Hard Is Where It Happens is the workout mantra I draw on when my muscles start whining and I want to quit–or at least skip those last few reps and take a breather. I remind myself that in order to get stronger I have to push beyond that point and do more than I’m comfortable doing. It’s only in challenging myself that I will reach my next goals.
Making Hard Happen
I thought about all this while doing hill repeats last week. As you can see from the elevation profile, I chose a long-ish hill in my neighborhood that is really two hills in one. I always notice that transition to the second hill–although I don’t notice that dip before it!– and have to dig deeper to keep going.
When my legs started complaining, I reminded myself that ^THIS^ is what I NEED.
I NEED to struggle now so mile 8-9 of the Reston 10 Miler won’t be so tough.
I NEED to struggle now so the Central Park hills won’t trash my legs for the rest of the NYC Half Marathon.
I NEED for this workout to be HARD so *IT* will happen.
[Tweet “Making Hard Happen #motivation #runchat”]
NYC Half Training Recap
So, how did I make hard happen last week? Here’s my recap for the Weekly Wrap link up hosted by Holly and Tricia and the Training Recap link hosted by Courtney.
Monday: Orange Theory Fitness
There’s always plenty of hard happening at OTF. This week we cycled through three intense rounds, including challenging incline intervals on the treadmill. 7% at 7.0 mph!
Tuesday: Week 6, Workout 11 from Quick Strength For Runners
I actually had to make this workout easier because something wonky was going on in my right shoulder. As long as I broke the compound shoulder raise moves into single moves I was able to avoid the searing, shooting pain.
Wednesday: Hill Repeats
Yep, these were hard!
Thursday: Indoor Cycling at Revolve
I usually use my heart rate monitor to make sure I am working at the target intensity, but it would not cooperate. I’m pretty sure my heart was beating faster than 93 bpm during those intervals!
Friday: 8.9 mile run
The hardest part about this working was making it happen at all! Because of my business trip I decided to squeeze in my long run before heading to the train station. I figured out that I had just enough time to fit in 8 miles if I finished packing the night before, didn’t hit snooze, and didn’t dilly dally getting out the door. Well, I did all that, but somehow miscalculated my route! I got back to the house @ 6:30 and was in my taxi by 6:59–although I think I left my Fitbit charger behind.
Saturday: Week 6, Workout 12 from QSFR
This routine has plenty of hard core exercises, including fitness ball jackknives and knee tucks–I always hate those because they are so hard.
Sunday: 5 mi on the hotel gym treadmill including 3 x 7.0 mph mile repeats
OTF has spoiled me with 1-3 minute intervals on the treadmill, so doing mile repeats tested my mental and physical endurance!
I’m going to be buried in work for most of this week, but I’ll be back for our Ultimate Coffee Date link up on Saturday–I hope to see you there.
How do you make hard happen in your workouts?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
I also need to make myself work hard and well it’s hard! Excited for our coffee date next week
I just found out I may be “here” until Friday, so I may need you to pick up the cream & sugar. 🙂
You are working hard – I am impressed.
Good for you getting your run in before your business trip. You will be my role model.
Aw, thanks! Just don’t follow my example of what I’m eating — way to much food on this business trip already!
Good week! I’m all about early workouts when it comes to ST & yoga, but it’s hard getting in a run before a trip! I’ll be spending most of Tuesdays with my parents, and I’ve already designated it a rest day. I’d really rather workout . . .
I was extra motivated since I knew I’d be locked up in meeting rooms for a full week with barely an hour to spare for the hotel gym.
Sitting in meetings are sooooo tiring! Hope you get more breaks than anticipated.
Looks like a great week! And those hill repeats look serious :0 You’re smart to get some in before NYC!
I always complain about race courses that are hilly at the end, but I think the worst hills will be at the beginning!
Nice work! You make me feel like a slacker as I start to prepare for my 10 miler in March!!!
Aw, but you do lots of hard things in your strength workouts!
(((Waves coffee around you and cheers to you on through the seemingly interminable work week ahead xo)))
My friend and I had a good dose of “hard” in our 5-miler yesterday afternoon. The W-NW wind was absolutely brutal and relentless on the back half of our loop. No gusts, but nonstop. We can do hard things 😉
OMG, there is nothing harder than an icy wind!
I struggled with this on the trainer.. I have intervals to follow and I try to talk myself into shorter intervals, or one less interval. When I do follow through and do them, I feel so much more confident about myself!
Yep, some times the hardest part is making yourself try it/stick through it. Then you can say – hey, that wasn’t so bad … for the 60 second recovery until you have to talk yourself into it again!
My HR is elevated just reading this. That kind of intensity hurts so good! I’ve been upping my game with more HIIT, a killer spin class and Crossfit.
“Hard is where it happens” – I love that quote! You definitely had some kickass workouts this past week! I have never gone so fast on a treadmill, I think that kind of speed would scare me!
I know all your hard work will pay off 🙂
OTF has pushed me out of my comfort zone – and shown me what I can do — at least for 1 minute at a time.
Hard is definitely where the magic happens. Thank you for this great reminder.
Super impressed that you got that run done & were in your cab 30 min later! Hope your trip is going well. I’m going to be in Chicago for work next week – will I see you on street there? 🙂
I’d say “I wish” but after a week in Delaware, I’m ready to be home!
I like your mantra. I was thinking something similar the other day on my 6 miler. I know I “can” push myself but do I really “want” to, for a training run?
I am so behind on my NYC half training.
Yes! That’s why I haven’t been doing any track workouts. I don’t wanna. Especially not in the dark.
Do you ever take a rest day? LOL. I love this mantra. Lately, I haven’t had the energy to tackle “hard”. But, I will! My HR will drop for a big chunk of time while I’m cycling (to like 85!), but then it returns to normal after a while. This really aggravates me. I don’t understand what’s causing it. It makes me want another Garmin but I feel it would probably do the same thing. Thanks for linking, Coco!
I get the “hard is where it happens part”, but man I am already procrastinating about our chest and tri’s workout today. My trainer messed up and told me what we were doing earlier in the week for today. My chest and arms are my weakest, I know I need to do more strengthing exercises but I fail at this on my own more times than not!
We are headed to New Orleans this weekend actually Thursday after work and I race both Sat and Sunday, (mornings are the only times I get to blog usually on the weekends) I hope I get a coffee date post ready but at this point with work it is not looking good! I hope you’ll forgive me if I have to skip. I hate it when real work gets in the way of fun work. 🙁
I have let myself get back into fitness over the last month and a half, modifying moves, lighter weights, low impact…but now it’s time. Time to step it up and make it harder.
Once I get all my medical drama in check I plan on returning back to OTF – and making hard happen there 2 times a week. I love the feeling after a tough workout.
Good for you for tackling those hills! You know you’ll be glad you did when you run the Reston 10-Miler. I haven’t run it in about three years, but I remember the hills of Reston well!
So many hills! I think your “derailment” post is a good balance to this one!
Love this! Hard is where it happens, but sometimes it’s so hard to make hard happen. Say that 5 times fast. 😀
I’ve been trying to push myself harder lately, but on those days that I don’t, I still remind myself that something is still better than nothing.
Yes, you don’t need to make hard happen every day, in fact, you probably shouldn’t!