Saturday, July 21, 2012

How My Training Looks

I've been writing a lot of dull posts about rehabbing my back lately, so today I'm changing it up and writing about.....training! Because I have been! Not like some of you badasses who are earning Marathon Maniac shirts and winning races and running vast amounts of miles on all kinds of crazy terrain, but considering where I've been, I'll take it.


My typical training week right now, as written by Darren, my coach, looks like this:

Monday: an hour to 70 minutes on the recumbent bike with intervals at differing resistances

Tuesday: a 35-minute run with short pick-ups in the middle; I do this run outside on the flat gravel path where I did my first comeback run with Cynthia; after coming home and getting the kids off to preschool, I go to Pilates class with Patty; last Tuesday's Pilates session was my first ever on the Reformer; man, am I in love with that thing! I felt about two inches taller when we were finished.

Wednesday: back to my recumbent friend for another hour to 70 minute ride with resistance intervals

Thursday: a treadmill run of about 35 minutes, followed by a weights/core/stretching session at the gym

Friday: a 35-minute run outside with longer pick-ups than Tuesday's; yesterday's were the longest so far of the training session, at 75 seconds each; again, that doesn't sound like much compared with the speed workouts some of you are throwing down, but they make me feel like Shalane Flanagan right now.

Saturday: typically divided between an elliptical workout and a run; today started with 30 minutes on the elliptical and finished with a 30 minute treadmill run; paces on Saturday stay easy.

Sunday: Off (though I do some core work and foam rolling and often will take a walk)

This schedule can vary when I'm traveling or if something else unusual is going on, but it's been pretty consistent since I hired Darren in June.

I try to pay attention to my heart rates when I'm on the machines, including the treadmill, because when I'm all clear to do harder stuff, heart rate is going to be very important. It's interesting to me how much it can vary from day to day. This week, for instance, on Thursday's treadmill run, I felt vaguely crappy and my heart rate reflected that, soaring way higher than I thought it should have been for such easy paces. Today, in contrast, it stayed nice and low at paces that were slightly speedier than Thursday's. I could have run faster if had Darren let me--and this despite the fact that I'd already done an elliptical workout.

Medical Update: I had my MRI yesterday morning and will get the results on Tuesday. My fingers are crossed that the way ahead will be clear.

Kids Update: Will and Ruth boarded the plane to see my parents this morning and have already landed and are in the care of my dad and stepmom. We had no drama at the gate. Will was so eager to get down the jetway that I had to remind him to kiss me goodbye. Ruthie looked slightly more sober, but she's a rule follower like me and anyway her brother was going and she had a Rice Krispie treat in her bag. So down she went and she didn't look back.

Now Dan and I are.....doing whatever we want. For five days.

25 comments:

  1. I have never been good and watching my heart rate or keeping it under control for that matter.. Hope the MRI brings good news.

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  2. Enjoy your 5 days!  I bet it goes by really fast!  SO glad to hear your training is going good and you are running.  YAY, I bet it felt like it took so long to get to this point, but you made it.

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  3. Hope your MRI has nothing but good things to say about you too.

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  4. Woo hoo!! Couple time! :)

    Your training schedule licks my training "schedule"'s butt. You know that's going to put you in a good place when you're back in earnest.

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  5. BostonboundbrunetteJuly 21, 2012 at 3:42 PM

    I am so happy to hear that your training is going well.  I hope that your MRI also brings good news!  What are you going to do with yourselves for five days :) ?Enjoy the little break and do something fun together!

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  6. Don't go neglecting that recumbent...the Ellimpics are coming ;-)

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  7. enjoy those 5 days!  fingers crossed for the MRI results :)

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  8. That sounds like a good training schedule to me! So...what are you going to do for five days!? It sounds like a great little break for you! 

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  9. Sounds like a well rounded program despite being a "therapy" program.  You are doing a great job, keep it up!  Hope the MRI comes back with hopeful info and that you can take the next positive step to returning to your full potential!

    I'm sure you are missing the kiddos *BUT*  are enjoying a little extra freedom and down time???!!!  :-)

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  10. I am SO very happy that their flight went well! this is great news! now you can enjoy this time you have....honeymoon #2!!!! Hope all will be fine with MRI results

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  11. Your training sounds like it is moving along smoothly, hope the MRI results are positive and show complete healing!!

    All I can say is thank God for rice krispie treats!

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  12. Oh how fun to be kidless for five days. I hope you are LIVING it up!

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  13. Good to see you're back at it.

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  14. enjoy your alone time with Dan!   Glad you are getting in a groove with the training plan too.   4 days a week of running - yeeHAW!!!

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  15. Woohoo, enjoy your 5 days of living kid free! :)

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  16. That looks like a pretty solid schedule! There is definitely some peace of mind knowing that you have a well-thought out plan to get you to where you want to be (especially when someone really smart like your coach designed it!) Good luck with the MRI!

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  17. Whatever you want... for five days.  I'm so jealous!  Thanks for sharing your schedule, I was curious how he was having you build back.  How are you feeling about all that bike time? Will you be ready to get rid of it? Or will it remain a part of your routine?

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  18. You must be so happy to have a scheduled training plan and a trainer to trust! Have fun this week sans kids.

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  19. fingers crossed that the MRI comes back with great results!  Great job on keeping up with all of the workouts.  I find it so much harder when  you have an injury to keep on working out.

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  20. Your training looks fab to me: lots of quality time on the recumbent huh? I am praying for great MRI news and am confident you'll get it.
    Yay for doing whatever you want! Enjoy!

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  21. I'm just now catching up! Sorry to hear about your still-aching back, and I hope that shot you mentioned does the trick. In the meantime, it looks like you have a solid plan in place. 

    I've been tracking my HR on my easy runs, and yes, what a difference it can make in pacing. My recovery runs were starting to get to the 9:20 range on average. Yesterday, however, after a long weekend of traveling, being outside and being dehydrated, my recovery pace was closer to 9:45 or so. Interesting. 

    Anyway, enjoy you 5 kidless days! How nice!!! Hope you have some adult dinners planned!

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  22. I always find it hard to know what to do first when kid-free.  Go see a bunch of movies? Organize like a fiend? Go out to dinner without having to line up a babysitter? Extra-long workouts?  Sleep?

    Hopefully the MRI works out and you can proceed with treatment.  Looks like you've got the training-with-injury thing under control, though.

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  23. Somehow, your blog fell off my reader!  So sad!  Your training sounds fantastic, I'm so happy for you! Glad the kiddos did great on the plane too!

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  24. Sounds like some real improvements are being made! So if I read the last post right you are doing the MRI tomorrow...hope that turns our well, as I'm sure it will.  So very glad you enjoyed your alone time with your hubby!

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  25. It sounds like you keep making good progress! Enjoy your vacation while the kids are away. ;-)

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