This Monday, like every Monday, I was busy with a few radio tasks as well as a family visit for the national holiday, of course. Going out in the evening to run 5 km wasn't that hard, especially since it's a loop I’m used to.
As for how I felt, I couldn’t say anything bad about it so far.
During the run, around the 3rd kilometer, I unexpectedly met my rogaining partner Artūrs, with whom we agreed to definitely do a slightly longer training together this week, right here in Dārziņi.
One of the rare morning runs. Uhh, how much I am NOT excited to do it. I know, I know, that 12:00 isn’t technically morning, but I still don’t really enjoy starting my day like this. Although 8 km isn’t exactly my favorite distance, I had already dressed an hour before heading out and patiently waited for the end of my lectures. By 14:00, I had other tasks to do, and I couldn’t afford to be late!
And one of the main reasons that truly bothered me was the heat. Goodness, it was so warm outside, I was even ready to strip down, even though I wasn’t running that fast. 7:00 is my, you could say, strolling pace. I was really happy that after the training, I had time to stretch properly and do some exercises. In the end, I managed to do everything!
The time for the evening training also arrived. Honestly, it feels like this is the first time I'm training twice a day.
Since I had already exhausted myself in the morning, I turned the evening long training into a brisk walk. The sunset outside was so stunning that I scolded myself for not taking my phone with me. But overall, it was a very quick and good walk, and in the end, I could still feel my legs a bit. I also rolled out my calves properly, which turned out to be unexpectedly painful.
In the end, I went to bed quite early because the next morning I had to get up early for another morning workout. But a more interesting one ;)
Of course, upon arriving at the destination, it didn’t take long, and my brother and I had already planned a 10-kilometer loop, which we set out to run together. We were quite surprised when, after running 3 kilometers, we were still being followed by the local dog, Rocky, from the guesthouse we had rented. We responsibly kept an eye on the little dog even on the A2 highway, then turned towards Palsmane/Lankaskalne. Although it was evening, it was still quite warm, and we didn’t have anything to drink with us. We both trotted along, dreaming of an ice-cold cola or some salad (my brother was craving food).
After running 9 kilometers, we found ourselves by the Palsmane cemetery. We had accidentally missed the turn, but we didn’t worry too much. We quickly fetched some well water from a nearby well, and I was happy with how good I felt and the 10 kilometers I had managed to run so quickly. Then it was just a few more meters along the quarry, and we were back. We ate, stretched properly, went into the sauna, and had a wonderful sleep that night (thanks to the fresh country air!).
I wouldn’t be lying if I said the day started wonderfully. I hadn’t slept so sweetly in a long time, and breakfast was fantastic. We had to wait a while until my brother was free, and then we planned my 35-kilometer loop around the guesthouse. When he asked, “Do you need to put the distance into your watch?” I answered negatively. Who would’ve known that this would change the course of today’s events so much...
I’ve reached the village of Vidaga, where I stop at the local shop to replenish my water supply and grab a cola for motivation. One-third of the distance is behind me.
The rest of the journey isn’t very exciting either; I continue along the Gauja, this time with music and dust in my face every time a car passes by. I also encounter my first snake, countless insects, dogs, cows, and chickens. As a city girl from Riga, I find this quite fascinating.
The straight path is just as boring and monotonous as it looks in the video. No houses, just foxes and other forest creatures around. Here, I had to fight a bit with my motivation and the slowing pace, but I have my ways of not giving up!
Ierodoties Palsmanē pirmo redzu dārziņu ar TIK mīlīgiem un maziņiem trušiem. Atgūstu dzīvesprieku un, jau zinot ceļu uz viesu māju, sāku lēnām skriet. Īsi pirms finiša garām ar riteni minās orientierists, kuru atpazīstu un izplūstu nedaudz garākās runās, nekā vajadzētu. Tomēr neesmu vairākas stundas runājusi. 😄 Vēl pirms skrējiena beigšanas izmetu nelielu līkumu ap karjeru, lai tomēr sanāk maratona distance un ieskrienu atpakaļ viesu mājā pārlaimīga un nelaimīga reizē. Lai gan es visu distanci fiziski jutos labi, tomēr šis skrējiens noteikti atstās sekas uz nākamajiem treniņiem...
Overall, I am very satisfied with this week, and I have two possible reasons why—either I’m in good physical shape, or this is just the beginning. I’m pleasantly excited about what lies ahead and believe that I will successfully conquer the remaining 300 kilometers.
Greetings to me and all the other survivors of the second week, which started off like pure hell! There’s as much work as there are falling leaves in autumn, bringing along a hefty dose of stress over everything that needs to be done. I was on the radio, recorded countless videos for my university’s social media, and tried to get all my coursework in order.
After everything I went through, I barely dragged myself out of the house in the evening. The temperature was barely above zero, the wind was blowing, and a nasty drizzle was coming down. I was exhausted and just wanted to lie down. My back was reminding me of itself even more than yesterday, and I felt like I was barely moving forward. Reaching the 4-kilometer mark, I realized I had never run this loop so slowly before, and my mood took a serious hit. Somehow, I managed to shuffle back home, but with absolutely no sense of satisfaction. Let’s hope tomorrow will be a little sunnier...
I have promised myself to take today as a chance to prepare for the rest of the week by exploring the half-marathon route. In a week and a half, the University of Latvia, where I study, is organizing the LU Open competition, and I have chosen to run the half-marathon distance. I’m definitely not aiming for a high placement—just looking to regain the competitive spirit, find motivation to move faster, and, if I feel good, complete the distance in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Today didn’t allow for any rest either, so I left the house feeling full of stress. However, after the first 5 kilometers, I started to calm down and kept moving forward quickly, planning spots where my brothers could set up water stations for the half-marathon.
I should mention that this was also the first time I covered such a long distance without my hydration pack—just a small water bottle in hand. Unfortunately, I realized at the 15 km mark that it wasn’t enough, and by the end, I had significantly slowed down. It wasn’t my fastest walk, but I was happy that I made it to the finish.
This run (if it can even be called that) was definitely the "highlight" of this week. After the first one and a half kilometers, I already wanted to give up because a painfully unusual blister had formed on the heel of my right foot. It hurt so much that I couldn’t even put my foot on the ground.
Somehow, I hobbled forward, because, miraculously, running is easier than walking. But then I sat down once, then twice... and on the third time, I collapsed onto the grass next to the dandelions. Hey, it's okay to cry a little, right?
Alright, alright, I shouldn’t, I’m not a little kid. I motivated myself with the fact that others are running twice as fast and for longer than I am. Walking at a pace of 7 minutes per kilometer is laughable to any self-respecting runner!
Since summer hasn’t graced us with its presence yet, there are no dandelions, but I pick one anyway. Actually, four. I start to do some fortune-telling—should I run... should I not run... should I continue... should I give up... is the coronavirus to blame for everything... or am I just soft? This got boring pretty quickly, so I kept hobbling back home.
I don’t even know what I learned from this, but I guess the blister realized things were serious and disappeared within the next hour.
After a rough morning, we’ve returned to my favorite part of the day—late at night. Since the afternoon was productive work-wise, I felt good in the evening and decided to push myself to go for the planned evening walk. The wind was unexpectedly strong, and I quickly realized I had dressed too lightly, but at that point, there was nothing I could do about it. At the dam, the wind was so strong that I almost flew away.
As I was heading down, my friend called, and we chatted for the rest of the way. Of course, it’s much more fun than walking alone in silence, but it definitely slowed me down. Once I was back home, I didn’t stress much because the next day is a day off, and I’m hoping to enjoy it fully!
I won’t lie, saying this workout revived me—it probably did, though, because I ran through the forest where I hadn’t been in a while.
The weather wasn’t the best—chilly with rain and strong winds. Together with my brother, we navigated through the thickets and swamps of Baldone, almost swimming across ditches, and in the end, we ended up on a motocross track. At the other end of the map, we realized it was almost time to head home, so we didn’t finish the full distance. It got really cold and wet, so we ran back along the trails to the car. At the very end, I was just shy of the 9-kilometer mark, so I ran a small loop to finish it off.
Well, I don’t want to ruin your mood, but I wasn’t exactly overjoyed seeing today’s forecasted weather (storm and rain). Even my brothers canceled their cycling training. The only good news was that a package had been sent to the parcel locker, and I could run to pick it up.
While filling the hydration system, I realize that it has become so worn out that it’s leaking through the bag, and I guess it has finally served its time. Looks like it’s time to start thinking about updating my running gear...
The road through the Rumbula allotment area is as spooky as always, but even wetter with bushes and grass. I reach the promenade, which is completely empty (what a surprise). Closer to the Mazjumprava manor, people start to appear, and I, half-wet, quickly run to the Rimi Zoom. Some people look at me a bit strangely, but it doesn’t bother me. Overjoyed, I grab my package and set off home with a quicker pace. This time, the wind is at my back (positive), but right near my house, the rain starts pouring down (negative). I’m happy with the workout, even if it wasn’t that fast—the rain is quite refreshing.
I’m definitely not lying when I call this the best long workout in the last 10 months.
I woke up about 7 minutes before the time I planned to leave the house, but I didn’t stress about it too much—I had breakfast, drank my coffee, packed my bag without the hydration system, and then set off.
This time, there were a lot more faces on the promenade, and shortly after, I spotted the familiar runner Linda Beldava from Salaspils. She asked if I was running a marathon, and I replied that I wasn’t planning on going that far today, just aiming to make it to Jūrmala. I told her to feel free to keep running, while I was just walking and warming up. At that walking pace, I made it to the South Bridge, and as I crossed it, I suddenly felt such a positive view on life that I couldn't help but smile and started picking up the pace. I had great music playing in my headphones, and in front of me was the famous Bauskas street, where I’ll soon have to take my driver’s exam. I felt really good, approaching the famous Māra’s pond, a popular spot among runners. Then, I passed Zasulauks station and the train tracks, making my way into Imanta, where I joined the bike path that leads straight to Jūrmala. At this point, there was no need for much navigation, just moving forward. In a moment, I was hit by a huge headwind with hail, so I took shelter behind a big transformer, knowing I still had 10 kilometers ahead of me and didn’t want to use up all my energy here. Other runners passed by, looking at me and smiling, but I smiled back, knowing they had no idea how far I still had to go. Running from Salaspils to Jūrmala sounds like quite the distance!
The rest of the path is somewhat monotonous, but I’m pleasantly surprised when I spot a large blue water tap by the Beberbeķi cemetery bus stop. My water was just about running out. I chat with the locals, then continue hobbling along the bike path until I reach the familiar spot under Jūrmala Street. Just a little over six months ago, my brother and I ran a rogaining event here.
As I reached Priedaine, the weather improved, and I was already standing on the Lielupe Bridge—unable to hide my joy, I had a smile from ear to ear. I quickly ran to my previous place of residence near the Līvu Aquapark and then headed to my grandparents' house, where I was fed and dressed.
My mom's sister asks my mom: "And which week is this?""
Mom answers, "The second one. Two more to go."
Mom's sister: "And how is it? Are you managing all 100km in a week?"
Me: "Yes! And on top of that, all 101!"
At the beginning of the week, I was almost convinced I would give up, but undoubtedly, Friday's small orienteering revived me. I always believe that when facing challenges, the hardest part is getting to the halfway point. In my mind, it’s like the answer to the question "How deep can you go into the forest?" The answer is "Halfway, because after that, you’re already on your way out of the forest." With this mindset, I’ve overcome all the previous long distances, and it looks like I’ll manage this one too. Long live next week!!!
Tonight, quite unexpectedly, my legs feel incredibly light, and everything is moving forward very quickly. I swapped the five kilometers from Monday for eight. But after the first 10 minutes, my stomach starts burning intensely. And it’s so bad that despite being in great physical shape, I had to switch to walking pace.
I’m disappointed in my internal organs, but what can you do in the middle of a workout?
I then briskly head home to figure out what the problem is. Those last 4.3 km back didn’t cause any issues.
And this was the super successful day when the weather was fantastic all morning—sunny, no wind, and everyone was happy. Since I used this time to finish several school assignments, I only went for a run in the evening. Just when I was deciding which running shirt to wear, it started to rain (or rather drizzle, but "raining" sounds more dramatic). But I gathered myself and went out anyway.
My stomach still hurts, and I’m not thrilled about this situation. I need to book an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible to figure out what’s really going on.
And just like that, with less than a two-hour gap, my next workout is already waiting for me. For the first time, I repeat, for the first time (!) I didn’t put on workout clothes, but just threw on a sweatshirt. The sporty feeling was a bit lost, but at least I walked fast and worked up a bit of a sweat. But the sweatshirt is comfortable.
I also had a chat with my friend on the phone, making great use of the free moment away from my study work.
This was the day that turned out to be pleasantly nerve-wracking, full of various stressful situations. Thanks to all the higher powers, I was able to continue my journey towards 100 kilometers for the week in the evening. I was a bit bolder and decided to run around the already familiar Dole Island this time. Previously, I had only walked this route.
Although at first it seemed like I was walking too fast, that wasn’t the case — I was trying to maintain my "golden" pace of 7:20 min/km. Some kilometers were a few seconds longer, others faster, but overall, looking at the training in 5-kilometer intervals, they were all completed in 36 minutes, and specifically 50, 40, and 24 seconds. Yes, that's right — I completed the 10th to 15th kilometers the fastest. It usually feels like the real warm-up only ends around the tenth kilometer.
It seems like hitting that 15-kilometer mark was a mental milestone for you, which could have triggered fatigue. It’s common for runners to experience a sudden dip in energy after reaching certain distance thresholds, especially when you're running at a faster pace than usual. Your body might have needed a moment to adjust after pushing a bit harder than expected. Sometimes, it's also psychological—reaching that "checkpoint" can cause a small break in focus or motivation. It could be worth experimenting with fueling and pacing strategies on your next long run to avoid that drop in energy at key points!
That's amazing! It sounds like you’ve really found your rhythm, and you’re feeling confident about achieving your half marathon goal under 2 hours and 45 minutes. Virtual races are such a cool way to challenge yourself while still having fun. How are you preparing for this weekend’s race? Do you have a pacing strategy in mind?
This fateful day has come – I am participating in virtual running races for the first time. It's nothing special, but I enjoy the fact that I can run alone. This is mainly the reason why I don't participate in "Stirnu Bukos" and various marathons. I don't like running in large crowds filled with professionals. I am a complete amateur and move slowly.
The morning started very early, around eight (which is early for me), with a proper breakfast. Although I was still a bit nervous, it didn't stop me from keeping a positive spirit. I also go to wake up my brother, who will be coming with me, and grab several bottles of water because the forecast promises a hot day.
Just a few minutes before ten, we are both standing on the banks of the Daugava. I’m ready to start, put in my headphones with music, and my brother says he’ll follow me. Exactly on the hour, we begin, and I try to control my pace, not overdoing the start. Around the second kilometer, everything stabilizes, I feel pretty good, and I continue jogging with my brother by my side around the whole Dole Island. I really like it here, it’s a familiar environment, but the weather is very hot, and I’m dreaming of a swim.
The first 15 kilometers were run in the planned time, even a bit faster, with the perfect pace of 7:20-7:35 minutes per kilometer. But this time, the same issue from a few days ago reappears – after running from the Riga HPP, a huge fatigue and even pain set in. I didn’t really understand how everything could turn upside down so quickly; I couldn’t even really run anymore, and by the 17th kilometer, I almost completely switched to walking. My pace dropped sharply to 9 min/km, just like my mood. A bit closer to the end, with my brother’s help, who kept talking to me, I managed to pick up the pace again and got closer to 8 min/km, but I felt like a squashed berry. In the last kilometer, I realized there was no point in dragging it out, so I returned to my initial speed, but with a lot of struggle, and then in the last 100 meters, I ran as fast as I could.
21.1 km done! I collapse on the ground and take a moment to relax. There are still a few hundred meters left to home, but I’m feeling awful. All that’s left is to solve the puzzle – what happens after running from the HPP? Has the aura of Dole Island disappeared?
Today was spent in the fantastic atmosphere of a communication psychology presentation, starting early in the morning. It’s needless to say that after yesterday, sleep came really easily. But today, I worked for so long that my head was boiling, and then in the afternoon, I went for a "small" walk to reach this week's 100-kilometer mark.
I won’t lie when I say that the first 10 kilometers were really tough as I got used to the walking pace. But soon, after crossing the South Bridge, I regained my joy, added music to the walk, and picked up the pace as I headed toward Ķekava. There, my best friend cheered me up with a conversation while cycling beside me. My mood lifted instantly, and I even picked up the pace – walking was starting to get boring. Outside, there's thick fog and a beautiful sunset. I ended the week at home, continuing that sad presentation. Fortunately, the final grade earned was a nine – looks like long walks can give such a fresh mind!
The third week has been conquered the fastest of all. Despite the rough start to the week, on Wednesday, I pulled myself together and ran really well, and I’m happy with my half marathon result. I am a bit concerned about the upcoming week, which will be quite challenging, as I’ll have to work alongside my previous tasks and keep up with my workouts. But now, it's definitely not the time to give up.
For a change, I took Friday off. Just for some reflection. I realized I hadn’t run a single time this week, so I tried to force myself to do it. Unsuccessfully (on Sunday, I really regretted this).
But for this Saturday's walk, just like last week, the inspiration came from the last tasks to be done at the university. The pace, as you can see in the picture, was even better than before. The weather was warm, I didn’t encounter any snakes this time, and I returned home just at dusk, having enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
So, finally, Sunday has come, and today I need to complete a full marathon distance. Since I don’t have such a long loop set up yet, I quickly realized I’ll have to combine them. The question is – how? 30+12 or maybe 38+4? I haven’t created a four-kilometer loop, so how should I run it? I won’t stress too much, I’ll just walk based on how I feel.
It’s an extremely hot day outside, and together with my best friend, we leave my house. Shortly after, I think to myself that I’d much rather be basking in the warm sun and sipping a refreshing drink. But that’s not going to happen today.
We reach Ķekava quickly, almost not even noticing that we've covered 10 kilometers. From there, it’s the familiar route through Alejas, Katlakalns, Rāmava, and Valdlauči. Just before the South Bridge, I feel that the 12-kilometer loop would be too much to finish with. I choose to continue along Bauskas Street toward the Salu Bridge. There’s a crazy wind outside, and I notice that I’ve gotten blisters on my walking foot, and they’re starting to hurt quite a bit. Once I’m in the Maskavas area, I start to slow down and walk carefully. Running like this, it no longer rubs.
For a brief moment, I run into Circle-K for a late lunch, and then follow the very familiar 9 kilometers along the Ķengarags promenade. I can proudly say that I walked this entire stretch, because walking normally just wasn’t possible anymore. Behind me, a bright yellow sun was setting, and I felt like a hero on my way home.
The evening is starting to get chilly, but I'm back. I'm loudly scolding myself for stopping the clock too early just before the end of the previous run. I was just 60 meters short of a full 38 kilometers.
After finishing quickly, I connected my phone to the watch to find out that I had exactly 4 kilometers left. My brother agreed to run the 5 km loop with me, bringing the dog along. Let’s make it those beautiful 101 kilometers, just like in the previous weeks!
Of course, I’m tired, and my whole body hurts, my legs are chafed, and I can’t walk properly. That’s why I’m moving forward at a very slow pace (though in that moment, it felt super fast).
It’s an hour before midnight. My brother, the dog, and I run into the yard. I’m the happiest girl in the world. I did it!
This was undoubtedly a tough week. Even though I only went for walks, I still felt tired and learned a lot. The most important takeaway was definitely the realization that work cannot be combined with such physical activities.
Wow, what a crazy but fantastic month this was. I gained so many valuable life lessons, improved my physical fitness, got better at planning my time and meals. I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to repeat this again this year, and I’ll likely return to my usual 150-250 kilometers per month.
The training in May was very varied, ranging from short 3-kilometer runs to marathon distances and traveling to other cities in Latvia. I ran both in the countryside and in the center of Riga, as well as orienteering in the forest. It's a bit of a shame that I couldn't spend more time in nature.
I’m really happy that the competition atmosphere and spirit are gradually returning for everyone in Latvia. The Orienteering Federation has also announced the upcoming competition dates, and this year, several ultramarathons will take place, as well as, of course, hiking events (both long and short) together with "Soli pa solim."
