SMH Half Marathon Training Week 5

Monday

PM - Swim squad - I am really struggling with motivation to swim, but once I get there I never regret it. But unfortunately tonight I did regret it because I backed our new car into a tree when I was leaving. :( I was very annoyed with myself about this.

Tuesday
AM - Got up at 5 to ride and halfway out to Homebush I slipped on some sand on a corner and fell off my bike. I grazed my left knee and thigh and got a small but deep wound on my right thumb. I thought I was okay and was determined to keep riding, but my wheel was a little bit buckled so after a few attempts I turned around and went home, had a shower, cleaned my wounds and got back into bed.

Lunchtime - I felt okay so I went to Pain in the Domain. I went with Group "4b" and the pace was better than last week. But I really struggled mentally and was kind of mentally flagellating myself the whole way around. I do this quite a lot normally, but today the negative self talk was completely out of hand. 10k total.

By the end of the day I was in a real funk, just feeling very down and almost teary. I guess I was annoyed at myself about the car and the bike and yet another graze on my knee which was now infected and very sore. Maybe it was something hormonal too. Anyway, today was not a good day.

Wednesday
AM - Up for my usual medium run around the Bay. I felt better and decided to try and challenge myself (and more so my negative thoughts) by doing the whole 7k around the Bay in less than 5 min k pace. I did this without too much difficulty and felt considerably cheered up. 14 total.

Thursday
AM - I decided to get back on the bike ASAP and went out to Homebush. I was pretty nervy on the corners at first, but I felt okay by the end of the ride. I went with group 4/5 which was all old blokes and had a good time.

PM - Hill reps with Tom. After riding in the morning I was expecting to feel cactus but I had quite a good session, keeping each rep under 1.30. I only did 6 as Tom had had enough, but I could have easily done another couple I think. 10k total.

Friday
PM. I went for a swim after work at the new-ish Ian Thorpe pool in Pyrmont. I just did 2k continuous easy. It’s a nice pool and there is also a sauna which I enjoyed for 20 mins after my swim.

Saturday
AM - Long run with Tom into the city. After 10k Tom turned for home and I pushed onwards, running along Hickson Rd and trying to do some positive visualisation for the race next week. I felt good and by the time I got home I had done about 26k with an average pace of 5.15. I was happy with that. I just wish I had done a few more of those in the past few weeks.

Sunday
AM - I was staying down in Melbourne with my friends Josie and Ben and planned to do an easy 10k run with Jasper the friendly dog. Unfortunately after a few ks Jasper lost her enthusiasm and it became a very slow plod, with me literally dragging her along. But it was funny and nice to have some four-legged company.

I finished with 10k in a very slow 60 mins. But it was a PB for Jasper. :)

So, my last week of dedicated half-marathon training and another decent total - 70k running, 2 swims, 1 bike. I am pleased with my consistency, especially with doing PITD and the hill reps.

Next week will be very easy with little running, I feel like my legs need a good dose of R&R before the race. I still have no idea what my goal should be. But I am thinking I need to run with a smile (enjoy it) and finish with a smile (know that I did a good time).