I did pull Pfitz’s Advanced Marathoning off my shelf the other day. I’m thinking about jumping into one of the programs pretty soon and using it for Grandma’s. First, I want to refer to Lydiard’s schedule and see when he suggests adding in the hill phase. I think that really helped me last year (before I got hurt) and I’d like to include it this year too. While I’ve been running hills once a week, I’m thinking more of a 3-4 week ‘phase’ that includes 2 workouts per week – maybe even a little bounding. I’m still 16 weeks from Grandma’s, so even Pfitz’s program would basically be base-building at this point, so I have some time to figure things out.
I had a fairly nice 11 mile run this morning. After finishing I got in my car and my first thought was, “It’s nice having that done for the day.”
During the run I saw some guys out for an early morning x-c ski. That’s one of those things I wish I were able to do more often. Last year, I skied a handful of times. This year I haven’t been out at all. Not having snow till mid-January is probably part of the problem. Then it melted by mid-Feb. Now we have snow, but it’s practically March – I’m ready for spring. Besides snow, you have to worry about waxing, driving to trails and technique. Since my technique isn’t very good, I struggle going uphill. And if you can’t go uphill while skiing, you’re in trouble.
It’s easier just to go for a run!
I'll end with this great photo (courtesy of Team USA Minnesota) of the women's silver medal team at the Yokohama International Women's Ekiden in Japan (left to right; Deena Kastor, Carrie Tollefson, Katie McGregor, Amy Rudolph, Jen Rhines, Jenny Crain and Elva Dryer). Quote of the day;
“To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will.” – Sugar Ray Robinson
Don't worry about the doubles. So long as you're getting in a long run, and a couple of other workouts the other days are just mortar in between the bricks. That's a phrase my high school used a lot by way of encouraging us not to run hard every day.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know, we have this same 'conversation' 2-3 times a year.
ReplyDeleteOne of the nice thing about singles is having 22-23 hours of rest. Plus it frees up time in the evening.
as for x-c, "just do it" get out there and go! anywhere, wax or no, try your backyard, as far as hills are, run up them with the skis. That training will complement your running leaving your feet feel very light on the roads.
ReplyDeletewtg, in taking the plunge after another marathon-looking forward to your build, your base sounds pretty solid
the girl in the middle, Amy, doesn't appear to have a body, as in just the head is visible-you see that too?
ReplyDeleteMark, I have skate skis, so I don't think they'd work very well in my backyard; 1) the snow is deep and 2) my backyard is small.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean though and you're probably right. There's always next year.
And YES!!! I thought the exact same thing when I was looking at Amy in the photo. It looks like her head is just floating there. I'll have to try that the next time I'm in a group shot - although I don't know if my body will bend like that.
What a cute photo. I think I'm going to steal it and photoshop myself in. A girl can dream, can't she?
ReplyDelete