After week 7, I was tired. I noticed my easy pace was getting even slower and the heat had taken a lot out of me during my 18 mile run. I knew I had just 1 week to at attempt a short taper going into the Long Beach Half so I took the opportunity to make Week 8 and rest and reset week. I’ve been loving using short free yoga videos from online as a way to incorporate yoga into my schedule without paying for a membership or making the commitment to sign up for a class, drive to a studio, and dedicate 60 minutes.
I had some IT band tightness, general low back pain (also a long week at work with some long, long hours sitting at a desk all day which probably didn’t help), and tight hips and the yoga definitely helped. After the race, I noticed my IT band was a little more sore and for the first time ever I took advantage of the free 10 minute post-race massages. I actually got 2 massages because I first stumbled upon a smaller massage station offering 3 minute long massages on chairs. I seriously wish I could afford a weekly massage!
Monday:
25 minutes yoga – Injury Prevention for Runners on DoYogaWithMe.com
Tuesday:
50 minutes Pilates
Wednesday:
7.4 mile run with 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 minute intervals at goal half marathon pace with rest period equaling work period. After two days of off of running, my legs started to get some of their speed back. The first 5 minute segment felt easy, the 4 minute segment I lost some focus, and the final 3 I was easily able to maintain my goal pace of 7:35-7:40. Overall, I felt good on this run and came home optimistic about Sunday’s race despite the fatigue I had felt earlier in the week.
Thursday
AM: 3.2 mile run with Allison, Zone 1
PM: 25 minutes of Yoga (stretching on my own while watching Orange is the New Black)
Friday:
25 minutes yoga – Injury Prevention for Runners on DoYogaWithMe.com
Saturday:
2 mile shakeout run, 15 minutes yoga for runners (from a Oiselle teammate Susie from Long Run Energy).
The race was in Long Beach so I drove up to Huntington Beach, where I grew up and my mom still lives, to spend most of the weekend. Mike was out of town on business so it was just me this weekend. I got to spend some quality time with my mom. She went to the expo with me- her first ever! It was kind of fun to see a race expo from her eyes – we kind of all look like a bunch of crazies!!!
Sunday:
1 mile warm-up, 13.1 mile race Long Beach Half Marathon 1:43:10
Weekly Summary:
- Miles Run: 26.7
- Stretch/Strengthen: 2.3 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours
What tends to be your go-to recovery tool when you can tell your body needs a break (yoga, massage, complete rest, etc.)?
Glad you started to get some pep back in time for your race after your taxing week beforehand!
That’s nice you got to hang out with your mom, just you, and fun she went to her first expo!
I’ve often said that if I were rich or won the lottery I would have a personal masseuse! However, it is one of the few luxuries I don’t mind spending money on (I used to go once a month but now only once every three or four).
Hope your recovery is going well!
Just subscribed and already love the blog–already did the yoga workout you suggested last night, what a great find! I live in SD too and I found the heat to be especially challenging this summer to as I trained for the Portland Marathon. Looking forward to more of your tips and being inspired by you!
Aww thank you!!! Means so much. Thank you for commenting.
I’m glad you like the yoga!
Complete rest days or a massage are typically my go-to. Massages can get pricey (obv.) so I try not to do them too much but sometimes I know the body needs more than just rest, it needs TLC. I see a great LMT who specializes in runners and injuries, and I see her enough times a year that she usually gives me a price break every few sessions which is nice.
That is nice! I love a good massage!!