Marathon training week 3: KIckstart My Heart

Maybe you all read about my mini-health scare--if not you can read it here. After I got the all clear on Monday, I resumed my training with newfound vigor. I'm back, baby!

Monday: I had a 6 miler at race pace on the plan. I won't lie to you, this one was really tough. I ran on Saturday and Sunday, and this was my 3rd day in a row. I don't normally do that, but with work and CrossFit, I've had to make some adjustments. I was still really tired from that tough long run the day before. But the yoga and foam rolling I had done really helped a lot, and I was pleased with the pacing for this one on tired legs. My plantar fasciitis started to act up though. Sheesh.

Tuesday: I worked out with Becky at CrossFit. She had me do another MetCon session. This one was really fun. There was a 10 minute circuit of the slide board, pistol squats, and burpees. I had never done the slide board before, and that was a blast. I could have done that one all day! Then another circuit for 10 minutes. I had to run around the parking lot carrying a 20# medicine ball, then dumbbell snatches, and hanging knee raises (from a high bar). She wanted me to do hanging leg lifts, but my legs just don't go that way.

This is the slide board.

Wednesday: The goal pose for this class was Hanuman aka the splits aka monkey pose. We did preparatory poses throughout the class to open our hips and hamstrings. I really felt Tuesday's workout for most of the class. Forward bends were painful. I was rewarded at the end of class by doing supported Hanuman and was able to hold it while raising my hands in the air.  Of course, there was a pretzelly person in the front row who could go all the way to the floor. Not me, not in this lifetime. But I did get my hamstrings to open up. It's all good...

This is the goal. source: aboutyoga.in

Thursday: More speedwork aka mile splits x 5. Again, I was shooting for sub-8 minute miles for each mile split, and after all that great hamstring work yesterday, I got what I was looking for! Splits: 7:53, 7:56, 7:56, 7:58, 7:58.

After that I went back to see Becky for workout #2. She had me push the prowler, which is 65# with 70# plates added on, around the entire building. That was tough. I had to stop to catch my breath a few times. At one point I apologized, and she told me to do 5 punishment burpees. Apparently, apologizing at CrossFit is a bad thing. Becky did tell me that she wouldn't have been able to do it without stopping to catch her breath either. After I finished the prowler with a few more stops but no apologizing, I did tire flips with the tractor tire, knee ups, and then another round with the prowler, only this time with 50#. That was relatively easier. I went home and took shower #2. Holy. Moley.

Pushing the prowler

Punishment burpees.

Friday: Rest, glorious rest. And I found out won the lottery! Well, the Big Sur Marathon lottery! I'm in, baby! Only a runner would be excited about winning a lottery where she had to pay for her prize! This is a bucket list item for me. I have wanted to run this one before I ever ran a marathon. I also get to meet my friends Kristina from Live Laugh Love Run and Teresa, who I met on Facebook as well. I was seriously over the moon about this. I paid my entry fee to secure my entry. And now I have to put that on the back burner this while I focus on the task at hand, that Chicago marathon. But just a little sneak peak at what's to come...

I don't care how long it takes me....

Saturday: I was up before the sun to get my run in this morning. I had a 5 mile marathon paced run on the plan. I also had a full day conference that started at 8. The struggle was real. But I got it done and I was so glad I did. The sunrise was beautiful. The conference was long. But I needed the continuing education credits to keep my license. That job pays the bills. I may even have learned a few things...

Sunday: I had a bike ride on the plan. Becky never specifies anything about the bike rides. What I do with these is up to me. I like to ride about 2 hours; I feel like the bike isn't as hard as the run and 2 hours at about 15mph gives me a great endurance workout. I was really glad to have a bike ride this week. The last couple of weeks of training have been intense, and I've felt it! Not only did I get to give my feet a break--#$%& plantar fasciitis--but also my tummy, which has been giving me grief. Let's just say that I've been stopping...a lot...these days. Hopefully a couple days off the road will give everything time to calm down. 

A very humid, overcast morning. My glasses kept fogging up. No wind. Perfect conditions. 30.70 miles, 2:01:48. 

Anyways, I rode 30+ miles on this ride. The route I chose is a really pretty ride, for the most part. I ride past Arlington International Race Course, and early in the morning, I get to see the riders warming up those beautiful thoroughbreds. I never get tired of that. My route takes me through 5 suburbs, past 2 "super" churches, a very large community college, through 2 forest preserves, among other things. Most of the route is on paved bike paths, but there is some road riding. I have to cross train tracks too, which is kind of painful on my skinny tired bike! Even though it is very congested in the suburbs where I live, it's nice to find these little oases of nature. I grew up in the country, and riding takes me back to my childhood. Isn't it funny how the sounds and smells of nature can do that? 

This bike ride was a wonderful end to an amazing week of training. I'm feeling very pleased and very grateful to my coach. What a great way to train for a marathon! I was so happy with my progress this week. I hit my goals with my speedwork. Pushed through those 2 tough workouts with Becky. On Thursday, she told me how well I am doing, especially in the mental toughness department. That was huge to hear from her. What a difference this training has made for me!

Coming up:

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 8 miles at MP

Wednesday: yoga

Thursday: mile repeats x 5 and CrossFit

Friday: rest

Saturday: 5 miles at MP

Sunday: 12 miles

This week's song really pushed me during that tough speedwork session on Thursday! Back to the 80s for this one: 

How did your training go this week? Got any songs for me?

So there's a new linkup in town...Tricia from MissSissippiPiddlin' and Holly from HoHo Runs are hosting a weekend recap linkup! Be sure to linkup with them and check out all the other blogs!