Well, from Las Vegas to a 5k race, my training has been, well, interesting this week. I always know that traveling can be challenging to workout plans, but, as I was heading to a fitness conference I thought that gave me an edge. While the IHRSA Convention does offers a multitude of workout options, several of which I had hoped to attend, instead I opted for a few shorter, at-the-hotel sessions. I finished the week with a 5k. As I wrote over a month ago, I was excited to run this race in week nine of my program because it was on a similar course to the 5k at the Palm Springs Half Marathon, which I ran in week three. Here is my week nine training recap.

 

Strength Training

I only did one strength training session, a Fast and Furious class on Monday before I left for Las Vegas. It was challenging though, and I’m okay with missing my other classes during the week. I’m back to work on Monday, so I’ll be back on track with my classes. Still haven’t made it to the gym for any “real” training, though.

Yoga

While I didn’t make it to a “regular” yoga class, I did two short workouts in my hotel room in Las Vegas. I had a huge room, at the Tuscany Suites (an awesome deal, by the way), with plenty of room to lay down my yoga mat. I used a couple YogaDownload.com audios, so I could choose the length, level, style, etc. By the way, I chose short, intermediate, vinyassa.

My other yoga-style workout was at the trade show. While I was wandering with a couple friends, who manage fitness facilities near me, we got to the Anti-Gravity Yoga booth just as the class was starting. I’ve wanted to try aerial yoga for a while, missed the classes at last year’s convention, so I was on it.

Sorry for so many pictures, but I loved this so much. It was challenging, especially because I felt kind of awkward and tended to get caught up in my hammock. The core work was amazing, imagine doing a crunch as you hang upside down. The handstand, something I am nowhere near to doing in regular yoga, left me feeling elongated, like I’d grown an inch. I haven’t had a chance to check to see if Anti-Gravity Yoga is available in my desert area, but I truly hope so. I’m hooked!

Running

While my mileage was down for the week, I was happy that I did at least get in one run in Las Vegas. As you know, I’ve written about running on the strip, and I love the experience. But I found that it was just a little too dark in the morning for me to feel comfortable running outside. So, on my one run in Vegas, I took to the treadmill. The Tuscany Suites had a nicely set up gym, which is always a nice find at any hotel. I managed four miles on the treadmill (a miracle for me), and added four 1/4 mile intervals at an 8:00 minute pace. Not much, but better than nothing.

I was so happy to be home for my Saturday run, and back outside where I belong. Alan and I took Penny and Buddy out on the trails for our run. It was so good to be out there with my favorite running partners. We ran about 5.3 miles, then dropped off those two dogs. While Alan took Sydney and Goldie for a walk, I took our other two little dogs, Lily and Olivia, for another mile and a half run. Everybody was happy and well-exercised!

So finally, on Sunday, I had the Women Running Wild 5k. Alan was announcing, as he has done for about 10 years. I was excited to see what changes my training had brought. It is so funny. I know that the training makes a difference, obviously, but I didn’t feel like I was faster. I guess it is partly because as you adapt, increase your V02 Max and your lactate threshold, you keep pushing yourself, so the workouts are always hard. I was afraid that after all my talk, my time would be the same or even slower that my last race.

I needn’t have worried, as it turned out. I felt great through the race, though I worried a little at the start of mile three that I wouldn’t be able to sustain my pace. I finished the race in 25:07 (my official time), which is an average of 8:04 per mile. Compare that to my time six weeks ago of 26:55, and you can see why I’m feeling pretty good tonight. Any time you take off almost two minutes feels pretty good. I may not have any PRs in my future (don’t think I’ll get back under 20 minutes), but I am happy to have a new PR as a 55 year old.

Women Running Wild raises money through the Jody Klein Memorial Breast Cancer fund for the City of Hope. I have been involved with the event for years, either as a participant, volunteer, or, for five years, as the volunteer coordinator. It is a wonderful event, run my my friend Greg Klein (Jody’s sister). The women’s race is separate from the men, which is fun, and has many divisions, including walkers, baby joggers, big and small dogs, and pregnant women. I was excited to finish second in my division (and 40th overall, not too shabby!).

It is also quite an emotional event. Greg lost his sister to breast cancer about seven years ago, his mother is a 10 year survivor, and this year was the first without his step-dad, Cy, an amazing man who raised thousands of dollars for the event and died last year at the age of 100. There is always a balloon release before the awards ceremony, where people write the names of loved ones they have lost on the balloons before the release. This year they had a special gold balloon in honor of Cy. My sister Susan died of another type of cancer, but I always send up a balloon in her honor.

Also present (and participating in the race), were Jeff and Amy. Remember them from the post I wrote in December. Jeff was diagnosed with brain cancer last November, given basically no hope of surviving the surgery that removed the tumor, and yet here they were.

Alan was there of course. There is nothing like hearing him announcing my name as I finish. He always says, “Here comes my favorite person in the whole world!” Here he is with another fried of ours, after the race.

All in all, a successful week and a great event.

If you are interested, here are the details of my weekly training:

So, how was your training week? Did you participate in any events? Go anywhere fun (though it’s hard to beat Vegas, isn’t it?)?