May 2021 in review!
Total mileage for the month: 289.8
- April 26-May 2: 60.2
- May 3-9: 77.7
- May 10-16: 63.0
- May 17-23: 41.5
- May 24-30: 69.1
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| We made the May OMRR newsletter cover! |
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| Just a normal Thursday morning! |
Races: |
| Final workout before Tobacco Road |
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| First workout back after Tobacco Road |
Workouts:- May 1: 3 x 1 mile at marathon pace/1 mile easy at the end of a 14 mile run. I'd planned to do a 2 mile fast finish on my long run if I felt good, and I felt great but to coordinate with Christian's workout I did the 3 x 1 instead. My MP miles were 6:14, 6:13, 6:14, so I was proud of the consistency and closeness to my goal pace of 6:15.
- May 5: 4, 3, 2, 1 mile progressive tempos with 0.5 recoveries (3.6 warm up, 1.1 cool down for a 16.2 mile day) in 6:21, 6:20, 6:17, 6:11 / 6:18, 6:15, 6:14 / 6:12, 6:21 / 6:06 (average 6:15). We ran this on our FR 209 rolling route that feels uphill both ways (463 ft of gain) for some additional strength building, and this was the best I've ever run this workout! I usually do it on our fast loop course, which is about 10 seconds/mile faster than the route I did for this one - in September 2019 I averaged 6:20 and in August 2019 I averaged 6:14, both on the fast loop - so I felt really, really good about this workout. It was also my first time running it 10 days after a 50k. :-) Christian ran the 4 mile and 2 miles of the 3 mile with me, and Colin ran the whole thing with me - I definitely needed pulling along towards the end, particularly on the second mile of the 2 mile bit, which was definitely uphill. This was a confidence-booster, which was needed since it was my only real workout between my two big races!
- May 8: 12 miles with 11 x 0:30 pickups, one during each mile after mile 1 (supposed to be 10 but I missed one on my watch and ended up doing an extra). I'm always amazed at how much faster I end up running an entire easy run just by adding some pickups. Improvements in efficiency for the win!
- May 11: 4 x 1 mile at MP with 1:30 jog recoveries, otherwise known as The Taper Workout Everyone Runs Too Fast, which I effectively did in 6:10, 6:10, 6:05, 6:05 on our rolling FR 209 route. The weather was perfect, I was feeling the taper, I was running with Christian, and I was bursting with pre-race excitement!
- May 25: Mixed system workout of 5 x 1:00 at 5k effort/1:00 off (2:00 jog after final 1:00 on), 3 miles at half effort (walk down hill after tempo), 5 x 0:30 hill sprints (walk down hill between each) - 1:00 pushes were 5:21-5:48 (average 5:38) and the half pace miles were 6:09, 6:19 (up Mentor hill), 6:11. Christian is running a June half and this was her workout, and I thought it sounded very fun so jumped it for it and it did not disappoint! Well, except for the hill sprints, those were not that fun and before each one I said I was going to stop after it but didn’t until the workout was over, bahaha! This was definitely a reminder that I like half pace for several miles much better than 5k pace for a minute or sprinting up a hill for 30 seconds. #truemarathoner We ran this on a rolling route so paces fluctuated based on elevations changes, and it was also my first workout in warmer, humid temps at 67* and 94% humidity. Oh, also I'd just run a marathon 10 days before so there was that.
- May 28: 16 miles with 2 easy, 2 at Christian’s goal half pace (6:22, 6:20), then 12 easy. We left on family vacation shortly after this run; the only reason I ran the May 25 workout or this one was because I planned to run only easy from May 26-June 4. There was supposed to be another 2 mile tempo towards the end, but Christian wasn’t feeling up for it and there was no other reason for me to do it. Colin also ran this with us and I appreciated them both running long a day early for me!
- May 31: Fartlek of 3 x 3:00, 2:00, 1:00 ons and 1:30, 1:00, 0:30 offs (3 miles warm up, 3 miles cool down). I was on family vacation, and I generally don't like running workouts when traveling, but I felt like doing something light this morning so I went with a short effort-based fartlek. The Nashville route I ran was hilly, so my paces weren't very consistent, but most were 5:31-5:58 (one was 6:19 but I am pretty sure it was uphill because all of the pushes felt much harder than marathon pace).
- Strides: May 4, 10, 13, 14, 24, 27.
- Doubles: May 2, 3, 4, 6, 10.
- Strength Training: weekly totals of 2:30, 2:14, 1:02, 1:36, 2:14.
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I did several days of
overdressing/heat training |
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| I didn't get the outfit memo before this run |
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| On the run |
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| Back from NC! |
Long Runs:- May 1: 14.2 miles (7:28) that included 3 x 1 mile at marathon pace in 6:14, 6:13, 6:14. This was one week after my 50k, which I came back really well from, but for the first couple of minutes of the first faster mile, my body was like, "whhhhaaaaat are we doing?" Then it felt smooth and fun. I overdressed a lot for heat adaptation on this run (a fleece lined long sleeve and ear warmer at a sunny 60 degrees).
- May 5: 16.2 miles, described above in workouts. I did this one smack dab in the middle of the time between my 50k and marathon, so that I would have one real long runs and one real workout between them, which I probably needed more mentally than physically.
- May 8: 12.1 miles (7:40) with 11 x 0:30 pickups, one during each mile after the first. I ran this on the Frisco trail with friends so entertaining that they prevented me from having flashbacks to miles 23-29 of my 50k!
- May 15: 27.7 miles (26.2 @ 6:25) with the Tobacco Road Marathon!
- May 22: 12 miles easy (7:59) on the Frisco Highline Trail (a.k.a, my 50k trail). Around mile 8 of this run, we found a stray kitten in the middle of nowhere, and Christian adopted her and named her Frisco! This process included her jogging 4 miles carrying the kitten wrapped in her shirt.
- May 23: 12.1 miles easy (7:52), for what I guess was the return of back-to-back long runs, hah! This may be why I need a schedule. This weekend was also the start of heat/humidity adaptation.
- May 28: 16 miles (7:52) mostly easy, aside from 2 miles at Christian’s half pace, described above.
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I managed to run on the Frisco trail
again 2 & 4 weeks after the 50k! |
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| Introducing the kitten Frisco |
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| Wet long run |
Running Highlights:- 4 days recovering, 8 days of training, and 9 days of tapering between my 50k and marathon!
- My marathon and post-race euphoria.
- I managed to take 4 days off after the marathon, which is a lot for me! I am in the midst of 3 weeks with no specific training schedule, but it probably surprises no one that I have been running a decent amount and jumped into a couple of Christian's workouts.
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| Sometimes our post-run photos are a stretch |
Life Highlights:
- I am beyond thankful for my race trip to North Carolina. I was pleased with my race, but the girls' trip with Christian produced countless lifetime memories and so many laughs.
- We are currently on a family trip in Tennessee and Kentucky, so more details will be coming in a future post and my June update. I hadn't taken any time off work since before COVID, so I made up for some lost time with two vacations!
- Albani completed 7th grade on May 19! She is now 5'2" and not a little girl anymore.
- My niece Story ran the 400 m and 4 x 400 m at state track (placing 13th and 5th, respectively) and completed high school! In the fall she will be attending Barnard College, which is an extension of Columbia University, in New York. She will run on Columbia's track team.
- Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain
- When I Hold You by Ashley Huffstutler
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
- The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
- Wedding Cocktails: Cocktails for Three & The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham
- Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson
- Here Is the Beehive by Sarah Crossan
- Rest and Be Thankful by Emma Glass
- How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
- Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline
Theme for the month:
Endorphins! This month basically consisted of post-race euphoria following the
Frisco 50k, pre-race excitement for the
Tobacco Road Marathon, race trip excitement, post-marathon euphoria, then family summer vacation joy. I apologize to anyone who was around me this month for my uncontainable excitement!
Getting to actually travel, go on vacations, and run races again has been amazing!
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