Mireille Siné on WRS; From My Training Diary: It's Race Week!
plus, in Recommendations: running.like.a.wrinkly on Instagram
New on WRS: Mireille Siné, Running Marathons, Navigating Lupus
This week’s WRS episode features the running story of Mireille Siné (@heycoachmireille on Instagram), a marathon and ultra runner, a coach, and so much more. And intertwined into Mireille’s running journey is an autoimmune condition she’s been navigating since college: lupus.
Since childhood, being active and participating in sports has been part of Mireille’s life, and that included running. Running became a more central part of her athletic journey through college and after.
Now in her mid-30s, Mireille has completed numerous half marathons, over a dozen marathons, and several trail ultras. She was also on a relay team for the Speed Project, a 340-mile event that goes from Santa Monica, CA, to Las Vegas, NV, and she ran from Boston to New York City as part of a group of women who completed the 200-mile journey in 11 days.
All to say, Mireille loves the challenge of running long distances, and she has for years now.
Throughout her running journey, Mireille has met the challenges presented by lupus. And that is the story Mireille tells in her episode. How her pursuit of running and a lupus diagnosis have shaped her life and her athletic pursuits, as she continues to run far, and now coach others to go after their running goals.
You can listen to this episode on your favorite podcast app, like Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, or you can listen here:
From My Training Diary: It’s Race Week!
It’s been a months since I’ve been on a start line. I’ve taken time to build back after a break from running that was precipitated by some serious burnout. A brief look back: I raced for the last time on January 26: that was a 1-mile indoor track race. It was fun, but my body needed a break. So I took a break, for six weeks.
I got back to training in mid-March. That was almost 15 weeks ago.
A big focus of this prolonged training block has been training “enough”—aka, not overtraining—and doing the types of training that my body responds to best. For me, I have learned (through lots of trial and error) that that looks like fewer miles, more heavier weight sessions, and doing mostly B+ workouts.
I was also sure to give myself rest when I needed it. My body thrives on rest. This week is making that clear.
As should be the case, by the time I finished my last few workout of this training cycle, my body was tired! I did not feel peppy—a reality exacerbated by the hot, humid weather we’ve been having here in Boston. I was grinding—putting in my A workouts and lifting the heaviest weights I’ve lifted in some time. Oof!
Starting one week ago, last Thursday, I turned my focus on fun and rest. No workouts. No weights. I went out and explored Spectacle Island, just a short boat ride from Boston. I had a blast at the Self Care Sunday hosted by TrailblazHers.
Coming into Monday, I began to wonder about how this was all going to turn out. I know, training is usually an ongoing experiment, but this block is even more so for me. This is the first time I have ever just aimed for this goal of “enough.” This is the first time I have focused more on heavier weights, and accommodated that with few miles. This is the first time that I have purposefully done workouts at a B+ level and only given 100% in a few key workouts.
I am really, really curious to learn what results from this experiment of doing less—or rather, doing what feels like just enough and not too much. I’ve spent quite literally a lifetime overdoing it, and I know the types of results that delivers. They’ve often been quite good.
But the fallout can be awful, damaging—and the repercussions can last a long time. And the process can feel relentless and unnecessarily painful.
So the question is, can there be satisfactory gain by putting myself through less pain? I think so.
One thing is for certain: this training cycle has been enjoyable through and through, and I’ve been much more full of confidence. I simply feel more relaxed, and there’s a lot to be said for that.
The speed though, I’ve been having my doubts.
Until yesterday. It was a hot, about 95 degrees when I set out for a short run with the goals of sharpening up my speed: a couple 1-minute hard efforts followed by four 30-second efforts. Heading into the warm-up, I felt surprisingly good, even with the intense temps.
I found a shaded stretch on the bike path and back and forth I went, each hard effort followed by ample rest. To my delight, there was pep in my legs. There was the speed.
So I’m going into this Sunday’s race feeling excited. Excited and curious. I feel fit. I’m healthy. I’m ready to race. The temperatures are supposed to ease down over the next few days. And I feel confident in my ability to give my all on the day.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Recommendation: Karen Guttridge, aka running.like.a.wrinkly on Instagram
I just recently discovered Karen Guttridge’s @running.like.a.wrinkly Instagram feed.
I was immediately hooked. Guttridge is a 64-year-old runner, and she’s straightforward, uplifting, and funny! She talks about loving your body and the terrific benefits of running, and she encourages people to resist the lure of excessive creature comforts and instead get outside and move!
Check her out! Here’s the post that got me.
Coming up . . .
Coming up next week: runner and adventurer Sarah Williams, host of the very popular Tough Girl podcast (which I have recommended here in the past). She’ll be telling her running and adventuring origin story: how she went from working in wealth management in London to a life of challenging herself through epic adventures—while also uplifting and motivating other women adventurers.
Also, the Kickstarter for the forthcoming podcast EARTHMOVERS, with Alison Mariella Désir, Stefanie Flippin, Verna NezBegay Volker, launched last week! Find it here. I appreciate any and all support: contribute, spread the word. Thank you!
You can find information and news about the show through Instagram @EARTHMOVERSpodcast. I also wrote about this project last week: you can learn more about it there.
And, that’s a wrap. Until next week, I wish you healthy, joyful strides forward.