We’re making the most of the last full week of summer before school starts!
The boys are in sailing camp every day this week from 1-4 pm.
They’re sailing tiny little sailboats around the dock area and loving every second.
There’s not really enough time for me to go back home in between, so Monday I had lunch and watched the eclipse in Portland with Greg, Tuesday I went Freeport outlet shopping with my mom, and Wednesday I went for a gorgeous bike ride.
Two islands, 22 miles, and one shower at the yacht club when I got back. (Thanks guys, hope those aren’t members only. At least we’re patronizing sailing camp?)
Check out the views!
Makes me think about where I could bike at home in Massachusetts if I drove a short distance first.
Hi Kelly. I found your Blog today as I was researching how to combat what I call the “2-Mile Wall” during 5K re-training. My next outdoor 5K is on October 15th. I decided to reply under *this* particular post as, like you, I’m also an outdoor cyclist. However, now that the sun is setting earlier and earlier and we no longer go on 42-mile rides after work, I’ve switched back to running for my cardio exercise. My husband and I have been cycling together for about 7 years, and since April we’re up to 1,187 miles for the year, Most Wednesday mornings at 6a I take a spin class led by my strength-training trainer. During the non-biking season, I try to wake up early and run indoors before work, but I’ve also gone after work. I predominately train on a treadmill. I first started running in early-2010 and participated in my first 5K that March, and have finished 4 more since then. Only in March of 2016 I PRed for an outdoor 5K (28:11) and in April of this year, for an indoor 5K (27:57). The MENTAL aspect of running is VERY big, and I’m working really hard to combat the “wall” of reaching Mile 2 on the treadmill, knowing how many times I’ve finished 3.1 miles, and the absolutely incredible feeling of accomplishment. On the flipside, I know what it feels like to beat myself up for not hitting that distance. Truth be told I’ve only started 5K re-training this month because we were biking so much. Last Thursday before work I was able to do 2.5 consecutive miles which I haven’t done in months. Admittedly, I tend to run better before work on the treadmill, but today I’m going to try going again after work, giving myself 3 hours between a Quest Bar and stepping onto the treadmill. That helps prevent annoying side stitches. Any advice? Thanks for your honesty! ~Tracey~
Hi Tracey!
You’re quite the cyclist! That’s amazing mileage, I bet you’ve had some fantastic scenic rides! It’s always hard to return to running with a memory of being a stronger runner than you are. The best way I’ve found to get back into it is to be patient (which is annoying, I know) and to incorporate walking breaks as needed and then pick away at the walking breaks. If you walk at that 2 mile “wall” you’re hitting, and then run another mile, gradually it’ll get easier to move that “wall” to 2.25 miles, and then 2.5 miles. It can also help to slow down instead of stopping – try running at a slower pace either starting at 2 miles or for the entire run and see if that makes a difference. Once you get past the wall, you can speed back up. Another mental trick I use to push further is focusing very much on the moment. If I hit mile 2 and think “oh my gosh, I have another whole mile left, I don’t want to do this” it’s much harder than saying “can I keep going now“. I’ve met a lot of runners who have great success repeating Couch to 5k after a running hiatus – it sounds like you’re running long enough stretches so you’d want to hop into the middle of the program, but it’s always an idea. As strengthening and aerobic as cycling is, it’s not exactly the same as running, so being patient and chipping away at the wall rather than trying to bulldoze it will help 🙂 Also, make sure to rest & recover in between workouts so your muscles can repair and get stronger for you. I wish you the best!
Kelly thanks for your reply! My longest bike-ride was 78 miles in early-July of 2015. Hills don’t scare me as much as they used to, but what’s been difficult for me this season is reducing the number of GUs I eat per ride. We ended up doing one of two routes during the week (either 42 miles or 37 miles), and some rides on weekends. My in-laws live on the beach in RI so we like biking once or twice a Summer to Buttonwood for ice cream in Griswold, CT (57 miles roundtrip from Charlestown, RI). Unfortunately I don’t lose weight from biking :(. I think it’s a combination of needing to fuel during a ride, and eating dinner too late on weeknights when we’re back to the house. I’ve been told I need to cut back on the amount of GUs I eat while riding. It really is tough to return to running- my trainer calls me “Ms. Endurance” but I don’t think that biking is as mental as running is. I stick to 3.1 miles because that’s challenging enough for me as it is. I’m a stronger cyclist than I am a runner, but I do know what I’m capable of. I actually find that walking breaks make picking it back up again more difficult, so while I’m chipping away on the treadmill, I remind myself of that. I also focus on breathing which is helpful- if I’m able to take deep breaths and not feel like I’m going to pass out, I know I can keep going. I know that I’m capable of running 5Ks indoors (and outdoors on race day), and have a calendar of all my exercise dating back to 2014. So when I was at 5K re-training last year at this time, I wasn’t getting up the complete 3.1 miles until late-September. I’m actually not planning to go back to my spin class until after the October 15th 5K is over as I don’t want to “confuse” my legs, lol. At my fastest, I’d run Mile 1 at 6.4, Mile 2 at 6.5, and then increase the speed one “tick” after every minute. The last couple times I ran 2 miles it was at 6.3 THE WHOLE TIME. Do you think I should try for the 3.1 miles at 6.3 without increasing the speed? Yes you’re 100% right- cycling and running are NOT the same. I still can’t believe that after last year’s 5K in October we did a 37-mile ride! Thanks for the tips- today after work I’m going to focus on “the moment”. I think talking to yourself during a run is key: “Look at that! Already at 5 minutes” 🙂
I think keeping it at your slowest speed (or slower!) could really make a difference – play around with it and see! In terms of less GU on rides, I eat a lot of raisins on my rides and have had a great experience with that. I know people who bring crazy things like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, too! No rule says you have to eat GU, but I don’t like feeling hungry so I’m with you on having nutrition on rides 🙂
Typically on a 42-mile ride I’d have 3 GUs. But during the last month or so of riding, I reduced my GU intake by one. I can usually go 17-20 miles before I need one, but then I felt like I needed one every ten miles. But it’s back to running season now- and I need significantly less fuel for 5K practice. Raisins- interesting. I’ll let my husband Ben know! How far/fast do you like to ride? I think our PR for the 42-mile loop we do is 2:36.
Years ago my fastest running pace was 5.8, and now I don’t really like to run at lower than 6.3. Tonight I have to decide if I’ll run Miles 1 and 2 at 6.3 AND try for Mile 3 and .1 at 6.3 or up it at some point in the middle of Mile 3…
Kelly- I did it! 3.1 miles in 28:45. I can’t tell you the last time I was able to complete a full 5K after work. Usually I run better in the morning before work, and the last time I ran a 5K was April (biking season literally began the following day). Thanks for your advice- when I reached Mile 2 I kept reminding myself that my breathing was good, that I wasn’t cramping, I tried the “smile test”, and kept at it. Now I’ve got a benchmark, proof I’m able to do it (again), and time to chip away at my time before the 5K on October 15th. ~Tracey~
Awesome!!! I’m so glad 🙂 Best wishes as you keep making progress and enjoying the journey!
I think today is a cleaning day and tomorrow we’re planning to bike. I’m going to get back at it Monday! Thanks and happy belated birthday!