Run to Remember Race Week

May 26, 2019 by 26 Comments

Happy Sunday!

This was a pretty chill week – with the Run to Remember Half waiting for me at the end of the week, I kept things light. Here’s how it all played out.

Run to Remember Race Week

Monday — After Sunday’s return to double digits, Monday was a rest day, with the added bonus of an acupuncture session.

Tuesday — It was a busy day on both the work and homefront, but I was able to get some time on my yoga mat.

Wednesday — 4-mile power walk with a friend.

Thursday — 3-mile run, plus a much-needed massage to work the kinks out of my hamstrings.

Friday — Rest day.

Saturday — 2-mile shakeout run, then I was off to the Run to Remember expo to grab my bib before meeting Kim and her mom and sister for a fun brunch! We had such a good time laughing and catching up we totally forgot to take a picture!

Sunday — 13.4 miles (according to my Garmin) at the Run to Remember half marathon. Half marathon #14 – it felt great to see that finish line after being away from this distance since 2017. Race recap to come.

Now, I’m looking forward to just relaxing and enjoying the rest of this long weekend!

Did you race this weekend?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down link-up.

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Filed Under: Boston's Run to Remember, race week, Weekly Run Down

Race Week Ambivalence

May 23, 2017 by 13 Comments

 

Ambivalence
[am-biv-uh-luh ns]
noun
1. uncertainty or fluctuation, especially when caused by the inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things.

2. Psychology. the coexistence within an individual of positive and negative feelings toward the same person, object, or action, simultaneously drawing him or her in opposite directions.

Yeah, I think this sums it up pretty well how I’m feeling. Technically, this is race week. I say technically because, if you’ve been around here for a bit then you know consistent training has been hard to come by.

I thought after making the decision to drop from the half marathon to the 5-miler a couple of weeks ago, that I could re-focus and charge ahead to crush the shorter distance. Instead these last few weeks have been very up and down – sometimes the piriformis and hip feel good and running is more enjoyable, but other times, the pain radiates down my leg and I’d just assume do anything other than run.

Throw in a schedule both at home and work that are in overdrive and I’m just feeling meh at the thought of running this race this weekend.

I have to say this is a first for me…and what makes it worst is that I really do love this race – I think it’s one of the best Boston has to offer. I want to be excited, but right now the thought of sleeping late Sunday morning is far more appealing.

So the question is…how do you get your head in the game when you’re not excited about a race?

Linking up with Erika, Marcia, and Patty for this week’s Tuesday on the Run – the topic this week is grading your month. 

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Filed Under: race week, running dilemnas, Tuesdays on the Run

Wrapping up Race Week

September 19, 2016 by 17 Comments

Happy Monday all!

I’m back from Philadelphia and enjoying a much needed rest day after running the RnR Philly half yesterday. I’ll have much to say about Sunday in my recap later this week. But for now, I’m joining Holly and Tricia once again for the #WeeklyWrap link-up.

philly-expo

Monday, 9/12:  Yoga

Tuesday, 9/13:  3.2 mile run

Wednesday, 9/14:  6 mile progressive run with 1 mile warm-up and cool down

Thursday, 9/15:  Rest day

Friday, 9/16:  Final run of the week – 3 miles and the legs were feeling really good!

Saturday, 9/17:  I headed to Philadelphia with my husband. Travel was super easy and after dropping our bags at the hotel we headed for the expo. We breezed through packet pick-up and then my husband was very patient as I checked out all of the vendors. All of the Brooks T-shirts were super cute and I just couldn’t resist adding one to my collection. I also couldn’t resist a new headband from my fave Sparkly Soul, and picked up an organic multivitamin designed for runners. We took a walk and then wandered the Terminal Market for lunch (my gosh you can get lost in that place!) before heading back to the hotel to chill.

race-shirt

Sunday, 9/18: RnR Philly

So how was your week? Do you shop the expos or avoid them?

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Filed Under: race week, RnRPhilly, Weekly Wrap

Race Week Focus

October 6, 2013 by 10 Comments

photo (16)I can already be pretty obsessive during race week…but now there’s this.

Yes that’s my right knee. I had just 3/4 of a mile to go in my long run on Saturday when my toe caught an uneven piece of sidewalk and before I knew I was air borne. I jammed my left shoulder and scraped my right elbow, but my right knee took the brunt of the fall. So I spent the rest of Saturday alternating between icing and hobbling around.

I’m happy to say that while still stiff and sore, I’ve got a lot more mobility today. I’m sure it will continue to loosen up as the week goes on (she says with fingers-crossed). I have just a couple of light runs planned for this week, and one run with a few miles at race pace – but, at this point the work is done.

My main focus this week will be to eat mindfully, get enough sleep and, yes baby the knee. (I will not obsess, I will not obsess, I will not obsess!)

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Filed Under: injuries, no excuses, race week

Thursday Thoughts: Idle legs, weather watch and playlists

May 23, 2013 by 8 Comments
  1. I’ve been so itchy to run this week! I have a lot spinning around in my head and running has really become a great way for me to process things. But with the race Sunday there haven’t been many miles this week…which has left me just a tad…shall we say edgy?
  2. 7day_wide_629x354  Adding to the edginess is the ongoing weather watch. Yes I know…I know I can’t control it so why worry about it right? Earlier this week the forecast was showing picture-perfect conditions, but now it seems some front has stalled and we could be looking at a very wet race day. This is why you train in all kinds of weather…but I’m still doing my “keep away” rain dance just the same!
  3. My playlist for Sunday is coming along but I’m still short a few songs. I need suggestions please! My taste runs the gammut – really I’ve got everything from Jay Z and Kanye West to U2, Aerosmith and the Dropkick Murphys so fire away with any of your favorites. The only thing I can’t take is country!

Talk to me – what’s your playlist must have?

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Filed Under: 3 things, playlists, race week, taper time, weather

Week 15 – Race Week

May 20, 2013 by 3 Comments

It’s week 15 of my half marathon training plan and it’s finally race week! Finish-Line

Yes I know I’ve already run four races this year, but when I started this year with the goal of running 13 races I had circled a couple on the calendar that are in my mind “goal races”…and this weekend’s half marathon is one of them.

So the wonderful Coach Bennett went about designing a 15-week plan for me that would allow me to fit in the other races while keeping my eye on this goal race. Not an easy task I’m sure and I know there have been moments as he’s looked the race schedule where he’s been shaking his head – but to his credit he’s not discouraged me and I’ve appreciated his support!

This week is all about some light running, yoga, getting enough sleep, prepping a playlist, setting race goals and carefully watching what I eat (no repeats of the Newport 10 miler drama!). In general I think race week is really all about the mental prep – the training’s done so the trick now is not to psyche yourself out before you get to the starting line.

So tell me — How do you handle race week?

 

 

 

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Filed Under: #13in2013, Boston's Run to Remember, half marathon training, Newport 10 Miler, race week, running coach

Thursday Thoughts – Race Week

November 8, 2012 by 9 Comments
Tazmanian Devil
What?!? I’m calm! (Source)

    • Half way through crazy week…..er I mean race week. All sorts of ailments real or imagined have taken hold but I’m doing my best to keep distracted. Ice, foam roller and KT Tape have become my new BFFs.
    • Mother Nature has wreaked havoc on the northern East Coast again, this time in the form of a Nor’easter with snow! So the ground is a slushy, icy mess and I’ll be doing my last pre-race run indoors. The crazy part is the weather forecast is for temps in the upper 50s this weekend! I’ve given up trying to figure out what my race day attire will be….just going to make sure all my favorites are clean and then make a last minute call.
    • Turns out Sunday’s race conflicts with my son’s last lacrosse tournament of the fall. He’s announced that he really wants to see at least part of my race (yeah I know, how sweet is that!) so J and I were studying the maps last night trying to figure out where they could view part of the race and then quickly get to the highway for the hour’s drive to the tournament so he makes his first game. Ah the joys of an active family 🙂 But I’m not complaining – I really love how supportive my family is of my running! And, if my legs cooperate, I’m hoping to surprise him at his last game of the afternoon!

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    Filed Under: 3 things, race week

    Monday randomness & a winner

    November 5, 2012 by 5 Comments

    Another un-caffeinated post on a Monday morning….

    • I’d really like someone to explain to me why my son’s hockey games must all start at 7 on a Sunday morning?!?!? It’s going to be a very long season….
    • So race week craziness has returned as I count down the days to this Sunday’s race. As I mentioned HERE I don’t fare well during these weeks!
      • Big goal this week is to try to get enough sleep – something I’ve been sorely lacking of late.
      • While I am looking forward to taking a break from a training plan, I’m already eyeing 6 – 8 races for next year. Haven’t pulled the trigger on any of them yet…oh my poor credit card!

      Yurbuds Winner!

      Thanks to all of you who entered the Yurbuds giveaway — the playlist suggestions were great! And, with the help of Random.org, the winner is lucky #7 Jen from Hello Fitness We Meet Again. Jen, please email me at runningwithattitude@yahoo.com. Congrats!

      Anyone else started shopping 2013 races yet?
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      Filed Under: Chilly Half, general musings, giveaways, race, race week

      Race Week Craziness

      September 17, 2012 by 11 Comments

      I have a confession to make….

      I do not enjoy the final week leading up to a race!

      My mind and body play terrible tricks on me and I find I spend the week working to keep my anxiety level in check.

      I’m happy to say I had a good solid long run on Saturday. I got to run the first 3 miles with my friend E who will be joining me at ZOOMA then we split up at her turnaround and I headed off to get 7 more. My legs felt pretty good and I didn’t even mind getting caught in a crazy flash downpour that lasted about a half hour. It was a good way to end what had been a pretty good week of training. From there I was off to enjoy a fun weekend with J, the boys and friends.

      All should be good right?
      Wrong….all the sudden I’m discovering all kinds of mystery tweaks and aches, my mind is in hyper-drive (which is messing with my sleep) and I’m definitely a little edgy this morning. I’ve already had dreams that I missed the start of the race or, worse that my left leg refuses to let me run at all.

      Crazy I know….irrational I know….welcome to my world leading up to a race 🙂

      You’d think with this being half marathon #5 that I’d have all of this under control, but I find it’s getting worse with each race, not better. Maybe because my expectations are higher…I’m passed the point of just wanting to finish with a smile on my face. (And, this isn’t even my “A race” for the fall, so can you imagine what I will be like in November?!)

      So first of all, please tell me I’m not alone in my craziness? And, how do you keep yourself both relaxed and focused during race week?

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      Filed Under: race week, taper time, ZOOMA Cape Cod