Training for Peak Performance: Week 1

Had a lousy January in general. Work got in the way of exercise and the intense cold and snow beat me down which meant that I was coming into the first of a 14-week training program for the the mini-marathon colder than I wanted. I am also looking down the barrel of the Shamrock Shuffle with about 8 weeks to play. Sad because I have A-Corral qualification this year and really looked to put in an amazing time. I will probably still PR if no injuries, but had hoped to have a better base ready.

Week 1 also had its glitches. Had my gear at work and never made it out on Monday which meant I missed the first day. Day 2 was an 8-miler which ended with declining mile splits and a sore hamstring and ITB. Took Weds off (should have been hills) to make sure that neither turned into a thing. Hit the 3 on Thurs fine, Friday was insane at work and missed that 8 but picked it up on Sat. Should have had a day between the 8 and a Sunday 10, so I was not really ready and ended up bailing at 8 on Sunday with twinges in the hamstring.

I think the key in this program is to be intensely aware of lingering hamstring issues---they have been nagging since mid-November and I need to find a series of stretches that really treats the deeper issues. At the same time, this is precisely the same training regimen I did last year at this time and it seems SO much easier this time. Like so many good Jack-Daniels-inspired routines, it cycles between longer and shorter weeks and week 2 is much lighter.

Ran North along the path yesterday and South today. Jackson Harbor is looking spectacular, covered with ice and snow. I am running these days with the iPhone and I have a nice, rugged camera precisely for these occasions, but (a) I can barely remember to wear decent running specs, much less remember a camera and (b) the little iPhone case is nice, but too cumbersome to pull the phone out with cold hands and (c) I just don't like stopping on a run. I think this is why I am not a super social runner. That said, lifted with KO yesterday after the run and remembered again just how quickly the time goes by when you workout with a friend. The run goes by awfully quickly with Gareth Emery, especially the soaring female vocals that run through episode 71...so I don't feel like I am missing human company all that much.