Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 3

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training, Running and tagged with Hanson's Marathon Method, Marathon Training, NYC Marathon Training, Running, Weekly Recap July 26, 2016

Holy Helly mileage!!! I’ve seriously never run so much in my life.

The plan:

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:20
Long Runs–9:29

Monday, July 18th– Easy 6 miles, 9:37 avg

I met up with a buddy for these easy miles and we insanely did them in the evening amidst an oncoming monsoon storm.

It wasn’t even 100 degrees …

Tuesday, July 19th– 1 mile WU, 8×600 (w/400R), 1 mile CD=7 miles total (+3 easy miles in the evening)=10 miles

The goal for the 600s (what an awkward distance btw) was 2:51 and even though I had programmed the workout on my watch, I forgot to set the target pace so I had no idea where I was supposed to be. I had a vague idea (I thought it was 2:55) and stuck with that but even then, I struggled getting these done.

600 Splits

2:54
2:43
2:55
2:48
2:53
2:56
2:55
2:58

I was definitely disappointed when I got home and saw that I missed the mark. I don’t know if it was travel fatigue (and training fatigue) but the run was hard. Plus, it was one of those where I ran in the evening the night before and then ran in the morning the next day. #excuses

And then, maybe to punish myself, I ran again in the evening with a friend. It was an easy (yet hard b/c omg, heat) run and I did it pushing my 4 year-old daughter in the stroller.

Wednesday, July 19th–GLORIOUS REST DAY

I milked it.

Thursday, July 20th– 1 mile WU, 6 Tempo @8:45 pace, 1 mile CD

I was determined to do this tempo run well but it took a while for me to warm up, jaja! It was effing ridiculous at 5 in the morning (86 degrees with 46% humidity).

This run definitely made me feel better after Tuesday’s not so stellar workout.

Friday, July 21st–Easy/Hilly 6 miles 9:51 avg

pretty much…..

This was seriously crazy. There’s been a few moments already in this training where I’ve questioned my sanity. But yeah, I woke up at 4 to drive 30 minutes to run 6 miles of hills. Luckily, I met up with some friends and we had pretty amazing views that made it worth it.

90 degrees, 36% humidity but still beautiful <3

90 degrees at 5 a.m., 36% humidity but still beautiful ❤

Saturday, July 23rd–6 easy miles, 10:16 avg

I made sure to take these reeeeally easy considering I had two days of tough running. Four out of the 6 miles were in the 10 minute range.

And I made it home in time for a little Birthday Breakfast celebration ❤

I have a 3 year old ❤

Birthday pizza tradition–birthday year in pepperonis

Sunday, July 24th–10 miles Long Run @9:29 goal pace

I had to wake up early again for this one since we had my son’s actual birthday part in the morning. I started at 4:45 a.m. and did 4 miles by myself before meeting up with my MRTT friends at 5:30 and doing the last 6 with them.

It was hot, it was windy. Same ‘ol, same ‘ol.

First 4–10:04, 8:58, 9:12, 9:13

Last 6–9:48, 9:14, 9:30, 9:40, 9:31, 10:00

I did not mind one bit slowing down to run with my friends for the last 6. I was tired and the company was way better than hitting the paces solo. I ended up with a 9:31 average anyway=WIN.

In fact, I was so tired, that on the last mile I tripped over a piece of raised sidewalk, flew, and fell hard. This was actually the first time I’ve ever fallen! Crazy, since I often run on the trails but til Sunday, I’ve lucked out. Luckily, I was able to adjust mid-air and prepare for the fall; I only had a small scratch on my hip and spared the rest of my body.

I showered and went straight to party mode as my son’s superhero birthday party was at 9:30 a.m.!!

My lil Batman

Batgirl, so serious ❤

WonderWoman and Robin ❤

To say I was exhausted after this week is an understatement. I ran 46 miles this week–the most I’ve ever ran in my life, including the week I’ve run a marathon. Here’s hoping it’s all worth it and Hanson’s gets me the PR I’ve been coveting!! 😀

–Have you fallen during a run?

–Do you have a favorite superhero?

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 2

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training, Running and tagged with Hanson's Marathon Method, Marathon Training, NYC Marathon, NYC Marathon Training, Recap, Running July 18, 2016

Welp, Week 2 is in the books! I feel like after week two of any training, things start to get real. The honeymoon is over, so to speak, and it becomes harder to stick with it. In Hanson’s, the mileage spikes significantly in Week 3 so I think they agree with my theory that the fun is over after the second week.

The plan:

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:20
Long Runs–9:29

And here are last week’s deets:

Monday, July 11th– Easy 5 miles, 9:46 avg

The plan said 6 and I hated to break the plan so soon in the training but I was pushed for time as I was meeting my husband for lunch. I did these miles at my gym which is a bit of a hike from where he works. At the end though, I figured it was better I take miles off the easy runs than the important SOS (Something of Substance) runs–and it was only 1 mile, lol.

Tuesday, July 12th– 1 mile WU, 12×400 @7:45 pace with 400R, 1 mile CD=8 miles

I was really looking forward to this run for some reason. I was excited to run fast (for me) as I’d been doing a lot of “easy” miles up to this point. I know that Tuesdays will become harder as the weeks go on, but for right now, I’m thinking they’re fun 🙂

It was tough to get in a groove though because I kept having to slow down to get to my prescribed pace. I seemed to be more comfortable at the 7-7:15 pace. I wish I’d just done them all at a consistent effort–whether that was at 7:15 or 7:45. I ended up texting Allison and having a long conversation about this–I know I’m barely in week 2, but 7:45 just felt too easy for speed work.

This was also the first time I programmed a “workout” on my watch. I felt like a total badass 😀

#yolo

Wednesday, July 13th — Glorious Rest Day

Yet I still got in two miles of walking according to my steps count, lol.

Thursday, July 14th— 1 mile WU, 4 miles Tempo @8:45, 1 mile CD=6 miles

Hanson’s said 6 easy but next week, when Tempo runs begin, they have me starting with 6 Tempo miles and I thought going from 0 to 6 was a bit much. So I figured making a mini tempo out this runs would be a good transition.

But again, I went too fast. I couldn’t get myself in the groove for 8:45 and as each mile beeped, I would see I was going faster. I ended up negative splitting.

I’m shocked at how good these miles felt.

I think it’s just marathon training excitement and once fatigue sets in and the mileage increases, I’ll settle into my paces easier.

Friday, July 15th– 5 Easy miles, 9:55 avg

I stuck to my easy pace for this one but in my half asleep stupor, I took a wrong turn in my route and was short a mile. I was bummed to have “lost” another mile this week but I figured again, it was on my easy run day. Plus, we were going out of town later that morning and that was making me feel a little rushed #excuses

Road trip essential

Saturday, July 16th–7 Easy (turned into Long Run) miles, 9:05 avg

Totally didn’t stick to the pace on this one. We went down to our hometown to visit and woke up at dawn to run. I think it was excitement at being home and running through the streets I grew up on that made me run faster (and longer, I added a mile since I “lost” one the day before). I figured I’d make this my Long Run since it was closer to that pace and I’d make Sunday’s run my Easy run +2 miles.

ZERO cars.

Sunday, July 17th– 8 Easy miles, 9:35 avg

I had an absolute blast on this run. First, it was like 75 degrees when we started. I’d even go out as far to say I was cold! Second, my husband and I decided to make the run a little mini tour of our hometown so we ran to various places. My little hometown is a small border town right next to Mexico. We did a mini circle of the city and it was only 8 miles, lol!

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Morning sunrise start

At the Mexico/U.S. Port of Entry

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The shorter fence is on the U.S. side and the taller fence is on the Mexico side.

Street art

At my old high school

Back at the start 🙂

It was such a great week of running and my highest mileage week ever (be prepared for me to say that each week)–I even managed to meet the miles I was supposed to by adding a few at the end of the week. A total confidence booster and I hope that I can just continue with this momentum. The high mileage coming up scares me a bit– I’m terrified of getting injured, but I’ve been foam rolling and stretching like a mad woman. I slacked off on my core work and MYRTLEs while on vacay but I’m def back to normal now that I’m home. Overall, two thumbs up for Week 2!!! 😀

Total miles: 39.17

–How was your running week?

–Do you take running tours of your town?

–Do you know how to set workouts to your watch? I’m really proud of myself that I learned, lol!

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 1

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training and tagged with Hanson's Marathon Method, Hansons, Marathon Training, NYC Marathon Training, Running July 11, 2016

Well, week 1 is in the books!!!

I must say, thank goodness for pre-training because this running almost everyday business is tiring! Week 1, and I’m exhausted, lol!

Okay, so here’s the goals. You all know I’m shooting for a PR (less than 4:44) and anything below that number would make me happy. If I’m real though, which I like to be here, I’d be teensy bit bummed with 4:30+. Still happy, but I ~~know~~ think I’m better than that. So, that being said, my big goal is a sub 4, I’d be freaking over the moon with 4-4:30, and most importantly, finishing at whatever time would be worthy of celebration.

For Hanson’s, I’ll be using the paces for a 3:50. I know that that is ambitious considering NYC is a tough course, but I’m comfortable with the ranges they give for that time and ultimately, I’m curious to see how I’d do running that fast–(Hanson’s race equivalency says I should try a 3:45!) I will not be devastated if I don’t get a sub 4. At all. I figure I can give it a shot and just see. Phoenix Marathon is next February (late February) and it’s a more forgiving course–my chances are better attempting a sub 4 there. So really, NYC will be a fun attempt at it, but I’ll be putting all my money in at Phoenix.

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:20
Long Runs–9:29

Week 1 starts you with half a week of running, Thurs-Sunday. But since I had been Pre-Season training, I continued with what I had been doing but keeping it easy.

Monday, July 4th– Easy 4 miles, 9:30 avg

My run club had a fun 5k for the 4th of July celebration but since it didn’t start til 7:30 (it already gets insanely hot by that hour here), I decided to graciously let my husband run it. That meant I had to wake up super early to get my run in so 5 o’clock it was!

It was any easy progressive run with splits at 9:49, 9:36, 9:25, 9:13.

Tuesday, July 5th–4 Mini Tempo miles, 8:37 avg

My husband and I ran this one together and I absolutely love it when he runs with me (he’s faster than me). Hanson’s has Tuesdays as Speed and Strength days so I’ve been keeping Tuesdays as tougher runs throughout my Pre-Season training.

Splits were tough (it was 108 degrees out) but were 8:37, 8:54, 8:39, 8:17.

Me and my favorite runner. ❤

Wednesday, July 6th–REST DAY

Hanson’s has Wednesdays as its sole rest day and I milked it. I must mention that throughout all this running I am doing stretching, foam rolling, and core work which I did today as it’s become customary.

Thursday, July 7th— Easy 5 miles, 9:26 avg

This was the first official day of Hanson’s training and I blew it, lol. The plan called for 6 easy (around a 9:40-10:20) and I did 5 at 9:26.

I met up with my run club and our group leader was late. We waited a few minutes for him as he’s usually on it, but after 10 minutes we went on without him. I had to be home at 6 for my husband to leave for work so I cut back a mile as I was also about an 8 minute drive from home.

Me trying to take a group selfie. Is this thing on???

Friday, July 8th— Easy 6 miles, 9:45 avg

Stuck to the plan on this one 😀 and I was pleased with the consistency of my splits:

Saturday, July 9th— Easy 6 miles, 9:36 avg

I ran this with my buddy Runner Jenny who is also doing NYC Marathon with me. We chatted the whole way and it was good, easy run.

Me and Runner Jenny

Sunday, July 10th— Hilly 8 miles, 9:21 avg

The plan said easy but Hanson’s has Sundays as Long Run Days starting the 3rd week. Starting on the the 3rd week, every other week calls for the Long Run Pace and the Sundays it doesn’t, it is an easy run. So, ideally, I’d like to keep all Sunday runs around long run pace but with no worries if I don’t on the days it says “easy”. (Hopefully, that made sense, lol!)

One of my running buddies asked if anyone wanted to do a hilly run in his neighborhood and I said sure. It was a 30 minute drive but I like his hood for two reasons: They’re good rolling hills (the kind I like) and part of the area is the course for the Phoenix Marathon (its only hilly section).

I kept the pace comfortable and let myself go with the downhill and kept it steady on the uphill. Hills are definitely my weakness so I was ecstatic with how I was running. I just felt good! I had no idea what was happening, lol!

And that was Week 1! I passed out Sunday night at 7 p.m. before my kids, lol. Luckily, my husband was a champ and took over the nightly routine. I’ll have to really make sure I keep myself healthy–eat and drink tons of water. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long 17 more weeks!

Total miles : 33.12

–How was your running week?

–Do you get excited to start a training cycle? I think my excitement wears off the 3rd week when shit starts getting real, lol!

–Are you a good selfie taker?