Hi!
I didn’t mean to write Wednesday’s post and then disappear, but — such is life! I just finished a call week (weekdays only) and it was busier and a little more stressful than average. On the plus side, I had a lovely resident with me and I didn’t have to cover nights! I get one call week per year like this, and it’s glorious compared to regular call.
I am sad I didn’t have time for a 5 on Friday post, but I wanted to highlight this podcast/book anyway:
Edit Your Life: “Workplace MicroSkills with Adaira Laundry MD and Resa Lewiss MD“. Perfect timing after my post about women in the productivity space — I just ordered their book! I could see it working well for a health system book club in my own workplace . . . we will see.
Also! I was initially slightly annoyed that school (Cameron’s class specifically) held a Mother’s Day event on a work day BUT it ended up being so sweet and I was able to just head in a little later since it was a call day (these can be more flexible than typical outpatient days as I don’t have outpatients starting at 8:30 AM as I usually do).
Onward to some running things – my race is 14 days away (!!!) and I am headed into a very undramatic taper — I think next week’s mileage will still be in the 50s, with a tough speed workout on Tuesday! But my coach has gotten me this far so I will continue to trust his judgment.
Bayshore Marathon Training – 2 weeks left (!)
M: 10 mi with J + G, 8:59/mi ave with some strides in there at end.
T: 13.12 mi total, 6 x 1.5 mi @ 15-20 sec under marathon pace. My split paces for these 1.5 mi intervals: 7:41, 7:39, 7:25, 7:39, 7:39, 7:46. I was quite happy with that as it’s starting to get warm + humid (this run = 73F / 86% so not horrible but not ideal either)
W: 7 mi with group (like 5 of us!), 9:19/mi
R: 9 mi with strides 9:36/mi, nice + chill
F: Totally blah 7 mi run, 9:42/mi. This put me in a concerned place about Saturday because I just felt sapped by the heat. I dedicated myself to pounding extra water and LMNT.
S: 20 mi with 10 @ MP. Ave pace 8:33; splits for MP miles: 7:42 (WHY does the first one always feel so easy!?), 8:03, 8:05, 8:11, 8:06, 8:18 (remember thinking “this feels easy!” and then seeing the split and being like ahh that’s why), 8:12, 8:03, 8:02, 8:03. Weather was lame, 75 at start, 79 at finish, 92% humidity. My clothes were SO SATURATED AND HEAVY by the end because all of that sweat got produced . . . and none of it evaporated. I am relieved this went well because my mindset needed it with just 2 weeks to go.
I treated it as a “dress rehearsal” carrying all of my gels and wearing my race outfit including my chosen shoes (Asics Metaspeed Paris Edge).
I did not simulate the ‘water tables’ of race day and instead drank quickly at miles 5 + 17 in my driveway.
WILL MY HR be this high for the actual marathon is the question – hoping at least a tiny bit of this is heat OR that I truly can sustain a ~170 HR for 3-4 hours!
We will find out soon enough.
Reading
Kind of a meh reading week. Not going to lie, call stress sent me to my usual (dumb) coping mechanism (Reddit!) and it cut into my reading time.
I did finish Open by Nate Klemp (all about meditation and other techniques to attain a more open stance to life) and am halfway through Elin Hilderbrand’s The Five Star Weekend. I started this book on the rec of my (super fast / talented / experienced) running friend:
I read the intro this morning and even that kind of helped me on my LR as I told myself “it’s okay not to be super comfortable right now”.
On that note, I am TIRRREEEDDDD. There is absolutely a nap in my future today, hopefully soon.
14 Comments
Hi! I am a long time reader and rarely have commented but I wanted to say that I am so impressed by your running! The 20 miler with 10 at MP looks awesome. You are so fast! Do you think working with a coach has helped the most or running regularly/ with good runners? I’m a former marathoner trying to get back into it after 3 kids and am making slow progress so would love any tips you might have. Good luck in your upcoming marathon!
My last marathon was in 2009! In September 2022, I ran a 5K all out and my pace was 9:15/mi. I decided then that I wanted to try to get faster again and increased my mileage. I ended up hiring a coach Feb 2023 (through Microcosm) and set a PR in a half marathon this year (I’m turning 44 in may so this was exciting). Hoping to BQ either now or December! For me the key has been a ton of base building and consistent mileage in the 50+ range, I peaked at 70 this training cycle. I used to have a lot of injuries when training at this level but I think super shoes and some other things helped stave them off (though had that freak parking accident in October!)
PS fast is all relative – I run with one woman who regularly races half marathons around 6:00 pace! That will never be me as I just don’t have that kind of talent, and at the same time it has been really fun to make progress!!
This is so inspiring to hear!! I’m turning 40 later this year and this gives me hope I can improve my running a bit. Wishing you the best in your marathon!
I’m in such a reading slump lately. I want something uplifting and fun but not too easy. Does anyone write anything like that anymore?? It seems like entertainment (books, TV, movies) is so dark these days.
Have you already seen Ted Lasso? If not- it’s still awesome! (We are planning to re watch w the kids)
Everyone recommends Ted Lasso so I guess I need to check it out!
Kersti, have you read ‘The Guncle’? It has some heavier aspects to the plot line but is overall very light, funny and uplifting. The sequel comes out this spring which I plan to read. Another book that comes to mind is Pineapple Street. I considered that book brain candy that goes down easily. It is hard to find lighter books! Even romances can have heavy plot lines with a lot of conflict which stresses me out.
Loved pineapple street!!!!
Lisa, thank you! I will check both of those out!
Great work on another solid week of training on top of call! Glad it wasn’t too bad – not doing nights would make a huge difference I am sure. I feel like I would be bracing to be woken – kind of like how you feel when you have a newborn/young baby – so your sleep is not great even if you aren’t woken.
I can’t wait to see what you do on race day. I’m thrilled that you are approaching the starting line healthy. That feels like 2/3s the battle.
Our races are the same weekend! I’ll be running a little farther than you, and you’ll be running a whole lot faster than me. I read your response to Christine’s comment and found it encouraging. Your 5k pace in 2022 was 9:15 and now you’re shooting for a BQ. I used to run SO MUCH FASTER, but somehow the speed has just drained out of my legs. But there’s still hope- I’m going to focus on speedwork this summer and try to get some of it back. I’m not sure if a BQ is in my future, but I would like to get myself out of the “tortoise” category.
Anyway- great job on a hot 20 miler. With any kind of luck at all, your marathon will feel easy compared to the heat of Florida. Plus you’ll have aid stations and crowd support- I think it’s going to be a great day!
I hope you got a nap today.
I’m so excited for your race too Jenny!!!! I think mine is the day before yours so I will get to enjoy your race report while I recover 🙂 🙂 Speed aside I do not have the mental toughness to do any race with “swat” in the name!! You are awesome!!!
Getting so excited for your upcoming race. Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Awesome training and so excited for your race.