focusing on goals

Weekly Wrap – Catching up

I’m joining Holly and Wendy for the Weekly Wrap. This a great link up to find support and motivation, so be sure to stop by to share a weekly training recap and show these great co-hosts some love!

When I last checked in on my “training” a couple of weeks ago, the piriformis/hammy issue was in full rage. The plan was to back off – run easy, cross-train, and focus on rehab.

And that’s just what I’ve been doing for the past two weeks. Progress has been slow and steady, but I’m happy to say there’s progress. Run/walk intervals are a must right now, and while hills and any attempt at speed are a big no-no, I was super encouraged by yesterday’s “long” run of 6.5 miles. The first 4 miles of that run felt better than I have in weeks.

I’ve been doing my best to focus on every positive I can while also trying to come to terms with facing my second DNS of the spring thanks to this nagging injury. I do have the option of dropping down to the 5-mile distance, but I haven’t decided what to do yet. I was so looking forward to running this half – it’s one of my favorite races and was going to be my “goal race” for the spring. While I’ve run the 5-mile option before, it just doesn’t have the same feel. Perhaps it’s better to just draw the curtain on the spring race season and move on.

I recently shared this on Instagram as it has become my mantra. I still have so much running and racing to look forward to this year, so I need to put this nagging pain in the arse (literally) behind me once and for all.

Have you ever had to put racing on hold? Tell me something about your week? Have you checked out my Stride Box giveaway (see here)?

Keeping my eye on the prize

If you read last week’s wrap up then you know I was contemplating taking a DNS on the Black Cat 10 miler thanks to a very cranky piriformis. The truth is I knew even as I was typing that post that the chances of my actually running Black Cat were slim. But we runners always hold out hope, right?

Well, I eeked out a run on Tuesday, but it was a lot of effort for a short 3 miles with my piriformis talking back most of the way. Decision made – it was not worth it to push it for what was basically going to be a training run.

Once that decision was out of the way, the rest of the week seemed to get a lot easier. I babied the heck out of my right leg, returned to some of my PT exercises, hit the yoga mat, and spent some time on the Arc Trainer. I also managed two more runs – both slow and easy with 5:1 run-walk intervals and finished the week with 12.5 miles. Surprising…and I’ll take it as a win!

So this week will be more of the same so I can get back to training for the races I have planned for the spring. Next up is the Portland 10 Miler in April and then Boston’s Run to Remember Half in May.

Have you ever taken a DNS? What’s next on your race calendar?

I’m linking up with Holly and Wendy for the Weekly Wrap.