Happy Friday! I hope everyone has a fun weekend planned.
I have to work for at least a good chunk of the day, why aren’t banks closed?! Then we are heading off to the beach for the weekend. It may be a short trip, but I am really looking forward to it!
I can’t wait to be there! Now!
As you all know from reading my recap of last week, it was a rough one for me. I completed my workout but had to cut my tempo run short because I just didn’t have it in me.
Even though I know it’s not the end of the world, I really wanted to have some redemption this week when it came to my tempo specifically.
Hansons plan focuses pretty heavily on cumulative fatigue; it’s going to make you run tough workouts, tempo runs and long runs on tired legs. This is one of the big reasons I believe that I felt so good during my last marathon, but it can get very tiring.
Going into this week I made a game plan and made a few changes that I thought would help me both physically and mentally. Aside from being tired from running, I also knew I had a very long week coming up with quarter end.
Easy Easy Easy Days
If you follow the plan exactly, even your easy days have a desired pace range. I knew that sometimes I push myself too hard because of this.
This week I decided that on Monday and Wednesday I would just run and see what my body wanted to do. If it was slower than the “desired pace range” then so be it.
I ended up actually staying in range, but I didn’t stress about the easy paces as I have in the past and looked at my watch a whole lot less.
Tempo Tuesday
I knew I wanted to try to have a good tempo run this week, so instead of sitting around thinking about it all week I decided to do my tempo run on Tuesday morning. I either would end up running my tempo on tired legs or my workout, either way there is benefit.
I lucked out as well because since my husband’s schedule has now changed he was able to help pace me for the 6 mile tempo. Win!
Treadmill Option
I knew I would be tired going into my work out on Thursday morning. I didn’t want to opt out of doing my work out outside, but I already came to terms that if I needed to I would jump on the treadmill Thursday morning.
I always make sure, unless the weather acts up; that I do my tempo runs outside. I am really trying to get most work outs done outside as well this time around, but try to give myself a little more leeway.
Thankfully, I didn’t end up having to use it but having it as a backup option helped me not stress quite as much.
Increased Core and Strength Training
I’ve been incorporating this over the past 2-3 weeks but have been in a pretty big rut. This week I said enough was enough and am making it a focus to do core work and strength training every day. It doesn’t mean it has to take an hour. So far this week I have spent about 15-20 minutes every morning after my run doing it.
I am already seeing the benefits from it.
I could have gone into this week with the same plan as always, and it might have worked! However, I know all too well how I work and I knew having even small changes would mentally help me.
Do you ever make training changing plans?
Do you do workouts on the treadmill?
I am sure you have already mentioned them before, but do you have a link or a list of what core and strength training exercises you do when you do it daily for those 15-20 minutes?
I really just switch it up depending on how I’m feeling. Crunches, bicycle crunches, planks, bridges, v-ups, etc. I also add in squats, lunges, and some upper body weights every other day depending on what my run is the following day. Nothing crazy but I try for 15-20 minutes as often as I can. Some weeks are better than others!
Okay, thank you!!
I wish I had the home treadmill option for severe weather days. That is a nice backup to have. Although I can always go to the gym and use the treadmills there, somehow it would be nicer to have it in my house. Typically I try to do all my workouts on the road, but use a treadmill when needed.
I start my Hanson’s plan this coming week. However, I am actually considering doing cross training on some Monday’s instead of the prescribed recovery run. I think having 2 days off per week occasionally will help me mentally, and the cross training will help me from injury (I had shin splints at the end of the cycle last fall). I won’t do this every week, but on weeks where I am struggling with either motivation or tired legs.
~ Run with joy!
Good luck on your training! I think you have to learn what works for you and go with it. Some people never take a rest day (my husband) but that just doesn’t work for me and leads to burn out and injuries so I’ve slowly figured out what works for my body. Everyone is different!
What core and strength training exercises do you do?
I really just switch it up depending on how I’m feeling. Crunches, bicycle crunches, planks, bridges, v-ups, etc. I also add in squats, lunges, and some upper body weights every other day depending on what my run is the following day. Nothing crazy but I try for 15-20 minutes as often as I can. Some weeks are better than others!