Stuff and Such: New Training Partner, 4x800m
This week will be about 60 miles. Hard to believe it’s already Wednesday; here is a mid-week recap.
Sunday: 10.5 miles easy (with Greta)
6 miles easy with Brian, then 4 alone. Nothing very exciting.
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| I’ve decided to make the park a destination after any run that I do with her. It’s only 1/3 of a mile away from our house. Hopefully that tradition will make “going for a run” that much more exciting for her! |
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| We played peek-a-boo via the holes in the tunnel. She laughed HYSTERICALLY at me! It was so much fun!! |
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| Looks like all of my light colored gloves will be turning a nice shade of gray now (stroller gunk) |
Monday: 10 miles easy
I did NOT want to start this run. 10 miles seemed SO FAR, it was snowing on and off all day, and I just wanted to go home and clean and sew instead.
I went back and forth: Brain #1: I have a rest day this week and could totally take it today! Brain #2: It’s better to get a run in today, you don’t know what the rest of the week will look like… just get your bag & change.
You’ve been there before.
I kept finding another task at work to busy myself with, until it was 3:30, my drop dead time.
I’m proud to say that I got myself out the door! It started snowing harder and harder throughout the run: we were supposed to get 6-7 inches. It was really pretty!
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| Beautiful winter evening run |
And, interestingly enough, I managed to perfectly time my run/route to run into Daniel Bretscher. He just moved to Northfield and is a professional triathlete. He not only won Ironman Wisconsin, but set a course record. His marathon at the end of the Ironman was in 2:50. WOW! He trains during the day, so we are hoping to hook up for training runs often.
Maybe there was a reason for all of that stalling :).
Score! I am so lucky to have so many speedy people in/around Northfield that I can train with – and that are willing to help pace me! Seriously, how am I this lucky?
Tuesday: 10 miles with 4x800m
Splits: 2:47, 2:49, 2:53, 2:53
We didn’t get all of the sleet/ice/snow they called for, so Jeff, Daniel and I decided to run our workouts outside. Daniel helped push me the last 800, which I was so thankful for. I was toast!
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| Crazy workout partners – crazy enough to meet me over the lunch hour on a weekday to help me through my 4x8s. L to R: Jeff, Daniel, me |
I’m not sure what my times would have been on a track. The first two reps were a net downhill, and I’m not sure about the last two. Oh well! The effort was there, and that’s all that matters.
For comparison, two weeks ago I did 6x800s in 3:00-3:01 on a track.
Wednesday: OFF!
I fought this a little, like I did last week. My addict brain at work, sigh.
It had been 9 days since I had taken a day off, though, so I knew I needed it. My right kneecap (underneath) is also a little sore – do I need new shoes? Or am I just running a little tired right now?
Whatever the case, after I accepted the day off, I relished in it! I had lunch with my co-workers and put in a long day at work (which means I have fewer hours to put in later this week!). I picked up Greta and brought her back to Bethel to enjoy the Bistro evening meal, a $3 prepared-for-you dinner, complete with salad and dessert. It’s awesome! Then Greta hung out in the nursery, open on Wednesday evenings, while I put in a couple more hours at work.
Lots of work, but that just means I have a shorter end of the week- something to look forward to!
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| Fun in the nursery. Apparently she found the trampoline and tried to learn to bounce. Only Greta! What a nut! |
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| When she realized it was me! How precious! She then took about 8 steps toward me. Uh-oh… this whole walking thing might be happening soon… |
I received a Forever Flex Stability Ball to test. It’s made in different sizes – so I was able to order a smaller sized one. Yeah! Nathan has a larger one. I had no idea these came in sizes!
So far I’m impressed. It feels like it’s good quality, strong and durable. Do you have a stability ball at home? If not, it would make a great gift!
Later this week I have a 2×2 mile workout to look forward to. Yikes! I should send out a few notes to recruit workout partners… anyone interested? 🙂
Your turn:
When is the last time you did NOT want to start a run/workout? How did you convince yourself to start? Or did you allow yourself to take a day off?
Ever “run” into a new training partner?
