Workouts

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I tend to stay quiet on topics I’m not “qualified” or “well-versed” in. I think it’s important to be educated about something you’re talking about especially if others are listening. This week has continued to expose deep wounds in our country’s history and has made it very clear that we are far from eliminating racism and bias. Staying quiet even though I don’t feel “prepared” is a lame excuse and I want to do better. After Ahmaud’s murder on a run, I was running through a neighborhood north of where we live and outside of our town. Large estates with winding driveways line the roads and it isn’t uncommon to see multiple Teslas go by in a few minute period. I passed by a few people out walking and exchanged greetings with them. I don’t live here, but I blended in. I blended in because the people who live there all looked like me. It is a privilege to go run (or go anywhere for that matter) whenever I want here because I don’t have to worry about being targeted for the color of my skin like Ahmaud was and that made me incredibly sad. As a Christian, I’ve been taught to love everyone always and I’d like to think that I do, but that’s a little easier when most people in your circles look similar to you. I’ve realized I need to start by deconstructing my own views of race or implicit biases by doing my own due diligence first. For me that means reading books, listening to podcasts from POC who discuss how to be an ally for those of us trying to learn, and having conversations about those things with people I know will challenge me to look at things in a new way. I grew up always believing that everyone deserved the right to be treated equally but have admittedly been in a protected “bubble”. I want to be an ally to people of color and that starts with a deeper inward personal look at the implicit biases that may have been developed over the years. If you’re curious about your own implicit biases, I suggest starting with the online test on Race from Harvard through Project Implicit (you can Google this); just because you are not outwardly racist doesn’t mean you don’t have unconscious biases that may be impeding your ability to be an ally. I promise to do better.

Covid may have stolen our races but it doesn’t have to steal our fire 🔥 Mile time trial #2 this weekend. It’s been 5 weeks since I did my first one so I figured I’d give it a go and see where I was at. Couldn’t find a bathroom to use after driving 20 minutes to my course of choice so that made things a little challenging; it’s the little things like an open porta potty we take for granted 😬 my warm-up felt appropriately garbage-like (typical for me before a race - it’s gotta be mental, right?), strides felt smooth, then it was time for the trial. I went out hot in the first 400 and tried to slow it down about .15 in but still came through in 81 seconds. I was able to get things under control in the second 400, running 85 seconds which is what I had hoped to go out in and hold through the first 3 400s. I felt the urge to use the bathroom at halfway and had to fight not to stop my watch and throw in the towel. Because of this, I really let myself get too comfortable in the third 400 and don’t like that I settled for a little bit (note to self: work on this); I do think that third 400 is the hardest because you’re over halfway in but you’re not ready to kick just yet. The last 400 I kicked with everything I had left but my arms were pretty fatigued at this point; it gave me flashbacks to my track days when my coach would yell at me, “Wilson (my maiden name)! Relax your arms!” I clench up in these shorter races and a lot of times in a mile or 5K it’s my arms that give out first before my legs. When the watch buzzed that the trial was over, I stopped with hands on knees catching my breath and waited for the time to pop up. 5:44 and change. For being focused on marathons the last 8 years, I’m ok with it and think it’s an accurate representation of where I’m at speed-wise. I have a 5K time trial next weekend and then in 5 weeks I’ll do another mile trial, but I might just keep on with this type of training beyond that because I’m having a lot of fun with it. Covid may have taken my marathon away, but this may just end up being the best thing that could’ve happened for my running to get me to focus my attention on my weaknesses and try to make them my strengths.

Sharing my thoughts on the 2020 Boston Marathon on my blog today (link in bio), including the virtual race option, the extension of the 2021 qualifying window, and my plans on moving forward. Would-have-been first timers, my heart is broken for you. Yes, people will say, “well at least you’re healthy”, or, “it was to be expected” and it’s very, very true that we are blessed to have our health and that it likely won’t be safe to gather in large groups in September, but it is also ok to be sad and to give yourself some time to be upset; your feelings are totally valid and while yes, there are bigger problems in the world right now, it doesn’t mean all others should be ignored. I can’t wait for the day that we all ride the bus up to Hopkinton, hang out in Athletes’ Village before the race, line up on the historic starting line, cruise through the Wellesley Scream Tunnel, turn right at the fire station to begin the ascent up the Newton Hills, and cresting Heartbreak Hill before starting the decent into the city of Boston, turning right on Hereford and left onto Boylston before crossing that epic finish line. I can’t wait for the day we can go chase our unicorns together, and for how meaningful that day will be when runners from all nations will join together again safely celebrating the sport we love so much 💙💛🦄 . . . . #bostonmarathon #boston #chasingunicorns #marathoner #heartbreakhill #runnersofinstagram #runnergirl #runlove #hopkinton #rightonherefordleftonboylston #togetherwerise #movingforward

Waking up feeling like it’s going to be a good day without even having a reason for it to be a “good day” is the best. I listened to the @aliontherun1 interview with @shalaneflanagan last night while baking cookies, watched an episode of Gilmore Girls, and went to bed relaxed and in a good mood. I woke up excited about starting the day with a run, then had the biggest smile on my face running listening to the @lindseyhein626 podcast with @emilyinfeld and @elise.cranny. Emily’s energy is so contagious and I probably looked like the biggest dork running down the road with a cheesy grin - just so many feel-good vibes in that conversation! Hoping to keep riding this happy wave into the weekend and that you find joy in the little things today, too! ❤️🤗 . . . #sunshineonacloudyday #happyvibes #runnergirl #runnersofinstagram #happy #itsagooddaytohaveagoodday #run #runlove #podcasting #runhappy

Oof that was hard. You know those workouts that don’t look that hard on paper but end up taking away a little piece of your soul? That was today 😂 I have 100% confidence that it would’ve been fairly comfortable had it not been sunny, hot, and humid (p.s. you don’t need to justify what that means to you; it’s all relative for each of us living in different climates), but instead there were many moments of hands on knees after running my 800s, trying to get my breathing under control. In the last week, I’ve been going back and reading through old posts to remind me that this feeling is normal. I know well enough by now that I haven’t lost fitness and that it’s just the weather change affecting me but it’s good to look back in moments of frustration and doubt to remember that you’ve been down this road before. Today I was reminded that it takes my body a good 6-8 weeks to really get adjusted to the weather change so I’ll keep showing up and slogging through it. When you start to turn the corner of the adjustment period it’s so, so sweet and I’m hanging on for the day that happens! Are you working through a weather change right now? What do you do to make the transition easier? . 8 miles including 4x800 @ 3:00, 3:01, 2:59, 2:59, 6x20 second strides w/ 40 second recoveries . . . #heat #runnersofinstagram #heatacclimation #speedwork #sunmerrunning #summerofspeed #keepshowingup #sufferfest #speed #summertimechi #chicagorunner #runitfast #teamsugarruns #runcoach #oof

Missing the pretty views from yesterday but it was also so nice to sleep in my own bed last night! I didn’t realize just how worn out I was until I slept for over 10 hours last night after getting back from moving my sister and a road trip. Tuesday is normally speed day but my body needed a day to recover. The weather is going to be just as hot tomorrow (the low for both days is 70 degrees) so don’t worry, I’m not getting off that easy! Truth be told I prefer summer running to winter running but only after my body has made the adjustment. Here are some tips if you’re adjusting to a rapid weather change, too: ➡️ Up your hydration. The 8 oz, 8x/day rule doesn’t really apply for athletes because we’re losing water on the run. It’s a good starting point, but I recommend doing a sweat rate test to see how much water you lose during a run in the heat to guide you on how much you should take in during a run. I did one last year and plan to do another one tomorrow before/after a speed workout! Our team RD has written extensively about this so go check out her page @olanutrition if you’re interested in learning how to perform this! ➡️ Start your runs earlier. It’s easier said than done and takes a few weeks to get on an earlier schedule again but it makes the running much more enjoyable when it’s hot outside. I have athletes who regularly run at 4 or 4:30 every morning rain or shine and they inspire me to get up and get moving. ➡️ Choose a loop course where you can access hydration. This will be especially important this summer as many public parks have turned off their water fountains due to covid concerns. This may be more tricky for city runners but I will sometimes leave extra water in my mailbox and plan to loop back around to fill up a bottle if I’m carrying one on longer runs. ➡️ Check your ego at the door. Paces will feel harder as you’re in the adjustment period and if you keep trying to run at the paces you were at just before the weather changed, you’ll likely get frustrated or end up running yourself into the ground. This one is hard(!) but sometimes it’s better to go off of effort than pace when you’re in the initial month or so of adjustment.

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