Sunday, September 13, 2015

Marathon Training Week 8: Holdin' on....


This ended up being somewhat of a cutback for me, although I don't think it was intentional. Becky was out of town, and I didn't have CrossFit this week. She had planned on giving me homework, but I didn't receive a text from her, nor did I pursue it. I've been training really hard, and I thought it would be ok to take it a little easy. I don't know if that was her intent, but I sure felt better as the week went on. Physically, anyways. Mentally, I've had some stressors at work with a student as well as some minor mama drama at home. Juggling marathon training with life challenges is always tough. But the weather cooled off and...well, here's my weekly recap.

Monday: Scheduled rest day. I did do some yoga to stretch out the legs after that really tough run I did the day before. I'm participating in a 30 day yoga challenge with Beth at Running with the Sunrise, and I did 3 of the first poses all on Monday.


Tuesday: I got up with the sun to run 8 miles at marathon pace. At 6 am, it was 75 degrees and 75% humidity. Although it was tough, I ran 8.29 miles in 1:13:28, or an average of 8:52 minutes/mile. In those conditions, I'll take it.

This 8 felt like I was running in the sand.
Wednesday: I went to the studio for yoga. The theme for the class was Santosha, or contentment. It was a wonderful class, as always. We did a lot of poses against the wall, including a variation of bakasana (crow pose). If you've never been able to get into this pose, I highly recommend trying this one! I was kind of dizzy that morning, but if I moved slowly from pose to pose, my equilibrium returned quickly.

We did this variation of navasana (boat pose) with eagle legs (ardha garudasana)
Thursday: Becky had speedwork with 3 mile repeats x2 on the plan. I decided to make it a little more interesting and ran back to back 5ks. I haven't run a 5k in ages, and I wanted to see how I could do. Mother Nature cooperated too, by giving me a 60F temperature to run in. Splits: 24:47, 24:36, average 7:58 mins per mile. This is the run I needed to inject life back into my marathon training. Don't stop believin'!

This crazy weather has been giving us some spectacular morning skies! 
Friday: running rest day

Saturday: I got up early and ran a 5 miler in 53 degree weather! Dare I say I felt a little chilled? No complaints, I did this one a little faster than MP. I don't know if that was wise, considering that I had a half marathon the next day. But I took advantage of the beautiful morning to catch up on my yoga challenge too.
Warrior 1, Warrior 2, Pyramid pose, and plank for days 4-7.
After that early morning run, we headed south to my son's rugby match. Matthew was playing fullback, his dream position, where he got to do a lot of running and also defensive tackling. The team they played was really good brutal, and there were a lot of injuries. Matthew took a knee to the abdomen, after which he lost his breakfast. Towards the end of the game, he came out of the game because of the pain. He's not a complainer and I knew he must really have been hurting. He told me he wished I had brought some Tailwind so that he could have finished the came. Hey there! That's some good stuff....

Sunday: I had a half marathon on the schedule, just get my head in race mode. This one was a new one for me, the Alpine Runners Club Half Marathon in Lake Zurich, Illinois, which is about 10 minutes from my house. Easy, breezy right? I'll have a full recap on Tuesday, but let's just say that I was NOT prepared at all for the hills on this course. My first half marathon, in Door County, Wisconsin was super hilly, and I haven't run one like that since. This half was #14 for me, and if nothing else, it proved to be an exercise in mental toughness for me. Every time I approached a new hill (and there were plenty), I had to dig in and push myself up. Before I started, I promised myself that I wouldn't race this one, that it was a training run, and that was my mantra for the whole thing. I finished in 1:55:58, so I got my marathon pace. I also had very consistent splits. And I get to run 8 tomorrow morning. There's no rest for the wicked, apparently...


What song was the one that got me through the toughest miles of the race? This Skrillex and Nero remix of I SEE MONSTA's "Keep Holdin' On". Because that's what I did! Don't be put off by Skrillex, this is actually very listenable!



Another week down....and this will be my highest mileage week of training. I'm gearing up for that and hoping our temps stay moderate!

How about you? How's your training going? Any songs for me?

And as always, I'm linking up with my friends Holly at HoHoRuns and Tricia at MissSippiPiddlin' for their weekly wrap! It's a great way to see what everyone else is up to!

71 comments :

  1. My training is going really well. I just got back from a eleven mile run @ 844 pace so I am very happy. I need to do yoga, I know it would help with some of the muscle stiffness I am experiencing. Looks like everything is going well for you.
    bakingrunner.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice work on the 5Ks Wendy! Amazing pace! I wouldn't worry too much about the hills since your goal race doesn't have much of them (specificity is an amazing thing, isn't it?). I actually like Skrillex...my son got me into it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad Chicago is so flat. Note to self...avoid hilly races. Oh wait, I'm running Big Sur in April?

      Delete
  3. I feel your hill pain. I felt the same way during the Wauconda triathlon - so many hills! Flatlanders...pfff! Lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess I wish I had been a little more mentally prepared for this. Rolling hills, my ass!

      Delete
  4. Next week will be my highest mileage, too. And then I get to taper. And hopefully everything holds together.

    Sounds like your son takes after you in the toughness department!

    We haven't had long sleeve weather yet, and we're not likely to anytime soon. You would think upstate NY would be cooler but no!

    Good luck with the upcoming week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I look to him for inspiration! My husband is pretty tough too. He's definitely been an influence!

      Delete
  5. Ok seriously...I had never heard of 3 mile repeats until this training plan, it's totally insane and you totally killed it! This training plan is totally paying off though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Back at you...you are doing amazing! I hope we both make our goals!

      Delete
  6. Woo great job in the half! Again, I have to tell you that you take the most stunning workout photos! I don't mean that in a creepy way, I promise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't take it that way! I'm trying to up my IG game...and actually having a ton of fun with the photo editing programs on my phone!

      Delete
  7. Congrats - that is a great finish time. You are going kill that marathon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh you know me...I always think about where I could have done better...

      Delete
  8. That half-time on a hilly course is amazing!! Congrats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So funny, when I finished, I was so upset with my race. But as I recovered and reflected, there was a lot to be proud of. What a tough race!

      Delete
  9. Looks like an awesome training week. This weather has been nutty, hasn't it? Starting out the week in the 90s and down to the 50s this weekend. Congrats on an awesome half marathon on a hilly course!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Training has been a challenge this year! It was 48 at the start of my race. I was grateful for that and that we didn't have the 90s from the week before.

      Delete
  10. Good for you! I was going to run Philadelphia as well. Still on the fence but probably will wait till 2017. I am running Toronto Marathon and MEC Ottawa 2 weeks later!! Great blog.

    ReplyDelete
  11. A yoga for runners challenge sounds like something I need! Trying to get back to it this fall. Hope you have a great week the weather looks perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, speedy! I'm currently not training for anything but really have been enjoying podcasts. I feel like I black out anyway during a run and don't remember much, but the white noise is a good distraction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like that "blacking out" during a run...that means you are in the zone!

      Delete
  13. That Alpine race is no joke. Hill training is something I too have neglected this training cycle, despite the fact that my marathon has a mega hill from mile 21 to 23. Ooops. Nice week! On to the last big one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had no idea about that race! Last week of big miles now. And then the taper...

      I hope you get that hill.

      Delete
  14. Great pace!! If you can keep that on hills for a half, you are so close!

    ReplyDelete
  15. you are working so hard and it is totally paying off!! I'm loving following your training. We've got tunes suggestions as the Friday Five this week so hopefully that provides some song inspiration :) My personal favorite right now is Til I Collapse by Eminem.

    ReplyDelete
  16. You are my hero! I am always in awe when I read your training recaps!

    ReplyDelete
  17. That's a pretty killer week for a cutback week! Congrats on the half! Hills are tough, but completing it must make you feel strong! I hope your son is feeling better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't feel strong when I finished, but after I soaked it all in, I felt pretty amazing!

      Delete
  18. My break is over, my focus is directed to a marathon! It's gonna be a long 17 weeks but I'm ready for the challenge! I haven't run with music in some time so I'm no help in that department! I hope Becky doesn't make up for not sending you that homework.... Thanks for linking up with us! Appreciate you!

    ReplyDelete
  19. This past week was a recovery week for me, but I honestly felt amazing. It was the perfect timing for a recovery and I'm feeling pretty good 4 weeks out from my first (of three) marathons.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great splits on those 5K repeats, and great job on your half marathon, especially with those hills! I think I've said this before, but I think you are going to more than BQ at Chicago - your training has been going so well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It all depends on the weather! If it's hot, I'm going to just go out and have fun...

      Delete
  21. Way to go, Wendy; what a great race finish!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thank you! I didn't finish as strong as I like--I left a lot out there on the course!

      Delete
  22. You remind me that I really need to get going on my own marathon training. It's in December and I've been dragging my feet about starting my real training simply because I just don't want to run in the heat anymore!

    Nice job on your training week and your half marathon. That's a good time for such a hilly course. Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Debbie! I was so upset when I finished but when I recovered and looked back at it, I was pretty happy with how I did.

      Delete
  23. Sounds like a great week, even if you did take it a little easier than you thought you might. Although you still kicked butt! I am always so amazed by how you are able to get out there and get it done, no matter what else is going on. I'm so excited for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jen! I think I set such high standards for myself and I lose my perspective. Hoping to stay the course these next couple of weeks.

      Delete
  24. Wow, 53 degrees during your run on Saturday! Sounds like perfect running weather!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Still sounds like you had a great week. I had a mental break from running after my 16 miler last weekend. I still managed 17 miles this week but it should have been more like 27. There's always next week....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, it happens. I think there's that safety net built into marathon training...

      Delete
  26. Looks like a great week. It's always nice to have some time away from CrossFit ;) I get really excited whenever Sail (remix) by AwolNation comes on.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wendy, you had an awesome half! You make it look easy. And, to run the day before and the day after is seriously bada$$. Good luck this week as you tackle your highest mileage (me too). See you soon! Thanks for linking up with us today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That race was tough! But I've got the big goal ahead...hoping for decent weather. I can't wait to meet you!

      Delete
  28. I avoid hilly race courses with a passion! haha. whenever I even hear the start of "gentle rolling hills - they're easy, trust me" I run the other way! But way to power through! (also, super cute skirt!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you! This is my lucky half marathon skirt! Maybe I should wear it at Chicago?

      Delete
  29. Woo hoo!!! Great job on that Alpine Half - way to push through those hills! I just ran an unexpectedly hilly half yesterday, too, and it was so mentally grueling. You killed it out there!!! Love all the yoga that you are doing to balance things out, too. Cheers to yet another great training week coming up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to be done with those hills, altho I would think that was nothing compared to what we will encounter in Big Sur!

      Delete
  30. On my playlist right now:
    - Love Myself
    - Take me to Church
    - Fight Song
    Training for my first half so I need some definite motivation

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have Fight Song...I always feel like I'm running in a music video when that comes on! LOL!

      Delete
  31. I have always wanted to visit Door County! :)
    Awesome week of training - and yoga!! You are going to crush your marathon!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. You are crushing it!!! I am so inspired by your dedication! What a fantastic Half Marathon time too :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Isn't that the best feeling, running in cooler temps? My legs feel a decade younger!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Love Skrillex. Weather for your 5ks sounds perfect. I run so much better in chilly weather. Great job on your training, girl!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, I don't love Skrillex, but this song is great for the run! :)

      Delete
  35. So many training recaps. Love it. And they all make me wish I was training for a fall race. Way to crush it Wendy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I already have said I'm not doing a fall marathon next year and I know I'll have training envy!

      Delete
  36. what a great week! I am glad you are taking it easy! LOL! I wish our weather would cool off a bit! I still need to get my fall schedule organized :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am grateful for the cooler temps. The heat was really sapping my energy and my confidence!

      Delete
  37. Awesome training! 3 miles x2? Dayummm. I had to do 800s yesterday and could barely finish. my legs were cement from my race on Sunday. I will be running peak mileage (hopefully) this week took yikes!
    Song wise I have been loving Justin Bieber's new song lol don't judge me...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had never heard of those repeats either! Becky is very resourceful. I did see one other blogger doing 3miles x2 this week as well.

      No judging. Whatever gets you moving....

      Delete
  38. Fingers crossed that you get to keep that cooler weather for this peak week of mileage!

    ReplyDelete