After an indulgent vacation, and slacking off on working out after a disappointing marathon and half marathon in October, it is high time to refocus and set my sights on a BQ (Boston qualifying) race again.
And what perfect time to set in place a tough workout challenge than smack dab in the middle of a busy, stressful, frantic, holiday season? Seriously - when did seven family Christmas/Holiday gatherings become the norm? Because it is in our house. Plus work parties, getting together with friends...it is a good thing I found this gem while on vacation:
Quotes from the book:
"Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home."
"Sometimes too much to drink is barely enough."
"People really act weird at Christmas time! What other time of year do you sit in front of a dead tree in the living room and eat nuts and sweets out of your socks?"
"People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between New Year and Christmas."
Ironic, right? Calm and Christmas just don't go together. To try to make things easier this year, I tried to convince our family and friends to move to Iowa as to avoid multiple (expensive) weekends driving up North - but for some reason, they all declined.
Alas - in order to try to keep calm (and carry on), I have devised the below workout plan for December 1st through 25th.
Monday - Tempo run (6-9 miles total)
Tuesday - Mid distance (8-10 miles total)
Wednesday - AM: Rest or Weights + swim (bonus workout), PM: Spin (I teach this class)
Thursday - Speed (6-8 miles total)
Friday - AM: ABC Circuit (I teach this class), PM: Rest or Swim (bonus workout)
Saturday - Long run (10+ miles)
Sunday - Mid distance easy (6-8 miles total)
This plan would give me a total of 36 - 48 miles per week, two strength training sessions and a possible bonus of two trips to the pool (I always say I am going to start swimming again, but never do. Hopefully this time around I can stick to it).
I got started off on the right foot (or left, I can't remember. Ha.) yesterday with a 90+ minute run (no watch or garmin) at 5:30PM. On the Kewash trail. In the dark.
It was all fun and games until I ran into three sets of eyes and couldn't determine what animal they belonged to (deer or coyote?) and then things really got interesting when I scared two raccoons. One scampered into the woods and the other stood its ground and barked/growled at me. Hmmm, yea - trail running at night, alone, with a not-bright-enough flashlight is not going to happen again.
So, here's to 25 days of getting back on track!
One odd benefit of moving very far from home...much easier holiday season! Although we'll be home shortly after the holidays and have the stress of it then - less stress, but still a lot of driving!
ReplyDeleteAnd yay, I would have probably freaked out on that trail run. I get lost in my own head when running and that isn't exactly good in the dark as I have a crazy active imagination! Glad you survived and just pretend they were all deer eyes!
raccoons always freak me out. Never know if they're the mean ones or the friendly ones.
ReplyDeleteI have a really sweet head lamp (Petzel) and it sounds like you need one too! :)
ReplyDeleteHeadlamp or no headlamp please do not run alone on our glorious trails in the dark. As an Iowan who loves the trails I understand the appeal, no traffic, peaceful, etc. However I am also a prosecutor in Iowa and I never run on them alone in the dark. I know from professional experience it can be dangerous. Please be safe.
ReplyDeleteNot that your workout plan isn't exciting, but where are the Europe pics????
ReplyDelete