I am training for the Soweto 10k on the 5th November 2017. The Soweto Marathon is one of the biggest races in Africa and I am really looking forward to being a part of it! I am also doing a #17in2017 Challenge where the goal is to run 17 races this year! To keep myself accountable I am linking up with the inspirational Holly and Tricia this week for their Weekly Wrap! Be sure to check out what they and others have been up to this week.
What a disastrous three weeks for me – we have a new and very big project at work so my weeks suddenly went from normal 40-hour weeks to crazy 80-hour weeks. It has been extremely intense and is likely to continue like this for a few more weeks. As a result, I am struggling to get the runs done. But for the record and to keep accountable, these are the few runs I managed to squeeze in.
Week 3:
Monday, 25th September: Easy Run (30 min; 3.49 km) + Pilates (1 hr class)
After my race on Saturday, I had a beautiful 30 minute “shake-out” Easy Run with Tapiwa. It started out tough but we slowly eased into it and felt great afterwards. Pilates with Oliver was brilliant and I felt so upbeat on the drive home. At that point I didn’t realise that this would be the last workout I would manage for the week!
Tuesday – Sunday, 26th Sept – 1st Oct: Unplanned “Rest Days”
All my planned runs went out the window. Life and work really took over in every way and I just could not get a run in. I felt awful but at the same time I tried not to be too hard on myself as there really was so little that I could do. Sadly, this was also my last week of training under the guidance of Coach Nicola at Running Happy. I am really going to miss having someone telling me what I need to be doing when!
Mileage this week: 3.49 km
Week 4:
Monday – Sunday, 2nd – 8th October: Unplanned “Rest Days”
Nothing! 16 hour work days, gave me just 8 hours to eat, sleep, and catch up (as in hi and bye) with my kids and hubby. It was that intense. But my head and body just felt yuck, and I was determined to see if I could squeeze one or two runs in Week 5, even though my schedule would be pretty much the same.
Mileage this week: 0 km
Week 5:
Monday, 9th October: Easy Run (30 min; 3.72 km)
I set off for a late run (7:56 pm) but I just really needed to start the week off with a run. At this point, the stress of the long days was really getting to me and I was desperate to start running again. It wasn’t the nicest of runs. It was too dark and I took a while to find my groove. But on the back half, I picked up the pace, and managed to finish nice and strong. This stolen, unlabelled meme from Facebook perfectly describes how I felt afterwards!
Wednesday, 11th October: Easy Run (Treadmill: 25 min; 3.45 km)
I got home just in time to squeeze another run on the treadmill. I am not a fan of the treadmill but it served me well tonight. It felt a lot better than Monday’s run and I was very chuffed with myself.
Friday, 13th October: My Birthday!!
On my birthday last year I announced to my family that I would start running and would do 12 races before my next birthday. This birthday goal was actually there before my #17in2017 Challenge was set this year! And on my birthday I could say with the hugest smile on my face that I didn’t just manage 12, I managed 15! Now that is something I am super-proud of. Surrounded by good friends on my special day and knowing I had achieved the one goal I had set for my birthday last year, it felt like a very lucky Friday the 13th! 🙂
So… not the greatest three weeks! But I am quite happy that even though work conditions and hours were pretty much the same as the first two weeks, in the third week I managed two runs. And next week will be even better.
Mileage this week: 7.17 km
Mileage this training cycle: 41.86 km
Have you ever had not one, not two, but three dismal running/ training weeks? Do you set birthday goals?
The Gaborone Runner 
Happy birthday! And yay for getting those 2 runs in during that 3rd week 🙂 I hate when work gets super busy like that and everything else has to be put on hold. But I remind myself that it’s what allows me to pay for all those race registrations!
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Oh my word! How I loved your last line! I will have to remind myself of that when I feel down!! Thanks for stopping by and for the birthday wishes!
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Happy birthday! I’m sorry your work has just got super busy, but it sounds like something had to give and running was probably the least important thing. Well done for fitting things in when you could 🙂 Hope the next few weeks are better for you!
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It was sad for me to admit but you are so right, with everything I had in the air – running really did become the least important thing! Haven’t started out too well this week either but it’s only Wednesday so I’m determined to do at least 2 – 3 runs before the week is out. Thanks for the birthday wishes! x
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Happy Belated Birthday! I’m sorry you didn’t get as much running in, but it sounds like you did well for how busy you were at work! Crazy hours there!!
I don’t know if I do birthday goals, per se, but I do some yearly goals. 🙂 Congrats on doing 15 runs in a year – that’s awesome.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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Thanks for the birthday wishes! Crazy hours indeed! But thankfully it will be over — just have to hang in there for a few more weeks! Yearly goals are brilliant! I find it gives you some direction for the year!
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Its so hard to keep up with workout when work/life gets that busy! Great job doing what you could. Happy belated birthday!
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Thanks Lisa! I need to remember that I’m really doing what I can realistically manage. Looking forward to a run this evening!
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Happy birthday and I love your goal of doing 12 races by next year!
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Thanks for the birthday wishes Deborah! The 12 race goal was actually set on my birthday last year and somehow I managed to achieve it! Haven’t set a goal for this birthday yet, but toying with the idea of learning how to swim properly! I hate swimming so I am wondering whether it’s a goal worth setting. I will decide in the next few days!
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Ugh, 80 hour work weeks are no joke! Hope you get some relief soon.
17 races in one year would be a fun yet challenging goal! Are you getting close?
Happy belated Birthday, hope you had a great day!
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Thank you! My day was awesome! Love birthdays. I am getting close – have done 12 so far. 5 left, but I’m starting to feel a bit “race fatigued”.
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I can imagine! 5 in two and half months will be a lot. Good luck!
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Belated happy birthday! I think it’s impressive to get any runs in while working 80 hour weeks. I know I would definitely choose sleep over running in that case!
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Thanks Hannah! It was such a struggle. This week is already looking so much better running-wise so I am feeling a lot better now!
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Happy Birthday! It is incredible that you chose such an impressive goal for yourself and then were able to smash it! I hope the job hours get better very soon! Thanks for linking!
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Thanks for stopping by Holly and for the birthday wishes! I love linking up – your link-up attracts so many passionate runners and bloggers who I learn from every week!
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Hope you had a great birthday! I got behind on my workouts this week and felt discouraged. We were so busy and the next 3 Saturday’s will be full of soccer games for my daughter. Will have to figure out another day to run long! Hope this week was better!
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Thanks Katie – I had such a great birthday with friends I have known since I was around 13! It really is tough trying to balance it all – so just hang in there and keep squeezing in those runs when you can, but don’t beat yourself up if you sometimes simply can’t manage. Getting that balance right is no easy feat!
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