Weekend Workouts Weecap

This weekend in my Dopey Challenge training called for a back to back of 6 and 16 miles.  I had just got home from my work trip and was tired from all the travel and excitement (as well as from my week’s workouts).  I woke up Saturday and felt exhausted.  I decided to just take it real easy and focus on my breathing – taking big full breaths.  Well you know what, when I finished I looked at my watch and realized I had run close to 8 minute miles.  Felt alright about it.

Who put a cartoon character in charge of a major race?

The rest of the day I tried to stay off my feet and eat right to prepare for my 16 mile Sunday Runday.  Sushi for dinner?  You bet!  I met a few people at White Rock Lake in Dallas the next morning for the run.  It was in the 60’s, but 90+% humidity.  It was a sweaty sweaty run.  Luckily it was overcast because if the sun had been upon us, I don’t think I could’ve afforded to safely lose any more body water!

But I still felt good on the run, and even with chatting along the way, I still ran 8:30 something miles.  If this keeps up, I will shatter my marathon PR!  I feel like I’m starting to hit my stride as a runner.  I keep getting faster with much less effort, which is good.  A couple years ago in a 1/2 marathon I ran around 8:15 minute miles and wanted to vomit up puke the whole time!  Not any more!  Now I can cruise at that pace without suppressing hurl.

Anyway, I’m jealous of all my running friends and blogging friends who keep posting about their recent races.  There’s been a ton the past few weeks, but I’m not registered for anything besides the Dopey.  I have a training plan and I’m sticking to it no matter what!  If a race can fit into my plan, then I’ll try to run it, if it doesn’t, I won’t.

Pretty much everyone around here ran the Allstate 13.1 this past Saturday.  I ran it last year and PR’d, but this year it didn’t fit into the sched, so I had to watch from afar.  But so I don’t feel left out, here’s a photo of me after finishing the Allstate 13.1 last year…

See, I have a race photo too, guys! (Even if it’s not current)

Anyway, after Sunday’s run I got to enjoy my cheat meal day – amongst the items consumed, the highlight was a mashed potato and chorizo taco.  I wish I had a pic, but I was so hungry after running 16 miles, that it was devoured before I could take my smart phone out!

What about you?  How’d your weekend workouts go?  Have you ever spewed chunks during a race?  How’s a mashed ‘tater and spicy sausage taco sound?

Disney Dopey Training Week 4

So I finished week 4 of my unofficial Dopey training, and it was supposed to be an easy “off” weekend.  The plan called for rest on Friday, 5 miles on Saturday, and cross train on Sunday.  I handled the rest day like a champ!  Ha.  Saturday I met with some peeps and we ran 5.5 in the early morn humid heat.  I felt pretty good though and wanted to do more, but I figured the plan was there for a reason, and I should stick to it.  Plus I knew I was doing yard work when I got home, and that would be a workout in itself.  And it WAS.  5-6 straight hours of mowing, trimming, edging, weeding, and dog poop picking upping.  Speaking of which – I have a question:  The dogs are fed the exact same thing every single day, so why is every single land mine they drop completely different from the others.  I won’t get into details, but there is a huge difference in shape, color, consistency, texture, etc.  What gives?  Anyway, by the end of the day, I. Was. Exhausted.  To give you an idea of how hawt and schwetty I was, I had to go inside and change clothes and rinse off halfway through the yard work because I was that disgusting.

Sunday I was going to get up and go for a trail run, but my entire body was sore and aching.  I decided to stick to yoga for my cross training.  And let me say, it was not an easy class.  That difficulty and variety is why I go to this particular class, but man we were workin it!  I had puddles of sweat surrounding my mat, and my mat was completely soaked as well.  I had to stretch it out in the trunk on the way home hoping it would dry out.  That was followed by a long doggy walk and a little more yard work.

Doesn’t include the cross training I also do during the week.

So my “easy” “off” weekend had left me completely sore and wiped out.  I know this because I heading to the shower last evening around 7 or 8pm and decided to just lay on the bed for a quick minute.  I didn’t wake up until this morning.  Guess I needed that!

On to week 5 of my unofficial training.  It culminates with a weekend back to back of 3 and 12 miles.  Bring it!