Week-beginning Thoughts:
Marathon training doesn't feel that much different than half training. I need to remember to enjoy these early weeks where I still feel like the training is "too easy", but part of me feels like a total poser because I'm not actually doing anything differently yet for the marathon.... so how can I actually be marathon training?
I have a friend who recently ran her first 10K. The night before, she asked me when running would "get easier" for her. I told her it already had, and reminded her that she's been running over a 5K each week for the past few months, then asked her to think about how impossible her first 5K seemed.
I still remember my first 10K (well, the one I actually intended on running--- my first 10K was by necessity when my husband and I wanted to do a Thanksgiving race, but the only one we could find near his family was a 10K. I ran the first 5K and then walked the back half). I was so stinking proud of myself for going DOUBLE the distance of a 5K, and running over SIX WHOLE MILES. I remember asking my husband to buy me a 10K magnet for my car that year.
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He didn't. Instead, he got me one that said "RUN".
That was alright.
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Now, a 10K distance is something I do every single Tuesday. It's become normal, comfortable, and just a "regular run" for me. This time around, marathon training feels really similar. There's no pressure. There's no real intimidation. It's just something to execute- something "normal".
...and that feels pretty freaking cool.
Monday
Scheduled: rest
Did: 15min weights
Could not get motivated to do anything this morning, and, while it was a rest day, I kind of wanted to do something to "get ahead". The more I can do earlier in the week, the more I can slack later... lol
Could not get motivated to do anything this morning, and, while it was a rest day, I kind of wanted to do something to "get ahead". The more I can do earlier in the week, the more I can slack later... lol
Tuesday
Scheduled: 6.3mi easy
Did: 6.36 @ 9:02/mi avg, Big 5
This was supposed to be an easy run, and I took it easy for the first mile. Then I found myself too stressed about life to go slowly, and kind of took off, running sub-9s for the rest of the route.
This was supposed to be an easy run, and I took it easy for the first mile. Then I found myself too stressed about life to go slowly, and kind of took off, running sub-9s for the rest of the route.
Wednesday
Scheduled: 3mi easy
Did: 3mi @ 9:49/mi avg
After a late night at chorus rehearsal, I wasn't particularly excited about getting up after only 5 hours of sleep to run 2mi with friends in 25 degrees, and then continue for more mileage (even only one) solo. So, I slept in and treadmilled it. I can roll out of bed and run a high 9 pace on the streets, but even a 6.0mph on the 'mill felt fast this morning, so I kept it there for awhile. It wasn't until the last mile that I got to a more reasonable 6.5mph.
After a late night at chorus rehearsal, I wasn't particularly excited about getting up after only 5 hours of sleep to run 2mi with friends in 25 degrees, and then continue for more mileage (even only one) solo. So, I slept in and treadmilled it. I can roll out of bed and run a high 9 pace on the streets, but even a 6.0mph on the 'mill felt fast this morning, so I kept it there for awhile. It wasn't until the last mile that I got to a more reasonable 6.5mph.
Thursday
Scheduled: 1mi WU, 4x1200/400, 1mi CD
Did: as scheduled
Oof, another tough morning to get up and get going. I'm grateful for my teammates, and the ability to run this morning. It was 25 degrees this morning, but didn't feel too bad since there wasn't any wind. I didn't set a hard pace for these, but wanted a sub-8:00 average (6:00). For comparison's sake (and as a true disclosure about how easy I was taking these), my prescribed 1200m split based on my last 5K should be 5:24.
5:52- barely squeaked it out, but also didn't feel like this was difficult at all
5:49-oh, hey, I got faster, cool
5:44- now I definitely wanted negative splits
5:33-picked it up the last lap, but still wasn't "trying" like I should be for speedwork
I'm still letting myself recover from the half and am proud of what I put on the track. It's kind of nice to push, let myself have a little reprieve from actually working so hard each week.
Oof, another tough morning to get up and get going. I'm grateful for my teammates, and the ability to run this morning. It was 25 degrees this morning, but didn't feel too bad since there wasn't any wind. I didn't set a hard pace for these, but wanted a sub-8:00 average (6:00). For comparison's sake (and as a true disclosure about how easy I was taking these), my prescribed 1200m split based on my last 5K should be 5:24.
5:52- barely squeaked it out, but also didn't feel like this was difficult at all
5:49-oh, hey, I got faster, cool
5:44- now I definitely wanted negative splits
5:33-picked it up the last lap, but still wasn't "trying" like I should be for speedwork
I'm still letting myself recover from the half and am proud of what I put on the track. It's kind of nice to push, let myself have a little reprieve from actually working so hard each week.
Friday
Scheduled: 3mi or strength/yoga
Did: 13.1mi @ 9:25/mi avg, Big 5
I hadn't planned on running long on Friday, until I saw the weekend weather forecast on Thursday: 36 degrees, steady to heavy rain, and 14mph winds-- the exact sort of weather that screams "miserable and illness-inducing". No thanks.
I hadn't planned on running long on Friday, until I saw the weekend weather forecast on Thursday: 36 degrees, steady to heavy rain, and 14mph winds-- the exact sort of weather that screams "miserable and illness-inducing". No thanks.
...so I found another crazy friend who was game to run double digits with me, downtown before work.
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| hanging out with my building's lobby Christmas tree at 5am |
This run ended up being a near-perfect way to start my Friday workday. I loved running the quiet streets of downtown before the hustle and bustle of the day began (but was also grateful for my male running buddy's company), and spending some time on the beltline and in Piedmont Park made it feel like a relaxing Saturday with ATC instead of just another work morning. I had a little bit of a struggle at mile 7 (first time I've thought about just how hard what I'm trying to do with this Publix marathon thing will be), but ended up finishing pretty strong (last mile was an 8:30). Hooray, running.
Saturday
Scheduled: 13.1mi
Did: 5mi @ 9:31/mi avg, Big 5
It was cold, windy, and rainy this morning... and I stayed curled up in my warm bed with my husband until 6am. It was wonderful, and made everything that was a little inconvenient about yesterday's LSD totally worthwhile.
I also found time to get tomorrow's 5mi in between the Grand Prix Breakfast banquet, promoting my chorus show by caroling with a quartet through Marietta Square, and watching some friends' newborn overnight so that they could go to the Atlanta United game. Treadmill running isn't the best, but it's really convenient sometimes, and I was glad to have some "down time" where I could watch a stupid, sappy Hallmark-ish holiday movie and just zone out while pounding the "pavement" for a bit.
It was cold, windy, and rainy this morning... and I stayed curled up in my warm bed with my husband until 6am. It was wonderful, and made everything that was a little inconvenient about yesterday's LSD totally worthwhile.
I also found time to get tomorrow's 5mi in between the Grand Prix Breakfast banquet, promoting my chorus show by caroling with a quartet through Marietta Square, and watching some friends' newborn overnight so that they could go to the Atlanta United game. Treadmill running isn't the best, but it's really convenient sometimes, and I was glad to have some "down time" where I could watch a stupid, sappy Hallmark-ish holiday movie and just zone out while pounding the "pavement" for a bit.
Sunday
Scheduled: 5mi
Did: yoga
Namaste, y'all.
Namaste, y'all.
Total Weekly Mileage: 33.6
Week-ending Thoughts:
Fun fact: I've run more miles this year than ever before!!! My previous record was 1,459 in 2016 (comeback year after having a baby). This year, to date, I'm at 1504.8. So cool!
Fun fact: I've run more miles this year than ever before!!! My previous record was 1,459 in 2016 (comeback year after having a baby). This year, to date, I'm at 1504.8. So cool!
