Women's training thread - week of 7/20/08

Hi Humbled:

If is is any consolation, I don't have much to report. With $4 gas prices I cancelled all track meets I wanted to get to - so it has been base training with some tempo. I do run with my husband's team several days a week, always slow and with the heat and humidity - what more can you do?

It has now been 5 years since I've raced. But my runs feel good and I feel healthy...I keep one speed day in there with circuit training, and swim one day...

have a great week everyone! please post.

SolsticeGirl - How did your team end up at the GLR? Bet you are exhausted even if you couldn't run. Is it back to work tomorrow?

I got in 35 miles this week and ran a 10K yesterday. I only ran 2 miles this evening but saw a few deer.

Hello, ladies!

Good to hear from you!

I am getting back into training with the plan to possibly run New York this fall. Not 100% sure though as I will be traveling a lot and running my long runs will be a little bit of a challenge.

Temperatures have been in the 90s with high humidity lately in New York--I can't imagine how you ladies from Florida or Texas are training in summer! I made the mistake of starting my long run at 8am yesterday and I had to cut it short--only 12 miles for the day (plan was 15).

After many gulps of gatorade, I finally felt better--just in time to go back to my office to work again, ah.

after some very satisfying springtime training and racing, i now find myself sidelined with some sort of overuse injury of my hamstring, likely due to some too-high-mileage weeks following a 50-miler in late may. i was supposed to run the white river 50 this coming weekend, but that's out, since i haven't run in nearly four weeks while hoping (incorrectly, it seems) that just laying off would permit it to heal. i still am holding out some hope for pikes peak next month -- we'll see. i see my sports doc this week and my PT next week. i've been keeping my spirits up by bicycling, although each day i have to remind myself that all is good since i managed to stave off injury until biking season arrived, since for me it's much worse to be injured during cold weather. besides, there's always a nice breeze on the bike (except when struggling up a steep hill -- just when you need it most!), even when temps and humidity soar, so i'll consider myself lucky.

sounds like the rest of you are running happy, even if not racing.

We won the mixed division of the GLR! It was an amazing and very sloppy weekend on the trails and dirt roads of northern Michigan. (I am lucky to be a teacher and don't have to go to work today.) I biked a ton supporting the team and getting my own exercise, so my foot is definitely nearly healed. Thanks to my wonderful team for a great weekend.

Hope your son had fun.

Glad everyone is enjoying their running.

Not doing any racing at this time....just trying to get in some base.

So after a nice winter build up I missed my 1/2 marathon in May because of the heat (it was the first record heat wave of the year where I had planned to race) ... and I was feeling really worn down. I don't know exactly what was going on, my lab tests were normal (except for low Sodium and Potassium levels) but I was dragging myself through my runs.

So, I took two weeks and only ran 40 miles/week (while in Europe for a work/vacation thing) and have been "building up" again. Oh, and I take electrolytes every day whether I think I need them or not. Things have improved. I am running doubles 3 days/week (to build a little more mileage without trashing my 45 year old legs) and last week had my first ever 60 miles/week + 2 workouts! I am running a 10K this week (as a workout/fitness test), so we shall see!

Good to hear you are still running humbled, you are in my thoughts often.

Happy running Ladies.

We won the mixed division of the GLR! It was an amazing and very sloppy weekend on the trails and dirt roads of northern Michigan. (I am lucky to be a teacher and don't have to go to work today.) I biked a ton supporting the team and getting my own exercise, so my foot is definitely nearly healed. Thanks to my wonderful team for a great weekend.

Hope your son had fun.

Congratulations on your first place finish. My son had a great time also. They started out in the mixed division, but finished in the open, due to an injury. Let us know when you are able to run again. Will you be ready for the Crim?

Hello!

My week - came 3rd in a 200. Another race tonight. Erm. Have a feeling I may have over-raced (I think about 12-15 races in 2 months) so this is my last one in July!

My training's going pretty well. My mileage is up near 100mpw (up from a base of 80mpw for my spring marathon), and I seem to be handling it alright.

The heat and high dew points in NY are really starting to get to me, though. I don't feel that I have any sort of accurate idea of how fit I am, since I have to run so much slower. Plus, I'm in a really pissy mood all the time.

Then I remind myself that there are people who cannot run, but would like to, and I get over myself.

At least I've finally found some training and racing shoes that I'm very pleased with. So now I'm hoarding them, since I go through them rather quickly these days. I feel like a pro when a huge box of shoes arrives via UPS. Hee hee.

Wow, how do you tolerate 100 mpw? Did that take years to develop without attaining an overuse injury?

As for me, today I did 16 min WU and 7 X 1000 at around 10K pace (9 miles total) and CD. Whew! The last one, I was chased by a flying goose and was tired besides! I am planning for a HM and 10 miler this fall in about 10 weeks.

One other ?: at what time in the am do most of you do your Sunday long run?

runner girl wrote:

Wow, how do you tolerate 100 mpw? Did that take years to develop without attaining an overuse injury?

One other ?: at what time in the am do most of you do your Sunday long run?

I've built it up over the past two years. Although I spent 6 years running 11 minute miles for around 25 mpw, so I think I primed them for higher mileage in some ways.

But I think the real reason is that I have legs like a linebacker's, and they seem impervious to high mileage. For the first time in my life, I am pleased to have legs like a linebacker's.

I also take a recovery week every 3-4 weeks and no longer do "linear periodization" -- as my one bout with injury (very minor calf strain) was from weekly speedwork sessions.

I do the Sunday long run as early as possible, at least in the summer: usually out the door by 7:30AM. It puts a real crimp in my Saturday night drinking.

Hi 16x and gals,

Been 2006 the Millrose Games as my last race. Funny how I still race in my head a good deal. Not sure 100% what my injury has been but I am currently with a good Chiro/Kinesiologist who is trying to get to the root of things with a multi faceted approach, not all pain free either.

Today's session involved stripping the fascia with an implement that much resembled a butter knife but cost hundreds of bucks more..... and now I am very colorful with near bruising, but the idea is that the gristle like texture of some of my muscles can heal with the tissue aligned straight rather than all higgeldy piggeldy.

I am cross training of course and have recenetly become re-aquainted with my fairly new Giant road bike so enjoying some lenghty rides as I learn gears, clipless pedals etc.

The saying "no pain no gain" has taken on new meaning in my life since trying many ways to heal...

Good to see most peeps are doing well, eventually I will get back to real training and hopefully racing, meanwhile I am counting my blessings and living vicariously through some of you! Ha!

The temps and humidity have dropped off this week in Illinois so I've been enjoying getting out and continuing to build up the mileage for xc. I have my weekly mileage a little over 20mpw with mostly 3 1/2 to 5 mi. runs.

I was wondering, because our track team does strength training over the summer, but it ended today, should I keep up my own strenght regimen(just coming up with little mini-workout type things and repeating what we did in the summer program) or should I lay off of it for the xc season(?), since my coaches won't have us do a lot for xc(I know from experience).

Also congratulations to solstice girl's team for the victory in your division.

Hi Sarah, Hi All:

I was amazed at the master's runner who was doing 2 a days on here, you go girl - one a day is often tough for me!

Don't worry Sarah, I haven't officially raced since 2002 I think, but still think about getting back in the mix. I remain healthy and enjoy training with the youngsters. I sure hope you get to the root of this problem, sounds like you are using graston - but on what area of the body?

anyway, everyone enjoy your day.

Yes you are right it is graston, eesh I am colorful today, ie bruised. It is being done on rectus femoris, and hip flexor area. My thoughts are also to racing again one day, in the meantime I seem to be learning a lot about set backs and even about myself. Not all pretty :O) Also, watching the Tour De France has inspired mt road biking abit. I would say the marks on my quad look as if I took a hefty spill from the bike which thank God I have not. Have you had graston done 16x?Have a great week all.

16x wrote:

Hi Sarah, Hi All:

I was amazed at the master's runner who was doing 2 a days on here, you go girl - one a day is often tough for me!

Don't worry Sarah, I haven't officially raced since 2002 I think, but still think about getting back in the mix. I remain healthy and enjoy training with the youngsters. I sure hope you get to the root of this problem, sounds like you are using graston - but on what area of the body?

anyway, everyone enjoy your day.

hsmiler - It would be a good idea to keep up with your strength program. Are coaches allowed only 25 days contact with athletes in Illinois? That is a good rule. I wish we had it in Michigan. It is wonderful to see a high school athlete who is motivated to train in the off season. Keep up the good work and let us know how your season goes.

hs miler: I too would find a simple strength training program, maybe to do at home that include core strengthening exercises, exercise ball - and do it 2-3 times a week during the season. We have incorporated this with our high school teams with great results in making them faster and decrease injuries.

Sarah, I did have some graston work a very long time ago. Now I just see a DO every 6-8 weeks, osteopathic in Athens, Ohio and haven't had any problems with my body in nearly three years no matter what I seem to put my body through. I don't do massage or any other treatment these days.

hope the graston works.

MichiganGranny: Yes, the coaches are only allowed 25 contact days with us, so we drag them out over the summer 2-3 days a week, so they can see what we are doing all summer, and who is running.