November 2016 Training – Week 2
I was pretty exhausted after the New York City Marathon on November 6th and took the next 6 days off from running. I eased back into it this week but only ran 3 days. I started chiropractic treatments to treat my piriformis this week. I’m planning to go 3 times a week for some undermined amount of time. Training for the Eugene Marathon will begin in early 2017.
Running Schedule
November 13th – November 19th
Sunday: ?
Monday: ?
Tuesday: ?
Wednesday: ?
Thursday: ?
Friday: ?
Saturday: ?
Mileage Total: ?
Adaptations. I didn’t set a running schedule so I didn’t have anything to adjust.
Goals. I didn’t set any goals this week. I took last week off completely. I wanted to take one day at a time as I returned to running. I also started also had chiropractic therapy this week (see details under “Injuries” below) and wasn’t sure how that would impact my running.
Workout Details
Maintenance. Run. 6 miles [Log Details].
On Sunday, I ran with my long run club. I started out with three other club regulars. We talked mostly about my New York City Marathon experience but I also got to catch up on their training and recent races. There was a race on the trail and we collapsed into a tight pack to make room for other runners. After three miles, I decided it was time to turn around. I didn’t want to overdo it on my first run since the marathon. I noticed a woman in a turkey running behind me so I stopped and took a picture.
After that rest, I tried to really concentrate on my running form. I was probably over-striding but it felt good to stretch out my legs through my hips.
I thought it was a great first run back!
Overall pace=8:18.
Maintenance Run. 4 miles [Log Details].
By Wednesday, I had my second chiropractic treatment (see details under “Injuries” below). I thought I should start to run more so I could determine whether the adjustments were working. Unfortunately, I went to visit him in the morning, which is normally when I run. So, I squeezed in a quick 4 mile run during lunch to test things out.
During the first mile, I could tell the pace was fast but I didn’t slow down. It felt good to run! But eventually, I slowed down a little. My hips were very sore. Not the sharp pain in the butt that I’m used to. Instead, the muscles felt bruised. I thought perhaps I’d set the electrode-stimulation too high. Mid-way through the run, I thought I had slowed down a little but when I checked my pace, I saw I was running low-8:00 pace! My fatigue went up and down for the entire run. I never quite felt like I was in a rhythm. I was also a little overheated in the long-sleeve shirt I wore. I let my legs stride out a little at the end of the run. It didn’t make my hip feel any worse.
Overall pace=8:08.
Maintenance Run. 5 miles [Log Details].
On Friday, I went to see my chiropractor in the morning. I made sure the electrode-stimulation was milder than it had been on Wednesday. I decided to fit in a 5 mile run before heading out of town in the afternoon.
I kept the effort “easy” but was surprised by how hard it felt. I thought, “You are getting out of shape!” After about a mile, the pace felt more comfortable, though. I paid a lot of attention to how my hips were feeling. They weren’t as sore as they were on Wednesday. Instead, there was a very dull aching, which I thought was an improvement. After about 2 miles, I was running into the wind and fighting it a bit. I didn’t want this to be a taxing workout, so I stopped at the lights and lingered a bit.
It was a good run. I wished 5 miles felt easier but after a full week off, it wasn’t that surprising. I’ll start building mileage up again next week.
Overall pace=8:37.
Health
Injuries. After an extremely painful New York City Marathon, I decided to finally have someone assess the pain I’ve been having in my hip. Last Friday, I went to see a chiropractor. (I went to see one of the doctors at the practice mentioned on Pace the Nation a few weeks ago. I got to meet Pete Sherry and see his award for winning the Marine Corps Marathon.) At the follow-up meeting, his initial assessment was that my left leg, the side with the pain, was shorter than my right but that it was probably because the muscles in my hips were so tight – not that any of the bones were longer.
This week, I went for treatment on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. I got electrode-stimulation with heat and then the doctor stretched out my hips and adjusted my lower back. It’s 20 minutes of treatment, but it takes me about an hour to get there and an equal amount of time to commute in to work. I’ll continue seeing him three times a week until… My insurance has a $1,000 deductible and limit treatment to 20 visits a year. That would take me through the end of the year, which is when I was planning to start training for the Eugene Marathon.
Weather
The weather has been lovely for running in Washington, DC so far this November. Upper 30s to mid 50s in the morning and daytime highs in the 60s. However, weather forecasters are warning this may be a colder winter than last year but with less snow.
Racing Schedule
Next race: 2016 Alexandria Turkey Trot 5 Miler on November 24th. (My Complete Racing Schedule.)
