sidebar | life and training 9.15 – 9.21
Saturday’s 10K was a mighty blow to my confidence.
I won’t mope too badly on this post about the PB&J 10K this past weekend: I got that pity parade done the whole day Saturday before sitting back and reevaluating what the performance means to my future training. Which, honestly, I’m kind of stuck about.
Side stitches are a weird phenomenon and no one seems able to pinpoint exactly what causes them. Some say abdominal weakness, some say dehydration, some say overexertion, some say poor breathing patterns. Maybe a combination of all the above. When I was a kid, as many kids are, I was plagued with them during hot PE classes outside. A few years ago, I struggled badly with the cramps creeping up midrace. I figured, back them, a lot of that was due to poor fueling and lack of electrolytes, which I’ve largely improved upon since.
Saturday? I have no idea. All I know is that suddenly I was prodded in the ribs by a searing, stabbing engulfment through which I couldn’t run, and it threw me off my PR pace significantly and disrupted any chance of landing my coveted sub-50.
What I’m trying to remember, though, is that I fought that last 1.2 miles harder than I ever have before. I overtook the 50 minute pacer – who had tumbled off his pace and definitely didn’t finish below a 50:15-20, which is not good for a pacer – and turned over like I was trying to fling my astral body out of my physical body. Hell hath no fury like a Kellie plunging towards the finish with a slim but real chance or reaching a goal.
I just barely fell short, and that hurts. A lot. Like a side stitch to my soul.
But, on we go. I’m signing up for a 10K in November and hoping to find a festive half marathon in December to act as a midpoint check in for marathon training. The 10K is a hilly course that I loved the first time I did it, and is put on by the same run club that hosts the Watermelon series I ran over the summer. Elevation changes present several new stimuli that I seem to respond well to, so I’m hopeful that perhaps I can get some stamina training in that’ll help me hit sub-50 during this run.
Needless to say, Saturday I let myself feel my feels and spent most of the day resting my mind and body. I bought a sketchbook Monday and have been coloring all sorts of fun autumnal scenes. It’s so therapeutic to do art sans attachment. Well, I shouldn’t say that. I want the photos to come out well, but I view it more as play than as work, and don’t intend to do anything with the drawings other than look back and enjoy them for what they are.
Sunday J and I went to Coppertail Brewing for Oktoberfests and dinner. I had the Harvestfest, a pumpkin spice-infused märzen, which was delightful, and ordered the shrimp tacos. I didn’t realize the brewery was so close to me, and easily accessible, so this will definitely become a staple in my brewery rounds if I so have the craving.
Otherwise I had a quiet week with good foods. Sheetpan maple salmon, sweet potatoes, and green beans, weeknight bolognese and bread pre-race, and a random French bread pizza with leftover sauce, cheese, and mushrooms. This week I’m hoping to get out a little bit more, take Ba for coffee, though realistically I’ll probably plop my ass at the dining table and work on my next drawing (which involves sheep!)
That’s all for now, kids. Hope you have a good final week of September.
Final week of September?
What the fuck?!
The Fuck We Cooking This Week?
…A cozy one pan salmon and orzo dish.
…An apple-y brunch!
…A festive fall paloma!
A Few Things I’m Digging
PB&J sandwiches…When I work longer shifts and have to take a lunch, I struggle to eat something substantial because my stomach usually gets full and weird. The humble PB&J may be my solution. I pair it with some apples and cheese, crackers, or cut veggies and so long as I’m sure to put enough filling in the bread, it’s a good and hearty option. No wonder kids enjoy it.
Mug…Because fall, I obviously broke out my pumpkin mugs for the season. They have a lovely handfeel and are just so cute on my coffee bar.
This Week’s Menu
Meatless Monday…Weeknight Pesto Pasta Bolognese
Taco Tuesday…Crispy Buffalo Pumpkin Pinto Bean Tacos
Wednesday…Maple Cider Glazed Salmon with Honey Butter Polenta
Thursday…Harvest Fig and Kale Crunch Salad with Tahini Cider Dressing
Friday Happy Hour...Apple Cider Tequila Sour
Saturday Baking…Salted Caramel Apple Cider Layer Cake
Sunday Brunch…Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Shops & Wish List
Fashion
Target…Liking this pointelle sweater tank, ribbed tank, mock turtleneck sweater (tan hue)…Still eyeing this button front pullover sweater (LOVE the sage green color) + matching joggers
Home
Anthropologie…These fluted tapers are perfect for a fall table, or the pumpkin icon tapers…Absolutely adore the Oak Leaf collection, especially the dessert plates (the gravy boat is hella cute, if I ever served gravy).
Week in Training
Monday, 9.15: 8.5 miles, 9:44 pace + 32 minute legs
Welcome to race week! Ran 6 x 1k. Legs felt good as the weather was lovely this morning, but my lungs were shot – I felt super asthmatic and couldn’t get good breaths in. My splits were extremely steady and I averaged 7:52 for the session, but it was way more strenuous than it should’ve been. I hope I can manage a 7:55-7:58 average on Saturday.
Strength:
- 3 x 10 elevated squat 50#
- 4 x 8 ea. single leg press 110#
- 3 x 10 front lunge SS back lunge 40#
- 4 x 8 ea. single leg squat with toe tap 20#
- 3 x 10 ea. sit squat 10#
- 3 x 10 deadlift 70#
- :35 ea. Copenhagen
Tuesday, 9.16: 7 miles, 11:14 pace
Heart rate monitor put me at a 160 bpm average but this did not feel like it – I felt great! Lovely morning but a stiff wind.
Wednesday, 9.17: 7.75 miles, 9:52 pace
Last workout before the weekend 10K! Ran 1 mile, then 4 x 300, then 1 mile. The first mile I aimed for threshold and the final 10K, and I overshot the first a bit due to the tailwind. 7:56 and 7:53 were those splits, then 6:49, 6:40, 6:51, and 6:53 for the 300s, the final two against the wicked wind.
Thursday, 9.18: 5 miles, 11:25 pace
Easy run, very humid out but my heart rate stayed at 151 bpm average which is an improvement a little!
Friday, 9.19: 3.5 miles, 11:20 pace
Heart rate at 149 on this little shakeout run. Love to see that! Chill shakeout miles before tomorrow’s big day.
Saturday, 9.20: *PB&J 10K* 50:02, 8:03 pace
Well. That was a mighty disappointment. I held a 7:53 average for 4 miles, feeling pretty strong, while latched onto two other runners who held onto the same effort. At mile 5, however, my diaphragm decided it had enough and I fell to a big, fat, ugly stitch. I can run through a lot of things but never through a stitch. I haven’t had this issue for a long time so it was demoralizing to feel it creep up again during what could’ve been a triumphant race for me. I fell to a 9:14 mile and then got so mad at watching the 50 minute pacer pass me that I threw down in mile 6 with a 7:46. I passed the pacer again, only to realize that he was definitely running quite a bit slower than an 8:03 and it would take a behemoth effort for me to shave off enough to hit a 49:5x. Despite speeding up, clawing, screeching, and swearing my way to a 7:30 and below pace, I couldn’t do it. I was third in my age group but so pissed off that I ran my cooldown and went straight home.
2 miles before and 2 miles after got me to 10 for the day. Onward.
Sunday, 9.21: 30 minute elliptical
Felt nice to spin out on the hamster wheel in the afternoon.
Total running mileage: 42
