10K Training: Weeks 7 & 8

Weeks are blending a bit, so I'm doing a combo week update here. There were a couple "optimized" runs that got added into the app schedule because ... well, I was struuuggling :) and that's okay... Anyway... These "two weeks" ended up being closer to 2.5 because of previous optimized runs.

Wednesday

Day 1 Week 7- training app: 34 min total, 21 running = 2.92mi

Feeling stronger on my mile time.

Saturday

Day 2 Week 7- training app: 30 min total, 20 running = 2.33mi

I drove to a different trail that's more flat to get this run in. I really wanted to "catch up" on the routine, so I thought I'd try and do two (this one and day 3's of week 7) but it was really warm and I struggled as it was. So much so that the app added an optimized run... which was so frustrating, but ultimately a good reminder that I need to be patient and just focus on improving, and not "getting through it"

Sunday

Optimized Run Week 7- training app: 30 min total, 20 running = 2.58mi

Did a 5k and incorporated this workout in. My 5k time was about 6 minutes faster than the one last month, but I still wasn't able to run the entire thing. Progress though, I keep reminding myself. Also- this run was COLD in the morning, so I will be bringing layers if I do more early morning runs this Fall.

Tuesday

Day "3" Week 7- training app: 38 min total, 25 running = 2.98mi

Trying to push myself further each time. I really haven't been allowing myself to walk for the whole first mile, and now I'm trying to build more on that first stretch.

Wednesday of this week was a little hectic trying to get different errands done before a trip to visit my grandparents. I thought I'd try to run on Thursday, but time didn't allow, and then we got in really early on Friday morning. Instead, I ran one of the days I was gone, and not all of them, but I don't regret it. I had a great time being in the moment on the visit.

--trip--

Sunday

Day 1 Week 8- training app: 31 min total, 28 running = 3.22mi

This was the run I did on the trip- it was a bit different since I was running through farmland instead of at high altitude. The biggest challenge was that I had a harder time gauging distance. Usually when I run my normal route, I'll tell myself, "make it to that tree" "now make it to that light" but when you're in corn territory, "make it to that light" can be a mile up the road. Other than that, and adjusting to humidity, it went smoothly. Much easier to breathe there.

--trip--

Wednesday

Day 2 Week 8- training app: 34 min total, 32 running = 3.30mi

This was a particularly rough one for me- likely because I had too many rest days mixed in a row, and my routine was a bit off. But I managed to finish it and pushed myself.

Friday

Day 3 Week 8- training app: 37 min total, 35 running* = 3.76mi

*I added more walking in than the app suggested- was really dragging

I didn't realize until I had already left for the run that all I ate this day was 2 pumpkin muffins and a couple handfuls of popcorn. The lack of energy was immediately apparent (lack of food, and natural time of the month that it is) I ended up walking more portions than the app said to, but I didn't stop, and I did longer stretches of running on this route than I had done before.

All caught up and back on schedule!

Having a few additional optimized runs mixed in threw me off my Sunday/Wednesday/Friday that I was adhering to really well, but the last couple weeks of sticking to it when I can and traveling now has me caught up. I am really learning patience through all of this, and giving myself more grace. I really want to be better, faster, stronger, etc. but I need to remind myself that it takes time, and I'm only 2 full months into being consistent.

I'm also learning through these runs that I need to run more with my butt to get longer strides- I've been running pretty shallow to allow for pacing myself, but I think I'm at a point where I can increase the stride.

While I'm still not on par with the app as far as having my timing endurance up, I am really happy that I'm pushing myself on each one, and having hard talks with myself of "no, you CAN do this, keep going"

Biggest Lesson these weeks:

Food = energy, eat accordingly.