Tag Archives: Marathon Training

Week 5: #itsgoingdownatphx

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with , , ,

How is it the last week of November?!? Friday is DECEMBER you guys!!!!!

Okay but to recap last week, it was Thanksgiving week here in the states so things were a little different….

Monday, 11/20–6 miles

My coach has now transitioned me into Tempo/Active Threshold runs on Mondays. I was actually excited about this run.

7:40 target pace #nailedit

Tuesday, 11/21–2 miles

I met up with an Instagram friend for an easy two miler. I “met” @steffafee at last year’s #werunsocial Christmas ornament exchange 😀 She just so happens to have family here in Arizona and we of course had to meet up while she visited them for the holiday.

AZ sunset ftw!! (she said it was too hot here, lol!)

Wednesday, 11/22–4 miles

Typically, this would be a speed day but because my coach had given us the option to do a Turkey Trot as a substitute, I met up with a BTB teammate for some miles.

Thursday, 11/23–3.1 miles (Turkey Trot 5k)

You guys, this race was a disorganized mess. I love my small little hometown, but they did not bring their A game that morning. First, their “website” had no official start time. It said 7:30 a.m so for this runner girl, I took that as the start of the race. Sounds legit, right? The race did not actually start until 9!!!! I had done my mile warm up at 7:00 thinking okay, it’s gonna start soon. NOPE. And when you asked around, no one really knew.

Then, they separated people from “competitive” to “walkers” and maaaaybe there were 30 competitive runners?? Maybe…. I figured since only competitive runners qualified for awards, they’d get to it pretty quickly after the race (remember, I’d been there since about 6:30!!!)

I came in 3rd female overall (yay!) and knew the two girls in front of me were not in my age group–so 1st in my age group. My husband and I decided to wait around for awards (I knew McDonald’s gift cards were at stake.)

WELL, they waited until the very. last. walker. crossed the finish line. I mean, I get cheering in all runners/walkers, but I did not expect to wait ANOTHER HOUR after I finished for the awards to begin!!!

First female overall was a high school cross country runner and second place overall was a cute girl in her twenties. When they announced the 20-29 AG award, they did not announce the cute blonde!!!! We looked at each other like, whaaat?! Immediately after, they announced the 30-39 AG award, and they did not announce me!!!!

Already long story short, they completely messed up when runners crossed (and when they registered runners) so me and the second place OA girl walked outta there with no award. FIVE HOURS AFTER I ARRIVED. Mind you, I finished the race in 22:12!!! Twenty two minutes!!!

The run was a for a good cause so I kept reminding myself about that. I wasn’t upset about not getting my McDonald’s gift card, medal, and award– I was upset about all the time wasted that could’ve been spent with family. Last year’s Turkey Trot was supposed to be the last one (which I won! 😀 ) and they switched organizers for this year–these new peeps need to get this event back to how it used to be if they want to keep it going.

Still smiling 🙂

Friday, 11/24–Rest, Foam Roll, Stretch

This pic is from the Gilbert Half last week. I love how me and the random dude have the same expression and form, LOL! I beat him by the way 😉

Saturday, 11/25–15 miles

I woke up at crazy o’clock to meet my run club at 5 a.m. for a cold, early start. I felt uh-mazing during this run!!! I was pleasantly surprised considering the 5k I’d done and traveling.

My watch died juuuuust before the 15 mile mark and I was so relieved to see that the workout had been salvaged. I was a teensy worried, LOL!!! I mean, it’s gotta be on Strava/Garmin for it to count, right? :p

Sunday, 11/26–4 miles

Some easy recovery miles with my Moms Run This Town girls ❤

Total Weekly Mileage: 35.25 miles

 

–Does your hometown have a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot?

–Do you forget to charge your watch before long runs?

–Did you snag any Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals?

 

Weeks 3-4: #itsgoingdownatphx

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training and tagged with , , ,

It’s been a busy couple of weeks so I’ve missed some training recaps. I know how exciting these are and how much you anxiously await them :p

Week 3

Monday, 11/6–6.5 miles

Little negative split six and a halfer–9:17(wu), 8:44, 8:28, 8:15, 7:50, 9:03(cd)

Tuesday, 11/7–4 miles, Strength Training, Foam Rolling, Stretching

A friend and I ran to a local shoe store (8:50, 8:30) to hear Jeff Galloway speak. I’ve never used his walk/run method but have friends who have had success with it. It was interesting to hear his philosophy. Two miles back home (8:30, 8:35) and I called it a day.

Wednesday, 11/8–7 miles

It was one of my favorite workouts–a timed ladder (5, 4, 3, 2, 1 min w/1 min R) twice. But I didn’t have my usual pep in my step so I decided early on to just make sure my second set was faster than my first.

Thursday, 11/9 — Strength Training, Foam Rolling, Stretching

check! : )

Friday, 11/10–6 miles

I met up with some friends for some early morning hills. Took it easy (10:00/avg) as we were leaving to Vegas that afternoon.

Saturday, 11/11 (rest/shop), Sunday, 11/12–13.1 miles (RnR Vegas)

Rock and Roll Vegas was SO MUCH FUN!! I used it as a training run to get that marathon goal pace (mgp) down (8:00) and I was really happy with how I did. I was bummed my watch went wonky because I knew my splits would be pretty but oh well…I finished on target at a 7:59 pace 😀

Total for Week 3: 37 miles

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Week 4

Monday, 11/13–Rest Day

We drove home from Vegas and I made sure to roll, roll, roll that night.

Tuesday, 11/14–4 miles

These were slooooow (9:39 but felt much slower). Positive split the entire run, lol!

Wednesday, 11/15–5 miles

Oh man, this was rough. I had mile repeats that were supposed to be at around 7:15 but that was NOT happening. I managed to pull off a 7:22, 7:19, 7:26 and I felt pretty darn happy about it.

Thursday, 11/16–Strength Training, Foam Rolling, Stretching

So on these cross/strength training days, I haven’t been making it to the gym to get on the bike or elliptical, but I’ve been doing some videos at home that focus on body weight strength training. I’ve actually been doing them so I’m happy with my efforts on these Tuesday and Thursday cross/strength training days.

Friday, 11/17–3 miles

Easy, peasy run around the ‘hood (9:17/avg).

Saturday, 11/18–13.1 miles (Gilbert Half Marathon)

I used this race as another training run as I continue to get that mgp (8:00) to feel like home. My goal was to be between 1:45-1:50 and I finished in 1:46 so super yay! My coach had me run the first 3 at long run pace, and then the remaining 10 miles with a one minute surge at the beginning of each mile. The surges became less fast as the race went on, LOL, but I was happy with the way I ran. I tried my best to keep it as close to mgp as possible–there were a few miles where we had some headwind (and heat!) but again, I was pleased with my efforts and with the fact I ran comfortably and finished feeling fine.

I heart running.

Total for Week 4: 25 miles

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Now I’m all caught up!! So far, I’m feeling pretty good and trying my best to be diligent on staying healthy and injury free so that has meant eating better (I have!), rolling and stretching (check!), and working that core (workin’ it!).

–Do you use races as training runs?

–What are your favorite core exercise?

 

Week 2: #itsgoingdownatphx

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with , , ,

Hello, November!! I finished off month 10 with 98 miles and no desire to run two more for the century mark, lol!! And I started off month 11/week 2 with 22 and 33 miles, respectively. Here’s how it went down:

Monday, 10/30: Mondays have been designated as hill days so I went off in search of some incline. I really have two choices if I want to stick with roads, both about the same distance in different directions. Lately, I’ve been going to a spot my coach has her athletes go. I’m on my own though, as I venture out that way after kid drop off.

Garmin vs. Strava

Tuesday, 10/31: I met up with my MRTT chapter for a Halloween run and kept a friend company on her 400s. Her target pace was 7:30 and it was crazy that I was able to keep that up and hold a conversation. We talked the entire run!

Wednesday, 11/1: I very well could’ve chalked up Tuesday’s run as my speed day, but I was looking forward to my coach’s Wednesday track workout. Waking up was tough after the previous night’s Halloween shenanigans, but I love/hate going to track because all of the athletes that go are super fit and I totally feel out of place there. But, I like being motivated and chasing ’em.

The workout was 400@5k pace followed by 400@half marathon pace up to a mile with a 90 sec recovery b/w each mile set. It was hard and I didn’t always hit my target paces, but I was very happy with my efforts.

5k–1:45, 1/2–1:55

Thursday, 11/2: Morning date with with my mat. Got the MYRTLES in, planks, and all that good stuff.

Friday, 11/3: Easy negative splitter 4 miler around the hood–9:17, 8:54, 8:49, 8:38

Saturday, 11/4: Woke up early to meet my friend and St. George training buddy Ashley for a 12 miler. The weather was uhmazing–cloudy and cool. Perfect long run weather ❤

Sunday, 11/5: Slept in while my husband got his long run on. He just had to out do my Friday negative splitter with a 10 miler of his own.

That my friends, is a thing of beauty.

Afterward, we chilled out and rested while seeing Shalane Flanagan kick some ass. Did you guys see her awesomeness? I legit cried when she was crossing the finish line. Gahh!!! Love her!!!

To quote: “Fuck yeah!!”

Week 2 Total: 33 miles

–How was the start of your November?

–Did you catch the NYC Marathon? I had major withdrawals. Last year was epic.

–Do you ever admire your paces (or others’)? I seriously stared at my husband’s stats while drinking my coffee.

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