Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 14

We are less than a month away, folks!!! And the nerves are settling in…

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Strength Runs–8:35
Easy Runs–9:40-10:40
Long Runs–9:30

Monday, October 3– 5 Easy Miles, 10:01 avg. pace

Easy miles around my neighborhood. I feel like I’ve been trying to make these be slower but they’re not coming out as slow as I’d like. This struggle was pretty much the theme of the week. And I know I have to work harder as I want my easy runs to really be easy, especially as I get closer to Hanson’s “taper”.

Tuesday, October 4 –8 miles: 1 mile WU, 6 @Strength Pace, 1 CD

I was a little late meeting up with my run club and rushed going into this run, unnecessarily, as I’d spent the afternoon Halloween decorating (priorities, right?). So my warm up was faster than I would’ve liked, there should’ve been an 800 recovery between the 6 strength miles, and my cool down should’ve slower. I was pressed for time going in and then pressed for time finishing as I had a dinner date with friends. My six miles were faster than strength pace–this whole run was just not exactly what it should’ve been, lol.

Wednesday, October 5 –4 Easy Miles, 9:22 avg. pace (<–ugh, another too fast easy run)

What??!!! Isn’t Wednesday rest day??!!!

It is…BUT, my best running friend Jennifer had a run today and I wanted to squeeze in a good luck run with her before she left to tackle the Chicago Marathon (more on that a little later!).

Thursday, October 6– 11 miles: 1 mile WU, 9 Tempo miles, 1 mile CD

It’s getting harder to wake up now that it’s getting cooler. I actually like summer running (I know, crazy!) because when it’s cold outside, all I want to do is snuggle under the covers. Much easier to wake up at 4 when it’s hot than when it’s cold.

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Again, a little faster than tempo pace. I finally got it together a little after the first half…

I absolutely love this ^ quote. I feel like that’s something I’ve been working on a lot this year as far as goals and challenging myself–not compromising or settling and just going for it.

Friday, October 7th –0 miles, REST DAY

I moved my rest day to Friday since I didn’t get it mid-week. It worked nicely as we were driving out of town early morning.

Saturday, October 8th– 8.15 Easy Miles, 9:53 avg. pace (<—yep, too fast)

We were visiting my hometown on the border and I got in some easy (too fast) miles along the fences.

I did my run on this side…

…and then had post-run tacos on this side.

Sunday, October 9th —10 Long Run miles, 9:30 avg. pace

This was the only run this week that was right on target pace, lol! My splits were kinda all over the place but it averaged out to be exactly what it needed to be 🙂

What I liked about our route, and this was done intentionally, is that we made sure to have long inclines throughout (to help prep for those darn NYC bridges).

It doesn’t look like much of an incline, but I could certainly feel it.

My motivator for this run was getting back so that I could track my BRF Jennifer at the Chicago Marathon. The rest of the morning was spent seeing her little runner figure move across the course (the Chicago Marathon tracking app was amazing!) and screaming out loud to myself. She was doing so well and then finished strong snagging a MASSIVE PR!!

I saw her hard work first hand leading up to her big day and saw what hard work brings. Yes, I cried. I was/am so freaking proud of her. This is a picture she shared–she’s done 3 marathons, all of them Chicago and all of them for #TeamFox. ❤

My badass amiga Jennifer

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Total weekly mileage : 46.37 An overall great week. I need to get my easy runs back to being easy. I had been doing well in previous weeks, just need to get back there. I can’t believe the big day is less than a month away….

–Did you know anyone doing the Chicago Marathon??

–Do you find yourself compromising with goals you’ve set?

–Am I the only one that decorates for Halloween?

Scottsdale Half Marathon News!!! {and Giveaway}

Posted by hellyontherun in 5k, Giveaway, Half Marathon, Race, Running and tagged with Arizona races, Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon, Giveaway, Scottsdale Half Marathon October 7, 2016

Happy Friday!!!

I feel so much excitement this weekend for a variety of reasons but a big one is because my very good friend Jen is running the Chicago Marathon this weekend!!! There so many people I know running that race (good luck Courtney!) and I love tracking them and getting updates.

Speaking of good races, I was recently chosen as an ambassador for one of my favorite local races here in the Phoenix valley. It used to be called the Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon and 5k because it was a sub-event of the Fiesta Bowl (college football game) here in Phoenix. But, the race is a month before the game so it kinda didn’t really make sense for the race to be affiliated it. Plus, the race has became such a local favorite, and since it’s run in the heart of Scottsdale, Az, the race director finally decided to make the big change and make it

Scottsdale Half Marathon

This change will really give the city ownership of the race as it’s become a favorite for everyone to do. I’ve done this race every year since I started running “competitively” (i.e. seriously) getting an at the time 5k PR there in 2013 and at the time 1/2 marathon PR there in 2014. I had to skip out last year because of my injury but my husband ran it (and got a PR).

He makes it look so easy.

It’s a flat, fast course which is a big reason why I love it, lol! It goes through neighborhoods I frequented as I worked at a high school near the area for 8 years. It’s also in mid-December and the weather here in Arizona is cause for envy (for us though it’s cold lol!! especially last year, hence my husband’s running gear–I think it was freezing somewhere around the high 40s 😀 ) The race is also suuuuper family friendly–I took my kids last year to cheer dad on 🙂 I just love this race…

And because I love it so much, I want to give YOU a chance to run it! This giveaway will be on my Facebook page (<—linky here or search Helly on the Run). It’ll run through Wednesday and I’ll announce a winner there that morning. The giveaway is for race entry only–sorry, you’ll have to figure out lodging and transportation if you’re an out-of-towner.

If you don’t wanna wait to see if you win, you can register now at their super low price (seriously, this is one of the most inexpensive but AWESOME races out there). The 1/2 marathon is currently $65 with time chip, medal, gender specific shirt, and beanie–and the 5k is $25 with time chip, gender specific shirt, and medal. Isn’t that amazing?? Prices go up ten bucks for each race on October 16th for the half marathon and November 1st for the 5k.

–Do you like smaller, home-towney feeling races? I do!! I also don’t mind big races either (hello Chicago and New York!!)

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 13

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training, Running and tagged with Hanson's Marathon Method, Marathon Training, NYC Marathon, Vacation Running October 3, 2016

There really is no place like home….

I was visiting my brother and sister in Ohio all last week (ALL last week—Sunday to Sunday) and it was super tough getting in my runs because the midwest’s weather is on drugs. Seriously.

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Strength Runs–8:35
Easy Runs–9:40-10:40
Long Runs–9:30

Monday, September 26th–1 mile WU, 3x2miles @Strength Pace (8:35) w/800R, 1 mile CD

This run started at 2:30 in the afternoon. It was 63 degrees with 77% humidity. Basically, awful. Cold and awful. I don’t think it’s even been 63 for an overnight low in Phoenix.

1.) 8:23/8:34
2.) 8:36/8:38
3.) 8:34/8:28

Tuesday, September 27th–Rest Day

I switched up my days to fit accommodate the events we’d be doing while on my vacation and also to fit in with my sister’s work schedule. I wanted to run as much as I could while she was at work so it wouldn’t interfere with girl time.

We went to a Paint (while drinking wine) Night and it was so much fun. We were a little worried about our paintings at first, but we were able to make them look decent by the end, lol!

One of my friends said it looked like a bacon painting 😀

Trying to make a sunset happen…

Final masterpiece ❤

Wednesday, September 28th— 2.5 cold, rainy miles 😦

I basically moved everything up a day and so Wednesday was supposed to be my 10 mile Tempo Run. My sister had taken the day off so I went out somewhat early to get it out of the way. But it was raining. Hard.

The run needed to get done though so I went out there anyway.

At first, it was just rain and I got my warm up mile out of the way. Then it became torrential downpour and my phone rang right before the 2 mile mark. It was my sister asking if she should come get me–the news said the rain wasn’t going to be stopping anytime soon.

But I said, no, that I’d keep going.

Not too long after I had hung up with her, I saw a HUGE lightening strike that seemed to be right in front of me. The thunder that followed was deafening; between them both, it stopped me dead in my tracks.

I figured this was not time to pretend to be superwoman and I called my sister to pick me up. 😦

Thursday, September 29th–0 miles

Guess what was happening Thursday morning?? ….Rain

My only opportunity to run on this day was in the morning as we would be traveling to the city for the Cincinnati Bengals football game. I was bummed I didn’t get in a run, but I wasn’t going to let it ruin my very first professional football game 🙂

First NFL game and the Bengals won!! :D #WhoDey

First NFL game and the Bengals won!! 😀 #WhoDey

Friday, September 30th— 16 miles: 5 @Long Run Pace, 6 @Tempo Pace, 5 @Long Run Pace

I was determined to get my run in. I had to. There was no way I was going to miss my second “Hanson’s 20”. This peak mileage week was already a disaster–I wasn’t going to let it be a complete failure.

The tempo-run-that-wasn’t earlier in the week haunted me and I talked about it with my buddy @ohiotrirunner (who I got to have lunch with that day!). He said I could squeeze in some tempo miles in my long run to help make me feel better. Great idea!

Carb-loading before my 16 miler, lol!

After our pizza convo, I went back to my sister’s home. Her husband checked the weather and told me I had 120 minutes of no/light rain if I left that very second for a run. Didn’t have to tell me twice–I changed and headed right out.

Running right after consuming pizza probably wasn’t the smartest move but I was still able to do pretty well on this run.

First 5 miles were a little faster than long run pace, but I felt good.

Middle 6 tempo miles –The first 3 were on point 😀 but then it got a little faster than it needed to be.

Last 5 –Again, a little faster than target pace…oh wells…

This was such a confidence boosting run. I really felt good the entire way and it was nice because my sister lives inside this absolutely perfect 5 mile loop. I have no interruptions the entire way–no busy street lights–and the route has uphills and downhills so it’s not monotonous and boring like my routes here at home, lol! I wish I could’ve brought that 5 mile loop back with me!

It was my last run of September and I finished the month with a whopping 196 miles!!

I knew that the missed runs during the week kept me from reaching the 200 mile mark (and I have to admit, I was tempted to make my 16 miler a 20 just to hit it). I know though, that I still have a long month of heavy mileage ahead of me. 🙂

Saturday, October 1st–5.5 Easy Miles @10:30 avg. pace

We went up to King’s Island, an amusement park, early in the morning so this run was done in the afternoon in, you guessed it, rain. It wasn’t too bad though, just some sprinkles. Also, it was super easy to keep an easy pace because of the previous days 16 miler AND by the time I started this run, I had already reached my 10k steps!

As seen on my run. LOL, just kidding–this was at King’s Island

Omg, I have to show you this pic of me on one of the roller coaster rides at the amusement park. So my sister is on the left with her hands up–she’s a badass. My niece is in front of her–dabbing, naturally.

And then there’s me….

Sunday, October 2nd– 0 miles

I knew it was going to be tough to get in a run on the day I was to fly back. It was either going to have to happen very early in the morning or at night when I was back in Phoenix.

It just didn’t happen. And you know what? I was okay with that.

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Total mileage for week 13— 33

This was supposed to be a “peak” mileage week but I’m totally okay with not getting all of the miles in. I was on vacation and the fact that I got more than half of them in leaves me satisfied 🙂

–Do you struggle to get miles in during vacations?

–Have you wined and painted before? What was your masterpiece?

–Ever been to a football game?

–Are you scared of roller coasters?