Chicago Marathon Training: Week 12 Recap

Helloooo September!!!! So, I’m officially in the “next month” part of my training. As in, “Chicago Marathon is next month“!!!

 

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For reals tho.

Okay, I’m gonna try and keep this positive with this week’s recap because it was a really tough week. The husband was out of town for the first half so I was in solo-parenting duty. I’m going to have to do this quite a bit for the rest of the year as he is booked to leave the state (and country!) at least once each month up to January. Excuse me while I die.

Anyway, I had my own busy schedule at work as Tuesday was our school’s Open House. That meant I had to move my run to Monday (which I usually bike but haven’t in the last, oh….3-4 weeks). So Monday I rushed home from work as I had an hour before I had to do kid pick-up. I was actually pretty pleased with this run. It was tough, but not horrible.

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Tuesday was the longest day eveeeeeeer. I woke up at my usual 4:45 to get ready for work and then had to wrangle the kids and do morning drop off (my husband usually does this since I have my long commute) and this is the part that always stresses me out when I”m solo. Luckily, I was able to make the 45 minute drive and get to work on time. After work, I had to drive 45 minutes back to pick up kids and drop them off so that my sister-in-law could watch them while I drove 45 minutes back to work for Open House. After Open House was over, yup, I had to drive all the way back home–not 45 minutes since there was no traffic at 8:30 p.m. lol!

When I got home, I was greeted at the door by my husband!! He was able to cut his trip short and I gave him the biggest, tightest hug ever. I was so tired that I had no idea how I would’ve functioned the rest of the week without him, and it was barely Tuesday!

Wednesdays are track days and I dragged myself to my run club’s speed work session. I was not at all feeling it though, and after two 800s I stopped to chat with my buddy who recently BQd at Santa Rosa Marathon. She showed off her medal and swag and shared her story and it was way more interesting than Yassos. I managed two more before I just called it quits.

It was another after work/before kid pick-up run on Thursday as we had a play date that evening. It didn’t go as well as Tuesday’s run though, lol!

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I took a rest day Friday, and Saturday I woke up to meet up with my friend (the same one who had just BQd the weekend before!) to run my 13 miler long run. She’s training for a 100 miler and said she’d join me and count this as her recovery run. Bad ass status.

My alarm went off at 3:30 for my 4 a.m. start time and I ran 5 miles before meeting up with the 5 a.m. crew. My splits were all over the place and I never could really settle down.

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I also keep saying that I’m not gonna turn back and stop for the 5 a.m. crew, and just keep my long run continuous, but I somehow always end up back. Anyway, it wasn’t a long break, maybe 8 minutes or so, before we headed back out.

But again, I struggled to get going after stopping…

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The only other stop was at mile 10, to fuel, and I didn’t stop my watch. I fueled one other time, after mile 5 during my first stop.

It was a tough run/one, but I was happy that I ended on a good note. AND, I was happy that despite having a rough start to the week sans husband, I was still able to get my runs in. That’s what I’ve been really proud of this cycle; I’ve consistently been running 4 times a week. My other trainings, the 4th run was always sporadic and I’d always make an excuse as to why I couldn’t add that extra run. This time though, I’m just making it happen, some way, some how. 😀

Total miles this week– 23.88 and total miles for August — 107.77

Hope everyone is having a Terrific Tuesday and week so far!! ❤ , helly

–How was your monthly mileage?

–How do you combat excuses your mind tries to make?

21 responses

  1. Yeehaw! Getting it done! I’m glad your hubby was able to come home early–it’s so great to have help and support when your schedule is nuts. I don’t know what I would have done without Ben this summer. I was always off at rehearsal and he just kept things humming right along at home.

  2. Monthly milage was right on track with where I’d ideally like to be. I think with all the other activities going on you had a great week of training! I definitely have a hard time balancing work/life/running but it seems like you are doing a great job! Hope you have a fabulous day!

  3. I can’t imagine training in the summer in AZ like you are. I seriously can’t imagine. You are doing a great job considering your nearly impossible circumstances! And just think–not only is it a month until the marathon, it is a month until MEEEEE 😀

  4. Next month! How exciting. I think you will love the temps here for race day. Although it did snow the weekend before the marathon last year. So gross! August was a light one for me. But since Mary’s birth on the 6th I did manage 20 miles. It feels so great to be back!

  5. Your last Tuesday sounded BRUTAL. I keep saying this but I’m not going to stop… you totally inspire me. Whenever anyone asks me “how do you fit in your running?” I’m always like, I just do. It’s a priority. You are so strong, so determined and disciplined. I tell people about you! When they cringe at my 5:30am wakeup times I’m like, oh ya? This girl in Arizona wakes up in the 2s.

    • Ummmm, excuse me, Miss I run 10 miles in the morning, and then because I have time, 10 miles in the evening just for funzies!! You inspire me!! (Really though, there’s so many legit peeps in this blogosphere)

  6. I cannot believe how early you get up for your long runs. You amaze me, Helly!! I’ve realized that I struggle more on long runs with the stops too. If you stop for a few minutes, your legs no longer know what they’re doing. It’s so hard to get back in it. Just a few more weeks to go!! 🙂

  7. I feel your pain with the hubby being gone. Mine just switched jobs and he is currently out of town for 6 weeks, then he will come back and be gone 3-4 days a week!! Single parenting is hard! Way to get it all in despite!!