I don’t want to be in the 1%: 7/30 – 8/5 Weekly Wrap

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

It seems that every blogger who’s ever run a marathon — and some local friends — have made the comment that with my mileage and long runs lately I might as well just do a marathon.

No, just no! I really do not want to. I had all kinds of respect for marathoners to begin with, but not that I’ve done runs longer than 13.1 — seriously, you guys are nuts! I can’t even begin to imagine having to run 9 more miles than I did yesterday. I am not saying that I will never run a marathon — but at the moment, I repeat: no thank you.

And I apologize in advance for the length of this post — there’s just a lot in my head right now.

I’m joining up with the Weekly Wrap from Holly @ Hohoruns and Wendy @ Taking the Long Way Home to share how I wrapped up my peak week of training and am so, so happy to be tapering. Even if it’s possible that taper might include a half marathon!

WeeklyWrapNew

Workouts update

  • Monday: 6 miles (3 @ tempo), PB Booty & Core (20 minutes), YFPR Hips
  • Tuesday: 6 miles easy
  • Wednesday: Dogwalk
  • Thursday:  Dogwalk, 5 miles easy
  • Friday:  Dogwalk in between rain/thunder showers, KB Core (20 min)
  • Saturday: 17 mile LSD, YFR Foundation
  • Sunday: Dogwalk, Recovery Yoga

Mileage: 34 (+5)

JY = Jasyoga
PB = Killer B
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners*
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief
YTU = Yoga Tune Up Lower Body*

*Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links; I will make a small amount of money if you buy through these links

Running Updates

Can you see the little rainbow? Glad I took this quickly because it was gone just as quickly

Monday
Damn tempos! It was definitely less humid than Saturday’s long run, and yet I struggled with this run. You’d think it would go smoothly after a half and a 15 mile long run but nooooo!

In fact, with about .20 miles left in the tempo portion, I threw in an extra walk. I never do that (well, sometimes in a race). And when a walk interval came up just .05 miles later? You better believe I took it — with about .1 mile to go!

I gave it my all, but today my all came up a little short.

Chose to run through the local college instead of just around it for a change

Tuesday
I got out early, but it was not a fasted run. Not that that seemed to make a whole lot of difference. It was just one of those “easy” runs that felt anything but easy.

Excuse the blurry pic. That cat looked the way I felt!

Thursday
This week started out ugly (hot, humid, & rainy) and just got uglier and uglier as the week went on. I headed out Thursday afternoon, mid 80s feels like a gazillion degrees, knowing I could always throw in the towel and come back and run on the treadmill.

Only I didn’t; I toughed it out, literally praying for rain most of the run. Of course when you want it, it doesn’t happen — not until I finished the run, anyway. I have definitely struggled with the humidity since coming back from ID; I would not say this was a good run, but I kept a decent pace.

No leaking; it’s all my sweat!

Saturday
Oh, the humidity! It was raining when I got up, I had no one to meet, so I took my time and got ready and left a little later. And almost the minute I got to the park the skies opened and a deluge came down. I did what any sane runner would do — I waited it out.

You know what? 17 miles later and not a drop on me, even if I actually looked like I’d run through a car wash due to the humidity and again was truly wishing I got rained on.

I won’t lie — this run was so, so tough. I swear I started to ache already about mile 8. I could feel some chafing going on — although in the end there was much less than last week, and none in unmentionable places, so that’s a win. The last 3 miles reminded me of ZOOMA Annapolis (read about that sweatfest here) — although thankfully it was at least cloudy, and I just kept in mind “forward” — as in when that watch vibrates to run, you run — doesn’t matter how slow (and yes, I slowed way down those last 3 miles), you run. And I did.

By the way, I actually did 17.12 miles. The race (assuming it’s not short or long) is 18.12 miles. So I am now able to say to myself: it’s just one more mile.

Carbs + Protein = yummy seafood pasta

Favorites of the week
We had dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, Innovo Kitchen. We don’t go very often because it’s pricey and I always get dessert (see below).

Peanut Butter Mud Pie

I always get the same dessert here (it’s appeared on the blog every time, too). It’s always just a little different. It’s peanut butter chocolate-something ice cream, this time on an oreo crust, with fudge and a big ole slab of peanut butter on top. It’s heaven. If you run 17 miles, you definitely deserve some of this, although we do share it.

That’s my kind of breakfast!

This morning I made a recovery cookie (more like a recovery cake). It’s from my favorites board on Pinterest (find it here) — it’s the “huge chocolate protein cookie” — no lie, obviously — I just sub in teff flour and decrease the coconut sugar to half a tablespoon.

I also picked up some Simply Ptotein Bars (Amazon Affiliate link) at Homegoods this week. They only have 1 gm of sugar and no sugar alcohols. They do use soy protein for the protein, and I know some people avoid soy. I didn’t get around to taking a photo, but they’re like a rice crispie treat, and only 150 calories. I haven’t had a lot of time to bake recently, so I’ve been relying on bars more heavily — but so many of them are more like a meal than a snack and/or loaded with sugar. I like them, but obviously with only 1 gm of sugar, they don’t taste overly sweet.

Either I’m doing something right in refueling, or it’s just the heat, because knock on wood,  I haven’t been suffering much with the rungries after my long runs or the next day.

link-up-badge

This week I am also linking up with the Sunday Fitness & Food Linkup brought to you by Ilka @ Ilka’s Blog and Angela @ Marathons & Motivation.

Let’s get the conversation started:

Do you get excited about trying new snack foods?

The forecast: rain, potential thunderstorms, hot & humid. The next day: even hotter & more humid but supposedly no rain. What would you do?

How do you mentally turn around a hard run?

32 thoughts on “I don’t want to be in the 1%: 7/30 – 8/5 Weekly Wrap”

  1. I love your shoes!
    It’s funny how we calculate the extra mileage, when I did my first 10K, I couldn’t fathom looping around the course again, and I’ve since done 3 Halfs, including one that did indeed loop the course again. When I finished my first Half I couldn’t fathom repeating it.. and now well you’ve seen I’m giving serious consideration to running New York.
    That peanut butter pie looks delicious! Going t o see if my brother and sister in law know this place. If not, they should
    About to take myself out for my favorite carb & protein, sushi!

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    1. I was the same way about my first 10k. Although after my first half I was totally hooked. And I am totally with you on sushi! You have to let us know the next time you’re up here visiting family.

      I could (sort of) see wanting to run NY. I mean, c’mon, it’s NY! But man, just 17 miles was an awful long way . . . I truly cannot fathom 9 more miles — and right now, no desire for it, either.

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      1. Will do! Should be soon as I want to see their new house. I wasn’t there as much in the last year as they were in a temporary apartment that was a little tight. I think it was just on the other side of Wolf Road if I’ve placed that restaurant right.

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  2. I feel the same way about marathons. I might consider a 50K someday – which I know, technically includes a marathon – but that’s because I’m willing to put in a lot more hours running on trails than I am on roads.

    When it’s hot and humid, I’d rather have rain than not. Although I don’t feel that way so much after I get into my car while soaking wet.

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  3. Well, I have the same weather as you do except I didn’t leave it for dry heat. And I didn’t sign up for any big races during the summer months. I am super happy about that.

    I struggle with 2 miles in this humidity. I haven’t done double digits since May and I am hoping that it will be cooler and drier by the time Ii train for the fall races.

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    1. This is the first time I’ve ever done long summer races, really, although I suppose if you count ID & MA, those were both in the beginning of June — so technically not summer.

      But I couldn’t change the date of the race so I just do it, as they say.

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  4. Never say never, Judy! Although I will say that my marathoning days are behind me. I can’t fathom running high mileage anymore. My body just won’t let me.

    You’re doing amazingly well in this heat! Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it!

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    1. I’m not saying never, but I am definitely saying not right now. I think most anyone can do a half, but a marathon is a much bigger commitment. I’d have to continue to run higher mileage and do more longer runs, too. And it would still take me a really long time. Not to mention I shudder at how bad that chafing would have gotten over another 9 miles — I reapplied stuff but once it started, it didn’t seem to stop it any more.

      The humidity has definitely sucked the life out of me. I’m running way slower than I have in months.

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  6. Since I haven’t wanted to do a half marathon since 2014, I can’t imagine doing a full. Even when 13.1 is long, the training wasn’t as extensive as my friends have done for fulls. Kudos to them, and I won’t ever do one.

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    1. Agreed — I think anyone can do a half, if they train smart & want to.

      And probably anyone could do a full, if it had a very generous time limit, but it’s a really big time commitment. Even training for this 18 mile has been a big time commitment!

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  7. Congrats on your 17.12 mile run!! The heat and humidity has just been miserable, I really feel for all you who are training through it, I would be a hot, sweaty, funky mess, haha!

    No shame in not wanting to go to the marathon. It just takes up SO much time to train, there’s hardly time to do anything else! I’m pleased that #2 went as well as it did so I have no pressure for redemption – that’s it for me!

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  8. That’s awesome you know your body and mind well enough to say no to a marathon. That extra 9 miles isn’t so long though…because you start smelling the finish line…and conquering 26.2 is sweet… just saying. When I absolutely HAVE to run in crapola weather I suck it up and get it done. Maybe on the mill, maybe not. But it’s DONE.

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  10. Congrats on your longest run! It’s impressive you did it on such a warm & humid day. The peanut butter pie sounds like the perfect reward. All of my runs right now are tough. Some days I whine and complain. Other days it gets the best of me and I cry uncle. At least we all know it won’t last forever. Thanks for linking!

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    1. It’s been a very unusually hot & humid summer here — of course, because I decided to train through it seriously!

      I find myself chanting “stronger, stronger” to myself a lot on my tough runs — as in, you know, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

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  11. Your running is going so well Judy that I can definitely see you doing a marathon someday.
    Usually when runs arent going my way, I just stop and walk a while. Of course I wouldn’t want to do that during a race though. Seems like I have more determination during a race than I do a training run..haha -M

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  12. Oh, you’re doing an 18 mile race, too, I don’t think I’d picked up on that. They’re quite a rare thing so it’s funny to find someone else doing one (when’s yours?). I suspect mine will be more than 18 as it’d run by a long-distance walking association and that makes it feel more like a trail run (fear!) which usually go over. And you’ve done a mile more than me in training, so you’re all set. I’m still in awe of your refuelling after my midnight runger feast last week!

    And no, no one has to feel they HAVE to do a marathon. If you enjoy going long, it’s something to consider, but it’s a bit commitment that can feel selfish and is quite draining. It’s more important to enjoy what you’re doing, hence me dropping from the mara distance for this upcoming race. Go well!

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  13. Sometimes it’s so hard to mentally turnaround a tough run! I tend to be stubborn so I’ll just push through it anyway, even if I should really quit. I just focus on moving forward, reminding myself that I can do it, and waiting for that watch to ding so I can take that walk break!! And yes, sometimes I’ve added in extra and I try not to beat myself up for them.

    I don’t blame you for not wanting to run a marathon. I can’t believe I actually ran 8. And why the heck did I think running even longer was a good idea? LOL

    I’m good with the rain. Thunderstorms, not so much. Although, it took me two hours to mow my yard yesterday and that was after 10 days of rain and growth so …..

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  14. 17.12- interesting distance! It’s great you know yourself well enough not to be talked into a marathon :)…BUT they are quite fun, haha!

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  15. You crack me up …nipping the old ‘you should run a marathon’ right in the bud aren’t you!? Lol But seriously… 17 miles is impressive!

    Oh my goodness, that peanut butter mud pie looks delicious! All of this trail running seems to have stirred up my sweet tooth. Lol

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