Wow. Time has been a-flying!
I can’t believe I just finished week 8 and am now counting DOWN the weeks til Phoenix Marathon!
#itsgoingdownatphx
I’m pretty pumped 😀
So, this was my last week of vacation from work and again, I took full advantage of the time off.
Monday, I got in a tough 6 miler on the treadmill. It’d been a while since I’d gotten on one of those things and I could definitely feel it. I still was able to maintain a good pace at 9:22/mile though which pleased me.
I took the day off on Tuesday but I wanted a good last run of 2014 so on Wednesday I headed out for a neighborhood run..
my adios run to 2014
With two kids, very young kids, we were in bed on New Year’s Eve at 9. We try every year to make it to 10 to at least see the ball drop in New York but this year, it just didn’t happen. We were out! And sure enough, at 5 on the dot, my son woke up and woke us up for the first day of 2015 🙂 So, Thursday I hung out with the fam, relaxed, and welcomed the new year.
My kids went to school on Friday and I took advantage of a free morning to get in a cold 5 miler with friends.
#frozen
My buddies made me work! I don’t know why this pace was so hard; I’ve done it before, but I was def lagging behind them on this one. I’m blaming the cold.
I was worried running, and running so fast, would mess with my long run planned the next day. It was my dreaded 16 miler that for some reason has always given me trouble. My last 16 miler when I trained for MCM was very respectable at a 10:06/mile pace but when I get to mile 16 in the marathon (the two that I’ve done) it’s where I start to go downhill–and not good downhill lol.
But this time I was ready. Like I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, I’ve really been working on my fueling and it was on this run that I really put it to test.
So Saturday morning, my alarm went off at crazy o’clock (4:15) and I met up with some friends (aka: other crazy people) who I was able to convince to meet up at 5 to start our long run.
It was effing cold (I wore 3 layers) and we didn’t chat much but got straight to it.
I was doing great, the miles were going fast, and at mile 6 we met up with our other run club friends who were starting at 6 a.m. Here, I made a pit stop to use the potty.
As I got back into the run, I took my first Gu. The whole thing. At mile 12, again, took my second planned Gu. All of it.
Other times I’ve barely squeezed out half of one in a long run such as that.
But this is a new and determined Helly–I ate all that shi-stuff.
By the time I got to mile 14, I was so pumped that I had made it that far and only had 2 miles left. I was rocking this long run!
And then I was done!
I totally felt like a BEETH after finishing that run 😀
On Sunday was my usual Bun Day (and leg). I’ve been working my quads in prep of that eternal downhill that is Phoenix Marathon…I did take it easy though because I was suuuuper tired from Saturday.
Overall, this was one of my best running weeks ever! Each run I was able to keep pace and feel good. I finished off December with 103 miles and the year with exactly 1000.
Total mileage for this week: 34.09
Oh, and I’m happy to report that I met my water goal the last three days. After seeing the poor water drop’s sad face I couldn’t let that happen again lol!
Happy Mr. Water Drop! Or as Salt refers to him: Party Drop 😀
How was your running week?
When’s the last time you’ve felt like a BEETH?
Woot! Congrats on the long run and holy smokes half way done. I am a bit jealous. I love having a marathon to train for. I personally think I like the training more than the race 🙂 You are doing such a great job, keep it up!
Me too!!! I love the training and sometimes feel the actual race is often too much pressure ha!
Because of you I downloaded the water app. I’m loving it! Good work on your runs this week. You are going to kill this marathon. Beeth mode style! Lol.
Lol! I’m glad you liked the app–let me know how it works/helps you! I’m motivated by not see in g the sad drop lol!
Great job on the running this week! I can’t believe we have 8 weeks left. I wish i was feeling beeth now… but my confidence is slipping. But you are going to kill it!
nooooo!!! You’ll do great–hoping this week is a better one for you!
Great week! I accidentally didn’t run at all last week, whoops! Hoping to get back to it starting today.
I’m sure the week’s rest will do you good! 🙂
It felt like just yesterday you were recaping the MCM, and now you’re already halfway through training for Phoenix? Wow, time flies!
Love that just kidding, I hate winter (shirt?). It’s so perfect.
& awesome job on that 16 miler! Sounds like your determination is paying off 🙂
Yeah it’s a shirt lol!
Thank you!!
Great job, Helly! Those are amazing runs! I still can’t take a whole GU at once lol. My running week was the best in awhile. I’m finally building up my mileage again since my last marathon and post-marathon minor injury. It feels so good to be back!
The GU thing has taken a lot of practice lol! Glad you’re feeling better!!
Awesome week! You eat 16 milers for breakfast! I think I’ll have to look into that water app, it looks helpful. Have a great week!
Ded do! It’s helped!
Woohoo, half way there and you are kicking but! I can’t believe it got that cold in AZ–those are New England temps! Usually when you say its cold out, I have to giggle at what you consider cold (its all relative to what you are used to) but that really is pretty chilly. Great job getting it done!!!!
OH yeah….I totally don’t feel bad complaining this time because IT IS cold lol!!
Awe. What app is that for the water.? Too cute.
It’s called Hydro Coach 🙂
Thank you.!!
Nice! That’s an awesome 16 miler!! I agree, cold is zero fun to run in. I think living in CA really spoiled me!
I’m totally spoiled here in AZ. You even more so since CA doesn’t get our heat!
Your training is going so well!
Thank you!!
Wow, you are doing awesome!! My 3 year old was the only one awake at midnight on NYE. In fact he woke us at 12:01, so nice of him 🙂
lol! gotta love our toddlers!
haha the last time I stayed up until midnight was when my sister and her family were in town a couple of years ago for New Years. We all watched Cinderella per my youngest niece’s request and I seriously thought I was going to turn into a pumpkin myself lol. I’m not a nighttime person at all.
I’m impressed with the GU! I just can’t do them. The first time I tried, I had to spit it out on the canal right then and there ha. Do you get the brand GU? I tried a Honey Stinger gel, but it was like pomegranate something, so maybe I just need a different flavor and brand haha. But great job with your fueling and pace! I’m so glad you’re realizing you can do all these things and I’m so excited for you and this marathon! 🙂
I’ve tried a few different things–not the HS gels but I do like their wafers (I ate them in my R2R2R hike 🙂 ). I actually like GU chomps but it requires a lot of chewing which I don’t want to deal with during a race. I use the Tri-berry GU flavor from the brand and I literally just gulp it down–3 gulps and it’s gone! LOL!
The waffles are good! I’ve had them when I’m not even doing any form of activity ha! And I agree, I don’t know what it is, but I can’t do chewing and running at the same time lol. Thank you so so much for the recommendations! 🙂
❤
I’m just slowly getting back into running; 1k with my daughter on NY day and then a 3k and 4k pain free! Congrats on an awesome running week !
Awww I love that you ran with your daughter!! Yay for pain free!!
You totally conquered that 16 miler! I can’t believe your race is coming up so soon. How exciting. This was my first 25+ mile week since October.
Niiice!!! Way to go!!