Thanks, James, and good idea about the joint races.  In the meantime, it's not so much that I have no enthusiasm for runs as it is the runs I do fall short of what I want them to be.  I think you may be on to something with the trail run.  I may try that this weekend.

I agree with Steve.  After my bigger races I've often been pretty smashed for a week or two after.  I remember after that infamous Omaha half back in March (the one with the sprint finish where I REALLY emptied the tank), I was pretty wrecked for a week after that.  Don't pressure yourself and just give the body some time to recover.  A trail run is a great idea.

James - she needs to create a custom workout see https://www.imore.com/how-create-custom-workout-your-apple-watch

Thanks, Flavio.  Unfortunately, her watch apparently uses an OS older than watchOS9, which is when the article says the custom workout feature was included.  Still looking.  Maybe we can find a non-Apple app online.

This is when you come in and gift her a brand new apple watch 😁

I supposed there might be a paid app for that, I know there are a couple for Wear OS.

I found it bizarre that there was no free custom workouts app for wear OS, I even briefly considered writing my own app.

These watches definitely don't target the serious runner

She's still learning the capabilities of her current watch, so she'd probably consider a new one more of a hassle than a benefit.  Neither of us tend to want the latest & greatest stuff.  My laptop is 8+ years old, I use a flip phone, and my car is older than our university-age son; she's not quite as Amish but is similar.  I found a few free apps online that seemed like they would work.  Downloaded the simplest one, and we just need to make sure it works away from her phone.  Some of them look like they would be good for serious runners too, but they use lots more memory than the simple one.

Three weeks to go until Nelson HM and this week was a big confidence builder.  Managed a big tempo workout on Wed (20 min, 2 x 3k) at HM effort - coach put the workout up saying "aim for around 3:30/km or a bit quicker" and I thought she was nuts.  Anyways I tried to hit a reasonable HM effort thinking it might be around 3:35-3:40/km and the pace came out surprisingly quick - around 3:30/km.  I guess coach knows a thing or two, about a thing or two.  It was a massive improvement after absolutely struggling through a much shorter and slower tempo workout the previous week.  I'm not expecting miracles at Nelson given the limited training window but at least now I feel like I should be able to put in a reasonable effort.

Weekly for period: From: 10/10/2022 To 16/10/2022

Total distance: 87.81km (54.58 imperial whatnots)

 

James I've noticed older apple watches give a terrible gps track when I've checked others on strava.

Nice week.

This won't be an issue for DW, as she doesn't care about exact distance.  All she wants is for the watch to tell her when every 5 minutes and then 1 minute have passed so she and her friend can change from running to walking & back.  The goal is just for her friend to finish, and if that takes over 40 minutes, that's fine.  My main concern is for myself, as I'm cheering them on and the forecast is for temperatures not far above freezing,  At least they'll be moving.  The race starts & ends at our nearby Y, and we're members, so maybe I'll spend the middle 30 minutes in there.

A slow week for me with less than 20 miles for the first time in a while.  Thanks for the encouragement and understanding.  I think I'm finally shaking myself out of it.  I ran the last mile of today's run a bit harder and it felt decent.  I'm leaning very much towards racing a 10k next weekend to see if I can run the distance in under 50 minutes (which the calculators suggest I can do based on my recent half). 

So you're thinking of going for a 10K PR only two weeks after your half PR, then another half a week after that?  I know each of us is different, but that seems like it would aggravate the risk of burnout.  You might want to consider doing the 10K (since it's a new goal and would allow you to use your fitness from the half PR) but then skipping the next weekend's half.

Or you could try to do the half in a different way to break up the routine - maybe make it a progression run with the first 3 miles slow and each 3 miles faster than the previous ones, or alternate between fast and slow miles, or something like that.  Something that would give you a training benefit but wouldn't have the emotional drain of yet another PR attempt.  Others may have ideas.

Fred - I agree with James.  I think you're going too close to the sun with these plans, given you're running at paces you've never run before.  If it was me I wouldn't do the half or the 10km so soon after a half PR, but if the half is a race you're keen on, just do it as a workout of some type.  Save the 10km for when you're a bit more rested - you can definitely get that sub 50.  I understand your thinking of wanting to cash in though.