Monday, 10/26:
Full-body weights
45 minutes on the elliptical in zone 1 (approx. 125 bpm)
This was the first indicator that I was a bit under the weather. The weight routine I did is the easiest one in my rotation -- and I felt like I had cement running through my veins with every rep. What is usually a quick and exhilarating couple of circuits in what I privately refer to as the "old and fat people's room" turned into a long, hard push. Apt punishment for my snide feelings about this room, although it's true that most of the folks working out in there are either senior citizens or clearly fighting the battle of the bulge. Which makes me wonder how effective the circuit training machinery is ...
I hoped an interlude on the elliptical trainer would feel like a welcome respite after my troublesome weightlifting session, but no dice. All in all, it was a hard workout that left me wondering what was going on with my body.
Tuesday, 10/27:
9-mile run
Wow, why couldn't I remember a single thing about this run? I actually had to leave this day blank and move on to the rest of the week before any details came to mind. I think all the runs are starting to blend together. Now that I can remember it, I can say this one wasn't bad but I did feel tired. SuperAthlete J and I started out together; she stopped after 5 miles because she needed to get to a cycling class across town (yet another example of her utter bad-ass-osity). I did the remaining 4 on my own and man, they felt long. My energy was pretty good but I couldn't wait to get the distance done with. It's funny, I keep thinking that these shorter runs are going to feel like a piece of cake after running distances that are twice as long ... but I'm almost always wrong. Maybe it's a problem with my mindset or something? That no matter how short the run is, I psyche myself out so the last chunk feels hard? If that's the case, perhaps I should start pretending that I'm running much farther than I actually plan to go; then I'll be done before I start in with my self-induced suffering. Something to think about ...
Wednesday, 10/28:
Intervals on the track, 4 miles total
Because I was still not feeling entirely myself, I began this workout assuming that I'd have to take it easy. Wonderful husband M came along with me and as we pulled up to the track, I told him that I was going to stick with him that night (he's not a runner and has a slower pace on the sprints). Somehow, I found some energy and managed to get around moderately quickly -- but not nearly as fast as I usually go. Again, I walked away wondering if and when I was going to come down with the bug I was so clearly fighting. I also did a lot of thinking about the article I read recently regarding exercise and immunity ... I figured that, as long as I stayed in my fat-burning zones, I was probably giving myself an immunity boost during my workouts. But really pushing it during the sprints around the track probably didn't do much for my ability to ward off sickness. I went to bed feeling achy and hoping I'd manage to sleep off whatever bug I had lurking around.
Thursday, 10/29:
Upper-body weights
45 minutes on the treadmill in super-low zone 1 (105 bpm)
The weights felt a bit easier today but I got another red flag during the cardio portion of my workout: I had to bring the treadmill speed all the way down to 1.2 mph to keep my heart rate anywhere near 105. It was really all I could do to stay under 110. I reminded myself that I was probably helping my immune system with a low-key workout but was still a little discouraged by how slowly I needed to move to stay at my desired heart rate.
Friday, 10/30:
14-mile run
Again, I thought this run would feel relatively easy -- especially after completing 18 the week before -- but again, I was wrong. It was definitely a push. Fortunately, I had SAJ with me and she, as always, was nothing but charming and inspiring. We did our usual hilly loops, chatting for the first one and plugging into our iPods for the second. It was a really blustery day and I took a page from SAJ's book by telling myself that all the extra resistance was great for my training; that if the wind was blowing like crazy on marathon day, I'd be prepared. Fortunately, wind was the only weather issue -- we got through the whole run without any rain. Although I was happy to get to the end of the run, it also reminded me that next week brings the longest run on the training calendar: 20 miles (gulp).
Saturday, 10/31:
Rest
What a wonderful, wonderful day -- and perfect timing for a rest day. Little C and I woke up early, went to coffee (well, steamed milk for her), then tramped through the Arboretum admiring the leaves and wildlife. Then it was soccer, a visit with Sisters A and M (and exposure to the swine flu; more on that later), Halloween prep, dinner with friends, trick-or-treating and candy eating. Heaven. And I was finally starting to feel a bit more like myself.
Sunday, 11/1:
4.5-mile run
Planning to run first and do weights at the gym later, I cajoled Husband M into joining me for a short run by telling him that the first section of the route was downhill and the rest was flat. Good sport that he is, he came along but I think he regretted his decision after the first mile. Nevertheless, he stuck it out -- taking a rest break when he needed to, but starting right back up after a minute or so. It was a gorgeous day and I felt so happy to be out in it, exercising with my own wonderful good-natured husband. But after all that goodness, the sense of sickly lethargy that had been dogging me all week came rumbling back and I decided to skip the weights so I could stay home, relax and enjoy the remainder of the day with our girls. Which was good because shortly after I made the decision, Sister A called to say that knocked-up Sister M was spending the night in the hospital with a probable case of swine flu, and could we take their dog Ruby for the night? Of course we could ... and so began our wait to see if one of us would catch her bug. What a sickness-filled fall this is!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment