Sportybrains

I’ll begin this post with a little comparing and contrasting of two of the hardest working athlete groups I know: runners and swimmers. I work with a fair amount of swimmers in my practice and while there are a few areas of overlap between runners and swimmers, one big observation I have made is general consensus and attitude towards training around holiday time. ‘Christmas training’ in swimming is notoriously hard, rigorous, and the athletes don’t seem to like it much. Running, on the other hand, especially for those with early races in the New Year, can be pretty rigorous as well, but us runners seem to approach it with a degree of novelty and enthusiasm. Maybe it’s just me, or I just hang around the crazy ones ;). Also, if you are a swimmer and reading this, I have no intention to offend, I am just going off what I’ve been told! Either way, Holiday time, if you manage your time and travel schedule right, can be a great time to get some good work in.

In prep for my first 5k race of the year, I’ve done two things I haven’t done in quite some time: double-digit long runs and track work. Granted, it’s just in the elementary stages (where it should be for now), I’ve really enjoyed getting in a rhythm of some true run training. That and seeing my family, of course!

Over the last week, I’ve put miles in two different communities and on a number of different surfaces in three different pairs of shoes-variety was pretty high, which my body seems to like. As much enjoyment as I’m experiencing right now, the workouts have been short, but not easy, as I’m working on getting some speed for my shorter events in the upcoming season. I have forgotten, however, how quickly the feeling of deflated lungs and high leg turnover turns into a feeling of accomplishment and “heck yeah, I did that”.  It goes from pain to pleasure within seconds, or at least the prescribed recovery interval!

My first structured outing on the oval was 12x200 speed with long recoveries. I thought the 2 minute standing recovery was a type-o at first. It was not, and I quickly figured out why as I worked within and maybe stretching my VO2 Max a little. My splits varied from :36-40, which isn’t too far off my ‘old school times’. As hard as the workout was, I did enjoy the effort and just worked to just focus on being as efficient as possible. I also broke out the New Balance flats for the first time in forever; albeit a little wary of them but felt great and in control running in them-perhaps thanks to the “lifeline” plyo and strengthening routine.

Tuesday before a block of appointments and leaving town, I went for a change of scenery at the Local High School track. TWHS pumps out some amazing runners every year, and I guess I wanted to absorb some of that mojo LOL. The assignment was short, sweet, and challenging. 200-200-400 x 2/recovery time same as interval. Maybe I just lack fitness, but these workouts look easier on paper than in real life! I managed to hit splits all below prescribed (um…blame the plyo, coach!) with 200s in 37-38 and 400s in 1:24-1:25. Got a ways to go, but not a bad start methinks.

Mileage is currently in the high 30s, and I got in some solid base runs while visiting my family at Old Settler’s park in Round Rock, TX-just down the road from my mother’s place and the home of the Texas State XC meet. I actually did a couple loops on the course-at least I think it was the course, because the ground was still flattened from hundreds of speedy and determined kids flying around the grassy surface. That park also is where I came into my own as an athlete, spending hours on the soccer fields dribbling, shooting, and running sprints.

Long runs are hovering around 10 and 11 miles currently, and even in this fickle weather, I feel stronger each time I go out and grind them out. I have tweaked my fueling up a little, and am taking in a little less pre-run, typically just a Honey Stinger Blueberry Buzz (if you have not tried them, you don’t know what you’re missing!) and a sports drink, and I will take a Ginsting gel right before and halfway through. The goal is to not get thirsty or hungry and by taking in a little more on the run I seem to recover better. After the run, it’s whatever my body feels like, but of course nutrient-dense and appropriate to set me up for the next workout.

Today I will cap off the week with a 6-mile recovery run-done at around an 8:45-9:00 pace, and afternoon yoga.

Overall, I would say the past couple weeks have been successful and I am feeling good physically and mentally-especially mentally. I am training to just simply engage in what I am doing and if I do that, things will work out in the big picture towards my longer-term goals. Hope everyone else is enjoying their friends, family, and training this Holiday season.

Stay the course.