With 4 weeks to go until race day, it's all downhill from here, literally! This week I took a recommendation from one of our ambassadors to incorporate hills into my short runs and see how my long run felt from there. Let's be honest, running uphill is probably my least favourite activity on the planet. It burns and it feels like I am moving at a glacial pace. Achy arthritic toes and all, I mapped out "hilly" runs on the Daily Mile, and loaded a fresh running playlist to conquer these "helpful" peaks throughout my week and did just that.
Have I mentioned how amazing the Women's Ultimate Running Socks are for running? No blisters ever and great cushioning!
I followed the same hilly route on all of my short runs, and armed with great running music I found them to be far from the journey into Dante's Inferno that I thought they would be. Being the most competitive person most people will ever meet, I easily turned these runs into a game between me and the hills, and I dare say that I enjoyed the challenge. On my 8 mile run on Sunday, I really did cruise and flat land felt like a breeze. I did incorporate one large hill into my long run, and as Rihanna's song "Hard" blasted through my headphones as I approached I was striding with a fiery passion. I kept singing my favourite line of the song over and over again, "Ima do whatever, no pain is forever, yup, you know this!", and handled that hill.
Too many hills, not enough yoga, so yoga is on the menu for me this week!
Although I felt I had a fairly successful week of running, hills and all, my body is aching this week. I'm guessing the lack of yoga and combination of running, the Over The Line tournament I played in this weekend, and the paddle boarding adventure I had on Wednesday took it's toll. This week, I'm recommitting to my balance, and attending at least 3 yoga classes to loosen up my bones. Even if it means having to miss a run, my body is barking, and ready to stretch so I am going to honor that calling. Don't worry though, I will still battle the hills, just hopefully with hamstrings that don't hate me!
One my favourite stretches after a run, and one of my favourite instructors, January, showing me how it's done...
This week’s training mileage total: 18 miles!
Longest run: 8 miles with a pace of 10:40
Cross training: OTL Tournament, Paddle Boarding, and 1 Jillian Michaels' workout!
Wore on my long run: Run Swiftly Racerback and Run:Team Spirit Crops (probably my favourite outfit of all time for running)
Favourite song on my run playlist: “Hard" - Rihanna
4 weeks until race day! Here is my training schedule for the week:
Monday: 4 miles + yoga
Tuesday: Barry’s Bootcamp + Hot Yoga
Wednesday: 4 miles + yoga
Thursday: Barry’s Bootcamp + Yoga
Friday: Rest or gentle yoga
Saturday: 9 miles!
Sunday: Hot yoga
P.S. What's on your favourite running playlist? Are there any songs that help you get to the top of that hill?
