Weekend Long Run on a Weekday

If you follow this blog, then you know about my training predicament this week.  For the first time this season, I’m having to adjust my schedule.  Thanks to all of your advice, I’ve made a plan of action.  And so, for the first time in my life, I’m going to have to do my normal weekend long run on a weekday.

I’m going to get up super early to run 17 miles.  It should be interesting.  Luckily with the time change, the sun comes up earlier, but I know I’ll still be in the night darkness when I get up.  Running with my old constellation pals.

My running buddy, Orion!

I won’t be able to run at my normal long run spot, so I have no idea what my route will be, just going to wing it.  I kind of like not knowing where I’ll be going.  It’s good to have variety in your workouts.

And the weather is supposed to be in the 40’s.  A rarity in Texas.  I can’t wait to run in humane conditions!

That said, usually after a long run like that, I’m pretty useless to be around.  I only want couch.  But being a school morning, I still have to go to work afterwards.

Don’t be fooled by the fancy photo, I’m actually not wearing pants.

I work as a TV producer dude, and luckily I don’t have any shoots after my run, just an edit session and some script writing.  So at least I get to spend most of the day sitting.  Butt I do see a buttload of tea in my post run morning future to keep me going.

One extra bonus (redundant?), I get to eat something other than my normal Irish Oatmeal for breakfast.  Usually I save my cheat meal day for after my long run.  Ya know, like pizza or tacos.  So I plan on rewarding myself with a little something naughty after the run.  Hooray for that!

Migas Taco from Torchy’s Tacos. You may be in my belly soon.

I must say it has been weird, as you should know, the long run is not all about the day of, it’s about the days leading up to it.  Proper hydration, proper nutrition, etc.  And I must also say it was quite weird having a rest day in the middle of the week.  And it’s always awkward when I’m stiff from running, and so I kind of do a Frankenstein’s Monster walk around the office, which results in having to answer questions about my gait.  But we do what we gotta do, right?

What about y’all?  Ever have to crazy manipulate your training sched to accommodate something else?  How often do you mix up your routes?  What’s your go to cheat reward meal? 

 

October Run Mileage & Halloween Recap

As I get closer to the Disney Dopey Challenge (4 straight days of races: 5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2), my training mileage is obviously increasing week by week and month by month.  I decided to look back at the past few months and see what I’ve been hitting.  It goes a little something like this:

August – 93 miles

September – 111 miles

October – 130 miles

Looks like the Hal Higdon plan I’m following increases about 20 miles per month.  I don’t want to look ahead and do the math to see if that will hold true, I’m just going to keep following it and trust that it will all work out.

That said, I think 130 miles in a month is a pretty good number.  I’m happy to have reached that.  But I know enough not to get all cocky about it.  Here’s why:  I have friends who do 100 mile races in a DAY.  I have friends who run up to 120 in a WEEK.  And the list goes on.  So there is always someone doing more, and there are always opportunities to do more.  I also have friends who run just a handful of miles a month, it’s all good as long as they’re out there!

Anyway, on to November and many more miles!

As for All Hallows Eve, it went well. The girl wanted to be a cowgirl (we’re assuming this since she can’t really talk, but she is obsessed with her pink cowgirl boots).

Cowgirls are udderly cute.

My boy wanted to be a ninja.  I’m guessing he wanted to be that because he has two imaginary friends who protect our house from a tree in the front yard.  They are named Go and Johnny Go.  They are ninjas.  famous illustrator David Hyde Costello, who graciously offered to sketch them for him.  Here’s what he drew:

Grif said the only inaccurate part is that one of them has a bow and arrow, not a sword. Shoulda known!

I must go back and say that I can only ASSUME they are imaginary friends, because as my one friend pointed out, if they’re true ninjas, then they cannot be seen!  Here’s Griffin in his costume:

Do not cross him unless you want to taste steel (or plastic, as it were).

And it just so happens that I have access to a ninja outfit as well.  So I told him I’d dress up with him, but I don’t do normal costumes, it has to have a twist.  I decided on adding a red wig and going as a Ginja (ginger ninja).

I’m a ginja with attitude.

So there you have it, another month of run training down, and another successful Halloween!

What about you?  How’s your mileage looking?  What’s you dress up as for Halloween?  Do you have any imaginary friends?