(not my) Marathon Training: Week 14/18

Week-beginning Thoughts:

I'm on vacation this week with my family, and have opted not to stress about fitting in training runs. It's a weird mental place to be in, where I still very much want to run, but I'm also wanting to savor early mornings with my husband, pancakes and bacon breakfasts on our Gulf-front balcony, and all the family time possible. I've challenged myself to stay mostly off the grid this week, shutting off social media for the week (still sending out a few messages, but not scrolling through feeds or others' stories), literally having no way to check work email, and opting against doing anything more than screening personal emails. 

So, that means that I've tapered expectations of my workouts for the week, like, A LOT. Instead of following whatever plan my training partner is on, my goals for this week are:

-30min workout every day, min

-run 3-4x during the beach week, for whatever mileage I want to fit in at whatever pace I feel like

-do some amount of beach yoga

Monday

Did: 2mi walk

I had plans for this workout, but, ultimately, didn't care enough to make it happen. I napped over baby's nap, and enjoyed some much-needed popcorn and Netflix time with my husband when the kids went to sleep. Totally the right choice. 

Tuesday

Did: 6.23mi @ 9:07/mi avg

Got up early to get my 10K in. Opted to play it safe and stay on the Pensacola Beach Trail (i.e. a sidewalk along the main road) for the way out, wearing a shirt to not invite any unwanted attention (I normally run in just a sports bra in the summer). Since my watch told me I was "maintaining" training, but dangeously close to 'detraining", I decided to do a bit of a workout-- 1mi WU, 4mi @ MP, and then 1mi cooldown, knowing the cool-down would be super slow since I'd do it on the beach at sunrise.

Pretty pleased with how the run turned out:

8:33

8:17

8:18

8:32

and then a bit of a slog once I hit the sand (11:19/mi), though my HR was higher than it had been during the tempo. lol. 

 

Wednesday

Did: 2.07mi w/bum stroller + 2.35mi w/o = 4.42mi @ 9:34/mi avg

Our stroller wasn't able to fit in the SUV, so we attempted to rent one while we were here. We called Sunday, it got delivered late on Monday, had flat tires, so we had to drive around Tuesday to fill them at a gas station, and finally got a chance to run with it today.

It was terrible. The front wheel wasn't the right size for the stroller and kept wobbling back and forth across the axle. If you tried to lock the wheel, it locked in a hard right turn, and was impossible to push. My little one was very displeased by this, because it meant I was pushing him wheel-barrow style for the whole time, with him leaning back, like we were popping a wheelie. So, we cut our attempted 4-miler to a two mile.

...and I finished up with a really nice, solo sunset run after the kids went to bed. 

Thursday

Did: 10K with a fixed stroller = 6.27mi @  9:54/mi avg

Weeeee, we got a replacement stroller yesterday and I got to take the potato out. It was a really nice, pleasant run for the first half... and then we were combating 15-20mph winds that I'm pretty sure would have pushed the stroller backwards if I hadn't been pushing it forward. 

Friday

Did: 4.05mi w/stroller @ 9:54/mi avg

Easy sunrise run with the littlest before we headed back home.

Saturday

Did: 7.06mi @ 9:29/mi avg

Family run in our usual spot this morning. There was a small charity race going on, so we picked the pace up a little towards the end, but nothing crazy. 

Sunday

Did: 14.53mi @ 9:47/mi avg

I felt so on top of things this morning. We started late (hahaha, 6am is late in my world, at least), so I had plenty of time to prep a cold protein shake, pack it in a thermos/cooler, remember to bring extra water for the ride home, and even rock out to some Hamilton songs in the car since I arrived a few minutes early.

... but I'd forgotten my handheld at home, in the fridge. 

Ugggghhh. 

So, I had to run with my keys in my shorts pocket (uncomfy), snack in my hand (uncomfy), and no water (also uncomfy, but in a different way). Ugggggh. 

I was grateful for my training buddies today, though. Lots of stories to share and catch-up on after a week away from them made the miles go by... eventually. I think I checked my watch four times in the first 5mi and kept getting depressed by how few miles we'd run.

Total Weekly Mileage: 42.6

Week-ending Thoughts:

• Whelp, when I wrote "13/16" on last week's blog out of nowhere, I convinced myself this was a 16-week plan... But it's not. It's 18 weeks, I have no idea where the 16 came from, since I had it right the past three months... 
• This felt like an easy week, which is pretty great since it was still over 40mi
• After a week at the beach, I was definitely out of practice for Sunday's group run through hills. Instead of putting tape on my back (for chafing), I put on sunscreen (out of habit from last week). Oops. 

(not my) Marathon Training: Week 13/16

Week-beginning Thoughts:

Whoa. Typing "13/16" triggered a "there's only three more weeks?!?!" exclamation in my brain this morning. I feel like, overnight, I've gone from "lots more weeks" to "the end is near". Not sure how i feel about it either.. 

Monday

Scheduled: rest

Did: 5min yoga

I've had some off-and-on soreness (nothing tender) in my right Achilles that I taped for yesterday's long run, and I'm pretty pleased that nothing hurts today. :)

Tuesday

Scheduled: 6-8mi solid

Did: 6.33mi @ 8:54/mi avg

I wasn't sure about what I'd be able to do this morning, but the cooler temps and rain (from the remnants of a hurricane) helped so much. I wasn't even thinking about running fast after the first mile-- just easily, happy chatting with a friend. 

Splits
WU 10:14

9:10

8:43

8:35

8:37

8:32

Whoops... those last few were a bit too fast. 

Wednesday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 5.11mi @ 10:02/mi avg

Achilles was a little sore post-run, but still feels ambiently fine and doesn't hurt.

Thursday

Scheduled: 2mi WU, 3x(800m up @HMP, 1min rest/800m down @ MP, 2min rest), 4-6x(400m up @ 10K, 45s rest/400m down @ MP, 90s rest), 2mi CD

Did: As scheduled (5x400s) = 10.69mi @  9:30/mi avg

This workout was serious business. I don't think I've ever done that long of a hill climb before... and especially not THREE of them... and then some more "shorter" ones. It definitely felt like a good mental training run for sure.

Friday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 5.08mi @ 9:40/mi avg

Humidity... Ick. 

Saturday

Scheduled: 2mi WU, 2x6mi @ MP with 5min jog between, 2mi CD = 14mi

Did: 1mi WU, 3mi @ HMP, 1mi CD = 5.09mi @ 8:47/mi avg, Big 5

Couldn't make the longer run happen with my partner this morning, but was proud to still get something substantial done. 

Sunday

Scheduled: 9-11mi easy
Did: 6.29mi @ 9:30/mi avg

Life happened and I didn't get out until HIGH NOON today for a baking-in-the-sun-with-zero-trees run. So hot, but pretty proud that this happened at all. 

Total Weekly Mileage: 38.6

Week-ending Thoughts:

• I kinda feel like I already peaked with that 20mi run and this is all just taperville... even though it's totally not. I'm just choosing to take this next week to enjoy other parts of my life and run when I can, but not stress about fitting in mileage or workouts (ah, the perks of not actually being in training for a marathon of my own). 

(not my) Marathon Training: Week 12/18

Week-beginning Thoughts:

I'm feeling so good it's easy to forget that I'm 2/3 of the way through marathon training... I'm not normally feeling this good or carefree at any point in training. Guess that's the perk of not having to train for myself, but mentally feeling like this is all a choice. 

Monday

Scheduled: rest

Did: 30min LIIFT4 HIIT workout

So hungry on rest days... 

Tuesday

Scheduled: 2mi WU, 4x1600/3min rest, 2mi CD

Did: As scheduled. 9.37mi @ 9:10/mi avg, Big 5

J'adore mile repeat day. :) Warm-up was slow and easy (first mile was 10:43!), and then we got into it. 

7:40 Was aiming for 7:45, but this just kind of happened. Kind of funny since my first few laps I'd been barely under an 8:00 and was trying to remind myself that a pregnant me had done 8:00 speedwork, so I'd better be able to hold that easily non-pregnant. 

7:42

7:39 felt comfortable, happy, talking to teammates while running

7:37 had to hold myself back from seeing what I could hit in the last ~200... 

Good run. 

Wednesday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 5.06mi @ 9:48/mi avg

Ugh. So moist.

Thursday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 6.32 @ 10:12/mi avg

Really getting good at easy miles. This didn't feel nearly as sluggish as the pace might indicate... 

Friday

Scheduled: 1.5mi WU, 5mi @ HMP, 1.5mi CD

Did: as scheduled = 8.06mi @ 8:58/mi avg

Another moist morning.. ew. This was definitely a mental games kind of run. I kept comparing today's 5mi @ HMP to Sunday's 8mi @ MP, knowing that the whole purpose of this workout was to make Sunday feel easy. I was also struggling to remember how it felt to run an ENTIRE FREAKING HALF MARATHON (with hills, while (barely) pregnant) at a faster pace. 

I'd hoped for 8:15s for the HMP, but the first mile was not happening. I did get there, though. 

8:24

8:12

8:19

8:13

8:08

Saturday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 6.6mi @ 10:25/m avg

Another run family run with a stop 5/6 of the way in at the park :) This was a little longer than planned, but super easy.

Sunday

Scheduled: 8-10mi WU, 6-8mi @ MP, 2mi CD
Did: as scheduled = 20.55mi @ 9:34/mi avg, 0.5mi walk, 

This was a reality check kind of run. The warm-up 10mi was easy enough. I actually even "forgot" about it by the time we started the MP. I planned on running around 8:45s for the duration, and also (wrongly) expected that to feel easy and manageable. 

Nope. I was on the struggle bus a lot this run, alternating between 8:50s and 8:30/40s for the first bit and then in the 9s by the end (though I'm also fairly certain GPS was not accurate because I didn't feel like I could have POSSIBLY been going 9:27 slow for my last fast mile). It was a mental game throughout, telling myself not to try to stick with my super strong training partner, and that it was fine to let her go ahead at 8:30s while I held 8;45s, truly running the mile I was in (and ONLY the mile I was in), thinking about the run as two mile pace-setting exercise, then 10K, etc. 

I think the worst part was how, on the last mile, I had to do a couple additional loops around the pond in order to avoid having to go this super steep hill on the MP leg.

But it was totally worth while when my husband brought us suuuuper cold sports drink as we passed by the house en route to, wait for it, JUMPING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD POOL. 

I've dreamt about jumping into a pool post-run SO many times, and it was EVERY BIT AS GLORIOUS as I'd imagined.

Also, training partner brought electrolyte popsicles. WHAT A DAY :D

Total Weekly Mileage: 50.6

Week-ending Thoughts:

• Marathons are hard. This is the first week, though, that I've had a run that took it out of me. Pretty proud about that. I also learned from past runs and recovered MUCH better with lots of salt/food post-run, stretching, and a well-timed nap. 
• I'm absolutely amazed that 5mo pregnant me did a marathon a couple years ago. 
• REALLY excited for tomorrow's rest day

(not my) Marathon Training: Week 11/18

Week-beginning Thoughts:

It's so absurdly hot and humid right now... uggggh, Hotlanta life.

Monday

Scheduled: rest

Did: nada

So hungry on rest days... 

Tuesday

Scheduled: 2mi WU, 12x[400m up @ 10K pace, 45s rest, 400m down @ MP, 90s rest], 2mi CD

Did: As scheduled. 10.72mi @ 10:32/mi avg (with rest), 8:48/mi avg (moving avg only)

That's a lot of 400s... Loved being able to mentally break this looooong workout down into bite-sized chunks. I opted to take less rest in the first half to save time, but still couldn't take the cool-down quite as easily as I'd hoped due to schedule constraints. 

up should've been around 7:45/mi

down should've been around 8:30/mi

took awhile, but I got there

Wednesday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 5mi @ 10:20/mi avg

fun run with friends

Thursday

Scheduled: 5-7mi solid

Did: 6.29mi @ 8:49/mi avg

Weee.

Friday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 4.15mi @ 10:07/mi/avg

These "easy miles" are getting easier and easier to make 10+ min/mi... 

Saturday

Scheduled: 2mi WU, 10mi @ MP (progression: 8:50-8:15), 2mi CD

Did: as scheduled = 14.08mi @ 8:58/mi avg, Big 5

When this run started, I thought, "there's no way I'm going to be able to execute". After our first mile of MP clocked in sub-9, though, I thought, "well, maybe?"

...but then I couldn't progress at all for the next few miles. I got stuck around 8;45 and couldn't push myself any faster. 

"Alright," I thought, maybe we'll do 5K at 8:45ish, 5K @ 8:30ish, and then go for it on the last bit. 

Surprise, surprise, it actually worked!

8:51

8:43

8:41

8:43

8:30

8:33

8:25

8:28

8:18

8:07

SO proud of this execution!!! 

Sunday

Scheduled: 9-11mi easy
Did: as scheduled = 10.07mi @ 10:32/mi avg, Big 5

This run didn't really go as planned... I'd planned to meet my husband and kids 4mi in, join them for 6, and then enjoy some coffee together. Two miles in, on the greenway, I came across a man pushing a mountain bike with two bum wheels (there are mountain bike trails adjacent to/intertwined with the greenway we run). When I stopped to ask if he was alright, it was very apparent that he was not. I ended up walking his bike back to his car for him, while we talked about the very high probability he'd broken his collarbone...

I was glad to have been able to help him out, and pay forward a similar kindness to what we've received, especially since he was on vacation with his family, celebrating his birthday with a solo ride before his kids woke up... Ugh, what a birthday. :( 

Once I got him set up, I resumed my run, and enjoyed some seriously easy miles today, eventually meeting up with my family and (pleasant surprise coming:) kept my husband at the same crazy easy pace with me for six miles... and then dropped them at coffeeshop and continued to run solo for another couple. I wasn't sure what I was at mileage-wise for the week, but hoped ten would be enough to get me to 50... 

Total Weekly Mileage: 50.4 (yesssss)

Week-ending Thoughts:

• This feels GOOD. So grateful to have my health back again. 

(not my) Marathon Training: Week 10/18

Week-beginning Thoughts:

It's so absurdly hot and humid right now... uggggh, Hotlanta life.

Monday

Scheduled: rest

Did: nada

So hungry on rest days... 

Tuesday

Scheduled: 2mi WU,4x(1mi @ 10K/3min jog), 3x(400m@ 5K/1min jog),2mi CD

Did: As scheduled. 10.54mi @ 9:02/mi avg, Big 5

Glutes = so painful this morning. Made it through the run, though, and felt super strong. I aimed for just under 8:00 on the 10K pace and closer to 7:45 on the 5K pace.

Mile repeats: 7:43, 7:40, 7:41, 7:40

400s: 1:44, 1:43, 1:43, 1:40

Weeeeee, TenMileTuesday. 

Wednesday

Scheduled: 4-5mi easy

Did: 5mi @ 10:01/mi avg, 30min yoga

Ugggh, my glutes hurt so much during this run. It was a good reminder stretching is a vital part of marathon training... so I took my yoga mat to my kiddo's swim lesson, setup some Beachbody on Demand on my iPad, and did yoga poolside while the other parents probably cast some side eyes from their lounge chairs and phones. 

Thursday

Scheduled: 4-5mi easy

Did: 20min leg/glute strength training, 30min stretching

Opted out of running this morning to condition instead with squats, lunges, stretches, and deadlifts. I haven't lifted in... ten weeks? Definitely had to lighten the weights (and just go bodyweight on a few) to focus on form. 

Did more poolside yoga, too. 

Friday

Scheduled: 2mi WU, 2x3mi @ HMP/3min jog, 2mi CD

Did: as scheduled = 10.32mi @ 9:04/mi avg, Big 5

Stretching = working. No pain or struggles on today's run. I love feeling so accomplished on a Friday, too. It makes the work day so much better when I can just enjoy the end of the week, and look forward to Saturday as a chill day, instead of thinking "just gotta get through that long workout tomorrow". 

I'd hoped to stay around an 8:00-8:15 for the HMP, but faltered in the middle of round 2:

8:12/8:01/8:09

8:01/8:27/8:12

Oh well. 

Saturday

Scheduled: 4-5mi easy

Did: 4.74mi @ 10:25/mi avg with double stroller

Today was a dream. With easy miles on the schedule, I parked near the farmer's market, and then ran the kids up through town to a park we haven't been to in forever, played a bit, and then ran back down for pretzels at the market. It was the perfect morning of slow, easy, and FUN.

Sunday

Scheduled: Surge Practice/Focus Shift
60min easy, 6x(3min @ HP/2min @ MP), 20min easy
Did: as scheduled = 11.74mi @ 9:23/mi avg

It felt nice to have a short long run this weekend. Funny that anything less than 2-hrs now qualifies as "short"... 

We had an easy warm-up as a trio, and then just two of us continued for the workout. I decided to try to hit 7:45ish for the HMP (but accept anything under 8) and 8:30ish for the MP, though I didn't look at or adjust my pace at all during the workout. 

Here's how they shook out:

Not too bad! :) 

Total Weekly Mileage: 42.4

Week-ending Thoughts:

Solid week.

Also, it's crazy that I had THREE runs over ten miles this week. I'm loving this high mileage plan.

(not my) Marathon Training: Week 9/18

Week-beginning Thoughts:

I JUST WANT TO BE HEALTHY AGAIN...

Monday

Scheduled: rest

Did: nada

Stuffy nose and balloon-feeling head, but otherwise pretty okay today.

Tuesday

Scheduled: 2mi WU,10x400m/400m hill repeats, 2mi CD

Did: 6.36mi easy @ 9:44/mi avg

Sickness all around = swapping hard workout for easy one today. Just grateful to be able to run with friends again... 

Wednesday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 2.23mi WU @ 10ish, 6x400m up/400m down hill repeats, 2.15mi CD = 7.56mi total @ 9:35/mi avg, Big 5

Hallelujah. I just had my first complete night of sleep in awhile. Woke up feeling refreshed and ready to go. Training partner opted to do her Tuesday workout today. I didn't want to do a full ten miles or go that hard since I'm coming off a rough patch, but wanted to support her and do something. I opted for 6 instead of 10 repeats, and lowered the intensity from 10K pace up/MP down to "comfortable push" up/"easy jog" down. 

400m splits:

1) 2:07/2:29

2) 2:09/2:24

3) 2:05/2:25

4) 2:01/2:26

5) 2:04/2:24

6) 1:57/2:30

Thursday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 5.01mi @ 9:53/mi avg

So. Moist. Ugh. This humidity is just repulsive... 

Friday

Scheduled: 2mi WU, 3mi @ HMP, 3min jog, 2mi @ HMP, 2min jog, 1mi @ 10K pace, 2mi CD=  10.5ishmi

Did: as scheduled

Grateful for today's good run, but sooooo disgustingly humid. 

2mi WU = 10:15/mi avg

3mi = 8:04/7:59/8:03

3min @ 12:11/mi

2mi= 8:12/8:23 (felt hard so I let myself give in a little)

2min @ 11:45

1mi @ 7:55

2mi @ 10:05/mi 

Saturday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 4.04mi with double stroller @ 10:36/mi avg

Littlest had a 102 degree fever and complained of ear pain last night, so all plans went out the door this morning. I was still able to fit in a run with the double stroller between a pediatrician appointment and grocery+med pick-up, though. 

It was mad humid, mad hot, and that stroller was mad heavy... but we got it done. Yay, easy miles. 

 

Sunday

Scheduled: Course Simulation: 8mi easy, 6-8mi @ MP, 2mi CD

Did: as scheduled (6mi @ MP) = 16.31mi total @ 9:33/mi avg

OMG, I finally did a full week of marathon training as scheduled... that hasn't happened since... idk... week 5?

Littlest had another rough night, and I was up/down until about 2am when I finally went back to my bed, put earplugs in, and hoped my husband would recognize I was "tagging out" for a few hours. 

It was another repulsively humid morning, where I was dripping before mile 2. I slugged through the warm-up with only two miles under a 10:00, and wondered how I was supposed to go faster for the next segment. 

Mentally, breaking these long runs into segments has helped me SO much. It's obvious, but thinking of an 8mi run, a 10K, and then 2 easy cool-down miles is so much more palatable than a "sixteen mile run". 

Marathon Pace for my training partner has been an 8:30. I didn't want to hit that this morning, and also didn't know if I could. She's in MUCH better shape than I am, not having had illness and such derail her past four weeks of training. So, I did the smart thing: I didn't try to keep up with her.

I set a reasonable goal for myself (9:00 MP miles), and let myself do 6. 

8:56, 8:56, 8:46, 8:52, 8:38, 8:27

And then two more miles at a high-9. 

I felt so proud to be done with that. After a brief stretch, I went home, showered, and then did a hike with my family, brunch, showered again, and then passed out on the couch while my husband took care of the household. 

Total Weekly Mileage: 49.7

Man. If I'd have known I was that close.... 

Week-ending Thoughts:

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY, marathon training.

...even if my watch thinks I'm overtraining. lol

(not my) Marathon Training: Week 8/18

Week-beginning Thoughts:

I've gotten to experience life with an inescapable health condition for the past week or so with this skin rash thing. It's been absolutely awful. I can't wear clothes, much less form-fitting or supportive running clothes without incredible discomfort, and, clothed or not, suffered from uncontrollable itchiness, despite having four different providers look, diagnose, and prescribe treatments... 

It's terrible and has made me really reconsider how I view people who truly have chronic conditions that impact their quality of life... Damn. I put a lot of emphasis on gratitude for my health in general, but that's only going to be more a part of my thoughts and life once I'm through this rough patch. 

I've spent so much time worried about if I'm losing fitness and will be able to come back and re-join the marathon training this cycle, but, beyond just the basic "how do I ramp back up?" question, I'm also stressing on "how will running affect this skin rash". What if it makes it worse? :( 

Monday

Scheduled: rest

Did: nada... unless scratching counts

Tuesday

Scheduled: 2mi WU,6x1200m @ 10K pace/2:30s rest, 2mi CD

Did: nada

Wednesday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: nada

Thursday

Scheduled: 5-7mi solid

Did: 1.59mi @ 10:09/mi avg, 2.5mi walk

One of my training buddies rolled her ankle, cutting our run short this morning. We walked for the rest of the time. It just felt good to be out and about with people again.

Friday

Scheduled: 4-6mi easy

Did: 5.01mi @ 9:50/mi avg

So glad to finally be able to wear a sports bra and shorts without irritation for a run. Today felt good, and I'm hopeful that I'll be able to keep going. 

Saturday

Scheduled: 2mi WU, 3x(3-4mi @ MP/2mi easy) = EEK

Did: 2mi WU, 4mi @ 8:50/mi, 2.26mi @ 9:52/mi, 3.63mi @ 8:44/mi, 2.29mi @ 9:55/mi = 14.19mi @ 9:20/mi avg 

Ooh, this one felt GOOD. I opted to scale the workout down since I haven't run much in the past two weeks, choosing to skip the third repeat (and limit my distance to 15) and reducing the intensity to "sub-9" instead of an 8:30ish MP. That was the right call. I felt good during all of this, and am just so stinking grateful to be out and running again. 

 

Sunday

Scheduled: 10-12mi easy

Did: nada

OMG, I just want my health back already... Woke up this morning with a sore throat and stuffy nose, and knew running was a bad idea. I've already slept an extra four hours since I woke up at 6;30... and it's only 1:30 in the afternoon.

Total Weekly Mileage: 20.8

Week-ending Thoughts:

I hate being sick. I hate having family members who are sick. I just want to be able to live my life again. Saturday was SO wonderful to be able to go places, do things, and wear CLOTHES... Sunday was just an absolute letdown on all fronts. Ugggghhhh. Did I mention that I've used 50.5 hours of PTO for sickness so far this year, and it's only the middle of JULY?