Week IV: Boston or Busted Knee

I absolutely did not stay up past 8:30 to see the moon get really big and turn red.  I figured there'd be a ton of pictures on the web and that my time would be better spent doing something actually worthwhile...like sleeping.

I leaned in heavily into the rest plan on Monday and didn't run till Tuesday, which is when the trouble began.  Ever since I came back from Afghanistan, my left knee has given me problems.  Nothing major, and there wasn't ever a specific event that hurt my knee, but all the patrolling and gear we wore has made if feel weak ever since.  On my Tuesday afternoon run, I banked hard around a curve and felt it kinda give away.  I rested Wednesday and felt good through most of my run on Thursday, until I all of a sudden didn't.

I haven't run since then and don't plan to try again until tomorrow.  I'm only worried from the standpoint of this becoming a re-occuring issue.  My training pace is still relatively slow, so I'm not concerned about losing ground there.  Rest is the best option.

Week IV:

Training Pace: 7:30 (I was hitting this until the knee gave out)

Long Run: 12 miles didn't happen, put the boy in the stroller and went walking instead.

Music:  Still need to finish the "Bridge of Spies" audiobook, but powered through the NPR podcast Serial.  Really excellent story telling, looking forward to next season's episodes about Bowe Bergdahl.

Week III: Boston Qual Training

Week 3 presented some interesting learning opportunities, specifically how to gut through some workouts, as well as the importance of rest.  Although the pace goal of 7:40 isn’t that hard, I consistently struggled to maintain that speed.  I discovered that it was directly tied to my lack of proper rest and not listening to my body.  There was at least one morning where I knew that staying in bed was more valuable than lacing up (I’m sure that’ll change as I have to meet faster pace goals).  I also realized the importance of taking all of Monday off, the day after my long run, and doing absolutely nothing.

Crystal and I laughed at how when I was in my early 20’s, ramping up my training levels this quick wouldn’t have been that big a deal.  Clearly, training at 31 is different from 21.  Certainly I wish I still had that body, but I’m enjoying this new training challenge.

Week 3:

-          Goal Pace: 7:40

-          Long Run: 12 miles @ 7:40 pace

-          Music: Five more chapters left in the Bridge of Spies audiobook….the movie has got to be better.  This thing is really dragging out the details.

Fartleks workout (distance)

Week II - Boston Qual Training

Second week has for sure been more regimented than Week 1 with only two workouts missed the whole time.  Monday I was still burnt from my long run, so I just slept in.  Wednesday there was a torrential thunderstorm rolling through and it was easier to sit next to my computer and coffee.

Long run this week (10 miles) was done on a treadmill in New Orleans.  Drill weekends always make it tricky figuring out how to work in the day's workout.  I was impressed that I wasn't exactly tired or sore after my long run, even if it was at a 7:50 pace.  In other news, the temperature is beginning to drop and its officially feeling like Fall, should make for some great runs.

Week 2:
- Goal Pace: 7:50
- Long Run: 10 miles
- Music: almost finished with the Bridge of Spies audiobook, also picked up some Demi Lovato

Week 1 - Boston Qual Training

In the first week of training, I veered off my training plan slightly in the name of easing into running again.  I've spent the past three months doing minimal running while focusing on weights.  The idea being that since I knew I was going to be waist deep in some aggressive Boston training, I wanted to have time off from running to focus on weights and rest my legs.

We're in Gulf Breeze this weekend so I was able to knock out my long run along the beach.  Everything felt strong, looking forward to next week's distance and pace.

Week 1:
- Goal Pace: 8:00
- Long Run: 8 miles
- Music (audiobook): Bridge of Spies - Matt Charman