Catching up

 I have been running 3 times per week for 5.5-5.6k each time. In the last couple of runs I have done from 4 to 5k at 05:01 and in the last run (today)  at 5:05 feeling much better than the 5:01, but the legs much more sore. That leg training leave my legs very very sore. I am going to the gym at 06 a.m. wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays so 3 times per week, and run 3 times per week, so a good combination of exercise. Very happy with the weight lifting so far, improving my strength each week and feeling much more confortable. I am really liking it. That balanced with the running is good, since I can keep the running addiction going , but without killing nor obsessing like before. 

I think following this routine, will keep me in pretty good shape. Later when I feel better with the weights I will add a 4th day of lifting. I am very weak so I want to become very strong. 

Hope your running is going well!

Hybrid Athlete

 I have decided to retire from competitions for a while and just run for the joy of it. I also signed up in a GYM where I plan to go 3-4 times per week, also running 3 to 4 times but just 5k just for the love of running. I realized that I was training hard in running with no progress at all, and that was getting frustrated, especially after you have been running for 19.5 years and you are competing with slow people. So what you put in, is not necessarily what you get out, especially in running that talent is the most important thing in significant improvement.  I love running, but every time I raced I left the race dissapointed. At this point, its better to try something new, Weight lifting is something that I always wanted to try and in fact I have tried before but always end up giving it up, just to get back to running. This time I will do both, but giving the strength training priority. Maybe I can jump a 5k race off just strength training and easy running, maybe I could surprise myself. 

This week I ran yesterday, and today I lifted  at 08 a.m. and when I finished, I got home , changed sneakers and headed for a 5k run in 30:55 , ran 20 mins of those with my brother. I was really tired from the leg workouts and shoulder workouts that I did this morning. 

I felt great after both workout though. Running is just great, when you are not obsessing about performance and about race times. 

I hope that your running is going well!

Easy run at mid day

Headed out at 12:20 p.m. to run. Did the same route as yesterday, 3 laps in the long blasco park and headed home. Felt very tired today, luckily it was a watchless run. Maybe the push ups that I did yesterday got the best of me. My heart was in my mouth, but I got it done. Kept the effort as easy as I could. Enjoyed the run. Have been thinking its time to hit the gym and start building some muscle, we will see. Around 45 mins of running today, no idea exactly. 

Getting back to the blog

 On Sunday I ran a 10k race that I have been training hard for, I did a disaster. Ran 53:09 watchless, felt pretty good, but timewise it was a disaster. My brother did 53:06. In October I did 50:45, and my training did not change that much except with the little time off due to injury, but for the last 8 weeks I have been training very well, but the times are not there. Intervals and tempos have not gone well. 5k tempos have been alright in 25:08 and 25:16, then a 6k tempo in 31:23 feeling very tired. A 10k race in 52:48, 3 weeks prior to this one. I thought that int his one I would run sub 52 mins, or at least run sub 52:48. I feel very frustrated and its time to take time off from the watch and performance. Just run and enjoy running for what it is. I will never be elite, so no need to obsess with this without the least talent. I will take time off from strava as well. The comparation trap get the best of me and my paces are very slow to post it there. Its hard to see a person that trains way less than you running on their regular runs 2 mins per km faster. That its not fun. I think that do the hard work and you can do anything does not apply to this sport. You can be better than previous self, but talent always is going to defeat hard work in this sport. 

I have decided to get back to this blog and avoid all that social media, strava is a social media after all, and I dont have any other social media, I ditched it years ago, and I feel great because of it. Its time to do the same with Strava.

I will post my training here and I will run watchless for a while, just enjoying running for what it is and enjoying being out there without obsessing about times. My GPS will have to remain in the shelf for a while.

Monday and Tuesday were days off.

On Wednesday after work, did 52:13 in the blasco park at a very slow pace with my normal watch ( no GPS), that heart rate feature of the gps was driving me crazy when my heart rate surpassed the 160 beats at a pathetic pace. 

Rested Thursday and Friday, simply was not motivated to run, my moral was destroyed. What a pussy you would say?, but we have trained hard for years and it seems that we are getting worse instead of getting better, even when our times are pretty doable and slow. Anyway, no more complaints. 

Today I went out watchless and ran to the blasco park, but extended my lap, instead of 900m laps, did around 2-2.2k laps, dunno exactly the distance and I did not care, did 3 laps of those. I just felt free out there running watchless. In the last 15 mins I threw 5 strides, which felt better and better. My right calf wanted to cramp like 2 weeks ago, but in the strides did not bother me at all. I just was running like a kid enjoying every step of it. Did around 40-45 mins dont know exactly.  Why obsess about tine? when we are going to get slower anyway. I really enjoyed the race on Sunday and felt strong out there, but as soon as my brother told me the final time, my positive attitude and happiness melt away and started to feel angry and dissapointed. The point of all of this is to enjoy our hobby, after all, this is just a hobby. Its time to change the approach and start running for fun. I will keep doing workout, but they will be without a watch.

Hope that your running is going well!