Tag: marathon training

Wineglass Marathon Training: Week Six

2 Comments

This week was a little challenging, but it started off with some great news! Monday I had the opportunity to join Oiselle as one of their Flock members. Oiselle has been a company I admired for over the past year or so. Not only do they provide running clothing for women, but their team is comprised of runners from all over. The passion they have and share is absolutely amazing, and I’m so honored to be part of this team!

Capture

Anyway, back to training, I didn’t get all of my workouts in, but when I did, they were spot on. I started the week with Body Fusion. We had a bunch of new people in class so it was relatively easy and lighter than normal. Next week it’s time to step up the weights again!

Tuesday I was at the track. After last week’s failed attempt at mile repeats, I was a little nervous. I started out a little too quick, but I managed my first sub 7:30 mile in quite some time. I can tell my speed is getting quicker, I just have to work on keeping my times closer together.

Wednesday I went out to my favorite hill to work on some repeats. Each repeat is a half mile long, so I started with a warm up, attacked the hill six times, and followed it up with a mile cool down. The first three repeats I felt strong, at number four I could feel myself fading a bit. I had to dig deep for number five, but finished strong for my last one. This hill is one of my favorites because it winds up and around a development, the top is so far from the beginning, you can’t help but push yourself the entire time.

Hill repeats for dinner

Hill repeats for dinner

Thursday I had evening plans, but had full intention of running Friday before going out of town for the weekend. But then I was plagued with a horrible headache until Saturday afternoon that kept me from running.

Monday: Body Fusion Class – 30 minutes of lifting/abs/squats & 30 minutes of yoga

Tuesday: 4.5 Miles, 1 Mile W/U, 3×1600(7:27, 7:36, 7:45), .5 Mile C/D

Wednesday: 5 Miles, 1 Mile W/U, 6x .5 Mile Hill Repeats, 1 Mile C/D

Thursday: Off

Friday: Off

Saturday: Off

Sunday: 15 Miles

Total Miles: 24.5 Miles

Sunday was my scheduled long run for the weekend, and I was able to meet up with some MCRR members for a nice long run. I was a little unsure about the run because I only had four hours of sleep, and about a pound of deeply buttered  popcorn in my stomach. (Note to self, stay away from popcorn the night before a long run!)

When I started I felt ok, and we had a big group of about 12. Within the first mile we started to break apart, and the core group of 7 stayed together for the first twelve miles. We began our run at Buckeye Woods and headed down the inlet towards the back roads to Chippewa Lake. The views were absolutely beautiful, but unfortunately I left my phone in the car, so I couldn’t take any pictures.

We managed to make our way on the back roads and around the lake, it was relatively flat with a few rollings hills. We kept an easy pace and my legs felt great, but my stomach was not so happy. Between miles 6-9 I had some major cramping, and running was the last thing I wanted to do. I managed to make it through and we finished up back in the parking lot with 11 miles.

At this point, I refilled my water with ice and Nuun, and we stretched for a few moments before the last four of us went out for our remaining miles. We went back on the inlet for two miles and made our way back, finishing with a solid 15 miles for the day.

Sunday's group

Sunday’s group

This long run was rough. We started with an easy pace, but by mile 12/13, I was getting pretty worn down. We lucked out on weather, even though it was quite humid. We dodged the heat and storms with the occasional sprinkle which helped to cool us down.

My only two issues with this run was my stomach and how sore I felt after I finished. When I do my long runs on Sunday I need to focus more on what I eat all weekend and try to drink more water the day before.

Even though I didn’t get as many workouts in this week, every single workout was where it needed to be. I’ll be pumping up my mileage again this week and I have a trail race on Saturday. I’m only weeks away from my first 20 miler of the cycle, so hopefully my long runs will become a little easier each time. I’m now a third of the way done with training, and so far I feel like I’m on the right track.

Do you prefer track or hill workouts more? What do you do when a long run doesn’t go like you planned?

Wineglass Marathon Training: Week Five

Leave a comment

What an interesting week. This week didn’t necessarily go as planned, but in the end, I made the right decisions for training. I intended to have another high mileage week, but needed to cut back as a prevention. My body was tight and sore for every run this week, so I added in some extra rest days to recover. My biggest focus is staying injury free so I listened to the warning signs and played it safe.

I started the week with Body Fusion, and I felt great. We used heavier weights and I could feel myself getting stronger with each rep. Yoga was on point as well, and it really helped to clear my mind. I may have even become a little emotional towards the end.

Tuesday went downhill quickly. I went up to the track, but even as I started my warm up, which was a 10 minute pace, I was falling apart. I figured I’d play it by ear, and try not to push myself too much due to the heat. Well, I barely got one mile repeat in before I threw in the towel. I struggled and could feel myself fading fast. So I did a mile cool down, and decided I’d push my speed work to Thursday. I spent all night beating myself up about the workout, but in the end, I know my body was still tired and partially dehydrated from Sunday. Even though my mile pace wasn’t horrible, I don’t think I would have benefited from overdoing it in the heat.

Wednesday was a rest day, which my body gratefully took advantage of. Then Thursday I did an easy shakeout run before Friday’s race. I ran part of the neighborhood and part on the trail. My pace was probably quicker than I wanted the night before a race, but I tried to keep it light and easy.

Friday was the Twin Sizzler 5k and 10k.  Yep, you read that right, I ran both the 5k and 10k. I’ll have my recap later this week, but it was also my long run, so I added on 5 miles in between and after the races. I ran a half mile warm up, ran the 5k, ran 1.5 miles around town with Mo, ran the 10k, ran 2 miles around town, and finished up the last mile in my development for a total of 14 miles. This was definitely a tough run because the later it got, the hotter it was and I was struggling. My legs were tight for about 12 of the 14 miles and my knees and arch starting hurting towards the end. It wasn’t pretty, but I got it done.

Red, white, blue and happy post 14 miles!

14 red, white, and blue miles!

Saturday I took as a rest day because my legs were in rough shape. Sunday I had planned to do an easy run, but ended up having a little too much fun from the wine party we hosted Saturday evening. Instead I spent the day on the deck, enjoying summer and time with my better half.

Monday: Body Fusion Class – 30 minutes of lifting/abs/squats & 30 minutes of yoga

Tuesday: 3 Miles, 1 Mile W/U, 1×1600 (8:11), 1 Mile C/D

Wednesday: Off

Thursday: 3 Miles

Friday: Twin Sizzler 5k/10k + 5 Miles

Saturday: Off

Sunday: Off

Total Miles: 20 Miles

This week was rough, and I struggled with the heat. I thought I was hydrating enough, but apparently I’m not. Looks like I need to increase my intake of water and Nuun every day. I also need to work on adjusting with the heat. I’m ok for the first half of my long runs, but that changes quickly.

This week was supposed to be my cut back week, but I’ll be changing that since I had low mileage last week. I need to make sure I hit my mile repeats at the track this week, and I’ll be adding in a hill workout, because after Friday’s 10k, it’s clear I’m not doing enough hills!

Wineglass Marathon Training: Week Four

1 Comment

How is it week four already? I can’t believe how quickly these weeks are passing, which means summer is flying by too! We’re a month in, and I already feel better than I did for Akron and Columbus. This week was huge for me and a great way to see just how far I’ve come.

I started Monday with Body Fusion, where I was one of two people in class due to the crazy weather. I almost didn’t go, but made it through the storm and was so glad I did. The instructor even noticed how much I’ve toned since January.

Tuesday was track day, and I was almost certain I was going to get rained out. Luckily the weather was a complete 180 from work and we had sunny skies, dry track and 85 degrees. I attempted my first ladder workout in probably 6 years, and as hard as it was, I actually enjoyed it. I worked on staying under an 8 minute pace, and was on point every time. Next ladder workout I’ll focus on quicker times for the shorter distances.

Wednesday I ran my recovery run with Elayna and Ella. We originally had about 4 miles planned, but ended up taking the long way to the lake, which definitely didn’t disappoint with views. It was hot and our pace was slower, but my legs felt fresh and it was nice to catch up. I even tried convincing Elayna to run her first half marathon this fall, so we’ll see what happens.

This city.

This city.

Thursday I ran with Second Sole, and it was a hot one. I was planning to keep it easy, but started out a bit too quick. Guess that happens when you’re stuck behind 20 year old guys who run a 5/6 minute pace. We ended up going from the store to Roscoe and back. The rolling hills at Roscoe beat me up a bit, but I ended up with an 8:50 average pace, not bad considering I’d already run 11 miles in the past two days.

Friday was my rest day, and Saturday I did a short shakeout run. I managed a little over a mile and I was already feeling drained. Sunday I ran the Columbia Station Half Marathon, recap to come later this week. I had originally planned to run about 3 miles post race, but my stomach had other plans. With an 8am race start, I was also pretty dehydrated once I crossed the finish line.

Monday: Body Fusion Class – 30 minutes of lifting/abs/squats & 30 minutes of yoga

Tuesday: 5.5 Miles, 1 Mile W/U, Ladder-800(3:48), 1200(5:54), 1600(7:54), 1200(5:54), 800(3:57), 1 Mile C/D

Wednesday: 6 Miles

Thursday: 4.4 Miles

Friday: Off

Saturday: 1 Mile

Sunday: Columbia Station Half Marathon

Total Miles: 30 Miles

This week was tough on my legs, but I was able to reach two big milestones. This was probably the first time I’ve ever run 30 miles in one week. I also hit 100 miles for the month, which is something I’ve been hoping to do for quite some time. Thankfully I haven’t had any injuries, and I’ve been playing a lot of attention to my body to make sure I can handle the increase in mileage.

I’ve been focusing on getting more sleep, doubling the amount of water I’m drinking, stretching after every run, and easing myself back into ice baths.

Perfect summer recovery

Perfect summer recovery

This next week will be interesting. The holiday weekend throws me off a little bit, but I’ve got a 5k and 10k scheduled for Friday. They’ll be hot and humid, and most likely slow because I’ll be turning it into my long run. I’m not expecting a PR, mostly, because I won’t be trying for one, but I’m excited to try both races this year instead of just one. Then I’ll have all weekend to enjoy the holiday!

 

What’s your highest mileage in a week, a month? Will you be running a 4th of July race?

Flirt With Dirt 10k Recap

1 Comment

Saturday I ran the Flirt with Dirt 10k, my second trail 10k, and my first real trail race of the year. I wasn’t sure what to expect because I can count on one hand the number of 10k’s I’ve run, so I’m still not sure how to race them. I also wasn’t sure what to expect with the course condition, due to all of the rain we’ve been having.

The race started at 9am, so I had plenty of time to get up, stretch, eat something and head over to the race. The weather was cooler than I had expected, but it was still pretty humid. There was a good turnout, and I hoped my lack of trail racing knowledge didn’t stick out too much.

We lined up and were off, all trying to get on the trail at the same time. We started out on single track and it was pretty crowded. I knew my pace would  be slower than a regular race, but I found myself at about 10:30, and was quite surprised with how fast I thought I was going.

We made our way around mud, sticks, curving trails, and some slight inclines. I took the first mile easy, because I didn’t want to wear myself down and end up falling behind. Luckily I ended up behind a couple who were the exact pace that I felt comfortable with. I stayed with them for about the first two miles and I think they really helped to push me.

Looking fast

Looking fast

After the two mile mark we hit a giant down hill, but I was cautious so I wouldn’t trip or fall over anything. We ended up at a water stop, but I passed since I had my hand held. We made a loop and ventured on the same hill we just just come down. Slowly I made my way up the entire hill until I was “running” slower than I could walk, so I started to walk up the hill, just like everyone else.

Once the hill became more gradual than steep, I started to run again. The gradual elevation continued from mile three to mile four and I could tell my legs were getting tired. I took a sport bean at mile 4 and with the almost level ground, I started to pick up my pace a bit.

Look of determination

Look of determination

We started to spread out more, and our trail started to widen up. I was able to pick up my speed, but still stayed above a 10:15 pace. By this point I really focused on my breathing and making sure that every time I took a step I wasn’t going to trip.

We came up around another pond and you could hear the music in the background. I knew I had a little over a mile to go and focused on getting through the last of the trails. My body was started to become sore, but I rallied through and made my way to the finish and enjoyed every step along the way!

I quickly met up with Jeanne after the finish and we went out to the roads to finish up four more miles for our long run. We made it back just in time to get a group shot of all the MCRR members who ran the 10k.

MCRR 10k runners

MCRR 10k runners

I really enjoyed this race, and plan to do more trail races this year when I can. To me there was a huge difference in trail races versus road races. My pace was much slower than a normal road race, but the terrain was much more difficult, I think I spent the entire time staring at the ground to make sure I wouldn’t fall. Instead of pavement, we ran through dirt, lots of mud, gravel, grass, and on bridges. Sticks, branches and rocks were always on the path, which means you’re moving all over the place. My body was definitely beat up after the race, but it was worth it!

Race keepers

Race keepers

Results:

Official Time: 1:07:34

Age Group 25-29: 4/11

Gender: 31/86

Overall: 109/187

Wineglass Marathon Training: Week Three

Leave a comment

Week three is complete, and the heat and humidity have arrived in full force. I’ve really been struggling with exhaustion and this week was no exception, in fact, it was actually worse. I haven’t been getting enough sleep, and although I don’t think it’s hurting my runs now, I want to make sure I don’t let it slip too far before I’m at much higher mileage.

I started the week with Body Fusion, and it was another tough class. I’m almost back to the weights I used before I took May off, but I can tell we’re also working harder in class too. My muscles are definitely coming back, but my jeans are fitting tighter, balance?

Tuesday I was back on the track, and decided on 800 repeats since I haven’t done them in about 5 years. I chose to run four and I think that’s just about all my body could handle. The heat and humidity were rough, but I was able to fight through and finish each 800 around the same time. I didn’t have an exact time I wanted to hit, but the 4 minute mark sounded like a good place to start. I have a lot of work to do on my 800’s, and Tuesday reminded me just how much I hate them.

Wednesday a few plans changed, so I went out for a run on my own. I’d been hearing of an old golf course that a few members of the group had run. The views were pretty, but the rolling hills were taking a toll on my legs. I only managed to get three miles in before the storm broke, but I think it was all that my legs could handle.

Rough and hilly

Rough and hilly

Thursday I took part in Ladies Night on the Square, so I intended to move my run to Friday. But by 4:30pm on Friday I was nursing a huge headache and was starting to feel sick. So I took the day off from running and hoped I’d be better by Saturday morning for my long run.

Monday: Body Fusion Class – 30 minutes of lifting/abs/squats & 30 minutes of yoga

Tuesday: 4 Miles, 1 Mile W/U, 4×800 repeats (3:52, 3:57, 4:04, 3:59), 1 Mile C/D

Wednesday: 3 Miles

Thursday: Off

Friday: Off

Saturday: Flirt with Dirt 10k + 5 Miles

Sunday: 4 Miles

Total Miles: 22 Miles

Saturday I ran the Flirt with Dirt Trail 10k, recap to come later this week. I managed to run a mile before and then followed it up with four road miles with Jeanne. The miles after were definitely a lot harder than I expected, but it was an easy way to get my long run for the day.

New shoes, broken in. Check!

New shoes, broken in. Check!

Sunday I was feeling pretty beat up from the trails, so I waited until about 8pm to run. I started on the trail and finished up in our development to get four in for the day. I kept it relatively easy for recovery and was glad I waited until evening.

With the exception of Friday, I just about hit all my miles. I don’t regret skipping the run because my body needed an extra rest day. I’m still getting used to running higher mileage and more days per week and my body is still catching up. I need to pay better attention to my sleep cycle and try to keep not only injury, but sickness away.

This next week I’ll be back on a regular schedule and I have a half marathon Sunday that I’ll use for pacing, and possibly add on additional miles. Three weeks are done, how is this going by so quick?

Wineglass Marathon Training: Week Two

Leave a comment

After a long weekend of being on my feet, I was a little nervous for week two to start. Luckily I had Body Fusion on Monday, so I could relax a little bit. But after class, just about everything was shaky. It was a tough class, but improvements are being made and muscles are being formed!

Tuesday was track day and I had another set of 1600 repeats on deck. I started with my warm up and felt pretty good. Last week I went out too quick, so I wanted to keep my pace in check and hopefully stay around the same time for each mile. I’m not sure where the speed came from, but I was able to keep all under 7:45. I got a little slower with each, but I’m not complaining. I finished up with a mile cool down and an urge to race another 5k!

Wednesday was a recovery run on the rail trail, but I think I spent most of my time swatting at bugs. I wasn’t really in the mood to run, mostly because all I want to do it eat and sleep now, but after I received a surprise from Jen, I had instant motivation.

Surprises can lead to the best motivation and remind you how far you've come.

Surprises can lead to the best motivation and remind you how far you’ve come.

Thursday I met up with Second Sole Medina and MCRR members to run a loop around town. I tried to keep an easy pace, but I was definitely under a 9 minute mile most of the way. It was a nice, hot, sweaty run and I was able to push myself while discovering a new loop in town. I also picked up my trails shoes, so it was extremely tempting to go find a few dirt paths to test them out.

Can't wait to muddy these up!

Can’t wait get these dirty!

Monday: Body Fusion Class – 30 minutes of lifting/abs/squats & 30 minutes of yoga

Tuesday: 5 Miles, 1 Mile W/U, 3×1600(7:33, 7:39, 7:44), 1 Mile C/D

Wednesday: 3 Miles

Thursday: 5 Miles

Friday: Off

Saturday: Off

Sunday: Park 2 Park Half Marathon + 2

Total Miles: 28 Miles

Friday and Saturday I took as rest days because I had a half marathon scheduled for Sunday. I’ll have a recap on the race later in the week, but it was definitely the redemption race I needed after Medina. I added two more miles of trails on after the race, because I couldn’t resist running on my old trails.

These trails stole my heart over 12 years ago

These trails stole my heart over 12 years ago

That meant that I ended up with 15 miles on Sunday and I felt great! Sunday’s mileage also put me over 50+ miles for the month, and we’re only half way through! I’ll no doubt break 100 miles for June.

I’ll have to move a few things around this week, but that’s why I added an optional day in my training cycle, so I can add on more mileage if I need it. I also have the Flirt with Dirt 10k coming up Saturday. I haven’t raced a 10k in over a year, so it will definitely be an interesting race.

What are your favorite track workouts? How often do you add a race in with your long run?

Wineglass Marathon Training: Week One

3 Comments

The first week of marathon training is complete and I don’t think it could have gone any better! Monday I was finally able to get back to Body Fusion, and after a month off I could tell the difference. I started with lighter weights, but felt great the entire time. I was sore the next day, but over time I’ll get right back to where I was before my May break.

Tuesday I headed to the track for my first speed session of the cycle. I met with some members of MCRR, and we started our warm up together. I originally wanted to hit them at 8:15-8:30, knowing I wasn’t used to the heat, I wanted to be cautious. But my legs had other plans. I started out a little too quick, and kept trying to slow myself down. Apparently it didn’t work, because my 800m split of my first mile was at a 6:25 pace. Whoa! Eventually I got my legs under control and I ended up with two sub 8 minute miles. I went back and forth about trying a third one, but my legs were getting a little sore, so instead I opted for an 800 and followed it up with a mile cool down. I hadn’t run those mile times since college, so it was a nice surprise to see those little 7’s on my watch again!

Feels good to be back

Feels good to be back

Wednesday I stopped by my parent’s house after work for a short recovery run. I convinced my dad to ride his bike with me (he’s been on a 60+ day cycling streak!) and we went for a short out and back. I held up a pretty fast pace for a recovery run, but I enjoyed every moment of running on my old streets again. Sometimes you need to get back to where it started and really just let go. I may have also felt like a rock star with my own personal entourage.

Thursday I ran with Second Sole Medina and MCRR out at Buckeye Woods. We started out as a group, but as the first mile went on, it was a little too quick for my liking. We spread out and I ended up with a few members as we tried to slow down our pace. We did a loop around the marsh, then headed out toward the inlet and back. I ended up with a little over 4 miles and an 8:37 average pace.

Monday: Body Fusion Class – 30 minutes of lifting/abs/squats & 30 minutes of yoga

Tuesday: 4 Miles, 1/2 Mile W/U, 2×1600(7:28, 7:45),1×800(3:55), 1 Mile C/D

Wednesday: 3 Miles

Thursday: 4 Miles

Friday: Off

Saturday: 13 Miles

Sunday: 1 Mile

Total Miles: 25 Miles

Saturday I met up with a few MCRR members and went out to Hinckley to run my first trail loop in the park. I was definitely excited and a little nervous. Most trails I’m used to are flat and relatively easy. Knowing I’d be up for 13 miles of trails I’d never experienced, well…I wasn’t sure what I was in for. Over the span of a couple hours we climbed rocks, jumped streams, trail blazed through grass, ventured single track and much more.

Hello trails!

Hello trails!

I had such a fun time, and forgot how much harder it is to run trails than it is roads. I enjoyed every minute of the run and look forward to adding more miles on my shoes doing a little off road running.

Stream jumping

Stream jumping

I enjoyed the trails so much, that I ended up at Second Sole that afternoon testing out trail shoes. Due to my tiny feet they’ll arrive later this week, but I was also able to pick up a pair of the Asics Kayano 20 as my second shoe for rotation. I’m hoping this will cut down on damage to the shoe as I add on miles, and keep any injuries away from my legs.

One pair had more fun than the other

One pair had more fun than the other

And naturally I couldn’t let them sit in their box all weekend, so I did a short shake out/recovery run on Sunday. I was definitely sore from the trails, but it was nice to get a morning run in before all of the rain.

I’m excited to jump into the second week of training. I’m a little sore from standing for about 4 hours straight on concrete Sunday night, but hopefully that will wear down throughout the day. I’ll be switching my long run to Sunday as I run the Park 2 Park Half Marathon this weekend. One week down, 17 to go!

How many shoes do you keep in rotation? Do you prefer trails or road?

 

 

Wineglass Marathon Training Begins!

1 Comment

It’s here! Today officially marks the first day of marathon training and I couldn’t be more excited! I took one day off between Medina training and Wineglass so I wouldn’t loose my endurance, but I have no concern that I’ll be burnt out anytime soon. And don’t worry, my recap on Medina is coming soon, be on the lookout for it later this week.

And now for the run down of what the next 18 weeks will bring. It’s going to be tough, but I think I’m ready than ever to get back on the 26.2 train.

Why run another marathon? Columbus will always have a place in my heart as my first marathon. Akron didn’t go as planned due to injury, but I know I can still do better than my original time for 26.2 miles. There’s no doubt that the half marathon is my favorite race, but I’m not quite ready to quit the marathon yet.

Why run Wineglass? When I was younger, my family would take vacation trips up to the Finger Lakes region of New York. From the Corning Glass Museum, to Watkins Glen, to the lakes, I always enjoyed the trips. When I started looking at half marathons for the 25 Challenge I saw Wineglass, but kept it on a list of “to run marathons”. Fast forward to late fall after I failed to run Akron, I started to stalk check on the Wineglass website until I finally hit register. I’m excited to go back to a place where I had so many fun childhood memories.

What will be different this training cycle? Having the support of MCRR all spring has helped tremendously with my training. Knowing that there will be a handful of us running Wineglass will only help with motivation. However, there are a few things that I’ve been experimenting with to help make this marathon cycle the best yet.

  • Morning runs. The heat was tough last year when I ran after work, and sometimes almost too hot to be safe. This year I want to know I can run in the morning before work if the temperature will be too high or plans will cut into training. It won’t be easy, but I think it should help, I just may be in bed by 8pm every night.
  • Trail running. I want to get into trail running more this summer and hopefully I can incorporate a bunch of this into my training cycle. Mixing up the terrain will do wonders for my legs and hopefully keep me injury free.
  • Weekly track workouts. Last year I did track workouts every other or every three weeks. This time around, I’d like to do them every week to get my speed to where I want it to be. Not only will this help with the marathon, but it will help with my half PR as well.
  • Run 4-5 times per week. It sounds simple enough, but I was pretty spot on with running 3-4 times a week with Medina, and never tried to run more than that. Part of it was due to schedule issues, and part of it was due to the fear of getting injured. Having a solid base already, I think this will be easy to accomplish, and help to get used to the higher mileage I’m about to dive into.
  • Biking. I know, I know, I always say I’m going to, but with the summer upon us and easy access to paths and even streets, I have no excuse this time.
  • Hills. The brutal winter kept me from tackling the amount of hills I wanted to run before Medina. Luckily I have a few major hills that I plan to do repeats on over the summer. I’m hoping to do hill repeats every two weeks.

What stays the same with this training cycle?

  • Cross training. Starting tonight I’ll be back on schedule with my Body Fusion Class and plan to keep it up during the entire cycle. This class did wonders for me earlier in the year and I can’t wait to see the results from this summer.
  • Healthier eating. Cutting down alcohol, increasing water intake, and watching my meals did wonders for my stomach this spring. I plan to follow the same guidelines, with some exceptions for special occasions.
  • Running with MCRR. I pushed myself like no other this year because of this group and I plan to run with them as much as I can.
  • Use races as training runs. I used a few races this year to push myself beyond my comfort point. I think this was one of the biggest reasons I was able to go sub 2. I hope to use half marathons along the way to gauge how my training is going.

I’m still learning what works and doesn’t work, and quite honestly, this training plan will be a learning experience for me. I’ve set a tentative training plan and hope to follow it the best I can, but most importantly I want to listen to my body and stay away from injury. The marathon is a beast, and one that I’m not too familiar with. I just hope I’ll be ready for it.

Miles and miles!

Miles and miles

So there we have it, the plan, the changes, and using what works best for my body. It’s going to be an amazing 18 weeks, a life changing experience, but one thing is for sure….I can’t wait to line up for another chance at 26.2 miles!

 

Who else is running a fall marathon? What tips or training advice to you have?

Akron Marathon Training: Week Fourteen

2 Comments

Well, what was supposed to be a pivotal week in training, turned out to be one giant mess of stress. Between about 4 different things, my mind and body are going in a million different directions. With a bunch of errands to run, and places to be, evenings were pretty full this past week. I definitely didn’t hit the mileage I wanted, but I was able to get some in, and I wasn’t in pain at all.

Monday: Off

Tuesday: Off

Wednesday: 3 Miles

Thursday: 2 Miles

Friday: Off

Saturday: Off

Sunday: 3 Miles

Total Miles: 8 Miles

There isn’t too much to say about my runs these days. I’m just trying to get miles in. They’re no where near the high mileage weeks that I should be at/used to be at, but it’s too late in the game for it. Surprisingly, my mind still thinks I can run the marathon. My legs have no idea. I’m not nervous, but I’m also not worried. After I took that week + off of running, I hit a wall. I wasn’t sure what I was capable of doing or if I could become healthy again in time for race day. I still plan on lining up at the starting line, but I’m not going to be upset if my time is horrible or if I can’t finish.

With two weeks to go, I’m still excited for the marathon, and hoping in some miracle, I can pull off a PR.

 

 

 

Akron Marathon Training: Week Twelve & Thirteen

Leave a comment

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. Between work, a busy evening schedule, the holiday and allergies, I don’t even know what day it is anymore. Taking a week off was not ideal, and may have potentially ruined my training, but it was needed. I knew I couldn’t go on running and still line up to run the marathon in just a few weeks. Luckily, every run has felt better, the pain is gone while running, and I have no doubt that I’ll be running Akron Marathon.

Within the past two weeks I’ve run 14 miles total, not a lot, but a good amount to test the waters and see just how my foot feels. I did a few 2 milers, a 3 miler, and ended my weekend with a 6 miler that couldn’t have gone better. I’ve made sure to stretch, ice and keep off of it when I can. I found a few different shoe inserts that I used in the past, and I’m taking turns with each to find which is the best for me right now.

Over the past two weeks, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had no idea if my foot would ever feel better or if I could even get any endurance back. I know I’m not where I was post 20 miler, but during my run Saturday  I realized that as long as I set my mind to it and keep an easy pace, I can pull it off. It may not be in the time I had originally hoped for, but I’ll cross that finish line.

Saturday morning trails, pure bliss.

Saturday morning trails, pure bliss.

Not only did I realize that I could run a marathon, but I felt like I could keep running for miles. I discovered a new path outside the woods and didn’t want to turn around. But playing it safe I only went out a mile, before I headed back to the car and finished up my 6 miles. I looked up the path once I got home and found that it went to Chippewa Lake. Looks like I’ll be taking that path more often.

Home.

Home.

So now that I know I can run again without pain, what’s the plan? I’m hoping to run as many miles as I can, as often as I can until about 10 days before the race. I’m hoping I can get an actual long run in before then, but only time will tell. The only thing I know for sure is that I’m not giving up. No training plan is perfect, the journey is half the battle and I’m not about to wave the white flag.