One small thought

I need to guard against my all-or-nothing personality. The past two weekends we've been too busy, as a family, for me to squeeze in a long run (though I did manage to lengthen my Friday night run to 14km on the first of those weekends). This past weekend, I only could have done a long run if I'd gone after dark on Saturday night. Didn't want to. Didn't choose to.

But it occurred to me just this morning -- hey, even if I don't have time for a long run on the weekend, I could probably manage a short one. And a short run would be better than no run at all.

Sounds obvious. Probably is obvious. Did not occur to me until a few minutes ago. So that will be my goal going forward: don't not do something just because it's smaller/easier/less ambitious than the thing you'd originally planned.

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My schedule has changed due to a class being moved from Thursdays to Mondays. So here is what my week in exercise could look like, now.

Monday: spin & kettlebells (alarm set 5:15)
Tuesday: spin (alarm set 5:15)
Wednesday: 8.5km run with friend (alarm set 5:45)
Thursday: run or yoga (alarm set 5:45) -- leaning toward yoga
Friday: night run at kids' soccer practice (10-12km)
Saturday: run (short, long, doesn't matter!)
Sunday: soccer

That would get me three runs, some spinning, some weights, a yoga class, and a soccer game! If I were really ambitious, I could get up early on Friday too and go swimming -- or swim on Thursday, yoga on Friday. Maybe ambitious is not quite the right word. If I were less tired, I could do those things. I'm usually pretty tired by Friday and excited for that extra hour of sleep. Even four mornings a week is pushing it. Let's see how this week goes.

Working toward 30km race in March

Training plan for January through March, 2013.

Dec. 31 - Jan. 6
4 regular runs plus one long(ish) run, Sat. aft, 80 mins; other: soccer game

Jan. 7 - 13
3 regular runs, one long run, Sat. aft, 90 mins; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer game

Jan. 14 - 20
3 regular runs, one long run, Sat. aft, 1 hr and 40 min; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer game

Jan. 21 - 27
3 regular runs, one long run, Sat. aft/Sun AM, 1hr and 50 mins.; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer game

Jan. 28 - Feb. 3
3 regular runs, one long run, Sat. aft, 2 hrs; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer game

Feb. 4 - Feb. 10
3 regular runs; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer game (Kevin away)

Feb. 11 - Feb. 17
3 regular runs, one long run, Sat. or Sun aft. 2 hrs and 10 mins; other: spin, kettlebells (no soccer)

Feb. 18 - Feb.  24
3 regular runs, one long run, Sat. aft. 2 hrs and 20 mins; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer

Feb. 25 - March 3
3 regular runs; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer (Kevin away)

March 4 - March 10
3 regular runs, one long run, Sat. aft, 2 hrs; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer

March 11 - 17
4 regular runs; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer

March 18 - 24
3 regular runs; other: spin, kettlebells, soccer + 30km race on Sunday (hopefully!)

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Note: have not signed up for the race, yet. I signed up for this same race last winter, then injured myself, and could not train. I would like to get one or two longer runs under my belt before making a final decision. I haven't been doing long runs since mid-October, when my hip was a bit tweaky, and I don't want push myself harder than I should, or risk injury again, especially when I'm finding the up-to-12-km length quite manageable. So this is a hopeful training schedule! I will report back.