G’s Update:

This week my training got serious. For the first time since I started training with 50 miles in mind, things have gotten out of my comfort zone. I have trained for several 50Ks so there is a threshold of work that I haven’t crossed before.

Aside from a pretty lofty week of 48 miles total of training, I was kind of dreading or fearing the 22-mile training run slated for Saturday.

It started off with the weather.

After training in lots of snow and freezing cold through December to prepare for a race, my motivation to be outside and freeze my rear off is waning. And since the constant arctic blast has arrived in Ohio and decided that it’s nice here this time of year, it has been in the single digits.  Can you say brrr?

The executive decision was made that this was a treadmill day. I know, right?

I have never run 22 miles in a training run, let alone on a treadmill!  I have covered this distance many times in a race but everything is always harder in training.

And it was. Twelve miles in my hamstrings were squawking like crazy. I couldn’t figure out if they were sore, tight or preparing to cramp.  Turns out my hamstrings have decided they want to live elsewhere. I know this because it felt an awful lot like they were trying to escape my body while I was using them. Not the experience you want when you still have 10 miles to go.

At mile 15 it became clear that it was time to suck it up. I won’t say I finished strong but I did finish and didn’t feel too worse for wear.

I rounded out my week with a 10-miler on Sunday and was pleased to find that I endured it all pretty well. Each week from here is going to be an opportunity to learn and grow as a runner.

Mary, too is living in the arctic tundra and this photo sums up her whole week!

She still managed to up her total mileage for the week as well as annoy the elderly walking on the short track! I hope she isn’t banned from the rec center next week or limited to only 50 laps! Way to go!

Jill, has been on the fence about this entire adventure up to this point.  I believe she is on board now.  It may have been the promise of booze and cool matching outfits??

Lowi’s Update: 

Let’s just say that I am tired and hungry.  My week culminated in a 12-mile and 10-mile run back to back.  My 12 miles were great and I felt awesome.  Doing 10 the next day?  Not so much.

I was able to up my total mileage this week to 39 miles with some hill work included which feels good, but I know I have a long way to go.  My schedule looks daunting from here on out and torture seems like a good descriptor!

11 weeks and counting…

Lowi & G

 

 

Tuesday’s weekly Torture Report is designed to keep all of you posted on the insanity of training for a race to celebrate G’s 40th birthday. The goal is 50 miles but we’ll see how it goes. To find out more on how this plan was set in motion, check out Lowi’s blog. If you missed the last Torture Report, you can catch up here.