training — Page 4

Training Check-in Week 9

May 6, 2014 by Michelle 4 Comments

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve done one of my weekly training updates – and with my next race just 4 weeks away seems like a good time to check in! Since I was trying to get back up to speed after being sick for almost a week with a nasty chest cold/crud/thing, Coach Bennett suggested I just ease back in this week and see what I can do.

So here’s how last week went (Actual in blue)

Monday: 30 mins cross training — T25 Day 1

Tuesday: 9 miles — 4 miles, plus T25 Day 2

Wednesday: Rest day — Pilates Barre class, plus T25 Day 3

Thursday: 8 miles with 7 x 1000m repeats — 7.35 miles with 5 x 1000m repeats, plus T25 Day 4

Friday: Rest day — T25 Day 5 – Was suppose to be a double workout, but I opted for just one

Saturday: 7 mile LSD — 4 miles

Daily: rolling — Done!

All-in-all a pretty good week back. My legs were definitely felt heavy and sluggish – I had to really push through these workouts but I’m pretty happy with the results. I’m looking forward to seeing what this week brings with more miles and week 2 of T25!

How was your week?

Filed Under: T25, training

My X2Performance Update

April 18, 2014 by Michelle 13 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I announced that I had been selected as a Brand Ambassador for X2Performance®. Once I got my samples, I immediately put it to the test on a long run, double workouts and hill repeats. I was off to a good start with it – if you missed it, you can read about it HERE.

I’ve continued to test X2Performance on a variety of workouts and with yesterday’s track workout I’ve now wrapped up my trial, and I couldn’t wait to share an update.

Overall I have been really pleased with my experience with X2Performance! I can honestly say that it did provide a nice energy boost (as I described to a friend – extra pep in my step!) without any jittery side effects. Equally nice was the fact that I didn’t feel like the energy boost provided was short-term – no quick spike followed by a crash. On the days I used X2Performance, I felt solid throughout my workouts. I did have one u-g-l-y long run last Saturday – but that was much more about me not being able to get out of my own way mentally…no amount of x2Performance was going to turn that run around – let’s be honest it’s not a miracle worker!

X2Performance also promises to improve recovery — and, for me, this was one of the biggest benefits. For a variety of reasons, I have needed to shuffle my workouts over the past couple of weeks, which left me sometimes needing to do double workouts in one day or running back to back to back days. Usually my 40+ year old legs (ahem!) don’t love multiple days of running (especially when hill repeats are involved!), but with X2Performance I found I was feeling good post-run and was ready to go again the next day.

So will I continue to use it? Yes – with one caveat. Depending on which order option you choose, X2Performance can cost $3.99 – 4.99 per serving and honestly that’s just a little too steep for me on a regular basis. However, I could see making that investment if I had a big “A” race I was training for, which is why I plan to use it consistently when I start training for my goal half marathons in the fall. I’m really curious to see how it might help with my long run recovery during the summer months.

Don’t forget you can still get a free trial 4-pack to try for yourself! Click HERE for details (There is a $5.95 shipping charge).

Have you ever tried a pre-workout supplement?

(As a brand ambassador, I was provided product and am being compensated for participating in this program. As always all opinions expressed here are my own, and I am not obligated to share a positive review. The statements on the product have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.)

Filed Under: #TeamX2, product reviews, training, X2 Performance

Training Check-in Week 6

April 14, 2014 by Michelle 5 Comments

So for a brief moment I thought about skipping this week’s check-in – Why? Because I didn’t want this to turn into a whine-fest about what a disaster my 10-mile attempt was on Saturday. I’ll not bother to re-hash the details accept to say that I really need to get out of my own way sometimes!

But, for as down as I was about it on Saturday morning, I went on to have a great weekend and I’m over it and moving on. I think I would have been less upset about the way things went if it weren’t for the fact that I really wanted to get one double-digit run under my belt before Newport. No point dwelling on it right? Besides if I let one run define me I’d really be in a world of trouble!

Apart from Saturday, last week shaped up to be a pretty good week. I had ~~blocked out~~ forgotten how hard 1000 meter repeats can be! But there’s no better motivator than knowing a massage awaits! And now two classes in, I’m completely in love with my Pilates barre class!

So up for this week?

After Saturday’s meltdown, Coach Bennett advised two days off – and for once I didn’t fight him on it. So no workout today, but I am going to take advantage of the beautiful weather and spend some more time on garden clean-up. Then along with daily core work and rolling, the rest of the week should look like this:

Tuesday — 8 mile progression run

Wednesday — Pilates Barre class

Thursday — Track work (a ridiculous number of 400 m repeats!)

Friday — Cross-training

Saturday — B.A.A. 5K

Sunday — 6 miles

How was your weekend? What have you got planned for the week?

Filed Under: tough runs, track work, training, week ahead

Training Check-in Week 5

April 7, 2014 by Michelle 6 Comments

Good Monday Morning!

Today is a rare Monday rest day – and after 3 straight days of running, including hill work, my legs are happy to have a break!

And as it turns out, my youngest who’s been down sick all weekend is home today from school 🙁 So it’s a good day for cuddling, quiet games and laying low.

I’m really looking forward to going back to my Pilates barre class on Wednesday. Last week’s class was a killer in a good way – especially tapping into those stabilizing muscles that will hopefully help my runs. I’m also really looking forward to returning to Track work Thursdays! I know some people loathe the track, but I always feel at home there – plus I find running the repeats really helps with my pacing. I’ve also got a sports massage scheduled this week – a nice little reward to look forward too!

What are you looking forward to this week?

Filed Under: track work, training, week ahead

Stepping up training – X2Performance

April 3, 2014 by Michelle 24 Comments

I’m always looking for a way to work smarter and maximize my workouts, so when I was contacted about being a brand ambassador for X2Performance® as part of a limited time program, I was very intrigued. I had first heard of X2Performance when Beth from Shut Up & Run made it a key part of her Ironman Florida training last year. Back then I was curious and wondered if this would be a product for me – I mean I wasn’t training for an Ironman – was it something I could benefit from? But, I never got around to learning more about it.

So I was really psyched when I was contacted about being part of the X2Performance spring program! Before signing on, I wanted to check out the ingredients. From their site I learned that the X2Performance’s patent-pending BIOIDS® Advanced Cellular Formula is comprised of glucose, bioenergy RIBOSE®, PEAK ATP® Disodium, Coenzyme Q10, natural caffeine, D-Pinitol, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The goal of X2Performance is

to support ATP production – the body’s essential unit of energy – to naturally increase energy, enhance endurance and improve recovery. X2PERFORMANCE® works so athletes get the most out of every workout and maximize performance.”

Sounded good – I was ready to try it for myself and I joined #TeamX2!

My first try was before my long run on Saturday – it would be my first time attempting 9 miles since last fall. Seemed like a good place to start. I was a little nervous about how my stomach would react, but I had no issues and the slightly citrus taste was better than I expected. I definitely felt a boost at the start – not at all jittery. It was a good solid run, and best of all was how I felt later in the day and the following morning.

The next test was my first pilates barre class followed by a 6-mile progression run. While that class kicked my butt (a post for another day!), I still felt strong throughout my run. Once again I was happy with the way my legs felt the rest of the day. And this morning, as I get ready to head out for hill work, my legs are feeling fairly fresh – I’ll be taking another X2Performance before this workout as well.

I’m happy with how things are going so far. I still have a few more bottles left so I will update you again next week. As a brand ambassador, I’m happy to be able to offer you a chance to try it for yourself!

You can get a free trial! For a limited time you can a 4-pack to try for yourself. When you click HERE you will need to select a subscription plan but you can cancel the subscription at any time and still get the free trial — even before your first shipment! (There is a $5.95 shipping charge) Everyone’s body chemistry is different, so I encourage you to click over to the site and check it out for yourself – I’m looking forward to seeing how the next few workouts go! I’ll keep you posted 🙂

Filed Under: #TeamX2, training, X2 Performance

Training check in – Persistance

March 24, 2014 by Michelle 6 Comments

Ever have one of those weeks where despite your best intentions things just don’t go as you’d hoped? Yeah well that was this past week for me from a workout perspective. And, while I did beat myself up ever so briefly yesterday, there’s no value on dwelling on the “should haves” – it’s a new week!

So the plan for this week? 29 miles running, cross-training, daily core work and rolling. Time to get after it!

Filed Under: Monday Motivation, training

Training Check-in – Week 2

March 17, 2014 by Michelle 17 Comments

So with my oldest son being off this past week for spring break, I probably should have guessed there was going to be some shuffling to get all my workouts in. Coach Bennett also change things up by swapping in some hill work.

All-in-all it was a bit of a mixed bag. (Actual in blue)

Monday: 40 mins cross training — 20 mins

Tuesday: 5 miles — 1.2 miles with my son – Best run of the week!

Wednesday: Strength exercises — Ran 3.5 miles & a sports massage!

Thursday: Hill repeats — Done

Friday: Strength exercises — Rest day; Hanging out with my son

Saturday: 7 mile LSD — 7.8 miles

Daily: core work & rolling — Missed a couple days

By the end of the week, I was really feeling the fact that I’d missed a couple of days of rolling – so sore! This week will be my son’s second week of break, so I’m sure there will be more shuffling of the workouts. And he won’t be skiing this week, so we’re planning to get some more miles together!

How was your week?

Filed Under: training

Training Check-in

March 10, 2014 by Michelle 4 Comments

Happy Monday!

As I mentioned last week, I’m returning to training updates to help hold myself more accountable. The plan for last week was to “step back” to a week earlier in my training plan to see how my left knee responded.

So how’d it go? (Actual in blue)

Monday: 40 mins cross training — Yoga

Tuesday: 5 miles with negative split on back half — 5.5 miles but no neg. split

Wednesday: Strength exercises — Done

Thursday: 3 mi. tempo plus 1 mile w/u & c/d — Done

Friday: Strength exercises — Done

Saturday: 7 mile LSD — 7.25 miles

Daily: core work & rolling — Done

Every run felt like a serious effort but I got them done. And, while sore, there was no knee pain while running! So the week was a huge win in my book! To make sure I’m on the right track I’ll basically be repeating the same plan this week with just a slightly longer run on Thursday. Also looking forward to running with my oldest son this week while he’s home on spring break 🙂

What are you looking forward to this week?

Filed Under: training

Back to Weekly Recaps

March 3, 2014 by Michelle 5 Comments

One of my main goals for the month of March is consistency in my training. And, I think a return to holding myself accountable here on a weekly basis will help.

So how’d last week go?

My goals were to get 3 solid runs; daily strength and core work and at least 1 day of cross-training. I ended up giving my knee some extra TLC at the beginning of the week so I got 2 runs instead of 3 – but Saturday’s run was a glorious 5 pain-free miles that had me smiling the rest of the day! I did get a day of cross-training and strength and core exercises happened 5 out of 7 days. All-in-all not too bad.

After speaking with Coach Bennett on Friday, we’ve decided to return to an earlier (read easier) week in my training plan and see how things go. So I’m off to hit the bike for 40 minutes this morning – the rest of the week will include 16 miles of running, yoga and those all too familiar strength exercises. We dodged the snow here so while it will be bitter cold, I’m determined to stick to running outdoors!

Filed Under: left knee, training

Slow start and an Award

January 21, 2014 by Michelle 10 Comments

Slow Start — Let’s just say I didn’t light the world on fire with my first week back to training. A combination of sick kiddo home most of the week with a virus and then not feeling fab after spending 24/7 with said sick kiddo, lead to a less than stellar start to training. So the goal is to re-group this week and make sure I get all of my miles in…and get enough sleep to keep the virus at bay.

Health Activist — At the end of last week I was notified that I’d been nominated for the Best Kept Secret Award in the Third Annual WEGO Health Activist Awards. Pretty cool huh? I still have no idea who was behind my nomination – so to my mystery supporter I say a big “Thank you!”