Yassos Round II

So last night I did my second set of Yassos. I skipped Urban because of the rain and thunder disaster! I would have been out after the bad part of the storm but there have been 3 deaths in central park this year (see here) so I am a scaredy cat and thought it best to stay inside. I actually found out the workout they did and wished I had gone, I like that workout. (Varying lenghts)

Instead I did yassos Round II. My round I was on 9/8 so it's about a week ago that I did them last. I added one yasso repeat this time (per how you're supposed to) and it was WAY easier than it was last time I did yassos thats for sure. Sometimes I wonder how much is mental and how much is physical. I am OK mentally this week. A little tired but ready to just focus on the schedule and go. No more over analyzing.

This am I did arms and abs. I really like my arms. My triceps still need work but otherwise I am happy. I am up inthe air about doing a short run tonight. I'm kinda tired. I am doing yoga tomorrow for sure and then running a bunch of errands. Sunday is the tune up. I need a race plan!!!

Where are you mentally right now? Are you ready for your event? Getting tired?

Hydration and last nights run.

Last night we ran lower loop repeats. The air was deliciously cool and not dense. Do I hear fall making a sly entrance????

The workout was meant to be as follows:
1st loop: Run your normal easy, long run pace.
2nd loop: Run about 15-20 seconds faster than the first loop.
3rd loop: Run 10-15 seconds faster than your 2nd loop (or 25-35 faster than the first).

I didn't quite accomplish this in the 2nd loop but made it up in the last loop. I decided I was running 10-15 seconds faster by mile forget 'by loop'.

My times:
1-18:01 (10:35 pace)
2-17:54 (10:32 pace)
3-17:00 (10 pace)

I was happy with those. I mean 10:35 isnt my long run pace but I'm trying to make it be. It's just not an easy pace for me. I definitely need more practice because obviously I can run at it. 5m isnt long by any stretch but its certainly not a sprint. The park was crowded. YOu know its marathon season.

This blog came up in another friends blog click here

So here's what I take from it. People judge the slower runners with fuel belts, and some people are lucky enough that their body mechanics are so stable they arent hydrating maniacs like yours truly. I hydrate. quite a bit actually.  I always run with water. Read: always. I happen to fuel 1x an hour for the most part. mostly with gels for convinience but sometimes with bars, bananas, oranges, etc. I am hypoglycemic and need the extra hydration/food to not feel super light headed. I need to eat pizza before a long run. Always. I can't eat peanut butter before runs or I feel sick. It's just how it goes. If I tried to run 10m with no fuel I wouldnt make it.

I get annoyed that people judge. Leave the slower peeps alone. Sometimes when I’m at the 5k race it’s really a run within a run and I’ve run 5m there and will run say 5 miles home. Can I have water for a half marathon? Sometimes I wear a fuel belt because I need to carry a bunch of crap with me and figure, hell, throw on the water. I have def felt judged at a shorter race that I’m fitting in.

I guess my point is, don’t judge. I always used to be annoyed by people flying past me on the trails, now I think, whatever this is my recovery run, maybe it’s their tempo. While I agree it’s an interesting debate, I’m cool with it until the judging begins

Vegas Recap, Minnetonka showdown

We went to Vegas this weekend (Thurs-Sun) to celebrate my good friends 30th birthday. We stayed at the Aria which, to be honest, wasnt that great. I am a huge Vegas fan. It's great for eating, pool lounging, gambling, partying etc. I have stayed at Hard Rock, the Wynn, MGM and the Venetian. All are better than the Aria. It's too high-tech (curtains can only be closed with a switch) and the custover service is lacking. I won't return there for sure. We arrived late Thursday and Friday am I was up way too early and decided to head down to CVS for a snack and then to the gym after paying my $30 gym fee. I ran my 12m run on the treadmill at the Aria and it wasnt too too bad. I watched a terrible USA made for TV movie with Brooke Shields. Very entertaining. Ha! The run itself was uneventful. Long, tiring, mentally boring and I was tired and dehydrated and hadnt eaten dinner, a proper breakfast etc. But c'est la vie. I have the splits somewhere but my blackberry is acting up. I ran between 10:40 and 11:20 depending. It's amazing how different the two speeds feel. I'm trying to get up to running 18m at the 10:30 pace but obviously I needed to work on this earlier on in the season.


Saturday I woke up hungover-ish and made it to the gym for some recovery and some weights. This am I just did 35 min of weights in the Marriott at Minnetonka gym. Laughable at best, but hey at least it was a gym!!!

Last Wednesday I got a massage and it was tough, my hammy/inner thigh has been really tight/unhappy/painful. I dont know how it got this way HOWEVER I finally think its starting to feel better. Today it felt like it 'gave' when I was stretching it. So that's great.

This week on tap:
Tuesday- yoga in the am, running at night (a loop maybe?)
Wednesday- off
Thursday- running with Urban
Friday- weights, recovery 4-6m run
Saturday- yoga and weights
Sunday- 18miler