Not a big week mileage-wise, but big things did indeed happen - this weekend I completed my first ULTRA, Way Too Cool 50k. I had a blast and totally surprised myself with my performance. More than anything though, it was a huge confidence booster for AR 50 and I finally believe that I can and will run 50 miles next month!
Monday
Rest.
Tuesday
4 miles, 8:57 avg pace. My schedule was different than usual which totally threw me off and I overslept, so I only had time for 4 miles. I started out a bit faster than usual and the pace felt uncomfortable so I slowed a bit the last couple miles, but I managed to hang on to the sub-9 pace.
Wednesday
5.1 miles, 9:18 avg pace. Nothing special here, just another quick run before work. Had toyed with getting up earlier and doing a few more but the snooze button was too tempting : )
Thursday
Rest. Wavered back and forth all week about how much I should run since my first 50k was on Saturday. Should I take it easy on the mileage and rest, or do my usual and aim for a peak mileage week? In the end, I took an extra rest day (3 instead of 2) and it must have paid off because the race went great!
Friday
Rest. Had the day off and spent as much time off my feet as possible. It was an absolutely beautiful day with clear skies and temps in the 70s (hello, spring!), perfect conditions for a run, but I resisted and just took it easy.
Saturday
31 miles, 13:00 avg pace, Way Too Cool 50k. Race report to come asap, but to sum it up it was INCREDIBLE!!
Rest. I had hoped to fit in a short recovery run after work to keep my legs loose. I actually felt pretty good after WTC, but I was dead tired (especially with the time change). I got up early anyway and headed to midtown to spectate at the 5k mark of the Shamrock'n Half Marathon (put on by my work) since a bunch of my coworkers were racing. I managed to catch nearly all of them and had so much fun being on the other side of a race! Is it weird that I got kind of emotional a couple times? I think there's just something about seeing others striving toward a goal, be it a beginner runner conquering a new distance or a seasoned runner hunting for a PR, I can't help but think about everything it took to get them to that moment, mid-race, and imagine what they are feeling. Put me at a finish line and I tear up every time!
♣ lots of festive green out there ♣
my coworker, Julia, zooming by!
I am so proud of you!!!!!! Oh my goodness, how did I not realize you were doing your first Ultra the same day I was doing my first "beyond a marathon" distance?! Awwwww! I love it!
ReplyDeleteCannot wait to hear your race report. I am so proud of you!
13:00 pace?! That's incredible! Congrats!
ReplyDelete31 miles .... 13:00 pace ... both incredible! I'd be down for a long time after that, and you were looking to get out there for a recovery run. Mucho impressed!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like another good training week and a great race! And your new confidence before your 50 miler is probably the most important development of the week. I've never run close to that far, but I'm sure you will need all the mental toughness you can get.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear all the details of the 50k!
Amazing. That's what you are. :) I want details.
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