Week 4 of 2013: Jan 20-26

Sun, 1/20:

+ 30-min Yoga

Mon, 1/21:

+ 45-min TRX Bootcamp #10 (only 5 left from my Groupon)
+ 20-min Pilates

Tues, 1/22:

+ 3.26-mile Track Workout
+ 25-min Pilates
+ 35-min Yoga

Wed, 1/23:

+ 45-min Spin
+ 60-min TRX Workout
+ 35-min Yoga

Thurs, 1/24:

+ 3.58-mile Run (Hills)
+ 25-min Pilates

Fri, 1/25:

+ 2200-meter Swim
+ 25-min Pilates

Sat, 1/26:

+ 4-mile Run
+ 35-min Yoga

The Good, The Bad…

Everything about this week was great except Thursday’s run. The workout was supposed to be 10-min warm-up, 4 miles of running up and down .25-mile hill, then 10-min cool down.

This was my third week in a row of this workout, except this past two weeks were 2-miles of hills. I struggled in both those workouts and when I read that this week would be doubled the distance I wasn’t happy. I knew I wasn’t likely going to be able to do it. And that isn’t a self-defeating thought, it was just reality.

There aren’t very many hills around me unless I drive to the other side of town which I’m not willing to do. I go to Seal Point where there are 3 hill options:

1. a paved .20-mile hill that is gradual for .11-miles, then gets steeper, then curves for the last .05-mile when its at it’s steepest.
2. a dirt .05-mile hill that is straight up.
3. a dirt .10-mile hill that is in-between the first two in difficulty.

I always run the first option, unless I’m with Trainer Dave when he makes me spring the second option.

The previous two weeks I was able to run up the hill six times. Each time was a real challenge so I had no idea how I was going to run it 12 times.

After my sixth time up I was sore, tired and mad that I still had six more to go. So I decided to break things up and try the other two hills. No bueno. At that point my legs could not handle their steepness; it literally HURT to run up them. So I went back to the hill I’ve grown to hate and went up a seventh time. When I got to the top I asked myself, “Why the hell am I doing this?” I ran back down, straight to my car and drove home.

And I only sorta felt bad about not finishing the workout.

But I did wonder if the hill I was running was as difficult as what others use for hill repeats. I consulted a few friends, and my coach too and apparently it is.

The Amazing

Sunrise Over the Golden Gate

I could not have asked for a better run after Thursday’s bust. I was scheduled for 40-min of easy running on Saturday.

I was also scheduled to have breakfast with old friends, two of whom were visiting from out of town. They wanted to visit Crissy Field and The Warming Hut so I decided to do a pre-breakfast run in the area.

Hoppers Hands

I usually only run at Crissy Field during a race or long run so it was so much fun just to leisurely run around and explore the area.

The Golden Gate Bridge in all her glory

Tagged as: Crissy Field, Golden Gate Bridge, Running, San Francisco, Spinning, Streng, Swimming, Weekly Workout Recaps