BALANCE; Training Plans

 

NUMBERS Only!

• 26 days until SPRING
• I was sick for 14 days, 3 days of a fever. 
• My girlfriend traveled 22 miles to save my life from the dreaded flu. 
• 92 days, 13 weeks until Sulphur Springs 100m. 

WINTER-TRAINING

Winter-the season where your driveway is a skating rink, i would know, Andys mom got stuck in it last week. When your morning run feels like an Artic expedition, frozen eyelashes, clodhopping in snow and subzero temps. And my motivation to run hibernates with the woodland animals. 

TRAINING PLANS are a MUST for me. 

TRAINING PLANS:

"A goal without a plan is just a wish." Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Training plans either written by you or someone who inspires you help to rescue me from the comfort of my cozy blanket and 5th cup of coffee. They help me to stay on track. 

LIFE requires training plans. In running and in LIFE. 

Gods word is always my number ONE training plan that gives me purpose and perspective. 

Both the bible and a running training plan allows me to have BALANCE. 

WINTER WOES

"Why, my soul are your downcast? Why so disturbed within me?" Psalm 42:11

It has been 20' outside, and many days single digits with the wind chill factor in there. Fresh snow has covered everything, yes, it beautiful, but that beauty has lost its luster. The wind has sliced through my layers like a Freddy Krueger horror film, the running paths are either slushy and slick or ankle-deep snow threatening to snap your ankles. 

YEAH!! Winter running. Insert sarcasm. 

However, these are the moments when a training plan becomes your best friend. It reminds you of your goals, keeps you focused, and, most importantly, provides the BALANCE needed to navigate both the treacherous terrain and your busy life. 

BALANCING ACT

"In their heart humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9

Training plans aren't just about logging miles; they're about creating BALANCE in your life. With a structured plan I can juggle FRIENDSHIPS, Lead BIBLE STUDIES, MAINTAIN a clean home, summer garden, CHICKENS, WORK, FAMILY and DATE nights with my hubby and have time for a book a month. I have a life that has balance, running doesn't become an obsession. 

Despite what many believe. 

Training plans are like having a personal assistant who schedules your workouts between meetups and mops! 

FUN FACTS:

• Companies that offer comprehensive training programs have a 218% higher income per employee than those without formal training. 

While this stat pertains to the corporate world, it highlights the value of structured training- whether in the office or running. 

TURN the FROWN Upside Down: Countering OBSTACLES

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

I am more hyper the older I get about busting my coon-dog running in the winter. I have had Andy pick me up from the collar to save me from face planting and I have had a few flailing limbs in the air trying to balance myself from slipping. The layers and layers that make me look like the Michlin Man is something I try to laugh off especially when I start sweating the first mile. 

This winter I have had a few obstacles. Training Plans help you get back on track. Those unfortunate circumstances don't have to derail you, you just have to get creative to find another path. 

GETTING SICK. 

Prioritize REST and RECOVERY. This is hard for me. I did drop my mileage down when I was sick. 

I also loaded up on herbs, peroxide baths, vitamins and rest. I eventually had to bite the bullet and get an antibiotic. 

Once I began to feel better, I eased back into running, with less intensity, adding more walk breaks, and even more walking than running. 

UNRUNNABLE TRAILS/ Roads

I live on a dirt road. Most of the winter it has been a slippery, snowy mess. The trails this year have gotten so much snow that they are several inches high of ungroomed paths. Even the sidewalks in Holly have not been cleared. 

I have been on the indoor Track, out of the elements and unfortunately without elevation but getting my miles. 

I have traveled to the Metroparks a lot this winter, they do a pretty good job plowing the paved path. I did however find myself 5 feet in the snowbank last week! The park rangers at Indian Springs were AMAZING and saved me a tow bill! 

STAYING MOTIVATED IN THE Cold Weather

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can" Arthur Ashe

• FIND A Training PLAN! 
• Register for a race a MONTH, this is what I do, and it gives me something to look forward to. 
• Incorporating activities that make cold weather running sorta enjoyable! INVEST in the proper gear, find friends or have post run festivities like going to Parlor Donuts or Tim Hortons afterwards. I love that. 

RUNDOWN: 

Weekly Miles; 69miles 

Elevation: 2,700

Speedwork: 5X800m yassos @3:27 w/400m C/D

FEB RACE: FROSTY 5K. We ran 10 miles before the race, and 2 miles after the race. There was NO shot I was RACING this; the course was a mess! Of course, racing it was never an option. But it was fun. The hardest part was I got 15 miles in, but I needed 20 miles. When I got home, I had to conquer my mind and SHUT UP and RUN another 5 solo miles. 

I have run a lot of SOLO miles. And have had to run a few miles sick. 

And the truth is, I am sure some of the miles ran were just plain stupid. But it comes down to not allowing my excuses to have power over me. I would rather run stupid then not try at all and give my negative dialogue a voice of power. 

 Conquer the negative! 

A COUPLE Questions to REFLECT on.

• Are you open to alternative routes or resources? Treadmills, tracks, trails, parks, ect. 
• Have you ever joined a running group? Connecting with others helps to motivate us. 
• Have you added a little adventure in your running, fun runs every so often encourages and prevents burn out. 

In Peace, Not Peices,

Anita

 

Every Rose has its Thorns

"It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you don't stop." Confucious

Last week was a grind. 

Michigan's sick bug hit me like a freight train- like it had a personal vendetta against. 9 days, but who's counting?! I got pulverized with coughing, sneezing runny nose, fever and fatigue - all while being trapped in a gloomy Michigan winter. 

I was supposed to be grinding out my training. But between the single digit temps, snow, ice, and my body turning into a walking NyQuil commercial, I started wondering if maybe I should just trade in my running shoes for a nice, local knitting club. 

The Hypocrite Chronicles

I wrote this rhyme about 20 years ab=got-one of those golden rules of running:

"If it's in your head, get out of bed. If its in your chest it's best to rest." 

So, like a responsible adult, I followed my own advice at first, I stayed in bed. I let my body recover. 

But then...the miles quit adding up. And because I was laid up, my brain told me I still needed to show up. 

SO naturally I ate my words. 

The moment my fever broke, I was at GAC, shuffling around the track-one mile at a time.

I knew I shouldn't be doing it. But I also knew I needed to. 

I was prepared to get off the track if my body protested too hard. I kept my heart rate low, adding walk breaks every two laps, and made a deal with myself: "SUFFER WISELY."

"I Don't Feel Sorry For You." 

I have heard this before. I get it. When I push through when I probably shouldn't sympathy isn't exactly in high supply.

But here's the thing: Training for 100 miles is about suffering. If I can't run while sick and suffer through, then how am I going to suffer through 100 miles?

This is part of the process.

This is where I learn to adapt, to push, to be smart about when to fight and when to fold. 

So Yeah, last week was rough. But I'm still here. 

And still a little off my rocker. 

RUNDOWN;

Feb 3-Feb 9

Miles: 47.59 

(training goal 64) 

Wednesday: speedwork

THURSDAY was the day I ran a half marathon outside and by the time I hit 10 miles I knew I had done serious damage. I didn't know I was that sick until it was too late. 

STREAK: So I challenged myself to this mile streak. Two days this week I had a temperature that I had to run just 1 mile. I bundled up like the Michelin Man and loaded up on meds. I didn't really run, I just tried to stay upright. 

I just kept telling myself, "You can do anything for 15 minutes Anita. 

This is NOT a free commercial to follow my training. But it is a little motivational nudge to challenge yourself. 

Stop quitting and start trying. 

In Peace, Not Pieces, 

Anita

The Trails Less Traveled: preparing for the 100

Making crazy goals and doing stupid things means I had to be accountable to myself. Sulfur Springs 100 miler in May was a Christmas gift from Andy. Training for a 100-mile race means you really never stop training. And never stop trusting God to direct you and keep you, especially when you have not been able to dodge the Michigan cold season. That is why, despite feeling like garbage, I still laced up my shoes and headed out the door to do Mondays version of dumb stuff.

Of course, making the decisions when you feel awful is easy-you just DON'T make them. Thats how I ended up at Indian Springs. It was one of 4 choices:

1. Indian Springs
2. Kensington
3. GAC
4. Richfield Park

It came down to a digital coin toss that sealed my fate!

INDIAN SPRINGS

I've been running at Indian Springs for over 20 years. It's straightforward 8-mile lollipop-shaped paved trail: 3 miles straight out, a 2-mile loop, and then back. There are only so many ways to run it. And yet, today, we somehow squeezed out 18 miles while barely touching the pavement.  

The Trails less Traveled

"There is magic in misery. Just ask any runner." Dean Karnazes

After about 3 miles of slipping and skating on slick, icy pavement, we made the executive decision (not mine, obviously) to hit the trails. Since I felt awful, my main priority was not making decisions. So, I followed along blindly, hoping for the best. 

As the miles and trails tangled together, we just trusted the process or at least trusting whoever looked the most confident, NOT ME.  The fog made everything eerily creepy. Or maybe it was the last 2 nights of horror films I had watched that had me a little paranoid! I was too tired to care. My head was swimming, my nose was running, and my energy was somewhere back at the car wishing I had just stayed in bed. 

I had made the 18-mile goal the night before when I still felt decent. One minute we were cruising along, and the next we were ankle deep in crusty, icy snow, questioning Monday's choices. Several times I was informed that we had already run the same trail two or three times. It looked familiar but at that point, everything was a blur. 

Was I lost? NO. Did I know where I was? Also NO. But I didn't have to know. 

Here are a few things I DO know with Sulfur Springs:

"You don't stop running because you get old, you get old because you stop running." Jack Kirk

1. 16 weeks away
2. A 20K loop course
3. Nestled in the Niagra Escarpment
4. 16 weeks out: average weekly miles, 63. 

RUNDOWN:

"If you start to feel good during an ultra, don't worry- you'll get over it." Gene Thibeault

The TRAIL less traveled didn't prove to be any easier. And many miles I questioned when we would get back to some steady footing. But I tried to not focus on the END. Rather the original GOAL. If I fast forwarded too much, I would miss the lessons in the in between. 

Isn't that what we do? We forget to soak the training portion up. Embrace the hard climbs, we get discouraged with the obstacles and getting lost along the way. These are all part of the training. 

Today, I was trying in my miserable state to not be negative. 

It's GOOD TRAINING. 

There are parts of trail running, or any running that teaches you the grit, that offer lessons every mile on resilience and patience. 

When we are just trying to achieve the GOAL, we miss the beauty in between. 

In Peace, not Pieces

Anita