Marathon training requires a certain amount of insanity, and until recently I was convinced that adding AT workouts into my training was stupid. For the past four weeks I’ve been constantly fatigued and on the verge of starvation.
Given the right circumstances Runner Susan can be quite annoying. Okay, so given any circumstances Runner Susan can be annoying. I’ve been persistently asking my trainer, “When am I going to feel stronger? Why is my treadmill on incline twelve? Why am I so tired? When will my thighs get smaller? Where is that back fat machine?” Over and over and over my Satanic trainer kept telling me, “Give it four weeks and you’ll feel stronger, I promise.”
Liar, liar pants on fire! It’s been four weeks and I still feel like crap, I’m still tired, and my thighs are still ginormous. I’ll show him; I’m playing hooky. Besides, my uterus was threatening to drop out and splat on the treadmill if I didn’t give it a break from the intensity of AT training. So I skipped yesterday and today’s 02 classes and opted for a longer, slower run.
This morning I headed out for an eight-mile organ-safe run. A lethal combination of Midol and coffee made for a chatty Runner Susan, more so than I think Massoman was prepared for at 4:30 AM. I reached the landmark at 1.5 miles and realized that I had made it up the first big hill without even taking a breath. Twenty minutes into the run I thought if I were Jeff or Zeke or Rob or DGC I’d already be done with my eight miles. I thought how nice it must be to run super human 3-minute miles (or even do math since 20 divided by 3 is not 18). Someday, I thought. I talked steadily for five miles before I turned on Nano – amazing, considering I use the music to hide my heavy breathing from myself. Not today. I ran all eight miles with a low and steady heart rate, without panting, without walk breaks or even concern for heart explosion.
Okay, so maybe there is something to this AT and strength training and maybe incline 10 on the treadmill for an hour isn’t so wrong and maybe slower long runs are better, and maybe this trainer really isn’t the Devil in disguise. Okay, he’s still the Devil in disguise, but damnit – the Devil is right! Bastard.
Excellent – there’s nothing quite like tangible results after hard work! you deserve it.
Hmmm, I was just thinking how a coach of any kind would push me too much. I’d probably get injured…you know. All kinds of reasons why I shouldn’t work harder. And you write this.
I am very glad (insert jealous) to hear you are seeing some tangible results from your hard work. Or maybe it is the Coffee/Midol cocktail….
Hee hee. Glad the workouts are helping, and glad you had a good run. Oinkment for the soul.
What great results. I think any runner or athlete is doomed to have “bigger” thighs. I would guarentee yours are PURE muscle with all that training you do! Be proud of your legs and the muscle ripples they show!
Those are s&m type of workouts Susan. Even better is that you are paying someone for that kind of pain. I think it will all payoff in the end and I can’t wait to see more race pictures with items stuffed down your bra.
BTW you’re getting dislexic with “DGC” and I know she is probably too polite to mention it, but since I have noticed it twice now I thought I would give you a heads up, however, I realize I am also opening myself up to comments about me being an asshole for pointing it out. If that is the case feel free to make snide remarks my wife does.
booyah!
this post makes me very happy. happy for you and happy that one day… i could get there too. woot on the good run. hope the uterus stays put.
Aw, gotta love a happy ending!
Oh, and when you find that back fat machine, point me in the right direction and move out of the way! 😉
Glad to see you are getting good results! PROGRESS! How fun!
Great run! Good for you, hon. You are such a HUGE inspiration for me (as I hobble through yet another injury… ugh!). Maybe I need to borrow your Devil (or your Midol-coffee recipe).
Awesome!!! Great job on the run. Maybe you will be running the super human 3 minute miles soon!! Take that trainer some cookies tomorrow (and mail me a few too, ok???)
love the title….keep up the great training. You will get there.
Tangible results rock. I love it when I take a break from running, and then go back feeling super strong. Rockstar, American Idol strong. Way to go!
That was very inspirational! Way to go.
Do I know what the AT in AT training stands for? I don’t think I do.
Wow, definetly superwoman in the making. Makes me wonder if I need a trainer too. Does the devil have an relatives in Germany 😉
Nice one Susan, so your trainer is the devil in disguise? I think most people like to dance with devil occassionally don’t they? 😉
RunnerSusan – annoying??? NO way! I’m sure Massoman was happy that you were doing all the talking….it makes the run easier when someone else is talking – he was conserving energy! Yes!!!! GREAT RUN!!!!!! (I feel privileged to be metioned w/that awesome group of guys.) It sounds like that wicked program is WORKING!!!!
I should read the comments first and then post….Rob – you are awesome! Sorry – I’m sure there is some posting etiquette rule that says you should not post a comment to anyone other than the blog owner…..
Um…could we stop speaking of this back fat??? I am tryin to eat my breakfast…
Good work, soldier!
Susan – Way to go! and I am always right!
Jack – if you see this, I have relatives everywhere. Just offer up something of interest, like you soul or a cookie. We are terribly fond of cookies!
Wobbly Man – Honestly, I am a terrible dancer but I do try.
Thanks for the laugh, Susan. It was just what I needed on an otherwise miserable morning.
I’m glad that you had an awesome run and that all your organs are intact! If you find that back fat machine, let me know. I could use some time on that. 🙁
Ok this could be a result of reading blogs before bed, but I had this dream that you were talking to me, but it wasn’t really you, it was just your picture talking….ahahaha…I need to read about that in some dream book.
Don’t u know.>Devil is always right.that’s why he is so evil..so easy to manipulate us ;)..
Keep up the AT training….sooner or later u will enjoy it..(hopefully sooner).
Great post. Glad to hear you’re making such great progress. Keep it rolling.
Hey great workouts, your almost ready to start serious training! LOL. Keep at it your doing great.
I have seen the yellow streak club, the brown goo club and red flows in runners but an organ dropping out would be unique to say the least. Of course Runner Susan is unique and interesting!
Hi Susan. Great blog!!
Treadmills stink because you never get to see where you’ve gotten to with all the effort-you never move-until today. Awesome!
OMG I am sooo glad your uterus is still with you LOL that cracked me up
As for the simon bit…I have a secret crush on him….guess it’s not a secret anymore
hope your feeling more energetic soon
More steamy date nights with Michael will help on the thigh problem. Michael and I promise.
yee-haw! that’s awesome.
So he was telling the truth! Sounds like you’ve got a lot stronger and are powering along.
aw man, i’m so glad you called it quits for a day, because if the uterus had fallen, the tread would have tossed it, nay, flung it back at such speed that it would have hit the wall. by the time you got it back, it would have been longer than 5 seconds. and i never reinsert rejected organs after 5 seconds.
plus it’s great to run with a uterus. i personally enjoyed chasing the rebel tampon that came out when i was fishing for goo in my back pocket of my running loincloths. stooping over after 23 kms is great fun and doesn’t draw any attention to that white phukkr bouncing around, mocking me.
I think it’s great that you added those AT workouts – you’re shaking things up in your training, and that is always a good thing, and will definitely show in the future.
And I love your new header. This must mean spring is here!
I think it’s great that you added those AT workouts – you’re shaking things up in your training, and that is always a good thing, and will definitely show in the future.
And I love your new header. This must mean spring is here!
that is so true that you cant tell when teh training is working until you test it. Playing hooky gave you more confidence. nice.
omg i feel the same way about my coach. i curse him… daily.. but then get out there on saturday morning runs and have to admit to myself… i’m faster. i’m stronger. and i’m not as tired…
dammit! they’re always right!
So Susan, does your Satanic trainer have his Nano turned up loud when you’re saying ‘Liar, liar pants on fire’?
hmm. You know there was a marathon class I considered taking (by consider I mean think about and pass off from intimidation). Reading your entries though, is inspiring, and makes it seem achievable. You know, with hard work.
You made me laugh. Glad to know I’m not the only one who calls her trainer names… to his face.
Way to go on the training. And if it makes you feel better, here in post-Oympic Canada, everyone is talking about how sexy “speed skater thighs” are. I’m sure yours are just as hot… cool… well… you know…