Last week was my second-to-last week of tough training!
AND THANK GOD.
I’ve been training since June because I thought I was going to run Wineglass. I’m really excited for the marathon itself, but I’m totally burnt out on training.
Last week was sort of a weird week for training for me…
Monday: scheduled rest day
Tuesday: Pushed my run off in the morning, got some fabulous news (more to come soon!) and decided celebrating >>>> running.
Wednesday: Had some logistical stuff to deal with most of the day and somewhere to be at night and the day just got away from me.
THREE REST DAYS IN A ROW DURING A PEAK WEEK. I AM AWESOME AT MARATHON TRAINING.
Thursday: I think the #runcrazy started Thursday. I was terrified of the run on my schedule: 15 min warmup, 30 minutes at 10K pace, 10 minutes easy, 30 MORE MINUTES at 10K pace, 10 minute cooldown. I also had been planning on going to Uplift for a fun event they were having. But after some chatting with Dori on gchat, I realized that was a dumb idea, and I set out for the run. I got about 5 minutes into the first hard section and started freaking out that I wouldn’t be able to do it. I stopped and sat down for a minute to compose myself.
After a minute, I decided to detach myself from the outcome of the run and not freak out if I didn’t hit the paces I wanted to hit…and just run, hard. I ended up misjudging timing a little bit about when Ashley would get to my apartment, and I had a few more errands to run in between, so I cut out 10 minutes from the second hard section. Either way, I ended up with a total of 9 miles for a weekday run and 5 of those at a good clip.
Friday: Running mojo was weirdly low last week, and I was supposed to do 6 but only did 3, switching out Sunday’s recovery for a little shakeout the day before my 20-miler.
Saturday: #runcrazy, 20 miles. The only other thing to note – I had totally run out of any kind of fuel that I wanted to take, so I stopped into a bike shop (in a cocktail dress, on my way out on Friday night, NBD) to pick up some fuel. They didn’t have any Shot Bloks, my usual fuel, so I tried Honey Stingers. AND I LOVED THEM. I try to eat organic when possible, but I’m not militant about it, BUT I loved that they were organic and had a good ingredient list of stuff I could pronounce.
Sunday: 8 miles, instead of the planned 6, to make up for Saturday’s fail. I’m terrified of my watch lately. I’m terrified to review my splits and see they’re not what I’d hoped they’d be. So, I tried really hard to run goal pace for 6 of the miles, but I think I fell a little short of this on my fatigued legs.
Total: 40 miles, the most I’ve hit this training cycle. Squeezing them into four days wasn’t quite ideal, but I still feel good for having these miles in my muscle memory now.
THIS WEEK: Runner’s World Half! (+5k +10K + 7 miles after the half) I am so psyched.
How was your week of training, and what workouts are you psyched for this week?
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I'd be scared of that Thursday's workout too! That is a LOT of time at 10K pace. That is more time at 10K pace than you'd spend running an actual 10K. I guess there's a break in the middle, but still.
The fact that I didn't have that many terrifying workouts this training cycle makes me feel unprepared. It's good to be able to look back on those and say, "I did that!"
Right?? I'm currently reading Brain Training for Runners, and it calls these "cruise intervals." I guess they help you run at that speed for longer because of the break...but yeah.
That is so true. Those terrifying workouts are the confidence-builders. I know you did Smuttynose this weekend, but are you doing another marathon? Philly? Am I making that up?
@Theodora: How are you liking that book? I looked into it a few weeks ago but then never did anything about it.
@Dori: so far only a few chapters in. Some of it is a little technical right now.
@Theodora: I am doing Philly! It is pretty much my favorite marathon, so I'm excited. I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself, since that was my downfall at Smuttynose (and every other "goal race" I've ever targeted).
Do you find that book helpful? My brain is what needs training the most, I'm afraid.
Oh hey, see you this weekend! #RWHalf
@Meghan: YESSSSSSSSSSS can't wait to see you! :)
I'm still only a few chapters in, will let you know what I think when I finish it. Right now, it's a little technical for me.
40 miles included three rest days is really great! I'm glad you skipped Uplift, you don't want to overdo it right now. Focus on running only on running days and then let yourself recover. You don't want to hold back because of the workout you have later the same day. That 10K pace workout sounds so tough! I've got some really hard tempos coming up in the next few weeks too. One of them is 3x3 at MP with 3 min rest in between. Those rests make the hard parts doable!
I kind of want to try out that workout you had on Thursday. I recently got into speedwork, finally, and am looking for new ways to increase my speed. I spent the first 2 years of my running "career" running my pace at whatever I felt like and it is now time to step it up!
Your post made me laugh out loud. I hope that doesn't offend you. But we've all probably had weeks like that - a peak week scheduled and then life gets in the way. Sounds like you did your best!
At least you got some serious mileage in! Also Honeystingers are definitely my favorite! The Berry flavor is my go-to
Can't wait to talk marathon with you this weekend! See you Thursday! :)
You're a beast Theodora! :)
SO jealous of your RW weekend, that is going to be so much fun!
SO I had a DNF at Hartford. Which was my goal race. I started this cycle 6/17 after 2-3 weeks off post ultra...and now because I will be oddly tapered and rebuilding will run NYCM for FUN...and 12/8 will be my goal marathon in Palm Beaches. 8 additional weeks of training. Sigh. It's been hard fully getting behind training once again. I planned to rock Hartford and then "run for fun" not goals. Hills tomorrow insert not excited face :)
Wow! Hat off to you! I KNOW I wouldn't be able to run like you. Wish I could, so train in other ways instead. Bad knees. Your training scheduled looks hectic. Good luck with it, and keep it going! Great stuff.