Dec 2016 IRL Training Log
| January 3, 2017 | Posted by Melinda under Training journal |
There are some new readers here on the blog so here’s a reminder of why we do this every month.
These “In Real Life” posts are designed to show how conditioning and training programs are being applied “real life”. The super secret reason I started these posts was to prove to others that you *can* do cool stuff with a reasonable amount of training miles – unlike most of those “programs” that are out there for running and endurance. Don’t be afraid to figure out what works for you, even if it seems like you are in the only one doing it that way!
December was a slow month as holidays, trying to make family a priority after the last big push in 100 mile training, and recovery all conspired combined to leave me vaguely grumpy and declaring it has been FOREVER since I ran (not true) or did anything meaningful with the horses (sorta true).
Running
7 runs, 36.4 miles total. One run over 10 miles.
I ran that 5k and didn’t PR….other than that I don’t have anything useful to say. Motivation was both high and low if that makes any sense. I’m not burnt out by any stretch of the imagination, but without a goal big enough to scare me I just wasn’t motivated to go running when it wasn’t strictly convenient.
What’s next? I’ve officially registered for the February Arizona 100K (Black Canyon) and have been told to be prepared for freezing, sweltering, wet conditions with possibility of cactus encounters.
O.M.G. I’m really not going to survive this am I?
In January I’ve absolutely got to get some double-digit runs in, and at least one run in the 18-20 mile range. One of my jobs (starting mid-December) is up in the foothills so I’m able to trail on trails more often, but I don’t have as much time to go long as I did.
MerryLegs (the 5-year-old)
ML got ridden…3 times (all in the arena). Mostly in the beginning of the month before the holidays and weather completely derailed me. But 3x is a crap ton more than she has been getting ridden, we are using a BRIDLE, and at least one of those rides was in a SADDLE. There was also some ground work and some tying sessions.
I’m WAY less stressed about getting her worked now that I realize how much she retains. Heck, if I got on her after 18 months without a problem, I’m not worried about a couple weeks. Meh. We will get it done.
January is her turn to go to Mare camp…assuming she gets in the trailer tomorrow….another thing that hasn’t done in forever. But considering her behavior recently, I’m not worried.
(Reminder for people – like me – who have lost track of time. She will be 5 years old in February)
Farley (the 18 year old)
- 2 hour trail ride
- 1 Ground driving in arena
- 1 bareback ride in arena
Goal next month is to get her out as much as weather will allow. I absolutely won’t push to condition her in crappy footing, thus so much depends on the weather. It’s been very wet and rainy here this week so I’m biting my finger nails trying to ignore the ticking of the imaginary clock in my head….only so many conditioning days available….going to be 18 this year….running out of time…..
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Over all I think for it being December I got as much done as could be expected. It’s dark, cold, often rainy, and there are a lot of other obligations this time of year. Combined with a recent 100 miler, I need to remember (as always) to be kind to myself. It hasn’t been forever since I ran, Farley did get out on the trail for a longer ride, and ML actually got to go to work for the first time in a LONG time. Simmer down over-anxious brain! Patience and doing the small things will add up in time – fighting hard against the inevitable off-season doldrums will only use up valuable will power.
I’m hoping the desert gets all of its weather weirdness out of the way now and presents you with a perfect race day! (We can always hope, right?) And all of my cactus encounters have been on horseback versus running, so I’m not too worried about you having a run-in with an errant cholla. 😉
The weather here has been wet and awful. I’m pretty sure that based on experiments so far, thin tights and a trash bag are more functional than anything else if we get wet weather!
That’s kind of what I’m thinking. Garbage bag is probably more effective than high-priced jacket that *might* stay dry for half an hour before turning soggy.
I notice that I run slower in a jacketnwhen I’m dry and warm. It’s a fine line between cold and not performing well because you are chilled to the bone, and being too comfy so you don’t push. I wore a jacket for my snow/mud/rain run yesterday and was totally regretting that if didn’t wear a thin wool shirt and a trash bag!