This was the hottest, most humid weekend of the year so far. I had a 20-miler on tap. Go. Me.
Total miles run: 31
Swim: 3 miles
Monday: Yoga, strength and core
Tuesday: 6 miles on mill speedwork 1600m, 3200m, 2x800m, swim 800m
Wednesday: Yoga and swim 800m
Thursday: 5 miles and swim 800m
Friday: Swim 800m
Saturday Run 20 miles and swim 800m
Sunday: Strength, core and swim 800m
A week of single parenting came to an end when the Caveman returned from California. Thing 1 headed out for a lakehouse weekend with her friends. She’s just starting high school and I can already feel her slipping away…
Thing 2 and I had plenty of quality time at the pool. I’ve been swimming. Every. Damn. Day. I still can’t say I enjoy swimming or find it the least bit relaxing…I fall out of my breathing rhythm easily and bilateral breathing is coming along but not second nature. But here’s the secret especially for an “older” athlete: swimming is very VERY kind to your body. I can run 20 and then jump in the pool and feel zero fatigue. I swear it helps with muscle recovery too. It’s a weapon in the aging arsenal I am glad I have. That’s why I’m sticking with it.
So yeah that 20 miler. I contemplated doing half of it on the mill. I entertained postponing it, but that would mean running additional miles before or after Fort2Base this weekend, which I would hate. I knew I should hit the shady trails. But I didn’t. I did freeze my fuel though. And I got out at 6am. That’s the crack of dawn here now.
I got off to an uneasy start. I felt like my skirt was riding up in back. Then I was sure it was on backwards. Then I worried about phantom chafing issues. My fuel belt fell completely off not once but twice, covering my bottles in dirt. I blame my mysteriously expanding gut for that. Eff you peri-menopause.
I took it nice and easy, playing close attention to effort vs pace. This was not a day to worry in the least about pace. Any forward movement was acceptable. The first 8 or so were ok. After that I grew progressively miserable. I succumbed to walk intervals. My fuel belt was running dry. The ice long gone. I looped home at the 12 mile mark. Hot, thirsty, desperate. Thinking about the mill in a nice cool pain cave. But, after lying flat on the floor for a minute, I reloaded my fuel belt one last time and headed out to finish. It was labored and heinous and waaay too hot. But 20 miles were mine. Ugly but done.
Gelato is appropriate recovery food, right? Could not resist salted caramel with Chicago Pothole. Ha!
This week is all about back to school. Sigh. Oh and finding an elusive protractor for Thing 2. After 3 stores, I’m still coming up dry. WTH? Of course the heat and humidity continue to rage.
What was fun for you this weekend? Did you run long?
I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for Weekly Wrap-Up
…and with Erin for Weekend Snapshots.
It’s so comforting to know I’m not the only participating in this crazy madness! Love it — any forward movement acceptable. I’m not a real swimmer, you know with proper form or anything. Dog paddling is my thang. But, I totally agree it is kind to your body and helps you recover from those nasty runs. My hips are always happier if I kick around. I applaud you for going into the house and going back outside for the finish. That, my friend, is bad a$$! Thanks so much for linking with us today!
I didn’t run long, but I did complete my 124th tri. It was an OLY so for me that was long as I am used to sprint tris these days as I am working way too much! Swimming every day is a good thing – relax and have fun but make sure you are getting some pointers about body position and rotation so you don’t develop bad habits. It’s easy to do when you are learning as an adult! Your 20 miler sounded tough. Good for you for sticking it out!
No matter how tough (that was to read, bwahaha), I’m so happy you got it done. Runs that make me feel defeated are seriously overrated, but I’m so pleased when it’s done. Plus? FUN SWIMMING AFTER!<3 I'm sure that was refreshing as all getout.
I like jumping into the pool after a run too. Makes the legs feel great.
Great job getting your 20 miler done! It was a hot weekend for sure! Way to go on the swimming every day! I wish I could do that, but for me it’s just not fun. I really need to work on my breathing!
If you think peri-menopause is bad, wait until you get to post-menopause :-). (kind of but not really kidding)
GREAT job on your run. I think the weather in the whole country has been horrible this past week, and I know I’ve barely been able to run 5 miles at a time, so I am in awe of you getting it done!
Also on the swimming. I feel a lot like you do about it, but unlike you I just gave up on it. My husband keeps telling me if I stick with it I will love it (he’s a runner turned triathlete), but it never happened. Maybe I’ll try it again some day.
I loved your description of your run. I hate when workouts are just kind of ‘off’ like that! I was the same way on my bike ride this weekend… I stopped several times to check things. At one point I was convinced I had a flat tire (I didn’t). Oh well! Hope you have a good week 🙂
Way to go tackle that run. It’s so hot outside but what I’ve come to learn is, if you want it, you do it. Taking breaks also helps!
Ooo I’ve never heard of that brand of gelato you were munching on but it looks delicious. No matter how far away you feel like your high schooler is, she will always need you. I pretended not to need my mom through high school but I totally did and we absolutely reconciled all differences once I started college.
I completely understand the back-and-forth weighing the pros and cons of postponing or finishing up on the treadmill. I know that “the harder you make things during training, the easier it will be on race day” but it’s such a challenge to move forward on these horrible muggy days. Great job on pushing through and finishing that bad-boy 20-miler!!! Here is hoping that the weather will behave itself at F2B next weekend!!!
Sounds like a great week! Way to go with the swimming. No long runs for this girl these days…I’m on a much needed training run-cation. <3
And I’m with ya on the peri-menopause. WHY must I look 20 lbs overweight in my midsection?!?
Nice job getting that 20 miler done! I am so impressed that you still hang in there with the swimming even though it hasn’t gotten any easier.
Glad to know I’m not the only one struggling in this heat. Even the 6 I did this morning was tough. There’s no way I could have run 12 at that pace. I wish I liked to swim! It would be nice for cooling off.
Loved salted caramel anything. Had a milkshake after my run last week. Looks like you’ve managed to have a great week of training in spite of the heat.
Way to go with the 20 miler in the heat! I don’t know if I could have toughed it out after I came into the air conditioning to refuel. I am not good at loops by my house for that exact reason … I always quit when I get home. sigh.
I ran shortish long this weekend. 8 slow hot solo miles. I’m still recovering from Ironman Lake Placid. I’ll keep saying that until somebody tells me to stop saying it or ride 100 miles which ever comes first. Could be coming up this weekend. What was fun this weekend was having play dates with my kids so that they entertained themselves. They go back to school next week which may or may not be before they kill each other out of boredom.
With the heat and humidity, this is definitely not the time to focus on pace. Just keep on moving forward!
I had a 20 miler too and it was SO FREAKING HOT!!! Way to go getting it done- I had never been so happy to finally be done with a run before, wish I could have swam after too! 🙂
I could not imagine doing 20 miles this weekend. I did 9 and it was hard enough, thank you very much. And yes, gelato is the only acceptable recovery food 🙂
That’s a ‘pat yourself on the back’ run. And a ‘you deserve all the gelato’ run. Well done on getting it done.
I love swimming too it’s so relaxing and calm. It’s a great compliment to running and I think helps you keep injuries at bay more.
quick 5K race for me yesterday – it was disgustingly hot but we got wine at the end so there’s that 🙂 going to have to start to like swimming as I get further into my 40s I like the aging solution you’ve found!
When I say that I love to swim, I didn’t say I was a good swimmer. I’ve never done bilateral breathing. I just enjoy it.
But actually — it was aggravating my knee! The pool closed for maintenance at just the right time apparently.
That gelato looks heavenly. Absolutely recovery food ESPECIALLY for 20 miles which I can’t even fathom.
At 53 I should be post menopausal, but instead I am stuck in perimenopausal hell. 🙁
Awesome job! I forget, which marathon are you running? Chicago? Yes gelato is completely appropriate! Anything you want after 20 miles is what I say 🙂 That is a tough one!
20 miles in this heat? You are my idol! That is crazy after 4 miles I think everything is on backwards and everything is wet and lets not discuss chafing! The pool sounds like the best place to be! Great week! The kids are off to school soon? Enjoy the last little bit!
Oh I am reading more and more the great benefits of swimming and I’m thinking I’m just missing out!!! 🙁 Boo! I know if I put my mind to it I could figure something out but the college (the only pool I know of year round besides hotels)is quite a distance away and they have select times I could swim that really is not user-friendly with my schedule! Your very lucky to have a place to swim and I would imagine it’s a lot like water therapy for horses (It is known that cold water has a positive anti-inflammatory effect on tissues, improves healing and helps to protect against injury) couldn’t imagine it would be any different for us. With the non-impact and strong core building exercises it’s no wonder you do so well in other activities! Keep it up! Thanks Marcia for linking up with us again this week, we truly appreciate you!
Can’t you find a protractor on Amazon? 😉 I know swimming would be good for me, but there are so many logistics involved … like joining a pool.
Heat or no heat I think we’re all a little crazy and a lot tough.
Nice work on that 20 miler! I’m super impressed. I bet the swimming is really helping your recovery. Gets the blood flowing without the impact of running. Also keeping your core temperature lower. And you soooo deserved that ice cream.
I totally admire all of you who run those 20 miles without blinking. I mean really you almost ran a marathon. My hips start to ache after mile 7 so 8 miles is about the furthest I have ever gone. It’s all good though. School is starting back here too and I am too excited. We have all of our school supplies. Have an amazing week.
It is so inspiring to read about women, attempting new thresholds in life. All the best.
Way to get out there and get it done! That’s awesome. I feel like if it were me I definitely would have given up. Nice training week too. I know you mentioned never really running over 35 MPW, I guess I’m still worried because I run 5x a day but rarely do any XT like swimming or yoga. I need to at least start doing more yoga for some strength training!
I wish I could jump in a pool after my long runs. Some people who run by the lake, jump in during and after their runs. Maybe I need to do the same?! 🙂
Great job on getting the 20 done. I think it’s the runs like that, the tough ones that are our best training tools and benefit us the most in the future. Because come a race day, you never know what mother nature may throw at you:)
Plus, now you know you are seriously one tough girl:)
I actually swam with my dog yesterday. I usually just sit out and watch her swim but yesterday I swam with her and it was so refreshing! Great job on the run! It has been very hot and humid here this week too!
I’m still impressed with all of your swimming!! Bummer about the long run but I’m pretty sure we all have been there. Isn’t freezing your hydration awesome? I love doing that!!
I am so over the whole peri-menopause thing – just sucks! Congrats on getting those 20 miles done despite the heat & humidity and kudos to you for still swimming!
Swimming is a great help for our aging bodies and I need to get back on track with it…. Your post reminded me of the ease on the body and all the benefits What’s not to love?