WOW. I seriously cannot believe it’s been year! Talk about time flying!
September 30th last year I wrote a post letting the blog world know I was newbie. 🙂
It’s really all Salt‘s fault. We were chatting one day and she’d been blogging for a while (non-running related) and we both thought about how much we love talking about running–our conversations were mostly always about that. So then we thought about starting a blog. I was apprehensive, being completely new to blogging and having absolutely zero knowledge about what it entailed. But, Salt eased any fears and helped me get the party started. And here I am, still writing one year later!
I want to THANK YOU for following my journey. I still think no one reads what I write lol!!
Here’s of some of my fave posts ❤
My Sub 2 Hour 1/2 Marathon Recap
Crossing the Grand Canyon.. Twice
Anyway, I haven’t recapped last week’s training so….
Last Monday, I went for a treadmill run to shake off the previous Saturday’s awful long and I was back with my running club on Tuesday for another 5 mile run.
I had to work really hard for both of those runs but I felt like I needed to because my spirits were low from my failed long run a couple of days earlier.
Speed work was Wednesday and I made myself puuush:
The workout was 2×800, 1×1600, and 2×800. It was actually somewhat fun as the high school marching band was practicing the entire time. Made for a great distraction 🙂
Thursdays are supposed to be cross training days and I’ve been REEEALLLY bad about getting it done. So yeah, I didn’t do anything 😦
Friday, rest day.
Okay, so Saturday is where my dilemma begins:
I’m unable to to do my big 20 miler this weekend (3 weeks out and what’s on my training schedule) so I asked my coach if I should attempt it 4 weeks out or 2. Two worries me because I would’t have a lot of taper time and 4 worried me because it seemed, to me, a lot of time.
But I went with 4 weeks.
I set my alarm for 4 a.m. to be out in the streets by 4:30. But at around 1 in the morning, thunder, lightning and rain woke me up. There was no way I was going out in that alone if it continued. So I decided to start an hour later, at 5:30 when the rest of my run club started. I figured at least I wouldn’t be alone for most of my run even though it might get warm later on.
I pulled up to the parking lot, got off, and put my water pack on. Except I’d forgotten my phone! Ugh!!! I didn’t want to be out for 3+ hours without any means to contact my husband in case of an emergency.
So I decided to run 10 and then 10 later that evening. Of course this made me super anxious and I could feel the stress affecting me as I ran.
When I got home, my husband met me with more stressful news. My daughter had a high temperature. The rest of the day was spent making her as comfortable as possible and trying to reduce the fever. By the time evening came, I was so exhausted. It was still raining outside so running outdoors was not an option. I sludged my way to the gym and 5 miles into my treadmill, I ended up calling it quits. A big DNF.
Needless to say, this potentially not getting in a 20 miler has me really freaking out. I’m left with doing it 2 weeks before the marathon or not at all. (My longest run this training is 16 miles)
What would you do?
Total miles for the week: 28.11
Soda count: 1 can, 2 20oz
Woot! Congrats!
Thanks! ❤
happy blogiversary! in regards to your 20 – i’d just move on. you want to be fully rested for the race. my only caveat is if it’s going to stress you out. if it will stress you out, then i’d just go do the 20. if you are okay with it (and i think you should be- you are well trained), then i’d just keep it moving… you got this!
Thank you Courtney!!!
I have a 22 miler on my schedule for two weeks before my marathon. My coach put it there as just a normal part of my training, so…. I think if you take it easy, and don’t overdo your total mileage for the week, it should be fine.
Except you’re a badass Judith!! lol!!
happy blogiversary!
Thank you!!
That Salt! Love her! Happy Blogiversary!
She’s pretty freakin’ awesome 🙂
Happy blogiversary!
Gracias! 🙂
A) HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!!! As a new(er) reader, I am really excited to see some more about the Hells 😉
B) I miss you (on the regular, but you are indeed busy)! And Salt. I talked to her not too long ago, and she is kicking ass as usual, but she is def missed
C) I think that you can easily handle a 20 two weeks out. Just give yourself a few days after to recoop, then easy maintenance runs. Like maybe 3 days no running (rest-yoga-spin) then 4 or 6 miles, then a few 8s, maybe a 10, then the week of, whatever you were planning on. The 20 is all about confidence, so I think it is pretty necessary.
GOOD LUCK
A) I love that you called me Hells (only a select special few do) 🙂
B) I know! I wish I had time to write more and especially READ more 😦 I miss Salt too. Like whoa.
C) Thank you for having so much faith in me ❤
Happy blogiversary! Unfortunately I have no marathon advice to give, but I have no doubt that you’ll figure it out and rock your race 🙂
Thanks!! 🙂
Happy Blogiversary!!! If you can shift around your 20 miler for a day that is easier with work/family then do that. I have my last long run 19k this weekend and my half is the following weekend. I was freaking out that I didn’t have a taper but after writing Hal Higdon about the training plan I was using that reassured that I am doing the right thing.
Good luck!
LOVE Hal!! ❤
Congratulations!!! I truly enjoy reading your blog and hope you keep going for a long time! As for your training, don’t stress. You are going to get it done! Just be patient and wait for the right day to come. You’ll know when it does!
And I equally enjoy reading yours!
Happy blogaversary!!
I wouldn’t stress too much about the 20-miler, I think you should just do whatever will make you feel less anxious. Since I only did one 20-miler about 4 weeks out from my marathon I did a lot of research on the science behind marathon long runs and it seems like as long as you can run for 90 minutes straight your body is totally prepared for running 26.2 miles. Apparently you don’t gain any extra endurance from running more than that.
““Research has shown that your body doesn’t see a significant increase in aerobic development, specifically mitochondial development, when running over 90 minutes. The majority of physiological stimulus of long runs occurs between the 60 and 90 minute mark. That means after running for 3 hours, aerobic benefits aren’t markedly better than when you run for only 2 hours.”
http://running.competitor.com/2014/07/training/are-you-overemphasizing-the-marathon-long-run_55719
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6295989
I definitely agree! The time time spent running definitely is what I’m all about. Good luck to you and I can’t wait to hear how your marathon goes!!!!!!
Happy anniversary! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog over the past year and I look forward to following your adventures in the coming year!
I’ve never trained for a marathon or even followed a training plan so I’m by no means an expert, but I would definitely say that you shouldn’t stress to much about your 20 miler. It’s all just numbers. What’s an extra 5 miles, really? The stress that you’re putting yourself through mentally is probably more damaging overall than the 5 miles that you missed. Remember, you’re running for fun AND you’ve already done a marathon, which has to count for something in training, right? 🙂
I hope you do a marathon someday!! ❤ 😀
Oh honey, I’m sorry. Why can’t you do it 3 weeks out? I think 2 weeks out would be ok, but you would really need to take taper to heart and rest those legs the last 2 weeks. What does your coach think? Happy Blogiversary!!
My husband’s out of town 😦 My coach recommended I do it 4 weeks out b/c he felt I’d go too hard 2 weeks out. He knows me too well lol
Happy Blogiversary!!
I’m sorry your 20 miler didn’t happen 😦 I can definitely emphasize with your stress. I’m way late getting to this, but I’d rather do a 20 miler 2 weeks out from race day. I think I’d feel more confident running on slightly tired legs, rather than doubting myself for the last 10 miles.
Either way though, you know what your body and mind need to make it to the start line healthy and happy. Enjoy the approach to race day!
Thank you!! ❤
Happy one year! 🙂 If you can still fit your 20-miler in great, if you can’t then I wouldn’t sweat it. One run, whether if it’s the “magic 20” or not, is going to make or break your training for this marathon. Don’t stress, you’ll be fine! 🙂
Thanks Hailey! Your expertise makes me feel better 🙂 ❤
Yay, happy blogiversary! Glad we’re online friends!!!
Me toooo!!!!
Happy belated Blogiversary! Sorry for the delay as I’m STILL trying to play catch up post vacation! I had the WORST run too this past Sunday and am praying to the running gods that this is just a temporary setback. You’ve run the marathon distance before , so you know you can get it done. If you start getting too stressed out about it, you know it’s going to affect your training. SO STOP! I know, I know, easier said than done, right? 🙂 You’ll be fine regardless of what you do, so just go with the flow and let your body dictate what it wants to do. Within reason of course! 🙂 All will be well Hellie, and you know in the end, it will all work itself out.