QuickChick wrote:I worry that you're bumping up your running really quickly, and that your body is going to rebel either by you getting injured, or by convincing you that running isn't fun. I've experienced this as well, too many times actually...
A 2 hour run is tough on the body. How do you feel after 2 hours of running? Exhausted? Or tired in a good way? If I were you, if you're tired in a good way, I'd increase by 10% a week (1km or 12 minutes) and cut back every four weeks to give yourself a break. If you're exhausted, I'd back off to an hour or so and build up gradually. Do you have a specific half as a goal? Or a half in general? I think the 10% rule is a very good one, and I think it works for time or distance. So if you're comfortable at an hour (or 5km, say), add ten minutes to your long run (or 500m) the following week. Good luck!!
Thanks QC. I'm actually feeling okay right now. Ran 1 & 1/2 hours outside today and I'm not exhausted right now at all. I managed to not collapse when I got home, did my laundry and dishes
For my long runs, the only time I was ever really exhausted to the point where I was completely useless was after my first 7k on the treadmill. The second time I did it was better and the third time event better. First week of April I was exhausted and decided that sleep was more important. Ran 3 days that week instead of 4. I'm only running 4 days a week - trying to get a bike in one day as well but not married to that idea. If I feel like a bike on the trainer great if not no sweat.
Now that I'm taking my long runs outside, I've re-evaluated what distance I'm doing (see "This Weeks LSD" thread for today's update). I had 14k scheduled but cut it down to 8. More if I felt I could do it. Managed 8.50. I'm very happy with that and don't feel as though I
need to do more. Next week I'll shoot for 10k.
My other 3 runs a week are on the TM right now because it's still too dark out at 6am to take even one of them outside so they haven't been a problem at all.
The 1/2 I've been shooting for is the Manitoba on June whatever day. But even if I get through the training without injury or any kind of upsets I still might not run it. I'm not big on crowds, and I think I can either take or leave racing. There isn't a competitive bone in my body, either against other people or even with myself. I also don't like being looked at while I'm running. The training journey is the thing, not the race destination. So there isn't a huge amount of pressure to get to the start line and so won't be pushing myself far beyond my limits. Just far enough (I ain't no hero - I don't care if I send my mom home to get the car to come pick me up
).
And since when has running supposed to be fun?
