Sunday, February 10, 2013

Week 6: Losing my running mojo

This week was not a good week. Monday and I started off on the wrong foot which seemed to catapult into the rest of the week. My feet have been sore all week and I just felt like my running mojo was lost in translation somewhere…..I know that this too shall pass. Everybody is bound to have a crappy week like mine. Hopefully by getting rested up over the weekend I can head into the coming work with a better 'tude.

I have no idea why my feet hurt so badly. They literally feel like they are bleeding. I know, I have said it before and I realize that I am being overly dramatic, but they ache constantly. No, I don’t even wear high heels to work anymore. This girl only wears flats.

Monday
I dreaded this workout all day. 6 x 1200 repeats with a 4 minute recovery jog.

Tuesday
I had a great FGF workout with a mini breakthrough! I was finally able to use the 45# KB for KBS. Woohoo! That sucker is a heavy one! I am always nervous that I am going to swing up too fast and topple over backwards. Anyone else ever feel that way?!

After FGF I went straight home and did my form drills (40 second run, 20 second walk x 10), stretched, foam rolled and then knocked out 25 minutes of core work.

I would say that Tuesday was a fitness success!

Wednesday
35 minute threshold run. All I have to say is BLAH! I honestly don’t know where in the heck my head was, but I started this run out waaaaaay to slow to maintain my T pace of 7:00-7:05. My first mile was in the range of 7:30-7:40. I had to haul as* the last 2 miles to hit my target of 5 miles in 35 minutes. Last two miles were at a 6:30 pace which did not feel comfortable. I was so glad to be done! Normally I start all of my runs at a much slower pace than my target and I have no problems switching into faster gears as the miles tick by. On Wednesday the gears just weren't working. I am finding that it is more difficult for me to gauge my pace right now. I used to be really good at it. Hopefully my "pace magic" comes back soon.

Finished off with a 1.5 mile cool down, stretching, foam rolling + 25 minutes of core work.

Thursday
FGF. This workout was kind of fun. It involved DUs which I am proud to say that I am getting much better at.

Went home and did 20 minutes of core. I was hungry and felt like I was already in recovery mode.

Friday
OFF!!!!

Saturday
16 miles (8 miles E pace, 8 miles M pace). This DID NOT happen. I honestly don't know what in the heck happened. I got plenty of sleep the night before and woke up refreshed and ready to run. I got bundled up in my layers of clothing and hit the roads thinking I was going to have a good day. I could tell a mile into my run that it was not going to be a good one. I only had three speeds: slow, slower & slowest. I hit mile 2 and my calves were aching. I actually stopped and texted my coach telling him that I was begging the run. In the end I finished out a very slow and painful 8 mile run. Not once did I even hit my target easy pace. There was no way I was going to have enough umph to turn over 7:30 miles for another 8 miles. It was awful!!!!!!!!!!
I can't remember the last time I wasn't able to finish a workout, especially a long run. To be honest I think it was back in 2008 when I was training for my first marathon. I had a 20 miler in August and started out too late in the day. The temperatures got to me so I called it quits.

Trying to not let this failed long run get to me, but at the same time it makes me nervous about Windermere in May. Will I even be ready for a marathon? Should I just stick to shorter distances and maybe take a shot at a fall marathon?

Sunday
Active Recovery. This also did not happen. Took the day off. Figured I needed to extra rest in order to regroup for the new week.

Questions for you:
What do you do when you lose your running mojo?
How do you come back from a failed long run?
Anyone run a valentine's day themed race over the weekend?

--Tasha

37 comments:

  1. I think you definitely were smart taking the day off today. Maybe your body needed it. When I lose my mojo, I definitely just try to stay positive and rest up, if I need it. Sometimes the rest helps my mind get focused again and my legs wanting to run. I'm sure that will be the case for you. I have no doubt you will be ready in may for a marathon if that's the course you decide to take. If you wait till fall, I don't think that's bad either. Just listen to your body the next few longer runs and see how you feel. Nice job the rest of the week though!

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    1. Thanks hon. I defintely felt like I needed the extra rest today. I slept in (10am!) and then was bum all day. Went to Macy's, Costco & Best Buy and then just read my book for the rest of the day. Hopefully I will be recharged for the new week! I am still planning on the marathon, it just makes me really nervous when I have a bad workout, especially on a long run as important as the one yesterday. It throws me for a loop and I hate that.

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  2. I agree with rest! I know you're used to being a speedy lil devil, but your body sometimes wants to play hookie I'm sure ;) you're doing awesome and maybe a little relaxation will help you press rewind and restart you!

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    1. I think that the rest I took over the weekend was well worth it. I did have two really hard runs during the week so maybe I just wasn't rested up enough. I feel like I have been going balls to wall for over a month now. After some retail therapy today and reading a good book I feel much better. Hope you had a great weekend sweets!

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  3. I say rest up and take a little time for you. I feel like I am searching so hard for my running mojo but I know I will find it!!! Feel better soon and you will be back 100% Erica

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    1. Some chick out there is swiping a lot of running mojo from people. You are the 2nd person to say that you are looking for yours too. Hopefully we can all find it soon. :-)

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  4. Tasha, you have not lost your mojo, your legs just want to rest for a couple of days :) Mine want to rest, just hearing about that crazy treadmill workout that you did on Tuesday. I wouldn't worry about it, you'll be back to normal in no time :)

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    1. I hope so! I woke up feeling pretty refreshed this morning. I am ready to tackle the new training week with a positive attitude and refreshed legs.

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  5. Oh Tasha, to be honest, I don't think I'd even recognize if I didn't finish a workout, because it's so normal for me to just decided, "Hey, I'm just not into this today," and quit...then I don't even think of it as "not finishing," because I DID finish what I felt like finishing for that day! I think it's certainly a personality difference, and also probably why you're so dang fast and I'm so dang mediocre. But, I certainly can promise you that giving yourself some grace, shrugging, and moving on, is certainly called for in this situation!

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    1. Thanks Becky. After Saturday morning and my vent fest/temper tantrum I took a chill pill. My coach also gave me a pep talk and told me to stop being such a head case and relax. :-)

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  6. i think your body just wanted a little extra rest. i know i lose my mojo a little more often then i would like in my current plan but i am sure you will be more then ready for the may marathon!

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    1. I think my body just needed to extra rest too. I feel much better today. Here is to what hopefully is a fantastic week!

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  7. I'm so sorry you had such a tough week. I definitely have runs like the long run you describe, except my starting point is worse than yours so my slow is really slow! I never understand what the problem is either, I just feel like my legs are not talking to the rest of my body and certainly not cooperating with it. Fortunately it rarely happens consecutive weeks. I hope this week is better for you!

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    1. I am going into today with a better attitude and feeling more refreshed. Hopefully it means that I will have a good week. I occasionally have a rough week, it is bound to happen, but at least week definitely took the cake!

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  8. Tasha, you really are amazing, fail week or not. I think it was probably wise to take the extra day off too. :)
    When I was running the most I felt great and then after a few months my body almost felt like it had peaked. My runs after that were not great and I felt very tired ALL of the time. So, I actually took a break from running. I will do it every now and again, but still don't feel up to par when I run. I do miss it though :)

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    1. Thanks Brandi. I think that extra rest did me some good both mentally and physically. I am ready for this week, I will win! :-)

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  9. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, you are doing amazing coming back from your injury, there aregoingto be days the mojo is taking a rest, but it will be back, it is also important to listen to your body and give it rest when it needs it. I know yesterday I took it easy on the elliptical instead of heading out for a run like I normally would. You are amazing fast, be patient it will come!

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    1. That is exactly what my coach said. He might have called me a head case too. I really am my own worst critic. Something I need to work on.

      I think that I have just been going full force and my body just really needed the rest. I had a runner tell me that they didn't know why I was so tired that I am barely even running right now. I was like, really?! Are you kidding me? I didn't even know what to say after that.

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  10. Let me just start by saying you already KNOW everything I'm about to say. OK, now that we cleared that up... everyone has crappy days/weeks/months even. It happens. Not every run is sunshine and unicorns and sprinkles. Doesn't make you any less of a badass. In fact, eventually-- it'll make you even more of BA b/c you're learning how to handle them and pick yourself back up and move on. Which, really-- is all you can do. Some runs suck. Just like some days suck. Some people suck. Some resturants suck. Nothing is perfect all the time. It's impossible. Just think about it this way-- you got the crummy week outta the way. Now you're due for a great week. And, then maybe another... naaaaah-- let's not think about that yet! :)

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    1. Meagan you should seriously be a motivational speaker! :-)
      Here is to hoping that this week is all sparkles, sprinkles, puppies and unicorns. For the both of us.

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  11. Sorry you had such a tough week. It's a bad feeling, I know. I have one thought in reading this--is it possible for you to switch your FGF classes to the same days as your hard runs? I know it's a lot to cram in, but then on your recovery days, you can truly recover. I've been doing it this way and it seems to work for me.

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    1. Thanks Amanda. Your advice means a lot and the article was very helpful. Made me think about a lot of things I can tweek in my training to allow more recovery. Matt texted me and said I could take the whole wk off if I wanted. I am not going to, but I am going to scale back and take a much needed breather.

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  12. Oh, I'm so sorry about the rough week! I had a few of those in marathon training, too... and skipped a long run. In the big picture, it's not going to hurt anything. Way to go on your speedy 35 minute tempo- wow!

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    1. Thanks Laura. I always expect to feel some fatigue in marathon training, I think that is normal. I was just shocked to experience it so soon. Going to take it easy this week and regroup.

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  13. Running mojo is completely lost. I say we just call this the february hump, and all overcome it together. Hope you're feet start feeling better soon!

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    1. I think we should live closer and drown our running sorrows in martinis! :-)

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  14. This happens to me once during marathon training too. i lose my mojo without warning. And then it comes back.
    You were smart to back off. I think your body was signaling that you need rest. I hope this week you are full of energy again.
    -Angie H

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    1. I think losing some mojo in marathon training is normal just because it is a long time to be training for something. I was just surprised to lose it so soon into my training. Hopefully it comes back this week. My run last night was okay, but I am taking a couple of steps back this week in hopes that it will be a refreshment for me.

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  15. Okay sweet friend; I feel like I can say this because I have recently (last year) gone through this and see the symptoms. As I look back on your weeks of training it is in my humble opinion that you are not giving yourself enough rest time. I know you took Sunday off too and it was suppose to be an active recovery and if that is the case I don't think one day a week of rest is really enough. Sometimes less is more; especially when you are working on getting the miles in. Listen to your body; it tells us in different ways it is overused. How is your emotional state? Physiological state? What does your coach say about it?
    I'm just worried about you. When I was training for my tri I ended up taking four days off in a row. Psychologically I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin but it was the BEST thing I could have done for my body and after that I redesigned my training plan to include more rest and more quality not necessarily quantity workouts....does that make sense at all?
    I pray this week you find rest and your mojo! It hasn't gone far!!!

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    1. I completely agree with you Marnee, but it helps to have someone else say it to me as well. Emotionally I feel like a train wreck right now just because I am not happy in the professional arena. I come home super stressed out and then I have to run or go to FGF. I also think my paces that Matt gave me are way off. I have asked him before and he said that they weren't. I just have a hard time believing that my paces can be almost identical to what they were this time last year. I mean I was training for a 3:10-3:15 marathon. I will be lucky to break 3:18 at Windermere and that is even in his words. I just feel like every workout is hard. Like I can't catch my breath and I can barely finish a repeat. I didn't feel like this last year. :(

      I am taking it easy this week, hopefully it is what I need. Just a little reset.

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    2. I hope so too sweet one. Maybe do a search on overtraining..there are a lot of good articles out there on the subject and that might help bring some perspective. Sometimes a week off now saves a racing season of "just not feeling right" I'll be praying for you and more then anything try and make what you are doing fun! That is what I tell my girl when she gets down on herself on the soccer field.
      I tell her she has the wrong set of glasses on...she needs to look at ALL she is CAPABLE of doing and relish it. There are thousands of people that would give anything just to walk and the fact she can run and play a game she loves is a treasure.
      So Tasha; think of the treasure and SMILE; you are blessed beyond measure and YOU are an AMAZING ATHLETE!!!! Enjoy the ride you are going to rock all you do; that is just who you are!!!

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    3. I am actually feeling pretty good today. I took Tuesday off as well and didn't go to FGF. I felt so guilty because I am paying for it, but after looking at the workout I realized that it wasn't going to enhance anything and that perhaps the extra rest would be good. I had a fairly decent easy run last night (until my garmin died!) and I feel like I am starting to feel better.

      I love the advice that you gave your daughter. You are such a good mom! Thank you for the uplifting words too, you made my day. I am so lucky to be able to call you my friend! XXXX

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  16. Awww...
    I am sorry that you kind of had a craptastic week.
    :(
    It is definitely a good thing that you took some extra rest days.
    Do you feel like you are pushing yourself too hard?
    Or maybe you need to drop the planned stuff and just hit the pavement with some tunes and run!
    I think it is possible to take away the love of the sport if every single day is planned out for you.
    Don't take a break from running, just try taking a break from training ;)
    {Hugs}

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    1. In a way I don't think I am pushing myself too hard, but a lot of the time I find myself questioning the paces. I have emailed Matt before and asked him if they were correct and he has said yes. I just find it hard to believe that I can run the same pace that I did this time last year when I was on course for a 3:10 marathon. The runs and paces just seem hard. I can't keep up!

      I am using this week as a step back week. I will still workout, I just won't have any huge expectations. Hopefully I just need that.

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  17. i'm so sorry it sucked....BUT...it was just an off week. and that's okay. the crappy ones make you really appreciate the good ones. and you will be okay for the marathon! no worries! hugs!

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth, the crappy weeks definitely make me appreciate the good weeks. Only makes me stronger right?

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  18. Clearly, I've lost my running mojo a few times over the last year and a half! For me it always seems to come back to me trying to recreate my old running mojo. But I was a different person back then and I need to make running work for who I am NOW. I seem to have to remember/re-learn this lesson A LOT! I believe yours was probably just a bit sleepy ;) Cheering for you!

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