Last week and this upcoming week are serving as pre-season to marathon training. A sort of trial period before I move on to the big leagues–aka: the official marathon training plan. I don’t know, this is how I work things in my head 🙂
Anyway, last Monday, my schedule had me running 6 miles, a warm up and cool down and 4 miles at medium tempo pace. But, ever since my 27k a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been nursing a sore right foot so I decided to take it easy and run a total of four miles, 1 warm up and 1 cool down with 2 miles at mid tempo pace.
That was the plan and I started out milking the warm-up going at a pace slower than I’d done in a long time. I was feeling the heat and was just having a case of the tired Mondays. After the first mile beeped, I picked it up knowing I “had” to make the next two miles at pace. While I increased my pace considerably from the warm up mile, I was still 20 seconds away from the tempo pace.
Same thing happened with mile two. I was at least glad that the middle two miles were close in pace and I milked the fourth cool down mile almost exactly as the first.
Mile 1- 10:26
Mile 2-9:07
Mile 3-8:54
Mile 4-10:27
At least I was consistent lol!
This is what I was dealing with at 7:22 p.m.
Tuesday was supposed to be a cross training day according to my Run Less, Run Faster plan but I decided that I could bend the rules considering it was still pre-season. So I ran. (You’re doing it wrong, Helly!) Whatever.
I met up with my run club for the Tuesday evening run but I knew before it even started that it wasn’t going to go well. It was so freaking hot!
6:05 p.m.
I wasn’t even thinking of going out fast, instead just focused on maintaing a decent pace. I was doing okay the first 3 miles (of five) but the last two I was just so light headed and weak from the heat; I had to slow down. I’m honestly surprised at how I kept myself from walking.
Mile 1-9:57
Mile 2-9:54
Mile 3-10:01
Mile 4-10:37
Mile 5-10:37
Average-10:13/mile
Again, at least I was consistent jaja!!
Wednesday was speed work at the track but my husband had a late day at work so I took it to the gym where I did a 3.5 mile interval run finishing at an average 9:43/mile pace (def no speed work there!). It was a nice, relaxing run and doing the intervals helped pass the time on the treadmill. I don’t mind running on the ‘mill and with temps how they’ve been I think I’ll probably be on it more this summer.
Thursday was a cross training day so back to the gym I went and I hopped on the bike for a 10 mile ride. I loved sweating and the feeling of having just had a good workout. It puts me in such a good mood!
Friday was a rest day but I did squeeze in an ab video 🙂
Saturday was my first crazy o’clock run of the summer. My alarm went off at 4:30 and by 4:45 I was out the door for my “long” run with my run club. My pre-season plan had me going 6 so that’s what I went out with the intention of doing.
I could definitely feel the difference in temperatures running at 5 in the morning versus at 6-7 in the evening. It was a cool 77 and it felt SO great.
I hooked up with a friend who runs at a pace I like. She was going 8 and I figured I’d stick with her until it was time for me to make my return. We chatted and went along and before I knew it, I was at mile 3 ready to head back. I debated sticking with her since I felt so good but decided to be conservative and think about my foot so I said good-bye and turned back.
I was glad I did this. Normally, I would’ve kept on going because a.) I felt so good and was going at a good pace and b.) I had great company but I reminded myself that I had a long training season ahead of me. I think that I’ve matured in this way since last/first marathon..
Mile 1- 9:23 Mile 4-9:14
Mile 2- 9:25 Mile 5-9:16
Mile 3- 9:27 Mile 6-9:07
Average-9:18/mile
Again, I was really happy to see consistency. I felt like my splits were always all over the place last marathon attempt and I wanted to really work on them this time around. I was also very pleased to see the second half of the run be faster than the first half.
Sunday on my plan has a rest day/optional cross train and yesterday I chose the former. I wanted badly to meet up with my buddy Jeremy who was hosting a Run Tweet Eat social on the trails but my foot was super achy and I decided to rest it (and sleep in). Of course I saw all of their fun pics on Instagram and Facebook and wished I’d gone lol! Oh well, next time 🙂
Overall, it was a great week– 18.5 miles run and 10 miles on the track. I did an okay job with sticking to the training plan and like that I have next week to continue testing it out. After that, it’s game time!
–Did you have race this weekend?
–How was your running week last week?
–Are you good at keeping a consistent pace? (My splits are finally looking sorta normal!)
P.S. If you’re also training for a fall race or will start soon, check out my sole sister Salt’s Fall Race Training Directory for training friends!
you’re funny – but I’m actually in preseason too, lol. I’ve been resting my foot since my last 10K earlier this month. It’s healed but the next 16 weeks are gonna be tough so wanted to get all extra rest in I could beforehand. Woohoo MCM here we come!
Definitely want to make sure I’m ready for the next 16 weeks too! I figure a week of light running will be okay before I get down to business 🙂 YAY MCM!!!!
Love the idea of marathon pre-season training! I start training for my first marathon next week. Yikes! Good luck with your training!
Woohoo!!! We’ll start training together! 🙂 What marathon are you training for??
Great training week! I’m meh at keeping a consistent pace but I’m great at negative splits 🙂 I’m deciding if I want to run a 5K on the 4th. Maybe.
There’s not a lot of 4th of July race options around here 😦 but my run club is doing a fun run so I’ll be doing that 🙂 You should do a fun 5k!
I’m horrible at keeping consistent splits or even at having a clue at what pace I’m running. Great week, especially given those temps!! Your humidity cracks me up though…we almost never have humidity under 50% here. Right now it’s 86%!
Holy humidity!! 86%?? How do you breathe??
a great week! i’m so excited to follow your training and to get to meet you in DC this fall!!! we should plan a MCM running blogger meetup 🙂
YES, YES, and YES!
Those splits in 97 – 104* weather look seriously beautiful to me! I wish those were my splits right now! I’m also crazy jealous of your humidity! Yesterday I had 96 degrees + 72% humidity at 7:00pm! I had swollen fingers literally within 30 minutes despite drinking tons before and during!
Between being sick and my hip flexor hurting, my pace is all over the place right now too. I just want to have a good “normal” run!
Awesome idea about preseason. Can you have a 4 month preseason? Hey great job training in the heat. Your going to lose some speed but training in that will help you so much. Saturday run sounded awesome, I agree, you can feel the cooler temps early in the morning. No race tho weekend but ran San Tan this weekend. Awesome trails that I will definitely run again. I am horrible with interval training, I have to concentrate the entire run to keep my pace consistent.
Lol @4 month pre-season! Did you meet up with AZTNT at San Tan??
Yuppers. Never ran on those trails before, they are fantastic. That may be my new go to spot even for my solo runs.
Yeah, San Tan is my fave! I’m bummed I missed the chance to meet up with you! next time 🙂
I love the term pre-season! Great job with your training, that weather is seriously SO SO HOT! I don’t know how you do it, it’s AMAZING!
Thank you and yes, it’s pretty ridiculous with no signs of cooling off
I’ve definitely gotten better with pacing myself. My splits used to be all over the place! You had such a solid week last week and I’m jealous of your runs. 🙂
Thank you! I’ve definitely been making more of an effort to straighten things out lol!
Nice week! I’m a big fan of negative splits… It makes me feel like I’m doing something right 🙂 Woohoo for real marathon training! I wish you the best.
Thank you so much!! Yes, negative splitting makes me feel so accomplished 🙂
pre-season, love it! i’m pretty decent at keeping a consistent pace – but i have no idea what i am doing 🙂 no races this past weekend, but i have a fourth of july 5k this friday 🙂
Fun!! There are verrrry few choices for 4th of July runs 😦 But my run club always does something fun so that’s my plan 🙂 Have fun on Friday!!
Hey, great job. I know how hard it is getting to run consistently as the weather warms. We had triple digits today, and it’s brutal. What’s been affecting me the most is the humidity though – like running through soup. It’s been killing my runs. We’ll push through though and we’ll be flying come fall!
Humidity is no joke!!
The splits are looking good. I am in limbo right now. Trying to figure out what is up with my ankle. Ortho appointment is July 9th so hopefully I can figure out my fall race plans.
I hope you get good results!!
I’d much rather be doing pre-season training in this heat than full on training like I am now! ugh! I may be cursing the AZ sun now, but come winter I’ll be praising it. 🙂 We missed you on Sunday, but don’t sweat it! We plan on many more adventures in the future and we’ll finally get to have a fun run toghether soon enough. Until then, stay awesome and hapy running!
You’re going to have so much fun at San Fran!! I’m kinda sorta a lot jealous 🙂
Def will meet up with you guys very soon!!!
Nice week! And getting up so early on a Saturday is seriously impressive. I’m still working on getting consistent splits – pacing is not my strong point.
oh me either! always a work in progress 🙂
Whoo hooo! MCM here we come!! I have a feeling I’ll be on the treadmill a lot this summer too. It’s not as hot as where you are, but the humidity is KILLER.
Ew humidity!! 😦
Training for a marathon in north Texas. I’m glad to have a blogging training buddy!
YAY!! 😀
Egads! Those temps are crazy and remind me of when I lived in North Carolina. Ugh. You’re crazy to run in those!
My splits are becoming much more consistent. I think it is something that comes with experience. I do train to try to get faster at the end of my runs though so that it comes automatically at the end of a race even when I’m exhausted and that seems to be paying off.