Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 5

Week 5 in the books!!

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:20
Long Runs–9:29

Here’s how the week went down.

Monday, August 1st Easy 5 miles, 10:04 avg

The plan said 6 but I was pushed for time as I did these miles in the afternoon/evening and I was expecting visitors. It was a hot one.

Tuesday, August 2nd 1 mile WU, 5×1000 (w/400R), 1 mile CD; 4 Easy Miles @ 9:29 avg = 10.25 miles total

I doubled down Tuesday first with my speed workout. It was 86 degrees with 66% humidity at 5 in the morning. Basically disgusting. Anyway, the goal for each 1000 was a 7:30 pace.

  1. 7:50
  2. 7:31
  3. 7:31
  4. 7:31
  5. 7:27

The first one I did on my own. Then, some of my run buddies were behind me and I invited them to join me on my workout. Only one took the bait. As soon as I told him what my target pace was, he nodded, programming it in his head, and then made sure I hit it each time. This guy was seriously amazing. It was such a confidence booster to see that I was running over a half mile at that pace and feeling like I could do a full one (which I’ll have to later, lol!). I honestly think that I psych myself out. I see a pace and just think I can’t do it. Because as soon as I had someone next to me, it was like I was totally fine going for it. I need to learn to do that BY MYSELF.

Later in the evening, I ran another 4 miles with some friends. In the rain. It was awesome. A little too fast and I need to reel it in, but it was a fun run nonetheless.

Wednesday, August 3rd REST DAY

I don’t mention it, but I’m rolling and stretching each day. I’m not perfect with my MYRTLES but I get them in a few times a week and for sure on my rest days.

Thursday, August 4th– 1 mile WU, 6 miles Tempo, 1 mile CD

I did my warm up mile with my friends and since they had different workout plans, I did the rest of my miles on my own. Target pace for Tempo Run–8:45.

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Friday, August 5th–7 Easy Hilly Miles, 9:41 avg

I’ve been venturing out for my Friday runs to get some hill work in. I want to be prepared for New York’s bridges, lol! Since it’s a hike to get to these hills, and I have to be back for my husband to get to work, I woke up at crazy o’clock to get ready for this run.

I actually woke up earlier than my alarm...ugh....zzzzz

I actually woke up earlier than my alarm…ugh….zzzzz

Anyway, it was a good run. We went a little faster than normal for hills but I was fine.

Saturday, August 6th–6 Easy Miles, 9:59 avg

I forget my husband’s also training for a marathon, lol! He took the first shift and did his long run which meant I would get the later, warmer start. It wasn’t too bad, 82 degrees, 66% humidity–and there were sprinklers.

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Sunday, August 7th–12 Miles Long Run

My Moms Run This Town chapter meets at 5:30 a.m. and I did not want to be in the middle of 12 miles at 7 in the morning–I remembered yesterday’s run, lol!

So, I got up and did 4 by myself at 4:45 and then swung back to meet the group for my last 8. It’s not ideal; I don’t particularly like stopping and restarting, but I like my MRTT ladies and enjoy their running company. The target pace for Long Runs are 9:29 and I was happy I was able to stay close to it.

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It was a 48.63 mile week. Another big one, another weekly mileage PR.

–How was your running week?

–How late is too late in the morning for you to run? 7 is too late for me. It gets ridiculously hot here.

–How early is too early for you to run? Clearly, I don’t mind seeing a 3 on the clock.

 

 

 

 

 

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 4

How many weeks is this thing again?

This was a tough week. My daughter started Pre-K this week and we all had to adjust to our new schedules (plus, tmi, I had my monthly lady visitor 😦 ). But, in true Helly fashion, I was able to make it work and get all my runs in. In fact, I didn’t miss a single training day the month of July!!

Monthly mileage PR

Monthly mileage PR

I have to admit, I’m pretty darn proud of myself and it motivates me to keep it going as long as I can. I know that life will happen, and I might have to miss a run, but to see me being as disciplined as I’ve been lets me know that I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:20
Long Runs–9:29

Monday, July 25th 3 easy miles, 10:10 avg

This was my daughter’s first day of Pre-K and she handled it like a boss.

I cried, she didn't.

I cried, she didn’t.

Afterward, my son and I headed to the gym as I had 6 miles on the schedule. But little guy did not handle it like a boss; he missed his big sister 😦 When I dropped him off at the gym daycare, he was fine and went off to play. I got on the treadmill and started running but was. not. feeling. it. It felt like I was running through mud the entire way–and I usually don’t mind treadmill running at all. Something was not right. So at mile 3 I called it a day and went to pick up my son. When I got there, he looked up at me with tear-filled eyes; he had been crying on and off for sister. It’s funny how mother’s intuition works. ❀

Tuesday, July 26th–1 mile WU, 6×800 @3:50/7:38 pace (w/400R), 1 mile CD=6.5 miles; 3 easy afternoon miles, 9:18 avg

It was an early wake time for this run and I just didn’t wanna. But I did. In my mile warm up, my watched buzzed that I had received a message–it was from my sister. I was surprised because my sister doesn’t usually send me messages so I was compelled to stop and check it. This was what she sent:

With the message: "This made me think of you."

With the message: “This made me think of you.”

It was just what I needed to get going–sometimes even in training you need tell your body to shut up and get things done, lol.

My sister and I are not very close (a long post for another day, perhaps) so anytime I get a message from her, I’m overjoyed. Overjoyed that she thought of me to send me something.

I nailed the workout.

  1. 3:50/7:38
  2. 3:48/7:35
  3. 3:42/7:23
  4. 3:43/7:25
  5. 3:46/7:33
  6. 3:44/7:29

Then, in the evening, I made up my 3 miles from the day before with my husband and my running group. It was a hot run, but we survived.

Somehow managed a 9:18 avg. Too fast for an easy run.

Somehow managed a 9:18 avg. Too fast for an easy run.

Wednesday, July 27th–REST DAY

Oh, happy day.

Thursday, July 28th–1 mile WU, 6 Tempo miles, 1 mile CD

Despite what the average pace says, this was not a good run.

That "WU" mile should've been a warning sign

That “WU” mile should’ve been a warning sign

 

I ran with a super speedy friend and knew that I would have to stay disciplined and totally wasn’t. I was mad myself because I know better. I HATE positive splitting runs–I’m usually so good at pacing and making sure I negative split. There’s just NO room for a 7:50 mile in a tempo run. Not when my speed work is practically that pace. Ugh, Helly!!! I let my friend go at mile 5 and got it together…

Plus, it was effing ridiculous outside at 5 in the morning.

Screen Shot 2016-08-01 at 10.25.53 AM

Friday, July 29th–6 easy hill miles, 9:57 avg

Another Friday of hills and me waking up at 4 and driving 30 minutes to them, lol. It was 90 degrees at 5 in the morning. NINETY DEGREES!!

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But, it was not a boring run because……

#doggoals

#doggoals

Saturday, July 30th– 7.33 easy miles, 10:07 avg

I missed running with friends in the morning because I had a hair appointment (and I also have a husband who is marathon training–I forget about that sometimes, ja! ) so I did this run in the evening. When I looked at the temperature, it was under 100 so I figured it was *totally* okay for me to run…

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Sunday, July 31st–8 easy miles, 10:10 avg

I had plans to meet a friend in the morning for these miles but when my alarm went off at 4:20 it was accompanied by the sound of rain. I was getting out of bed when my husband said, “You have got to be crazy. No, you’re not going.” I sent my buddy a message that I was out and while I felt bad, I knew it was the right thing. That could’ve been one slip and fall away from getting injured (remember my little trip last week?)

So I did the 8 miles on the treadmill.

Woodway treadmills are amazing.

Woodway treadmills are amazing.

—-42.07 miles—-This was a tough week and a test to my commitment in training, but I got it done. I can feel myself getting stronger and there’s really no better motivation than seeing progress. Here’s to a new month of training!! πŸ˜€

I’m also still fundraising and am getting closer and closer to my goal. If you’re in the giving mood, please donate–ANY amount is extremely appreciated, really. ❀

–Have you seen a sunglasses wearing dog before?

–What’s your craziest #AsSeenOnMyRun?

–How was your running month? What’s your monthly mileage PR?

 

 

 

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 3

Holy Helly mileage!!! I’ve seriously never run so much in my life.

The plan:

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:20
Long Runs–9:29

Monday, July 18th– Easy 6 miles, 9:37 avg

I met up with a buddy for these easy miles and we insanely did them in the evening amidst an oncoming monsoon storm.

Screen Shot 2016-07-26 at 8.45.07 AM

It wasn’t even 100 degrees …

Tuesday, July 19th– 1 mile WU, 8×600 (w/400R), 1 mile CD=7 miles total (+3 easy miles in the evening)=10 miles

The goal for the 600s (what an awkward distance btw) was 2:51 and even though I had programmed the workout on my watch, I forgot to set the target pace so I had no idea where I was supposed to be. I had a vague idea (I thought it was 2:55) and stuck with that but even then, I struggled getting these done.

600 Splits

  1. 2:54
  2. 2:43
  3. 2:55
  4. 2:48
  5. 2:53
  6. 2:56
  7. 2:55
  8. 2:58

I was definitely disappointed when I got home and saw that I missed the mark. I don’t know if it was travel fatigue (and training fatigue) but the run was hard. Plus, it was one of those where I ran in the evening the night before and then ran in the morning the next day. #excuses

And then, maybe to punish myself, I ran again in the evening with a friend. It was an easy (yet hard b/c omg, heat) run and I did it pushing my 4 year-old daughter in the stroller.

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Wednesday, July 19th–GLORIOUS REST DAY

I milked it.

Thursday, July 20th– 1 mile WU, 6 Tempo @8:45 pace, 1 mile CD

I was determined to do this tempo run well but it took a while for me to warm up, jaja! It was effing ridiculous at 5 in the morning (86 degrees with 46% humidity).

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This run definitely made me feel better after Tuesday’s not so stellar workout.

Friday, July 21st–Easy/Hilly 6 miles 9:51 avg

pretty much.....

pretty much…..

This was seriously crazy. There’s been a few moments already in this training where I’ve questioned my sanity. But yeah, I woke up at 4 to drive 30 minutes to run 6 miles of hills. Luckily, I met up with some friends and we had pretty amazing views that made it worth it.

90 degrees, 36% humidity but still beautiful <3

90 degrees at 5 a.m., 36% humidity but still beautiful ❀

Saturday, July 23rd–6 easy miles, 10:16 avg

I made sure to take these reeeeally easy considering I had two days of tough running. Four out of the 6 miles were in the 10 minute range.

And I made it home in time for a little Birthday Breakfast celebration ❀

Cupcake for breakfast=best mom ever

I have a 3 year old ❀

Birthday pizza tradition--birthday year in pepperonis

Birthday pizza tradition–birthday year in pepperonis

Sunday, July 24th–10 miles Long Run @9:29 goal pace

I had to wake up early again for this one since we had my son’s actual birthday part in the morning. I started at 4:45 a.m. and did 4 miles by myself before meeting up with my MRTT friends at 5:30 and doing the last 6 with them.

It was hot, it was windy. Same ‘ol, same ‘ol.

First 4–10:04, 8:58, 9:12, 9:13

Last 6–9:48, 9:14, 9:30, 9:40, 9:31, 10:00

I did not mind one bit slowing down to run with my friends for the last 6. I was tired and the company was way better than hitting the paces solo. I ended up with a 9:31 average anyway=WIN.

In fact, I was so tired, that on the last mile I tripped over a piece of raised sidewalk, flew, and fell hard. This was actually the first time I’ve ever fallen! Crazy, since I often run on the trails but til Sunday, I’ve lucked out. Luckily, I was able to adjust mid-air and prepare for the fall; I only had a small scratch on my hip and spared the rest of my body.

I showered and went straight to party mode as my son’s superhero birthday party was at 9:30 a.m.!!

My lil Batman

My lil Batman

Batgirl, so serious <3

Batgirl, so serious ❀

WonderWoman and Robin <3

WonderWoman and Robin ❀

To say I was exhausted after this week is an understatement. I ran 46 miles this week–the most I’ve ever ran in my life, including the week I’ve run a marathon. Here’s hoping it’s all worth it and Hanson’s gets me the PR I’ve been coveting!! πŸ˜€

–Have you fallen during a run?

–Do you have a favorite superhero?