Category Archives: Marathon Training

Week 6: #itsgoingdownatphx

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training and tagged with , , , ,

Here we go, one more week! So many exciting things happened, not so much to me lol, but to running friends near and far .

Monday, 11/27–8 miles

I met up with a friend I met through my coach for this tempo run. She’s faster than me but we had similar mileage. And I’m inspired by faster runners anyway 🙂

I had 5 at Active Threshold pace (7:40) with a 90sec recovery in between each one.

7:34
7:29
7:40
7:43
7:37

Started off a little excited but then settled in to the right pace. Coach says to stay close to pace even though we feel we can go faster. “The goal is to raise your blood lactate to it’s threshold , and then hold it there for the duration of the workout. Training at AT increase the speed at which acidosis occurs, enabling you to hold a faster pace in races. With training, your pace at AT will increase.”

Tuesday, 11/28–Strength, Stretch, and Roll

Did some core and strength videos for 60 min. I’ve been feeling/seeing the benefits of actually doing these things, lol!

Wednesday, 11/29–4.5 miles

Easy run around the hood. I say easy but my overall pace was 8:46. I don’t know who’s easy that is but it’s certainly not mine. But, I’ve been feeling my easy pace start to creep into the 8s. I seriously don’t know who I’ve become. Mile 1-9:20, 2-8:36 <—told myself to slow down –> 3-8:41, 4-8:29 <— I gave up.

Thursday, 11/30–6.5 miles

This was awful. Just, awful. Hills+Speed=Death.

I was not looking forward to this workout at all. But, I knew I had to do it so I somehow (seriously) got myself out the door.

Finished November with 138 miles.

Friday, 12/1–Strength, Stretch, and Roll

I put my easy Friday run in Wednesday since I’d moved that workout to Thursday. I have a way of complicating things.

Saturday, 12/2–16 miles (10+6)

Splitting my long runs isn’t my jam, but breakfast with Santa got in the way so I had to be home earlier than usual. I got 10 in with a friend

then I got 6 in later solo.

This was such a good run and I know I would’ve felt just as good had it been done in one shot, lol!

Sunday, 12/3–TRACKING ALL THE CIM SUPERSTARS

You guys, oh em gee. I had so many friends KILL it at CIM this weekend!!!!! My coach ran a 2:55 like a boss, two BTB teammates ran a 2:50 (PRs for both), another BTB teammate ran a 3:21 (PR), a good friend got a BQ, my loyal training buddy Ashley matched her PR, countless IG friends met their sub 3 hour goals (HOW is that even possible?!), aaaaaaand Elle surprised us all by getting a PR and BQ!!!!!! It wasn’t a surprise that she ran that time, it was a surprise in that SHE DIDN’T EVEN TELL US SHE WAS RUNNING!!!

I was left so freaking inspired. It’s no secret I want to Boston Qualify, and I’ve made my goal very public. I like the pressure. I really don’t mind it. And I like the pressure of having friends Boston qualify at CIM because it just further ignites my fire. I know I want it bad. But their success makes me want it more. I want to run Boston with them. I know for some, publicizing their goals doesn’t work, but for me, I feel like I get to show people my journey, good or “bad”.

Elle made a good point in her blog by saying how “announcing your goals on social media is detrimental to actually achieving your goal because the praise you receive for the attempt fulfills your achievement needs.”

But I honestly don’t think I let it affect me. I mean, I appreciate peoples’ encouragement throughout my training, but I don’t share my journey for the likes or comments. I don’t think I work less hard because I get praise before the actual race.

If you’ve been a reader for a while, you know that I started off this blog with a 4:44 marathon. Four years later, I’ve cut an hour off that time. I’m not a natural runner. I work freaking hard. And that’s what I like sharing. That it’s not easy. That’s there’s setbacks a long the way(hello DNF!)–that would happen if I blogged about it or not.

What I love about Elle is that she did things her way. I LOVE THAT. And I love that she shares her type of journey. I know she’s been wanting a “good” marathon and she went out and did it. Her terms. And freaking nailed it.

People get caught up into thinking they have to do things a certain way, train a certain way, to succeed at their goal. Nope. Here’s Elle sneaking in a BQ like a total badass, and here I am for the world to see me try. She did it, and now it’s my turn! 😀 (And guess what?!? Elle will be in Phoenix to cheer me on!!!! ❤ )

Week 7, I’m ready for you!!

 

Weeks 3-4: #itsgoingdownatphx

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training and tagged with , , ,

It’s been a busy couple of weeks so I’ve missed some training recaps. I know how exciting these are and how much you anxiously await them :p

Week 3

Monday, 11/6–6.5 miles

Little negative split six and a halfer–9:17(wu), 8:44, 8:28, 8:15, 7:50, 9:03(cd)

Tuesday, 11/7–4 miles, Strength Training, Foam Rolling, Stretching

A friend and I ran to a local shoe store (8:50, 8:30) to hear Jeff Galloway speak. I’ve never used his walk/run method but have friends who have had success with it. It was interesting to hear his philosophy. Two miles back home (8:30, 8:35) and I called it a day.

Wednesday, 11/8–7 miles

It was one of my favorite workouts–a timed ladder (5, 4, 3, 2, 1 min w/1 min R) twice. But I didn’t have my usual pep in my step so I decided early on to just make sure my second set was faster than my first.

Thursday, 11/9 — Strength Training, Foam Rolling, Stretching

check! : )

Friday, 11/10–6 miles

I met up with some friends for some early morning hills. Took it easy (10:00/avg) as we were leaving to Vegas that afternoon.

Saturday, 11/11 (rest/shop), Sunday, 11/12–13.1 miles (RnR Vegas)

Rock and Roll Vegas was SO MUCH FUN!! I used it as a training run to get that marathon goal pace (mgp) down (8:00) and I was really happy with how I did. I was bummed my watch went wonky because I knew my splits would be pretty but oh well…I finished on target at a 7:59 pace 😀

Total for Week 3: 37 miles

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Week 4

Monday, 11/13–Rest Day

We drove home from Vegas and I made sure to roll, roll, roll that night.

Tuesday, 11/14–4 miles

These were slooooow (9:39 but felt much slower). Positive split the entire run, lol!

Wednesday, 11/15–5 miles

Oh man, this was rough. I had mile repeats that were supposed to be at around 7:15 but that was NOT happening. I managed to pull off a 7:22, 7:19, 7:26 and I felt pretty darn happy about it.

Thursday, 11/16–Strength Training, Foam Rolling, Stretching

So on these cross/strength training days, I haven’t been making it to the gym to get on the bike or elliptical, but I’ve been doing some videos at home that focus on body weight strength training. I’ve actually been doing them so I’m happy with my efforts on these Tuesday and Thursday cross/strength training days.

Friday, 11/17–3 miles

Easy, peasy run around the ‘hood (9:17/avg).

Saturday, 11/18–13.1 miles (Gilbert Half Marathon)

I used this race as another training run as I continue to get that mgp (8:00) to feel like home. My goal was to be between 1:45-1:50 and I finished in 1:46 so super yay! My coach had me run the first 3 at long run pace, and then the remaining 10 miles with a one minute surge at the beginning of each mile. The surges became less fast as the race went on, LOL, but I was happy with the way I ran. I tried my best to keep it as close to mgp as possible–there were a few miles where we had some headwind (and heat!) but again, I was pleased with my efforts and with the fact I ran comfortably and finished feeling fine.

I heart running.

Total for Week 4: 25 miles

_____________________________

Now I’m all caught up!! So far, I’m feeling pretty good and trying my best to be diligent on staying healthy and injury free so that has meant eating better (I have!), rolling and stretching (check!), and working that core (workin’ it!).

–Do you use races as training runs?

–What are your favorite core exercise?

 

Week 1: #itsgoingdownatphx

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training and tagged with ,

Week 1 was fun but a tad stressful as my husband was out of the country again and it made it a little tough running and life wise. I’m home now so that has definitely helped (long story but I’m no longer teaching), and I’m actually one of those who likes their husbands so it’s def hard when he’s gone because I miss him so much.

Anywho, Monday, October 23rd was our anniversary–and he wasn’t here 😥 It was our first anniversary in 7 years spent away from each other. I ran 7 miles to commemorate our special day ❤

#bestdayever

Tuesdays are cross training days so I spent time on the mat doing MRYTLES and strength exercises. Later, I took my kids to our local running store for a Halloween mile fun walk/run, too. I even won a gift certificate!

 

This was supposed to a be a fun walk until little guy said, “Run, mommy!!”

❤

Wednesday was the big timed mile I wrote about and while I didn’t hit my “goal,” I was happy I’d improved from my previous timed mile by 10 seconds. I know I have a faster mile in me.

6:42

I really wanted to meet up with my coach and her team to do this mile as I knew I’d be motivated by some of the faster athletes that would be there. But because I was solo parenting, I was resigned to a solo run after kid drop off around 9–which is already a bit warm here in Arizona.

Thursday I was back on the mat. I’ve been doing some exercises I’ve compiled from a few different places and have actually been pretty good about doing them–and liking them.

Friday was supposed to be an easy run day but because my husband would be out of town Saturday for my long run, I decided to switch some days around. I was also pressed for time for this 10 miler so I did 8 outside and 2 on the treadmill. You gotta do what you gotta do.

I made Saturday my rest day and cleaned up the house to prep for daddy coming home later that night.

Sunday I made up Friday’s 5 miler with a friend. We chatted the entire time and before we knew it, we were done. It was also surprising to see we’d almost negative split the thing! I love it when it just happens naturally 🙂

Week one of Phoenix Marathon training rounded me out to 28 miles for the week. Very, very pleased 😀

Off to dress up and give out candy! Happy Halloween, friends!!

–Do you ever unintentionally negative split?

–Do you celebrate Halloween? What are you dressing up as? Check out the Insta for our family costume pic!

–What is your favorite candy? I’m not a huge chocolate fan, but I’d have to go with Three Musketeers. I’m more a fruity gal like Skittles and Starburst.