Blue Ridge Training: Week 4-5

Life went sideways for a bit so I didn’t have time to do much besides take care of my family and get my runs in.  We’re back on track now so here’s my recap for weeks 4-5!

Monday

Planned:  Cross training plus 3

Actual: Rest

Tuesday

Planned: 3

Actual: 3 with my Muffin Runners in the freezing cold!  Then the personal shit hit the fan and it took me a bit to find my legs.  I also had my first lap swim class with a new coach.

Wednesday

Planned: 35 minute tempo

Actual: Rest

Thursday

Planned: 6 miles

Actual: 3 mile slog on the treadmill

Friday

Planned: swim

Actual: swam 600 yds

Saturday

Planned: 6

Actual: 6. My friend was running her last long run before her final half marathon in her quest to do 12 halves in 12 months.  Despite having horrible workouts most of the week, I just had to join her!  And I was so glad I did!  The run was hilly and the company was fantastic!  It was just what I needed to find my bearings.

Sunday

Planned: 13

Actual: 13, with some detours.  My training partner and I decided to set out at 6 am for a hilly long run but we were quickly thwarted by a washed out trail.  A quick re-configuring of the the route and we were still able to get our full 13, even though 2 were at the nearby track because we couldn’t figure out where else to go and we couldn’t stomach another hill 😀  Our average pace, even with the nonsense, was still 11:04.  I’ll take it! Oh, and oddly enough, it was a HOT and steamy run and I was down to a tank top by mile 2.  Wait, weren’t we just freezing a couple of days ago?

Little Runner was fascinated by the thoughts of the trail being submerged so we walked back later that day to see but it was dry.  He did try his hand at some boat racing, though.

The water was down but it was still fast!

This was entirely underwater when we came to it a few hours earlier

Total for the week: 25

Monday

Planned: Rest

Actual: Rest

Tuesday

Planned: 3 + swim

Actual: 7, due to poor planning, plus a mile swim.

Wednesday

Planned: 4 x hill

Actual: 4 x hill plus I tried not to eat everything that wasn’t tied down!

8 was scary! 

Thursday

Planned: Rest

Actual: rest and Paint Nite with some running friends!

Always a class act!

I think my first attempt at being a bit more well-rounded went well.

Friday

Planned: Swim

Actual: Swam a mile in 45 minutes

Saturday

Planned: 7

Actual: 7 but my legs hated me for the first half.

Sunday

Planned: 15

Actual: 15.5 as part of the MLK 5K and JFK 20K at the C&O Canal towpath!  I ran the first race too fast and paid for a bit in the second but my pace was still where I wanted it.  It was a lovely day and I even got the snow I wanted at the 6 mile turn around in the second race 🙂  I decided to run the whole thing without music and I just had the best time taking in the sounds of the water and the birds, runners, walkers, etc.  Just lovely!

5K finish.  I was trying to jump but, not quite.

So pretty!

It had started to snow but you can’t see it.  I think my polar bear hat brought me the snow 🙂

20K finish

And, exactly one year apart, on the same course, at the same time (and wearing the same pants!)  Wow!

Total: 32.5

They are calling for Big Snow on the east coast this weekend.  My polar bear and I stand at the ready!