NYCM Training: Week 8 (Halfway there!)

You guys, 8 weeks!  Eight weeks down and eight more to go!  I can’t even believe how fast this training cycle is going by.  Maybe because I’ve been keeping very busy with other life things, I’m not sure.  But it’s going fast and it’s going well.  So I’m happy.  Let’s recap week 8:

Monday 9/1: Rest.  Apparently, I was supposed to do a short run today, but I didn’t even look at my schedule and it was Labor Day, so I rested.  Sorry, coach! 😉

Tuesday 9/2: 5 mile progression run.  Well, it started out as a progression run, but the heat and humidity got to me.  It was 75* but 96% humidity and I almost threw up at mile 4.  So I ran/walked home instead of pushing the pace to finish.  Splits were 9:39, 9:10, 9:02, 8:48 and 10:56.  

Wednesday 9/3: 6 easy (9:40 average pace) + 4 strides

Thursday 9/4: CrossFit.  We warmed up with a little 10-minute game of “CrossFit baseball”, where we had to do weighted lunges to each “base” and then perform a movement.  First base was 5 burpees, 2nd base was 10 wall balls and 3rd base was a rope climb.  Then we moved on to a partner WOD:

In teams of 2 complete:
For time:
50 Push-ups
100 Deadlifts (185/125)
50 Push-ups
100 Pull-ups
50 Push-ups
100 Kettlebell swings (53/35)
50 Pushups
100 Sit-ups
50 Push-ups

So. Many. Push-ups!!! But it was a great workout and felt good to do some strength after not going to the gym for over a week! My team finished in 24:44 and my chest still hurts today from all those push-ups.

Friday 9/5: Rest

Saturday 9/6: 3 easy miles because #allthehumidity.  I knew I would struggle mentally (and probably physically) if I tried to do my long run in 96% humidity, so I moved it to Sunday and did an easy run instead.  

 

Sunday 9/7: When I woke up, checked my weather app and saw 67* and 75% humidity, I knew I made the right decision.  The plan was 16 miles (6 easy, 2 @ 9:20, 6 easy, 2 @ 9:20).  I ran from Cedar Creek Park out to the beach and along Ocean Parkway for 8 miles, before turning around and heading back.  This route is mostly flat with a few small bridges/inclines.  I felt fantastic for the first few miles, but starting noticing some pain in my left foot around mile 6.  Then a previous blister on my right foot started to bug me.  I was wearing my newer pair of New Balances and started to freak out.  Did I have a stress fracture?  Why didn’t I stick to my trusty Asics?!  I pushed through and tried my best to focus on something else.  The 2 faster miles in the middle were awesome because I focused on pace and forgot about my feet.  But when I slowed back down, I went right back to worrying.  My #runningbuddyinmypocket Beth reassured me that I probably do NOT have a stress fracture and that I should stick to my Asics for long runs.  Done! Except I still had 6 miles to complete.  So I turned up my music and ran.  Average pace for the run was 9:41 and my easy pace settled around 9:40-9:50.   Other than my feet, everything felt great and I felt SO strong.  I’ve already started nursing my blisters and the foot pain has disappeared, so I’ll say this long run was a great success.  Oh and I caught some awesome views at sunrise:

Weekly totals: 30 miles, 1 WOD and 2 rest days

And now the countdown begins…8 weeks and still a lot of miles ahead of me.  Any advice as I head into the second half of training?  Do you think the humidity is finally behind us?