We all have bad runs. But what happens when Sufferfest threatens to derail your plans? You don’t let it! Because marathon training waits for no one.
Last week was a bit of a nutty week. I felt fantastic through Thursday. Hills, a “fast” easy run — and then the weekend rolled around. Sufferfest tried to bring me down, but I didn’t let it win. MCM is just 10 weeks away, how could I?!
Opting Outside + Surviving Sufferfest 2017 {MCM Training: Week 7}
Tuesday — 5.07 miles of HILLS! + strength training
Tuesday was a nice morning of hill work. Trixie the Wonderdog and I took to the streets for a nice warm-up. After that, she relaxed in the shade, ate some leaves and sticks, and watched me run up and down a hill 10 times. Afterward, we did one hill sprint together and then cooled down on our way home. She’s the best running buddy, I swear.
When we got home I got in a little bit of much-needed strength training. It felt great.
Wednesday — 6.04 miles
My friend Carole and I tackled 6 @ 6. The moon was full and so beautiful on my way to meet her — I had to snap this photo! And it doesn’t even do the moon justice.
Full moon sighting!
Thursday — 10 miles
Candice and I met up for 10 fast miles on Thursday morning. All felt amazing while we were running, but as the day wore on I swear I thought I was going to pass out from exhaustion and hunger! We ran through what seemed like the entire city to log our miles, but it was a really fun run. We ran a little faster than goal pace but nothing felt too strenuous. Overall it was a solid run and I was grateful for the company.
10 miles: check!
Friday — rest
On Friday I woke up feeling fairly fatigued. I thought it was because I had such a hard run on Thursday but I realized as the day progressed that I was actually suffering from a mild cold. In truth, I was glad my fatigue was caused by illness and not overtraining. Which, let’s face it, is a real fear among long distance runners. Phew!
Saturday — hiking the CVNP
Despite not feeling 100%, we opted outside on Saturday. My husband and I took the kids and the Trix-dog to hike and explore in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We’re so lucky we live near such a beautiful place, but I was really bothered at how inappropriately some visitors were treating the park. Of course not everyone was disrespectful, and overall we had a really fun time. I had a minor freak-out episode in the car ride home, though, because I found a tick wandering on my seat. Cue panicked mom doing tick checks in the driveway.
Sunday — 16.06 miles
Since I was still recovering from my cold on Saturday, I bumped my long run back to Sunday. I had grand plans for my run. Since I was coaching at 8 and 9 am, I thought I’d loop in those miles and then run home to get the rest of my long run in. I felt the “call of nature” with my first client but ignored it. When I was with my last runner, though, I started to feel a little dizzy. Since my route home included no restroom facilities or access to water fountains, I wasn’t quite sure it would be a wise idea to run. Instead, I went with Plan B. I hopped in the car and ate my peanut butter and jelly I had packed for my pre-run fuel on the way home. After using the facilities and chugging some water, I was off!
By this time it was almost 10:30 am and the sun was blazing. My run was a real sufferfest from the outset. It was getting hot, my headphones were driving me insane and making me sweat profusely, and my hair was insulating my back and making my neck hot. You’d think that was Sufferfest 2017 in a nutshell, right? You’d be wrong.
Suffering yet still smiling!
Sufferfest 2017
I went back home to refill my water bottle, grab some ice, and put my hair up in a bun. Then I went back out to tackle Sufferfest once and for all. I refused to be defeated!
The Freakonomics podcast kept me company for 10 miles. I learned all about shoes and why footwear is basically evil (but we already knew that, right?), and I started learning about Charles Koch of the Koch brothers. Fascinating stories, I tell ya. If you’ve never listened to the Freakonomics podcast before, add it to your list.
Despite my resolve and audio entertainment, Sufferfest didn’t let up. I tried to run in the shade as much as possible. I stopped every mile to mile and a half to guzzle water hydrate. Despite having a full belly, I sucked on energy chews to take my mind off the grueling heat. I’ve run in hotter conditions, yes, but coming off a cold with residual congestion really didn’t help the situation.
I didn’t run all 18 miles like I had planned. But I’m perfectly happy with the 16 I did run. Sufferfest, despite repeated attempts at bringing me down, did not win. I prevailed and conquered the run!
Rock Hall Half Marathon
This week I’ve got some hard runs but no more hills for this girl! They’re easier than they ever have been before and I’ve definitely learned to appreciate them, but I’m ready for new stimuli. I’m also running the Rock Hall Half Marathon on Sunday. A few of my runners will be taking on all three race distances — I’ve got 5K, 10K, and half marathon runners. It’ll be a really fun morning! If you’re in the ‘Land and you’ll be there, give a shout — I’d love to see you before the race!
xo
Let’s talk!
Have you battled Sufferfest? Who won?
Have you had the opportunity to visit a national park? Which one?
Linking up with HoHo Runs and MissSippi Piddlin’ for the Weekly Wrap, and My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs for Tuesdays on the Run.
63 Comments
Love your daughter rocking the hydration pack! Sufferfest will prepare you in case it’s warm on MCM day, right? When my MRTT group handed out ??? in Crystal City we learned that ice was a hot commodity.
It was super hot last year. I was more than prepared!
She insisted on wearing it even though both bottles were full and it was fairly heavy!
Way to battle and defeat Sufferfest. That ish an’t got nothing on you!
I felt very triumphant ??
Ugh, so sorry to hear about your long run 🙁 This only means that your next long run is going to be awesome. I hope that you are feeling better too!
I hope you’re right! ??
Sometimes it is warm on MCM day you will be more than prepared. Nice job getting your runs in. You had a great week of training
I was definitely prepared last year. Remember how hot it was?!
Lately, I feel like every one of my long runs is a sufferfest. I’m slowly gaining my endurance back but it’s been tough. I’m grateful I’m not training for a fall marathon this year. The only consolation about running in all this heat is that it does pay off in the fall!
Sufferfest and all I think your week was solid overall. We visited Acadia State Park in Maine and used to camp every year in Peninsula State Park in Door County, WI. Both SO beautiful.
I definitely want to get to Acadia. I’ve heard it’s beautiful. I’ll have to google Peninsula!
I love hearing about your training! I’m considering a half this fall and it’s motivating to see others out there running!
How exciting! Which half? Definitely do it!
I had an awful long run but it’s in the past, right?
I resort to podcasts when I am suffering. I need to add Freakonomics to my list.
I usually resort to music when I’m suffering! Lol. Podcasts are for the beginning when I’m mentally in it. When I’m checking out I know I need some tunes.
My suffer fest has been on the treadmill more than outside. If I’ve skipped runs, then my breathing is more difficult, and I can’t relax. I haven’t run since Wednesday, so today could be one of those days. I would like to do it outside in my neighborhood, but I’m not sure what our afternoon storms will bring.
I reserve the treadmill for winter. I’m sure I’ll have lots of TV to watch then. 🙂
Nice week! I had a sufferfest on Thursday but it was only 5k. The heat got to me and my tired legs from soccer the night before. My long run on the weekend however, was great!
That’s fantastic! 5k is manageable for Sufferfest. ?
Was that a Sufferfest we experienced for the last 8 miles or so in Duluth? Here I just though it might have been the start of the Wall… 😉
Oh no, that was most definitely Sufferfest! ?
That’s what I call determination! 🙂 (And thanks for reminding me of Freakonomics. I always forget that there’s a podcast!
Yes! It’s really entertaining. I’m glad I finally started listening to it!
Sufferfests are the worst. I tackled Tour De Pain this weekend, which is kind of the same LOL.
I have been to a couple of National Parks, but we don’t have too many near where I live. I am hoping to visit some more next summer. Maybe in an RV. We shall see.
Tour de Pain is definitely a close cousin to Sufferfest. Haha.
I’ve been trying to talk my husband into an RV trip for years. But we’ve been waiting until kids are older so a trip is now within sight! Maybe we’ll see you guys on the road. 😉
Love all of these photos! Sounds like a great week!
Thanks, Abbey!
We were up at a campsite in NH two months ago for a tri training camp, and came home to find a tick on my sons ear. I was so freaked out! And of course he’s got this giant fro of hair so we spent like an hour going through every inch in panick mode, lol. (Luckily all was fine)
Gah!!! I would have freaked out. Ticks are super icky.
I think 16 is just as good as 18 considering yo were getting over a cold. Great job! I love listening to podcasts on longer runs. They really do pass the time. I just recently downloaded the book Fitness Junkie so I am looking forward to my next long run.
I haven’t heard of that one, I’ll have to check it out!
I think 16 is a win. It’s still 16 miles, right??
Great job surviving sufferfest! It’s great prep for MCM both mentally and physically. I admit, it beats me down repeatedly. But I call it by its other name…SUMMER. The family hike sounds like fun! But the tick? Oh, no no no. Can’t stand those suckers (<< gets it??).
Hahaha, you call it summer! But I usually LOVE summer!!! I don’t think I was mentally prepared for it on Sunday, though, especially since it’s been so fall-like here for the last two weeks.
Ugh, sorry you had a tough long run, but nice job getting through it! It takes alot for me to quit during a workout, but I think heat can really push me over the edge. Hope this week is a great one for your training!
It takes a lot for me to quit, too. I definitely don’t consider 16 miles quitting. Especially since my longest run before Grandma’s was 18! I really think the *only* thing that would truly make me quit would be sub-zero temperatures. But then it’s a battle even to get out when it’s that cold anyway, so that’s more like a DNS. 😉
Oh my goodness, what a tough run, but love your determination to get it done. I think I would have stopped. 🙂
I really, really wanted to! But I also really didn’t wanna quit. 😉
I just love how you log your miles down to the hundredth! Your Sufferfest sounds awful, but way to tackle it and get it done! I’m hoping for cool, but not freezing weather for MCM!
Some may call the logging of the miles a little crazy…? I could probably round them, but what fun would that be? Haha.
I’m hoping for cool-ish weather, too. Last year was HOT. I was fine and had a lot of fun, but a tad cooler would have been better. But still sunny. I love running in the sun. 🙂
Girl – we must’ve been running at the same time!!
Sufferfest was the right word. But summer miles bring Fall PRs!
Right? Sunday was brutal!!
Way to persist despite the sufferfest! 10 miles, plus your long run and hills? I’d say you had a great week! Hope that cold goes away quick.
Thank you, Michelle!
Sounds like a great week.
And you were able to push through and get so much done. Great job!
Thank you, Mikki!
You’re so good! I’m starting to think that MCM is just not in the cards for me AGAIN this year. 🙁 I am just not feeling running right now. If I had a runner buddy like you have, I’d probably be rocking it this summer! Best of luck to you at the marathon! Let me know when you’re in town!
Oh no, really? That’s such a bummer!
I’ll be in town Thursday – Monday. We’ll have to get together!
Solid week of training!!! i can’t wait to get healed up and get back to something consistent! that’s the benefit of injuries any run is good 🙂
You’re absolutely right! The silver lining is definitely getting back to running, even when it’s only a half mile or mile!
That park looks gorgeous! It reminds me of the ones we have here in North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Listening to the podcast is such a great idea! I need to try that on a long workout!
Podcasts help pass the time on long runs, for sure. And they help keep the pace slow. 🙂
Ugh! Sufferfests are the worst. 10:30 on a hot day? Yikes! Getting out at 9 recently for shorter runs is almost doing me in. And I’m super impressed that Trixie stays while you’re doing hill repeats! That actually reminds me when I was just barely beginning to run, I’d take the dogs (Chester & Lola) to this “track” at a local school. It wasn’t a real track, just a small circle. I’m not even sure how long as I definitely didn’t have a smart phone or a watch (about 9 years ago).
Anyhoo, I’d put them in a down & then I’d do some laps. They were actually pretty good about it. I can’t see Bandit doing that.
Obviously, I’ve been to a few national parks, but would you believe NY doesn’t have one? Boo!
NY doesn’t have one?! That’s kind of shocking, actually.
When I bring her with me I loop her leash over a mailbox. Lol. She wants to run with me but gets easily distracted by all the nature to eat… 😉
I was shocked, too! Apparently the Adirondacks & Niagara are just state parks.
Huh. That’s so weird. I definitely would have thought both of those would be national!
Good job making it through sufferfest 2017 and still being upright at the end! It reminds me of my 2 PM tempo sufferfest last Wednesday. At least it was shorter even if I had to run faster…
2 pm is a tough time to run! Especially if it’s hot and sunny!!
Great training week. You’re going to be so ready for race day.
I hope so!
Wow this sounds intense but also a lot of fun!! You are gonna kill this race!
Thank you, Emily! I hope so!
Great job with your training. Sufferfest…oh man, I’m just glad I’m not marathon training right now because the struggle is real! You did amazing. I still haven’t tried to listen to a podcast during a long run, I’ll have to look up Freakonomics.
Thank you! I usually don’t mind summer running. But this one was tough!