I must have been hit by the racing bug after my 10k last weekend because a few days ago I decided to sign up to run a 6k on Saturday. I’ll share my race recap tomorrow, but because it was a last-minute decision I didn’t do anything different during the week to prepare for the race (other than taking a rest day on Friday). I was actually still sore from Wednesday’s strength training session on Friday, so that worried me a bit. It all worked out and sometimes I think I do much better when I sign up for races at the last minute because I don’t put any pressure on myself. Anyway, let’s look at how my workouts played out last week.
A Last-Minute Race Week
Monday: 5 miles, core and hip exercises, 25 minutes yoga in the evening
Tuesday: 5 miles, CXWORX on YouTube
Wednesday: Strength training and 3.15 miles
Thursday: 4.21 miles plus this core workout and this glute workout
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 6k plus warm up and cool down (just over 5 miles total)
Sunday: 9 miles…I wasn’t sore from the race and wanted to get in a longer run. With all the traveling and races I haven’t done more than 7-8 in a while, and the most I have run since my marathon last November is 10 miles. I am considering a half-marathon in May, so figured I should try to get in a couple of longer runs before that. It was a beautiful day for running and I went to a nearby trail.
Total: 31.45 miles
Walked: 20.5 miles Push-ups: 3 days
Yearly Total: 710/2016
This week was actually really nice because I had a training for work and my day started a little later than usual. Leaving for work at 7:45 instead of 7:15 felt amazing! I was able to run at 6am so most of my runs were in the daylight, which I have just felt like I needed lately. On Monday I got home a little early and our “homework” was to do a self-care activity! So I did 25 minutes of yoga for injury prevention and then Rob and I went on a walk after dinner.
Be sure to check back tomorrow if you want to hear more about my race!
Do you ever sign up for races at the last-minute? Do you think it affects your performance?
When was the last time your purposefully did a “self-care” activity?
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I do like signing up for races at the last minute too! can’t wait to hear the recap. and yes to getting started later in the morning – every minute counts!
I wish it was easier to do more last minute races, they really are better I think!
Awesome week for you! I’ve never done a last minute race signup mainly because my life has to be planned out with kid stuff, so I’m not sure how I’d approach it! Looks like a great overall week and running is daylight is always nice after so much dark.
I only do small, local races at the last minute, but I can see how it would be tricky to plan for the kids!
I think I need to take a page from your book and start signing up for things last minute! I get so many prerace jitters and I imagine just running a race on the fly would make it seem a lot more easy breezy. I will be back to read your recap!
You should definitely try a last minute race! Especially because you run so well in your training runs!
I love a last minute race. No nerves, just go and run free 😀
Exactly!
Can’t wait to hear about your race! I thought about signing up for a last minute 5K this weekend but realized two crucial things: 1.) it’s too hot for racing 2.) i didn’t want to give up sleeping in 🙂
Haha those are good reasons!
I’m excited to hear more about your race! I’ve never jumped into a last minute race but that would probably be the best way for me to run a short race like a 5K.
It’s definitely great for short races!
I think It it much easier to sign up for a race after having a good experience with another one. I also have not done a longer run for awhile and yesterday I did 10 miles just because. I have no race that I am training for but I had taken two days off prior and it felt good to get back out there.
Thats a good point that its easier to sign up for another race after having a good one!
I nearly signed up for a half that’s in just a couple weeks, but the increased price deterred me, LOL!!!
Thats one reason why I avoid signing up for certain races at the last minute!
I’ve never signed up for a last minute race, but I actually think it would be a good thing since it would take the pressure off too. You should do the St. Michael’s half marathon in May!!!
I wish I could, but I’ll be in NY for a wedding that weekend!
I thrive on signing up for races last minute – like you said, it really takes away the pressure and you have no time to think about it, you just go with the flow!
Exactly!
Great week! I have done a last minute race, actually a half marathon I signed up for in my hometown 10 days beforehand. I’d been running 5-9 miles 4 days per week for months prior so it wasn’t a huge deal and I took it super easy.
I think that’s a great way to go into a half marathon! I would love sign up for a half about 2 weeks out in the next couple of months.
I think my races go better when I sign up last minute. I actually wish I could plan for marathons more last minute than I do. Not the week of, necessarily, but I like going into races relaxed, which usually only happens when I’m not planning months in advance. I need to do better at the self-care activities. It’s so important to our mental well-being.
I agree it would be nice to be able to sign up for marathons at the last minute, rather than planning them out for months!
My self-care activities aren’t “G” rated so I should probably just skip that question. Great job on the race! So great that you decided to sign up at the last second. I like doing last minute races because then I know I won’t get injured or crazy anxious. It’s the way to go!
So true! I’ve only tried this for shorter races but I would love to sign up a the last minute for a half marathon (as long as I feel ready for it!)
I get race fever pretty easily, but summer’s coming up, so races peter out a bit. If I can get some good strength over the summer, I do want to look at a good fall race to do.
I am trying to take advantage of racing in the spring weather while it lasts:)
I signed up for my 2nd half marathon two weeks in advance. It’s kind of a crazy story…it was all about redemption from a really really crappy first half marathon experience. I was very fit, just hadn’t done a ton of running. I did a run-walk plan and had a really great (and fun) race that helped me become interested in running again. Definitely not recommended to be that undertrained but it worked out. 🙂
That’s a great story! Glad it all worked out for you:)
Congrats on your 6k! I totally agree with last minute race registration. It takes the stress out of it and I perform better. Sometimes we are forced to sign up well in advance (like Chicag0 for example) and it doesn’t always work out as planned. Then disappointment sets in. I like to run long on Sunday after a Saturday 5k/10k. It’s like a mini Hanson method. I consider my weekend physical therapy exercises to be self care! So, that means several times a week. Thanks for linking with us Lisa.
I definitely liked the idea of a long run after a short race! My legs were tired from the race but not totally burnt out. Glad you can get in some self-care time with your PT:)
Last minute race, or opening registration, I’ve done both several times. I guess just running in a race is my addiction. I do remember after my 2nd half that is when I would allow myself to sign up for more than one at a time. Before that I could not even think about another race until I got finished with the one I was working on. Funny how things change. I at the moment have 5 races I’m signed up for from now to Jan 2017!
You definitely do run a lot of races! I have tried to stop signing up too far in advance because I hate when something comes up and I end up wasting the registration fee.