The Workouts:
Monday - 5m Easy. Didn't feel so easy. My legs were tired after the weekends 18 miler. I was just glad to survive. I went on to Weight Watchers that night and gained 1.4 pounds. This is about when I struggle the most with marathon training and losing weight. When I'm peaking with 18-20 miler runs. They just mess up my body.
Tuesday - Barbell Strength class. Felt good. I also walked for 40 minutes and then used the stair climber for 20 minutes before class.
Wednesday - 8m Pace. I had been dreading this workout all week. It is my last longer pace run. I had felt worn out all week already and I just knew this wouldn't be pretty. And it wasn't. But at this point I'm happy to look back and know that that was the worst of it for mid week runs.
Thursday - Barbell Strength class. My husband called and cancelled meeting me. It took all my mental strength to go anyway. I really wish there was a better 6pm Yoga class on Thursday's. But at the end I was glad I went. I know the strength workouts are going to help me in Phoenix. I also walked 50 minutes.
Friday - 5m Easy. This was the easiest run of the week.
Saturday - 13m LSD. These lower mileage step back weeks ALWAYS mess with my head. I feel like they should feel easy. They are often some of my worst runs. As I mused this over during my run I came up with two explanations. (1) 13 miles is still a very long way. It should still feel like a long way, because it IS. (2) It's a step back week on the tail of a build up. Meaning my body is TIRED and this is supposed to be allowing for recovery. However, don't forget that you're running on a tired body. (Listened to 2 episodes of Serial and then moved on to Unbroken on Audible)
Sunday - Rest. I did my grocery shopping and then took Boston for a 40 minute walk along the river. It was a first for him! He loved it. I have diligently waiting for him to hit 1 year old before I start running with him (this happens in March). So I figured now might be a good time to start getting him acclimated to the trail itself and the traffic we'll see down there.
I finished up the weekend with a birthday party for my sweet niece on Sunday evening. She was very particular about chocolate cake, pink frosting, black polka dots. I'm capable of better than this but this was the best my impatient (post long run) self was capable of on Saturday. She was pleased with it, so I guess I did okay.
The EATS:
I did much better this week than last week. For lunches I ate BBQ chicken salads. And I'm to the point that I'm tired of them. So this coming week I need to mix it up. But I stuck with them every weekday lunch. We lucked out with 2 boys at birthday parties on Friday and my daughter at a Camp K activity, so we just had my youngest and decided to try and take advantage of the opportunity and go OUT to dinner. We ended up at Texas Roadhouse and by the time we were seated (8pm) I was starved! I got my usual prime rib, not the best choice, mashed potatoes (not the best choice) with a Caesar salad (700+ calories, I learned later). So basically for the day I went over by almost a thousand calories. Shoot. (followed up by Cold Stone ice cream) Oops.
I feel that I recovered a little from that large meal by only getting a Subway sandwich after our long run on Saturday. No crazy fast food this week. So while not perfect, I feel better about my choices. then a home cooked meal for dinner. Sunday I had a big home cooked breakfast which held me over until dinner. So overall, not perfect but better.
With all the running I find it incredibly hard to find the perfect balance.
The Plan:
Lunches:
2 days BBQ Chicken Salad
2 days Chicken & Sweet Potato
1 day left over soup
Dinner:
Monday - Steak, Sweet Potato Fries, Veggies
Tuesday - Cream Cheese Chicken Chili (crock pot) It will be ready for me to eat when we come home from the gym.
Wednesday - Dinner at my Mum's
Thursday - Left over Chili
Friday - Spaghetti and salad (hoping to fuel that 20 miler)
Saturday - I'm thinking we may eat out.
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Tell me one thing you did over the weekend?
What are you having for meals this week?
My buddy Joe and I have made similar comments about cutback weeks, and we decided it was because we don't fuel well enough. We feel like it should be easy so we don't pay attention to carbs the night before or Gu/Nuun.
ReplyDeleteNice job on the workouts! I am so excited for your race.