When I started this blog, it was mostly designed to do with running, training and the odd observation about life but then life took over and training, while still continuing, moved to the back. I admit to have lost a bit of perspective due to my loneliness and struggle with my emotions. Now that I'm back to some kind of even keel, I thought of writing about my training a little more.
Today I did one of the most important run of the week, the long slow distance run. This is the run that gives you the training of running for a long time and be able to continue to run when you get tired. These runs are typically done at a slower pace than your race pace but for many people, myself included, they tend to be too fast. I'm very careful about it but don't always manage to attain it. They're typically faster. Still...
When I looked at my training schedule, I decided that it was time to get away from the walking breaks. Yes, I admit there is part of me who wants to be able to run a whole run without breaks. I'm able to do a shorter distance but as soon as I get beyond 10k, I need my breaks. The water stations in Paris are every 5k so it makes sense to train to run my long distance runs with taking breaks at that time. However, since I'm still VERY dependent on the breaks, I decided to gradually build the distance so I don't get injured and/or burn out myself. So far, so good.
HOWEVER, in the last month I have been lax with my stretching. It's better now but the fact that I didn't stretch as well or as often caught up with me a bit. My calves, hamstrings and ITB are very tight. What saved me, I think, is the fact that I do yoga 3 times a week, twice of these times is hot yoga and I want to increase it to 3 times. My body really benefits from this stretching and destressing.
My calves were not happy with me when I did my 6k recovery run nor were they happy with today's run. They feel extremely tight and I fear attempting to stretch then when I run and stop at a traffic light. I'm afraid of ripping them a bit they are that tight. Eventually they losen up but running can be challenging at the beginning. This is also when the mental battle is at its worst. And to me that is the biggest hurdle, the mental battle. The fight that you go through when you race, when you get tired and you want to stop. If I learn to tame the beast it will be easier at the race.
So when I finished today's run, I felt really good even though I had to take a few unscheduled walking breaks. I had tamed the beast... till next weekend...
It's a start :)
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