"What am I even doing with my life?" Comments Welcome!

[StacyStrong]

Haha, we had a nesting pair at my work where I run, and the male FLEW at me from a long way off when he saw me coming, I literally played chicken with a flying goose. Goose won.

Figured I would stop by your journal, since you were so kind to post in mine! Good luck with the training plan!

Thanks for stopping by! Stories like yours are so inspiring! I'm still early in my journey but hope to make that same kind of progress!

 

[DopeyBadger]

So you would say I should do it on the days that I run and not days that are "off"?

I don't do anything crazy when I lift, it more to make sure I stay moving and gain a little more muscle since I have such a sedentary job.

Have you worked out more than 4 days a week in the past? Because otherwise, you might be pushing it to add strength work to "off" run days (ramping up the total training load too quickly). We want to be sure to still have recovery/easy days. So that's why I'd look at adding it to run days first, and specifically at the harder run days. So that way easy days stay easy, and recovery days stay as little to nothing. I'd be worried if we tried to ramp too quickly.

 

[StacyStrong]

So, I'm probably obsessing too much, but I'm getting really annoyed with Runkeeper. I love being able to set intervals, but honestly the data post race makes absolutely no sense and doesn't match what I see as the average pace of the interval on my watch.

Watch reports:

But when it links to my phone it says total time 40:38 and 16:11 per mile? How does that just change?


Also, how do these splits = 16:11?! I feel like I can't rely on pace data?

In the end, maybe it's not a huge deal and I should just look at the overall average pace post run? I checked in Google maps and the distance is pretty accurate (lines up almost exactly with my the distance shown on my app) so the pace would be right for how long I ran.

I don't know. It's irritating me. Maybe I'm dumb lol. In the end, my one race had a faster pace than Runkeeper said I was averaging on training runs, so I guess if I just look at the overall average of the run, it won't matter too much.

I've thought about getting a Garmin, but honestly I can't justify the cost of another watch. I don't run hard or seriously enough to spend the additional money so soon.

 

[StacyStrong]

I'm pretty sure I'm going nuts.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

So, I'm probably obsessing too much, but I'm getting really annoyed with Runkeeper. I love being able to set intervals, but honestly the data post race makes absolutely no sense and doesn't match what I see as the average pace of the interval on my watch.

Watch reports:

But when it links to my phone it says total time 40:38 and 16:11 per mile? How does that just change?


Also, how do these splits = 16:11?! I feel like I can't rely on pace data?

In the end, maybe it's not a huge deal and I should just look at the overall average pace post run? I checked in Google maps and the distance is pretty accurate (lines up almost exactly with my the distance shown on my app) so the pace would be right for how long I ran.

I don't know. It's irritating me. Maybe I'm dumb lol. In the end, my one race had a faster pace than Runkeeper said I was averaging on training runs, so I guess if I just look at the overall average of the run, it won't matter too much.

I've thought about getting a Garmin, but honestly I can't justify the cost of another watch. I don't run hard or seriously enough to spend the additional money so soon.

I live in a very rural area and found Runkeeper to be extremely inaccurate. I once ran a known 2 mile route and it showed I had run nearly ten miles! I love my Garmin Forerunner 235, but I started out with a very I expensive Forerunner 15. It served it's purpose for two years. I could have bought a new strap for it, but decided to go ahead and upgrade.

 

[StacyStrong]

I live in a very rural area and found Runkeeper to be extremely inaccurate. I once ran a known 2 mile route and it showed I had run nearly ten miles! I love my Garmin Forerunner 235, but I started out with a very I expensive Forerunner 15. It served it's purpose for two years. I could have bought a new strap for it, but decided to go ahead and upgrade.

The overall distance is definitely accurate for me. I traced my route on Google maps and it's spot on. The overall pace is too. It's JUST the intervals that seem to appear very messed up in reporting post run. They seem right while running. It's strange.

I'll get a Garmin eventually, I just can't afford it right now. I'm glad you found something that works for you! I can see how it would be difficult in a rural area.

 

[StacyStrong]

The worst part of it being nice out is doing your easy run (and sometimes your tempo runs!) and having all the people who are out just run right by you. And then the speed walkers...

I am ready to get faster!

My run today was...not great. I hit the pacing, but it just seemed harder than usual. I got virtually no sleep at all last night and it was warm out for the first time. It just seemed rough. I'm sure a lot of it was mental though.

 

[DopeyBadger]

The worst part of it being nice out is doing your easy run (and sometimes your tempo runs!) and having all the people who are out just run right by you. And then the speed walkers...

I am ready to get faster!

My run today was...not great. I hit the pacing, but it just seemed harder than usual. I got virtually no sleep at all last night and it was warm out for the first time. It just seemed rough. I'm sure a lot of it was mental though.

To be fair, that feeling/appearance of everyone training faster than you may not change as you continue to get faster. Because a large majority of people train too fast. But come race day, the hope is that your training methodology will pay off with that faster performance. But I certainly get that desire to be faster. Heck, I can't get my mom from racing on treadmills vs 20 somethings instead of training slower for gains on race day. But you continue to put in the good training, and you'll get what you want at the end.

 

[SheHulk]

To be fair, that feeling/appearance of everyone training faster than you may not change as you continue to get faster. Because a large majority of people train too fast. But come race day, the hope is that your training methodology will pay off with that faster performance. But I certainly get that desire to be faster. Heck, I can't get my mom from racing on treadmills vs 20 somethings instead of training slower for gains on race day. But you continue to put in the good training, and you'll get what you want at the end.

 

[StacyStrong]

To be fair, that feeling/appearance of everyone training faster than you may not change as you continue to get faster. Because a large majority of people train too fast. But come race day, the hope is that your training methodology will pay off with that faster performance. But I certainly get that desire to be faster. Heck, I can't get my mom from racing on treadmills vs 20 somethings instead of training slower for gains on race day. But you continue to put in the good training, and you'll get what you want at the end.

I know I definitely trained too fast previously!

I get it. I do. But it also makes it harder to stay slow and easy when all I want to do is burst out.

 

[StacyStrong]

New Shoe Friday!
Testing these out tomorrow. Fingers crossed they work out and I don't need to return them!

 

[DopeyBadger]

I know I definitely trained too fast previously!

I get it. I do. But it also makes it harder to stay slow and easy when all I want to do is burst out.

No worries. It's very common to feel that way early on in the plan. Then you start the bust out workouts, and then you're SO happy when those easy days show up on the day's plan. And then, we build on those bust out days and make them more busty and more complicated and more fun!

 

[StacyStrong]

I went for my first run in my new shoes yesterday. It was a 2.5 mile easy run. My feet kind of hurt. They are new (new brand, new everything) so I'm going to give it a couple runs to see how they feel.

The run itself has nothing special to report. My heart rate was good throughout and my legs felt good.

 

[StacyStrong]

@DopeyBadger I am looking at my upcoming runs and it shows Saturday as including a 2x2 interval set @105/30sec @12:49/18:00 paces w/ 2 min RI

Would that be:
105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces
105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces

+ 2m RI

105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces
105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces

Or should those 15:30/18:00 paces for the interval be at 30/30?

Also, for future reference, would a 2x3 be:

105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces
105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces
105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces

+ 2m RI

105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces
105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces
105/30 sec @ 12:49/18:00
60/30 sec @ 15:30/18:00 paces

Or would it be the same as 2x2, but adding an extra RI and "set". I am SO bad at figuring out which number is the "set" and which is the "repetition" I know, this is pretty basic lol

---------

My 2 mile easy pace run yesterday went pretty well. It was hot as sin though. Ugh. I still don't love my new shoes, but they did feel better. I'm giving them the week to see if breaking them in a bit more solves the problem. Otherwise, I'll return for something else!

I went to an indoor trampoline park on Sunday with my nephew (1.5yo) and sister. Let me tell you, that is a LOT more of a workout than I anticipated.

 

[DopeyBadger]

So it should be read as follows:

# miles of easy + (# of sets) X (# of times you'll do 105 seconds per set) w/ (amount of rest between sets) + # miles of easy

------------

2.5 mile @ Easy + 2 x 2 interval set @ 105/30 sec @ 12:00/18:00 paces w/ 2 min RI + 1 mile @ Easy

2.5 miles @ Easy (60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)
+
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
+
2 min Resting Interval (which can either be walking at 18:00, or 60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)
+
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
+
1 mile @ Easy (60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)

So the 2x2 interval set means do a 105/30 and then another 105/30, then take a break, then do a sequence of two again.

-----------


The next one would be:

2.5 mile @ Easy + 2 x 3 interval set @ 105/30 sec @ 12:00/18:00 paces w/ 3 min RI + 1 mile @ Easy

2.5 miles @ Easy (60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)
+
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
+
3 min Resting Interval (which can either be walking at 18:00, or 60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)
+
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
+
1 mile @ Easy (60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)


----------

Another example is:

3 mile @ Easy + 3 x 3 interval set @ 105/30 sec @ 12:00/18:00 paces w/ 5 min RI + 1 mile @ Easy

3 miles @ Easy (60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)
+
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
+
5 min Resting Interval (which can either be walking at 18:00, or 60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)
+
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
+
5 min Resting Interval (which can either be walking at 18:00, or 60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)
+
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
105 seconds at 12:00
30 seconds at 18:00
+
1 mile @ Easy (60/30 @ 15:30/18:00)

 

[StacyStrong]

Thannnnkkkk you.
I definitely read your email wrong so I'm glad I asked !


(and I did mean 12:00, not 12:49, I looked at two different lines when I was retyping it )

 

[StacyStrong]

2.5 miles today at easy. Goal is 16:14.
T+D = 138 today.

I ran 2.55 with average pace of 16:11.

My heart rate was a little higher than I would like it to be, but I couldn't get myself to slow down. I even took some slightly longer walk breaks to slow myself a bit because of T+D, but just couldn't stay slow enough.

Unfortunately, I think my new shoes are going to have to go. They cause some achilles and ankle pain. I don't think there's enough support in them. I pronate JUST slightly. These are neutral cushion shoes. My prior ones were "support" (but on the lower end of the spectrum) and I think these just aren't supportive enough.

 

[StacyStrong]

I am here with some bipolar updates.

Saturday 5/18
It was HOT. Temperature at the end of my run was 83 and Dew Point 64. I was not at all ready for the heat and really suffered.

Side note: There was also a Walk for Disabled Veterans going on at the park I run at, so there were a bunch of people and posters of fallen servicemen/women.

I was supposed to start with a 2.5 mile easy run with an average pace of 16:15. I actively went slower due to the heat, but my heart rate was still WAY too high.

Next, I was supposed to do a 2 x 2 interval set @ 105/30 sec @ 12:00/18:00 paces w/ 2 min RI. All I can say about this is that..I did it? Except I *think* I did it way too fast. Time math isn't my thing, but my average pace was 13:15. I walked the 2 min RI. My watch says I did most of those 12:00 intervals in the 11 minute range.

At this point I was BEAT. I had a sunburn. I was hot. I was tried. I was frustrated at how hot and tired I was. I still had a mile cool down at easy to go. I did this the best I could, but honestly I quit at half a mile and walked the rest of the way back to my car. I was miserable. I felt pretty awful the rest of the day with a massive headache that I am pretty sure was caused by the heat/my sunburn. WOOPS.

I also celebrated my boyfriend's mom's 50th birthday on Saturday. It was nice but exhausting. They are Mexican and have super traditional parties and there is always a banda that comes and plays. It was fun, but clean up was not.

Monday, May 20th
The weather was SO much better. Perfect really. 55 degrees with a 40 degree dew point.
Today's run was DRASTICALLY better. It was just a 2.5 mile easy run with a goal of 16:15, but it felt SO much better than Saturday, even the warm up easy run on Saturday. My heart rate was consistently low (except for a hill or two where it spiked) and I could have gone much much longer. I kept this run mostly blind to try and see if I could get a feel for pace without staring at my watch. It went pretty well. The first mile was a bit slow, and the second a bit fast, but overall I was super close to hitting the target.

I still don't love my shoes, though they aren't hurting as much. I would say I am probably 80% sure I will exchange them. They have less than 15 miles on them currently so I don't feel too bad about it, but it still seems weird to return shoes to me! The next couple weeks are super busy, This coming Saturday, a couple friends and I are going to the Russian Team room for an Afternoon Tea. Super excited.

 

[StacyStrong]

First things first.

I returned the Mizuno Waveknits. Not. A. Fan. Not at all. They were very unpleasant. Instead, I went back to the running store and picked up the Ravenna 10's. I had no issues in the 9s and the 10s felt good in the store. I ran in them today with no issues!

Wednesday, May 22nd

I really don't remember anything about this run. It was probably hot? Goal Pace was 16:15 and distance was supposed to be 2.5

Saturday, May 25th
This run started with 1 mile easy @16:15. Then I moved into a 2x2 interval set @10k paces with a 2 minute resting interval. Finally, I moved into a .5 mile cool down at easy 16:15. I broke this into three workouts to get a better idea of pacing (no lap counter on my watch with runkeeper).

WU:

Went fine. Killed it at the pacing.

2z2 Interval Set:

Not going to lie, this was HARD. I think I may have went too fast, but I can't tell because I am bad at math. My 10k pace should have been 12:58, but I walked the resting interval. Blah blah, numbers. I finished though!

CD:

A little fast. Probably because I was coming down from the 10k pacing

Notes: It was, again, hot. T+D = 144. Overall, I think it went pretty well, considering. That 10k pace was certainly hard for me though.

After the race, I met up with my cousin and friend. Both also run. We went to an afternoon tea and then to the running store together (where I picked up the Ravenna 10s). This was super delicious and awesome.

Monday, May 27th:

I made my boyfriend come with me on this run. I learned a lot. First, he is so fast. Rude. He never runs. However, he is awful at pacing and he only ran 2.2 miles to my 3.06. We didn't run together because he is 10 inches taller than me and can't physically run at my easy pace. This was an easy day with a goal of 16:15, so a little fast, but felt good. I ran in my new shoes. No issues.


Next Up: Registering for the Princess Fairy Tale Challenge with early registration and 3 more runs: Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

 

[StacyStrong]

@DopeyBadger, just out of curiosity, is there any way of telling if you're making gains during a training cycle? It's early in mine, so I'm really just wondering. Or is it one of those things where you should wait until after the cycle ends and then reassess at the end?