Week #1 of Marathon 7

Running was one of the things that got me through last winter.  I was dealing with mild depression last November and much of December mostly due to everything shutting down around me...and I had a lot of emotional stress from my job.  I didn't realize how much the emotional stress was feeding into other areas of my life until this fall...when I was in a more positive work environment.  I don't have the same kind of work stress anymore at all.  Although COVID is still very much present and the Omnicron variant sounds like a doomsday is about to hit--we are in a better place.  We have been able to resume mostly normal lives with some regulations or restrictions.  I reached a point where I don't care anymore and I am ready to move on with life.  

I feel more motivated to run again.  I did exercise throughout the summer but didn't really train for anything.  I did a 5K with the kids in September.  My exercise was not as consistent.  I would take a week or two off and then try to hit it hard again.  I had a pretty nasty cold in November.  Rob traveled a lot and that always makes scheduling more difficult.

I want to train for another marathon.  I was very spoiled last winter with being able to do long runs during the day.  I don't want to go back to the remote working at all...I didn't like not having a job description and dealing with certain coworkers.  But I did the like the time freedom.  This time around I will need to do early morning workouts.  Honestly I have not done early morning workouts consistently since 2019...maybe early 2020 but I can't remember.  It is going to be hard to restart that habit.  But I have to try.

My first week was a good start though.

Monday = Ran 5 miles with a pace of 10:06 in pouring rain!!  No break from the rain.

Tuesday = Hiked 5 miles with Matt in the Columbia River Gorge by Multnomah Falls.  Such a great hike!

Wednesday = Ran 4.03 miles with Emily from Riverfront to Minto with a pace of 9:50.  Again a lot of rain.

Thursday = 20 minutes of weights at the gym, stationary bike for 35 minutes at the gym

Friday (Christmas Eve) = Intervals...3 miles at Pringle School 6 laps with recovery in between

Saturday (Christmas Day) = Ran 10 miles at 10:18 pace!  Trying to outrun the snow storm.  Glad I got the run in before all the snow hit.

Sunday = Rest but enjoying the snow!

Pre Week

 I think I am going to train for the Tacoma Marathon.  And if it gets to be too much I will switch to the half.  It is relatively easy to switch distances without much hassle.

Training would officially start next week.  I'm a little worried about my knee and the extra mileage upsetting my ankle...and the general burn out.  I have to eat a lot better than I have been too.  I need to do a food diary and try to stay off sugar, soda, and other stuff I love...and should not eat.

Here's what I did this week:

Monday - Ran 4.50 miles with a pace of 9:58 in the morning

Tuesday - It was very very icy and the sidewalks and streets were slick.  I had to go slow.  I did five miles with an average pace of 11:05

Wednesday = Rest

Thursday = Ran 3.27 miles with an average pace of 10:24

Friday = Weights for 20 minutes and stationary bike for 35 minutes at the gym

Saturday = Long run.  Ran 8 miles (5 miles with a friend) with a pace of 10:32 in the morning.

Sunday = Intervals at Pringle School...about three miles.  Average pace about 9:59.  Pouring, pouring rain.  Not a break from the rain at all.