I’m Thinking Out Loud about running, which is actually kind of funny because until the end of the year, I’m in my off season. I’m thinking about hilly courses vs flat courses, taking the pressure off of racing, and of course, there’s a Bandit update in there too.
#holottarest
In case you missed my Weekly Wrap post (read it here), I was on a little racecation last week with 7 other bloggers. We were kind of hard to miss on IG, except for me; I didn’t post a lot.
And now I’m taking a #holottarest, since I have a bug. Thankfully it waited until I came home to really take hold. I always take the week after a half off of running anyway, but now there’s not much activity of any kind going on.
Hoping to feel better by Saturday, because I have a fun run to run! It’s my last “race” of 2016.
Sister from another mother
Darlene and I were seated across the aisle from each other on our final flight back. The woman I was seated next to asked us if we were sisters! We got a chuckle out of that.
#teamflat or #teamhills?
I have only run 2 flat half marathons; the first was my first half, Vegas, which you can read about here. I didn’t really know what I was doing, which I’d say is true of most first time half marathoners. As I like to say, there ain’t a #holotta flat in the northeast — or my neighborhood, for that fact. So I was very curious how I would do on a flat & fast course.
Or as I’ve been saying for a while, I’m willing to find out if I like a flat & fast course!
I know some runners prefer the hills — they feel that it actually gives their legs a break. All I know is that after a long string of very hilly halfs, my body was very happy to take on a flat course.
And that’s all I’m sayin’ bout that for now.
Seriously, I am so far behind on race recaps!
No pressure
I will always try my best during a race. Sometimes I will watch my pace; sometimes I don’t. It can work out well both ways.
One thing I don’t watch is time elapsed. Just like in this most recent half marathon, I watched my pace, I noted my average pace for each mile, but I didn’t look at time elapsed and I didn’t do the math in my head.
It can make you crazy
The reason I sometimes watch my pace is that I can slow way down as I get tired — yet I am capable of running faster — I just have to realize I am running slower than I want and I am still able to pick up the pace (sometimes, of course sometimes I am just running the best I can).
Does that make sense?
Running by feel can work for me, but it can also work against me.
Off season, I love you!
I like to take a little running break each year. And most years I don’t start training for a spring half until winter is almost done. Running through the winter is tricky in these parts, and I really don’t want to do long runs on my treadmill. Or loop the same 2 mile loop multiple times because that’s the only path that’s cleared.
This year I am training through the winter, but I figure I don’t have to start seriously training until January. Which gives me a short off season.
I don’t stop running in my off season. But there’s no speed work, there’s usually less weekly mileage, and the “long” runs are not so long.
No streaking for me!
In case you missed it
There was never time while I was away to actually link up my posts! So this is what you might have missed last week:
Bandit update
We are slowly expanding Bandit’s freedom. He’s mostly free in the house now, except when I’m downstairs I gate the stairs — if he went upstairs, no doubt I’d find him on the bed at some point. I’m not ready to let him on the bed.
He has been in the same bed with Lola, he has been in the bed on the couch while Gizmo laid on me — so far, so good.
Mr. Judy reported that there was only one incident of growling while I was gone. There was a lot of ear licking involved, apparently. It was Lola who growled!
Talk to me. Tell me in the comments:
Do you prefer flat & fast or hilly?
Do you run by feel or watch your pace?
Do you do better without race time goals?
I’m linking up with Amanda at Running with Spoons for her:
Chocolaterunsjudy 
I always found doing a 10k in Manchester, where it’s flat, better than I predicted because it’s hilly where I train! So heart and lungs cope a lot better, but brain has to work a bit harder at keeping going with the one foot in front of the other because normally there’s a bit of a gasping break on a steep hill!
I think my whole year has been an off season! I may have an ‘on season’ starting in the spring😆
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I actually found flat much easier. I’ve done many, many hilly halfs — and probably will do many more — or perhaps it was just the day? But I can say I definitely didn’t think I even felt I’d run a half afterwards!
Believe me, we all have off years. 😦
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Yay for Bandit progress!! Yay for some time off for you. I hope you feel better quick!! ❤
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Thanks, Natalie. If you’ve got to be sick, it’s nice to be sick when there isn’t a whole lot on your schedule.
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Hope you feel better soon.
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Thanks!
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Feel better soon! It always makes my day to read how Bandit is making progress! 🙂
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Thanks! Don’t give Bandit a swelled head. 😏
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haha, I Like you chicking the tall guy 🙂 That is a good pic! You have really great race pics, mine i look crazy as usual lol
I loved the course, I thought it was quite a treat! The flat was a nice change.
i am sorry you got sick. i am going to read your WW post now 🙂
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I only share the good pics, of course. I have a #holotta crazy ones, believe me (including this race).
The flat was great. I like flat. Too bad now I have to go back to hilly (except NOLA, but then I’ll have to deal with humidity).
While I never want to be sick, now is not a bad time. I hadn’t had a lot of rest in months, so it wasn’t shocking. I’d really rather feel good though! Now is my time to get stuff done & I have zero energy!
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I hope you feel better soon! I also always take a week off from running after a race. It’s mostly to recharge after a training cycle, but if I traveled, I’m also tired.
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My sister had a terrible cold when she was here for Thanksgiving; I thought I’d escaped it . . . not sure it’s from her but I’m gonna blame her anyway!
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I definitely prefer flat. Hardly any hills in France.
I don’t usually have very aggressive time goals, so don’t obsess over my time and pace. My Watch doesn’t calculate pace (I have to plug it into the computer for it to do so), so I look at time elapsed. But I have to do the math to calculate pace, which I don’t do while running. So, kind run by feel…
Not sure if all of that answers your questions. LOL
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Flat is hard to come by here!
Running by feel doesn’t always work for me, because while I may not pressure on myself to PR, I do like to do my best, and it’s soooooo easy to majorly slow down (for me).
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I would probably choose a flat half over a hilly one, but there is something to be said for the downhills. Enjoy your time off!
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I wish I could say I’m enjoying it. Unfortunately I’m sick & a couch potato at the moment. 😦
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I enjoy flat, fast races but I have found that hilly races can be a lot more fun and interesting!
I am such a head case, I probably am a better racer when I don’t have time goals…but it’s almost impossible for me not to have an idea in mind!
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I think I do better without time goals, too.
Usually I’ll have like a 10 minute window that I tell my husband, but boy, if I’d given him something for this past half I probably would’ve been way off!
I really just thought it would be humid at best in FL & therefore not my best race. I got so lucky!
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