Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 2

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training, Running and tagged with Hanson's Marathon Method, Marathon Training, NYC Marathon, NYC Marathon Training, Recap, Running July 18, 2016

Welp, Week 2 is in the books! I feel like after week two of any training, things start to get real. The honeymoon is over, so to speak, and it becomes harder to stick with it. In Hanson’s, the mileage spikes significantly in Week 3 so I think they agree with my theory that the fun is over after the second week.

The plan:

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

And here are last week’s deets:

Monday, July 11th– Easy 5 miles, 9:46 avg

The plan said 6 and I hated to break the plan so soon in the training but I was pushed for time as I was meeting my husband for lunch. I did these miles at my gym which is a bit of a hike from where he works. At the end though, I figured it was better I take miles off the easy runs than the important SOS (Something of Substance) runs–and it was only 1 mile, lol.

Tuesday, July 12th– 1 mile WU, 12×400 @7:45 pace with 400R, 1 mile CD=8 miles

I was really looking forward to this run for some reason. I was excited to run fast (for me) as I’d been doing a lot of “easy” miles up to this point. I know that Tuesdays will become harder as the weeks go on, but for right now, I’m thinking they’re fun 🙂

It was tough to get in a groove though because I kept having to slow down to get to my prescribed pace. I seemed to be more comfortable at the 7-7:15 pace. I wish I’d just done them all at a consistent effort–whether that was at 7:15 or 7:45. I ended up texting Allison and having a long conversation about this–I know I’m barely in week 2, but 7:45 just felt too easy for speed work.

This was also the first time I programmed a “workout” on my watch. I felt like a total badass 😀

#yolo

Wednesday, July 13th — Glorious Rest Day

Yet I still got in two miles of walking according to my steps count, lol.

Thursday, July 14th— 1 mile WU, 4 miles Tempo @8:45, 1 mile CD=6 miles

Hanson’s said 6 easy but next week, when Tempo runs begin, they have me starting with 6 Tempo miles and I thought going from 0 to 6 was a bit much. So I figured making a mini tempo out this runs would be a good transition.

But again, I went too fast. I couldn’t get myself in the groove for 8:45 and as each mile beeped, I would see I was going faster. I ended up negative splitting.

I’m shocked at how good these miles felt.

I think it’s just marathon training excitement and once fatigue sets in and the mileage increases, I’ll settle into my paces easier.

Friday, July 15th– 5 Easy miles, 9:55 avg

I stuck to my easy pace for this one but in my half asleep stupor, I took a wrong turn in my route and was short a mile. I was bummed to have “lost” another mile this week but I figured again, it was on my easy run day. Plus, we were going out of town later that morning and that was making me feel a little rushed #excuses

Road trip essential

Saturday, July 16th–7 Easy (turned into Long Run) miles, 9:05 avg

Totally didn’t stick to the pace on this one. We went down to our hometown to visit and woke up at dawn to run. I think it was excitement at being home and running through the streets I grew up on that made me run faster (and longer, I added a mile since I “lost” one the day before). I figured I’d make this my Long Run since it was closer to that pace and I’d make Sunday’s run my Easy run +2 miles.

ZERO cars.

Sunday, July 17th– 8 Easy miles, 9:35 avg

I had an absolute blast on this run. First, it was like 75 degrees when we started. I’d even go out as far to say I was cold! Second, my husband and I decided to make the run a little mini tour of our hometown so we ran to various places. My little hometown is a small border town right next to Mexico. We did a mini circle of the city and it was only 8 miles, lol!

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Morning sunrise start

At the Mexico/U.S. Port of Entry

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The shorter fence is on the U.S. side and the taller fence is on the Mexico side.

Street art

At my old high school

Back at the start 🙂

It was such a great week of running and my highest mileage week ever (be prepared for me to say that each week)–I even managed to meet the miles I was supposed to by adding a few at the end of the week. A total confidence booster and I hope that I can just continue with this momentum. The high mileage coming up scares me a bit– I’m terrified of getting injured, but I’ve been foam rolling and stretching like a mad woman. I slacked off on my core work and MYRTLEs while on vacay but I’m def back to normal now that I’m home. Overall, two thumbs up for Week 2!!! 😀

Total miles: 39.17

–How was your running week?

–Do you take running tours of your town?

–Do you know how to set workouts to your watch? I’m really proud of myself that I learned, lol!

Pre-Season Marathon Training: Week 4

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training, Running and tagged with Marathon Training, NYC Marathon, Running June 27, 2016

This was definitely a confidence booster week for me and I feel like I needed it going into the real deal soon, lol!

Monday, 6/20– 5.25 easy, 9:43 avg

Another run where I made sure to keep it easy. I was on the treadmill for this one and left the pace alone the entire way and instead, played with the incline to keep things interesting–gotta prepare for those NYC bridges 🙂

Tuesday, 6/21– 3 easy, 10:22 avg (aroundabout)

I decided to get back on the treadmill for this one. I met up with my run club and half said it was too hot for outside and the other half braved the sun. I opted with the former.

We didn’t have a plan and joined in on a group doing a treadmill activity. We followed the instructor’s commands of changing the pace and incline setting at different intervals. It was fun and having someone on the treadmill next to me was definitely more entertaining than me just going solo.

Having too much fun on the treadmill 😀

It was also the first time I’d tried using the “indoor” run setting on my watch. I think it was accurate but I’m never sure with those things. I’m really not tech savvy at all.

Wednesday, 6/22

Rest Day

Thursday, 6/23– 7 miles, 9:40 avg

I ran this one eeeearly and with my buddy Foxy Jen who had a 1 mile WU, 5 miles at 9:40 pace, 1 miles CD and yeah, I failed her with pacing….again.

Splits–10:10 WU, 9:22, 9:32, 9:26, 9:34, 9:59, 9:40 CD

Our overall pace for the entire run was on point though! 😀

Friday, 6/24

Rest Day

Saturday, 6/25– 3.1 miles, 7:57 avg

I had a reeeealllly rough night leading up to this second 4:45 a.m. run. Like, I didn’t sleep at all. I saw 1 a.m. I saw 2 a.m. 3 and 4. It was pretty awful.

I always have trouble sleeping but this was the worst day I’ve had in a long time. Like a dummy, I had a little bit of Coke at dinner (after not having Coke for a while!) and then a cup of coffee with dessert, and that was enough to do me in. I didn’t sleep a wink.

Anyway, I knew if I wanted to do the Orlando United 5k Virtual Run outside, that I’d have to wake up early to do it before it got ridiculously hot–my husband was also running that morning. (It was already ridiculously hot at 4:45!! 81 degrees!!)

Splits–8:12, 7:59, 7:40

I was very happy with the splits as I hadn’t done a fast run since my last 5k race where my splits were HORRIBLE. This run pleased me.

#LoveIsLove

Sunday, 6/25– 10 miles, 9:18 avg

A friend from my Moms Run This Town group asked if I’d keep her company on her 10 miler. She’s got a half she’s training for. I said sure– the pace was right (it’ll be my Long Distance Run pace) and I wanted a double digit run in my Pre-Season training.

Besides 3 miles where we said, “Dang, it sure is hot and muggy outside,” I was happy with how we did and this was definitely a confidence boosting run for me going in to marathon training.

Total Miles: 28.43 This was my highest mileage for a week this year. I have a feeling there’ll be more of me saying that to come, lol!

This last week of Pre-Season Training will be a sorta taper week as I lead into official training the first week of July. A lot of easy running and making sure I keep on with my strength training–core, hips, glutes, lunges, squats, etc.

And that’s a wrap on Week 4!! 🙂

–How was your running week?

–How early do you wake up to run? (I have some really early runs coming my way….eek!!!)

Pre-Season Marathon Training: Week 3

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training, Running and tagged with Adventure Run, Base Training, Marathon Training, NYC Marathon, Running June 20, 2016

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 ❤

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

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??

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.

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?