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Changing running goals with changing schedules

Sunrise photo

 I have to say that there were some advantages to the pandemic.  I had my mornings free to sleep as long as my body wanted, enjoy a leisurely coffee, do a little reading, meditation, and exercise, and set my intention for the day.  Now that I have to be to work by 7:00 am things have changed.  Instead of reading the newspaper I skim the headlines or my Google feed.  I only manage to get half a cup of joe before my morning run, and my run has been cut from 6 miles to 3. 

 Honestly, that’s probably for the better.  I’ve been working on my long slow distance, at a heart rate of 130-135 (based on the Maffetone method), for 5-7 miles at a time, but I have a feeling it's time to change it up a bit.  In the past, three miles hardly seemed worth lacing up my shoes, but unless I want to wake up at 4:30 (which I don’t—prioritizing sleep is number one these days!) that’s all I have to work with. 

 Anyway, this week I decided to shake things up a little.  I know about the benefits of interval training for building speed and boosting metabolism, but forgot about how fun it can be.  I inserted some sections of faster running into the miles and had a blast.  I warmed up for a half a mile, and then ran from landmark to landmark—a corner here, a lightpost there, alternating fast with slow, until I was a half mile from home, at which point I slowed down again to let my heartrate return to normal.  By the time I got home I felt like my brain was revved up and ready to go, and instead of feeling worn out I felt primed for more.  I won’t do this every day, but a couple times a week is doing my brain and body good!

Instead of running a marathon this year with 26,000 of my closest friends and compromising my immune system in the process, I think I'll focus on building my speed again.  Maybe a fast 5K in the spring would be fun...

We'll see what "Rona" has in store for us and keep trying to be patiently flexible.

Hugs, friends :)


If you'd like to talk to me more about race training or a nutrition plan that works for you, I've got you!  I'm a certified Nutrition Coach who will create a simple, customized meal plan for you and coach you through how to implement it into your busy life.  We also talk about all the pitfalls that make it hard, and help you make it the anchor that keeps you healthy, energized, and sane through the whirlwind of your everyday life.

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