5 Mile Long Run Complete! 14 More Days Until Race Day!
Today's Workout: 5 mile long run.
Today was an excellent workout day. I woke up in the morning in Santa Monica, and from my bed, I tapped out a 5-mile route on my map app on my iPhone. Then I got up, got dressed, and was out the door with my music.
I never skip a long run, no matter what, when I'm training for a race. Most training plans have only one long run a week. To train for a race, you don't run miles and miles every single day. If you do long runs every day, you're overtraining and you run the risk of injury. The training plans I use have shorter runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, a medium run on Wednesdays, and one long run on the weekends. Not only is this a manageable routine, but it's good for those with work or school schedules.
When I do my long runs, I don't try to rush them either. Since I'm not a competitive racer, I just make sure I complete the distance. Even if I have to walk some of it, I make sure the distance gets covered.
Long runs are great ways to boost your confidence psychologically as well. Every time I complete a long run, I'm one mile closer to my race distance, and I am that much more sure I will be successful on race day. As a DS friend once told me, running is as much about the approach as it is about the training. It's a mental exercise, not just a physical one. And has mental rewards too, as well as physical :) It just makes you feel so good! Accomplishment, self-image, the feeling that you're actually fit... it's my meditation as well as my calorie-burner :)
Anyway, enough rambling. I've not any photos of this run, but if you want to see Ocean Avenue, which is where I ran, check out this google maps photo.
Tomorrow's workout is stretch and strengthen. Since I did shoulders, legs, and abs last time, I am going to do arms, back, and abs tomorrow.
Here are some photos of yesterday's dragon boat race!
Today was an excellent workout day. I woke up in the morning in Santa Monica, and from my bed, I tapped out a 5-mile route on my map app on my iPhone. Then I got up, got dressed, and was out the door with my music.
I never skip a long run, no matter what, when I'm training for a race. Most training plans have only one long run a week. To train for a race, you don't run miles and miles every single day. If you do long runs every day, you're overtraining and you run the risk of injury. The training plans I use have shorter runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, a medium run on Wednesdays, and one long run on the weekends. Not only is this a manageable routine, but it's good for those with work or school schedules.
When I do my long runs, I don't try to rush them either. Since I'm not a competitive racer, I just make sure I complete the distance. Even if I have to walk some of it, I make sure the distance gets covered.
Long runs are great ways to boost your confidence psychologically as well. Every time I complete a long run, I'm one mile closer to my race distance, and I am that much more sure I will be successful on race day. As a DS friend once told me, running is as much about the approach as it is about the training. It's a mental exercise, not just a physical one. And has mental rewards too, as well as physical :) It just makes you feel so good! Accomplishment, self-image, the feeling that you're actually fit... it's my meditation as well as my calorie-burner :)
Anyway, enough rambling. I've not any photos of this run, but if you want to see Ocean Avenue, which is where I ran, check out this google maps photo.
Tomorrow's workout is stretch and strengthen. Since I did shoulders, legs, and abs last time, I am going to do arms, back, and abs tomorrow.
Here are some photos of yesterday's dragon boat race!
Replies
Sounds like a great training day for you. I love your sensible approach to the race. Before my CIDP I walked/jogged 3 miles every day before work. I miss that so much. Such a mental boost from it. My mind was clear and I just felt GOOD after getting it in. Love the dragon boats!
Your doing great Jess. 5 miles great for a weekend run. I remember those days of my training for the marathon I did in 1998. Those grueling 15-17 mile runs on Sunday mornings. Whew! Keep going, your doing fabulous work - sounds like you know exactly what you need to do (I use to love running shorter (4 miles) on Tue/Thur too!). Your definitely an inspiration to me to try and get back out there again. Keep going!!!!
Hey Jess! Congrats on your goals and progress that you have made so far :) You will do amazingly! I am a runner myself and I totally agree with the meditation aspect of it! I think that you have your running regime figured out quite well and that you\'re ready to take on the world with this great attitude/ outlook.
My prayers go out to you on race day!
good to read your training plans, and dragon boat = awesome!
Thank you everyone for your support and stories! It really helps to keep me going. :)
Checked out Ocean Ave on google map,beautiful! I would love to ride my bike there. I just started back riding my bike about a two months ago.
Keep up the good work Jessica.
Oh it\'s absolutely gorgeous-- if you go down the California Incline on your bike (or you can take Colorado down to the beach), you can ride your bike towards the Santa Monica pier, and beyond to Venice Beach. It ends around Marina Del Rey, where you can get a smoothie or visit one of the best Italian restaurants ever-- C&O Trattoria. :) I miss it already..