Changing Up My Routine

I am a creature of habit, but since changing my long run from Saturday to Sunday, my routine has changed a little bit, and it has been a breath of fresh air. 🙂

This is my picture representing “a breath of fresh air.” (I didn’t know how else to capture it.)

This is a picture of Craig and I hiking last summer. . . . and, yes, we have to wear winter hats and multiple layers in the summer. It is sad, I know, but one day I will live where I can wear shorts and tank tops again!

What my weekend schedule used to look like:

Friday

– A short 4 mile run in the morning to prep for my long run the next day.

Saturday

– Wake up (between 6 a.m. – 7 a.m.).

– Eat breakfast (right away).

– Then wait 1.5 – 2 hours (or until the sun came up) before heading out for a run.

– Get back from my run between 11 a.m. – noon, stretch, eat, and shower. I was pretty much out of commission for doing anything the rest of the day since my long run usually wipes me out.

Sunday – Rest and recover.

Monday – The routine starts all over again.

My new schedule:

Friday

– A 5 mile recovery run in the morning since I do two runs on Thursday and lift weights.

Saturday

– Get up.

– Have a small breakfast and head out the door after an hour.

– Run 6 miles before my husband gets up.

I used to only run 4 miles the day before a long run, but one time I ran 6 miles with my sister the day prior to a long run, and I felt fine, so I figured I would keep doing that.

I know some training plans (Hal Higdon’s being one of them) calls for a medium-long run the day before a long run, so I figured this would be fine to do.

– I am usually returning from my run, just as Craig is getting up, which is nice because then it feels like we still have the whole day together! 🙂

Sunday

– Wake up.

– Eat breakfast.

– Go to church (an early service).

– Come home and do a long run. Finish between 1 – 2 p.m. and then spend a significant amount of time stretching, eating, and recovering.

More often than not, we do not have plans for Sunday afternoon (vs. Saturday afternoon), so Sunday works out to be a better day for recovery.

Monday

– Sleep in!! With my training plan being this way, I only have to get up early 4 days out of the week instead of 5. 🙂

* I like this new plan, so I think I’m going to stick with it for a while. Maybe I’ll go back to Saturday long runs eventually . . . maybe I won’t.

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Workout

When my alarm went off this morning, I was much more tired than I usually am and had no desire to go for a run. I knew it was cold and dark outside and that did not help my motivation.

I really debated about not running, but once I’m up, I’m up and there is a very slim chance I could fall back to sleep, so outside I went and, as always, I’m glad I did! 🙂

Distance: 7 miles + fartleks

Time: 60 minutes

Temperature: 10 degrees

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Tuesdays and Thursdays are two-a-days, so after work today, I changed into my running clothes and ran outside for 4 miles (34 minutes). After Craig got home, we went to the gym where I lifted weights for 30 minutes.

Now I have to finish my laundry, pack my lunch, and then it is off to bed.

Questions

If you are a runner, what day of the week do you do your long run?

Do you like change up your routine often or stick with what you know best?