MegaNerdRuns

Sometimes, life gets in the way of your plans.

In a perfect world, I would follow a perfect training schedule, with 10% weekly mileage increase, long runs on the same day of the week, a perfect balance of speed work, long runs, etc. etc… all the things you are “supposed” to do according to the books. My life is far from perfect, and so is my training schedule.

Like many other runners, my work schedule changes each day, and I have to plan my running times around when I am not working! I’m leaving for BFF Debbie’s wedding in New Jersey on Friday morning, before 8:00am, and won’t be back until Monday afternoon. That leaves NO time for a long run during the weekend!

I’m training for the Miracle Miles 15k, and have only a few weeks to work up to 9.3 miles. On the way home from work, I debated when I should squeeze a long run in. My options were:

• skip the run altogether (lame)
• run tonight
• run Thursday morning (have to wake up way early, I work 8am-7pm, and still have to pack for NJ)
• run when I get home on Monday night (and possibly risk feeling tired from an epic weekend)

I decided to go with tonight. Why wait?

I got home around 5:50pm. It was my turn to make dinner for my second family, and was determined to get it done and out the door by 7:00pm. Now THAT, my friends, is ambitious.

My goal for the night was to “make brown rice taste good.” They have only had it once before and thought it was disgusting and bland. I had no problem coming up with something to make for them!

I made chicken stir fry, with red peppers, broccoli, and carrots. I boiled veggie broth instead of water to add flavor to the otherwise bland brown rice.

I set the table, and waited for everyone to try their dinner. The clock was ticking, and it was already 6:42 when we sat down. It took extra long because I haven’t ever cooked in their kitchen, and had to search for everything.

According to the girls, it was a success! Mission accomplished. I waited 15 minutes or so, and headed upstairs to change.

By the time I laced up my shoes and got out the door, it was 7:18pm. The sun sets here at about 7:45pm, so I knew there was no way I was going to squeeze in the 8.0 miler I had planned before dark.

I ran about 4.5 before the darkness finally set in. Luckily, they live on a well lit-street, so I was able to finish up the run on their road. The road is only 0.25 miles long, so I literally ran up, and down the street. Up. Down. Up. Down. Le sigh.

It got sooooo boring, that I finally stopped after 7.0 miles. My legs felt great, but I was kind of freaked out running in the dark. I kept hearing "weird noises” and dog barks. I’m a wimp, but at least I’m cautious. I know that I’m not invincible.

Distance:  7.0 miles

Total Time:  1:11:52

Average Pace:  10:16 min/mile

• Mile 1:  10:31
• Mile 2:  10:16
• Mile 3:  10:15
• Mile 4:  10:30
• Mile 5:  10:14
• Mile 6:  10:08
• Mile 7:  9:57 (under 10! yay!)

After my run, I came home to a lovely glass of chocolate milk. The perfect recovery drink, in my opinion.

So I didn’t get in the 8.0 miles that I wanted to, but there is always next week. I felt good about tonight’s run, and much stronger than I did on Saturday’s 7.0 miler. Progress!

(Side Note: I have only ran once since Saturday, an easy 2.5 mile last night)

I kind of liked doing my long run at the end of the day. I feel less bad about coming home and lounging around in pajamas for the next few hours, if it’s what I’d be doing anyway.

Do you prefer to do your long runs (or long workouts) in the morning or at night? What are your reasons? Do you do them on the weekends, or another day of the week?

<3 MegaNerd