Creativity and Balance: the goal of this trainging cycle

Before I drive myself totally crazy, I need to start thinking out of the box a little to get the most out of my training plan. It is frustrating to say the least, when I start looking at the upcoming weekends and can not think of one weekend where I do not have some sort of commitment at least one day and in some cases both days are busy. Unfortunately I am not talking about the next couple of weeks, but rather the next few months! This is not meant to be a complaint, I will be doing all sorts of things (some fun and some work related); running a swim meet, working a race, watching my daughter's gymnastics meet, work meetings and the list goes on. This is life and not one I would change. Yes, it would be nice to have the weekends off so I could run anytime I wanted but that is not my reality.

There are lots of different training plans out there for everything from a 5K to a 100 mile trail run. Thanks to Google, I found, what I think, is a very reasonable plan for my 50 miler in June from Running World (50 miler training plan). Basically it calls for Mondays and Fridays off, Tuesday and Thursday tempo/speed work, easy Wednesdays and two long runs on the weekend, starting 16 weeks out from the event. Not too bad, easy to follow, reasonable build up, should be very manageable. BUT, it doesn't take into consideration my crazy weekend/work schedule or life in general.

This weekend was week 1 of my training plan, calling for a 90 minute run on Saturday and 3 hours on Sunday. I had a great week running, getting in 34 miles (the best week I have had in weeks!), I was excited about finding a flicker (the beginnings of a new running spark) and getting started with my "official" training. However this weekend like so many others was busy (and COLD) and I didn't run. Saturday I was working until 4:30 and then went out to dinner with my husband and girls. Again on Sunday I was up early and worked until 1:00. Tired, I took a nap with the thought that I would get out for a 6-7 mile run when I got up (as a friend said, naps fix just about everything!). But in the end I again chose to spend time with one of the kids; we got ice cream, went to the grocery store and just hung out together for a while, something we rarely seem to have the time to do. It was a busy, but good weekend, even if I didn't run.

With this plan, the weekday runs maintain roughly the same milage all the way through, but the goal of the weekend runs is to systematically increase the time on your legs; starting with 90 minutes per run and building to 5 1/2 hour long runs. One weekend when a 4 hour run is planned I have decided to run the Rock and Roll USA Marathon, I figured why run 4 plus hours on my own, when I can run with thousands of others through streets of DC. Additionally I hope to find some new routes along the local trails and to run different segments along the WO&D.  

I hope to get in as many of my long runs as possible, but realize that with my busy schedule I am going to have to miss some. I will probably run more some weeks and less other weeks but I am going to have to be creative to make sure I get in as many of the longer run as I can. I am going to have to be flexible and to switch up the days of my long runs. I am going to have to adapt and know that in the end I will do the best that I can and I will finish my race. I have to believe I can do it and not let myself get discouraged when it is too cold to run, I work all weekend or I choose to spend a little extra time with my family. At the end of the day and at the end of the race, I know I have to find creative ways to balance all aspects of my life and I am going to enjoy my journey!

Needing a New Spark

Next weekend, February 16-17, marks the first "official" week of my training cycle for the North Face 50 miler, set for Saturday June 1. And I must admit I am starting to feel a bit apprehensive. The last few weeks I have not trained like I had intended to. My plan had been to run regularly during the week and then build up my weekend runs to 16 plus miles. Well, that just hasn't happened.

Unusually cold/icy weather and a busy work schedule have led to a recent lack of motivation and lower milage than I had hoped for. Like anytime I take a break, getting back to a regular schedule is always tough, but for me the cold weather is only making it more difficult.

If you know me at all you probably know I am not a fan of the cold weather. In fact I hate being cold more than just about anything. Add waking up at 5:00 am, heading out the door to hit the road by 5:30 am is almost unimaginable and even a little nutty.

Sometime, though, it is not the cold that keeps me from running, but my crazy, wacky schedule, especially on the weekends. January and February are typically very busy months for me. Nearly every weekend I am working an event; a swim meet, a gymnastics meet or a 5K for =PR=. In all cases, I enjoy my work and love being a part of such events, but it does often mean that I have to skip a run or two.

I know that, just like I tell my kids, the first couple of runs back are always the hardest. And I know I need to just get out there and run and within a week, I will be back to "normal". I know an early morning run with my friends always start my day out right. It will only take a few days and a few runs to get back in the swing of things and I know I will be ready to train and ready for the 50 miler when the time comes. I just need the spark to get myself going again!

I will find that spark, I will run tomorrow and I will start my training cycle this weekend. Sure, I will miss some runs, here and there, but I will keep trying to get out there and I will succeed! I will train hard and have fun and on June 1 I will cross the finish line of the North Face 50 miler side by side with the Honey Badgers and know that I found my spark!