughters to run my miles with me Thursday.
My immediate response: that all seems like a lot, no wonder her legs are damn tired. And, the wind. Ugh. Been there. Keep going!!
Edit: just read more closely through your whole thread. Questions: what running plan are you using? How did you like kneesovertoes guy? How did you like the week (or was it two) of doubles?
Comments: I too am wanting the good old days of 3 years ago when I felt like a beast and was 20 lbs lighter. I love following your journey and empathize/nod my head in agreement with your reactions to -- I'm tired, why am I even, the damn wind, I'm so tired, f*cking scale wont move, dog came after me, etc.
Can we connect off line? I feel like all these LetsRun pros and bros are looking at my comments going 'get out of here girlie'.
This post was edited 21 minutes after it was posted.
Reason provided:
wanted to add more
I'm just copying what the high school cross country coach had the kids run. Except he did more/different intervals each week, Fridays were swim days, weekends were off unless they had a race.
I think kneesovertoesguy was really helping. I wish I could find the determination to consistently do his workouts. This was my 2nd week of doubles. I prefer the double runs over long runs. My kids have swim practice 3x a week and it gives me something to do while they're swimming other than just sit and wait on them.
Weight: 176.4 to 171.7 (4.7 lbs) Stated goal was 171 so this is either a win or close. I probably would have lost a bit more if not for our birthdays and accidentally snacking this last week. The workouts have really increased my appetite.
Running: 110.25 miles (Hit my goal of 25 mpw minimum) Didn't get a sub 9 mile or a sub 20 in 2 miles. Closest was 9:22 and 20:31. My longest run is now 6.25 miles.
Other: I set a goal to stretch and workout more and I did 2x as many days of workouts and stretching compared to January. I would say I was a little more consistent with sleep.
March goals:
Weight: 166
Running: Continue to increase volume. I am carrying over the 9 min mile and 20 minute 2 mile goals from February. Be more consistent with strides.
Other: ATG every day for my March Madness challenge. Continue the CENTR workouts through the 6 week program.
Sunday-6.2 miles (1:18:29/12:39 pace) CENTR 6 W2D2. It never rains here so I don't have any real experience with running on wet surfaces but this was one of the hardest runs ever and I'm wondering if the slick surface is what made it so difficult. Also humidity was 90% and it's normally 0 here.
Monday-5.73 miles. AM-3.56 miles easy (45:32/12:47 pace). PM-2.17 miles (25:17/11:39 pace) CENTR 6 W2D3. The wind over the weekend knocked over a dead tree at my tenants house and 3 fence panels. I did 3 hours of yard work (cleaning up the tree) and felt quite drained afterward.
Tuesday-1.99 miles. Warmup. Ran with daughter to try and break 9 in mile... big nope. (.7 @ 9 min pace) Then went and did 8x hills. (1 mile. These hills were 80m and 30 ft ascent) CENTR 6 W2D4.
Wednesday-4.14 miles. 4.03 miles easy (49:37/12:18 pace). Strides. ATG A-day. CENTR 6 W2D5. Hips were sore, maybe from the hills?
Thursday-4.33 miles. AM-2.15 miles. 2x mile. (9:47, 9:33) plus cooldown. PM-2.18 miles (24:05/11:02 pace) ATG B-day. CENTR 6 W2D6.
Our monthly club race is this coming Saturday the 11th. My plan is to carb cycle up starting Thursday. My legs have a lot of built up fatigue from the CENTR workouts that I added lately. I plan to skip them the 8th, 9th, 10th and maybe take a couple of ice baths.
I'm also going to try and bank miles earlier in the week so I still hit 30 miles this week but Friday will be a low day. S-7, M-4/2.5, T-3, W-4/2.5, Th-3, F-1, S-3. I did find repeat miles easier than trying to run a time trial. I'll probably keep the hills and repeat miles this week.
This is an out and back that starts out with a very steep downhill, turns right and is a mostly steady climb to the mile mark. Which means the return is mostly downhill until the huge hill finish. I might go out on Tuesday and jog the course as a refresher.
Does anyone else have any other ideas to help me break 20 this race? lol
Saturday is my race and yesterday I stopped the workouts. I still haven't had carbs yet. I woke up today and my stomach wasn't well so I was kind of expecting that I'd be slow today. I guess we caught a bug bc my daughter and I were both visiting the toilet all morning.
I went ahead and tried to run my 2 x mile I have been doing on Thursdays. I ended up running a 9:03.03 on the first mile and then a German Shephard was loose on my street so I stopped.
Anyway, ALL MONTH LONG I've been feeling like I was plateaued already and hadn't gotten any better because all my running has felt so slow and difficult to complete. To the point I had to stop on my Sunday and Monday runs. I'm actually starting to think breaking 20 might be in the realm of possibility. What say you guys? This was a pretty hard effort but I most certainly could have dipped under 9 if I had realized how close I was.