CUCB 10-Miler Training: Week 1

Super excited and also extremely nervous for the next 10 weeks as I train for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 miler race in Washington DC. I have been wanting to run this race for a few years and now finally, a close friend and I have gotten the opportunity to enter the race. I’ve decided to write about my training as a way to both document and reflect on my progress. Each week, I will have a theme to focus on to help myself grow in different aspects of the training process.

This week’s theme was: ACCOUNTABILITY. The strategies I used to keep myself accountable were:

• Creating a tentative training schedule.
• Making it a goal to write about my progress weekly to keep me on track.
• Checking in with my running partner often.
• Telling my friends and family about the race!

This week I worked on consistently working out, even if it was for just a 30 minute session at the gym. The mileage was the lowest it will be during this training so I wanted to use it as a way to get used to a routine for the weeks coming. After the few runs this week, I am debating if I need new shoes or if these can handle the 125ish miles in this training. The problem with getting new shoes at the start of your training is you have to break them in well – and I’m not sure that I have that kind of time now that I only have 9 weeks left.

Monday

Getting into the workout routine is the hardest part – so I decided instead of cross training, I would walk 3 miles. It was cold outside and definitely not the workout I had planned, but we succeeded. Listened to the 6th anniversary episode of MFM with the murder of Aundria Bowman.

Tuesday

Today, I (barely) finished my first run of the training season. It was a short 2 mile run around the neighborhood that showed me just how tough these next 10 week are going to be. It was about 38° with chilly winds that I could feel through two layers of winter running gear. Running in the cold was also a good reminder to warm up and stretch my muscles well before going outside.

Miles: 2.00, Pace: 13.49

Wednesday

Went into the gym and hit upper body for the first time in a while:

• lat pull downs
• seated rows
• tricep pull downs
• bicep curls
• tricep kickbacks
• shoulder presses
• isolated bench press

Thursday

With freezing temperatures and my legs not properly warmed up, there was a lot of cramping on the run. Ended up walking a majority of the first mile, but got into a much better rhythm for the second mile.

Miles: 2.00, Pace: 14.18

Friday

Definitely needed this rest day after the week of workouts. Followed Yoga with Adriene’s “Travel Yoga” video next to the pool at my hotel in Miami!

Saturday

Had a beautiful morning run by the beach all the way to South Point Pier. Afterwards, picked up a smoothie and headed out for a bike ride along the same route. Highly recommend the running path that stretches alongside South Beach!

Miles: 3.00, Pace: lots of stopping to take in the views

Sunday

Another well needed rest day!

Total Weekly Mileage: 7.00 miles

Highs/Lows of the week

High: Running in the sun (even though it was windy) was a refreshing change of space that reminded me how nice it actually feels to run outside. Super looking forward to warmer days in NoVA.

Low: This week I realized how much work will actually be needed to run the race in April 🙂