Pre-Season Marathon Training: Week 3

It was a good week.

 

I almost left it at that ^^^ Wouldn’t it have made for a funny blog post, LOL??

Anyway, here’s the boring details 😀

Monday, 6/13–4 easy miles, 9:37 avg

I was hellbent on getting my easy miles to be easy going into Week 3, and I did a way better job at keeping it steady.

Splits–9:38, 9:48:9:35, 9:34

I think it helped that it was 90 degrees out (at 7 p.m.).

Tuesday, 6/14–5 morning miles, 9:11 avg; 3 evening miles, 9:37 avg

I did a two for Tuesday helping my girl Foxy Jen on her workout. 1 mile WU, 3 miles of something–I forgot what her specific plan was, lol–and one mile CD.

Splits–10:14, 8:54, 8:53, 8:49, 9:05 <—we didn’t do so well keeping the last mile a cool down :/

Momma duck sitting on her baby ducks <3

Momma duck sitting on her baby ducks ❤

Then, I ran 3 easy (and very hot) evening miles with some buddies.

Obligatory post run ice pop

Obligatory post run ice pop

Wednesday, 6/15–Rest Day

Hanson’s has Wednesdays as the sole rest day. Gonna start sticking it in there to get used to it.

Thursday, 6/16–7 morning miles, 9:31 avg; 2.2 evening miles, 10:35 avg

Another double. I did another workout with Jen. She had a 1 mile WU, 5 miles MP, and 1 mile CD. I really think that the only way I’ve been helping her is by keeping her company because I seem to ruin her pacing. She was supposed to be at a 9:45 pace for her MP miles and our splits were:

Splits–10:01 WU, 9:33, 9:37, 9:36, 9:18, 9:14, 9:29 CD =FAIL

Then, in the evening, it was RoadRunner’s monthly Adventure Run! Our group decided the only thing we wanted to accomplish was running to the water slide and back. It’s been ridiculously hot here in Phoenix.

Orange you glad to see me??

Orange you glad to see me??

After the run were the raffles and I won a free entry to a local 5k next month!! 😀

Friday, 6/17–Rest Day

I meant to run. But I had gotten home pretty late the night before and said no to my alarm clock. So I spent the morning tracking Suzy‘s marathon online (she killed it, tying her PR of 3:06 <– you read that right).

Plus, my husband and I had a rare date night and no way would I ruin my hair with a morning run.

Yes, I made my husband take a pic of me. Yes, I'm wearing my Garmin.

Yes, I made my husband take a pic of me. Yes, I’m wearing my Garmin.

We had plans to go a Spanish rock concert of two my favorite bands, Hombres G and Los Enanitos Verdes. It’s seriously times like these when I wished the whole world spoke Spanish. People are missing out on some amazing music.

Saturday, 6/18–Easy 4 miles, 9:58 avg

After a week of two doubles, a mid-week longish run, a mild hangover, and 100 degree weather, it wasn’t difficult keeping the pace easy for this run.

Splits–10:25, 10:11, 9:53, 9:26

Total miles for Week 3–25.58 I feel really good with the build up; week one 21 miles, and week two 22 miles. It’s still super low compared to what awaits me, but I like where I’m headed and how I’m feeling. Just want to stay injury free 🙂

–How was your running week?

–What is the last concert you saw?

 

Chicago Marathon Training: Week 2 Recap

Hi all!! I hope everyone had a good weekend and Father’s Day (those stateside) 🙂

It was tough getting in runs last week as we were in a Heat Advisory the whole week with temperatures in the 115s — yes, you read that right. But, I managed to squeeze some short runs in and one long run.

Monday was spent on the bike for 45 minutes (10.5 miles) and some strength training.

Tuesdays I join one of my running groups but it was the big game between the Cleveland Caveliers and the Golden State Warriors. (I’m basketball obsessed.) So I braved an afternoon run.

Hot run.

Hot run.

My training plan called for 5 but I had to call it done at 3. Way too hot even for me.

The Cavs lost but this was the first NBA finals in years where I didn’t really care who won. I wasn’t yelling at the t.v. (or swearing lol!) and really just watched it for pure enjoyment. I wasn’t upset that Golden State won.

Wednesday I had plans to hit the track for some speed work but the thought of speed work in 110 degree weather just didn’t sound appealing. So I went out a little late early in the morning for a 4 miler.

93 degrees at 8 a.m.

93 degrees at 8 a.m.

Thursday was Adventure Run at a local running store and this month’s theme was Disney!! My run club always has a good turnout there and sure enough, there was about a good 20 of us there–about a handful dressed up (including me!).

Goofy Helly.

Goofy Helly.

The Road Runner Sports Adventure Run has you running to different checkpoints in the neighborhood in search for raffle tickets. You try and make it to as many checkpoints in the hour you have to run before the raffle starts.

The main checkpoint this month was the water park where runners could go down a water slide for tickets. Ummm, count me in!!

Soooo much fun!!

I only got in just under 3 miles but all was well 🙂

Friday was a rest day and Saturday my husband and I got up eeeearly to get our long run in. We had 11 on our agenda and we both met up with our run club to get er done. He left to run on his own (meaning, fast lol!) and I ran the first 6 miles with my two buddies and then finished out the last 5 by myself. Overall, it was a tough run but I was pleased that I finished it and finished it averaging the same pace as my previous long runs so far in this cycle (the 2 during preseason and last week’s).

PhotoGrid_1434815295267

Sunday I was planning on resting but I was slacking on my steps for my 10k a Day Challenge so my husband joined me on an evening run–this time running the entire way with me 🙂 .

Fast 2.5

Fast 2.5

I always seem to run fast with the husband lol!

Overall, a good week. 23.42 running miles and 48.9 cumulative miles when I count my steps. Met 6/7 days of my 10k Steps a Day Challenge and did really well with hydration. I slacked this week on strength training but still managed to squeeze in a couple of days. So far, so good!

Happy Monday everyone!! I hope you all have a great week! ❤ , helly

–Have you gotten on a water slide mid-run?

–Do you run in obscene temperatures?

Chubby Bunny!! Adventure Run Fun

The third Thursday of the month Roadrunner Sports holds an Adventure Run. I went to my first one last month and talked about it. Yesterday, was my second time and this time I brought along my husband. I wanted him to take a glimpse into the sometimes questionable behavior of runners and we sure didn’t disappoint.

A quick recap of what the Adventure Run is all about. It’s basically an hour run where you try to go to as many places on that particular day’s map to get raffle tickets for awesome running related prizes–socks, fuel, clothing, and shoes! to name a few. Some places are close by, some places are 2 miles away. The goal is to get as many tickets as you can and make it back by the 7:30 cut off time. The Adventure Run requires a light since you’re basically running around town at night. Good times.

So, before the Adventure Run starts, there are several booths of different business, races, products advertising and wanting to show off their stuff. They entice you with raffle tickets. Nothing excites a runner than the opportunity for free running stuff. At these booths, like at the locations you visit during the run, requires you to perform a task. My husband watched as I did 5 one legged squats at one booth, and joined me for 10 pushups at another. (He did an extra 10 for extra tickets. Great guy!) He didn’t want to join me at the next booth.

Chubby Bunny!!

Two members of my running group were manning the Ragnar Trail Races booth. If you haven’t heard of Ragnar, you should definitely check it out. Ragnar Trail is a trail race like no other where you grab a few of your closest (or not) friends and run relay AT NIGHT for about 50 miles. Sounds fun right!? I’m hoping to do Ragnar Trail or the Ragnar Relay Series which will take me and my pals 200 miles across the state of Arizona. I can’t decide which one to do!

Anyway, at their booth they were giving away extra tickets to those who could stuff as many marshmallows in their mouth. This took me back to my childhood days where my brother and I stuffed insane amounts of gum in our mouths to see who could blow the biggest bubble. I could do this.

Me deciding if I should embarrass my husband or not

Me deciding if I should embarrass my husband or not

Alright, let's do this!

Alright, let’s do this!

Making room.

Making room.

5 jumbo marshmallows later...

5 jumbo marshmallows later…

I didn’t win unfortunately but I did hold my own and managed to score a few extra tickets lol!

After the marshmallow event, my husband and I took a pre-run pic:

LOVE when we can run together!

LOVE when we can run together!

And we were off!

5.25 miles later and without a minute to spare, we were done. These were no easy miles either as my average pace ended up being 8:55.

There was a good crowd waiting for the raffle to start and while my running group had several winners, my husband and I went home empty handed 😦 We had a great time though and laughed at ourselves quite a bit and that absolutely made everything worth it 🙂

 

–How many marshmallows can you squeeze in your mouth? Go ahead and try it, I’ll wait…

–What funny/interesting/out-of-the-ordinary game(s) have you won?

Don’t forgot, your chance to score a FREE pair of marathon PRO Compression socks is HERE!!