Phoenix Marathon Training Week 1 Recap

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon, Running and tagged with Goals, Marathon Training, Phoenix Marathon, PR, Running November 18, 2014

Here we go again!

So pretty much my blog is about training recaps. LOL! I hope I don’t bore you!!!

I mentioned in my previous post that I’m on a mission. I really, really want that PR. Typically, I’m not crazy overly goal driven. Like, I have a goal in mind but I’m never super bummed or upset if I don’t get it. But for some reason, this goal of getting a marathon PR is something I’m very serous about….as evident in my Week 1 Training Recap 🙂

Sunday was Bunday. Yes, you read that right. I did a series of videos focusing on hips and glutes and worked my ass off. Literally. I feel like this is an area (ahem) that I need to work on to help improve my running/fitness so I’m making it a priority in my training.

Actually, strength training is something I feel like I’ve lacked and need so I’m def making sure to include it this time around. I’m not much of a free weights/machines person but prefer body weight strength training like pilates-esque stuff.

Monday I met up with some teacher co-workers for a post work workout (<—try saying that ten times). We met at the football field and did some stadium drills, track lunges, and core work. While I had a blast with them, having just had Bunday the day before, I was hurting.

Upness

I met up with my run club Tuesday evening, got in a nice 4 miler, and worked the core after.

Negative splits? Yes, please!

Wednesday was speed work at the track but it was SO cold out (I know, I know, here’s Helly starting her complaining it’s cold when it’s barely 60 degrees out) and I was so sore that I made it a mile (8:30) before I called it quits. I didn’t want to push it so I went home, foam rolled, and stretched instead.

I’ve decided to try running after work on Thursdays before I head home to pick up the kids. I figure I can get in a decent 4-5 miler in the time I have. So as soon as the bell rang, I changed in the faculty bathroom and headed out for an easy, breezy 4

From work to play 🙂

Friday was rest day and it felt oh, so good! Even my kids partook in resting with mama and wore their pajamas to school (I kinda wish I could’ve too!)

Pajama Day @ school! 😀

Normally, I run long with my run club Saturday mornings but it’s been a tough bedtime/morning with my kids lately so I knew it was unlikely I’d be able to make it. I took advantage of grandma and one toddler’s nap and went later in the morning. I had 8 miles on the schedule and was able to check it off–and be happy with the results! I even managed to squeeze in a couple of core vids later that evening 🙂

^^ Along the lines of my thoughts during my run

Overall, I am digging the start of this training and hope it continues this way throughout. I’m going into it very motivated and inspired and with positive thinking that I can accomplish my goal. We shall see! 🙂

Total miles: 17 miles
Soda update: I am doing pretty good with this–averaging one a day!

How was your running week?
Do goals motivate you to train harder/better?
Do you strength train? What do you do?

Back on the Marathon Train-ing!!

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon and tagged with Goal, Marathon, Phoenix Marathon, PR, Running, Training November 11, 2014

I know, I know. I just ran a marathon.

Lemme ‘splain.

When I put my name in the Marine Corps Marathon Lottery, I really had NO idea I’d get picked the first time I tried. So I signed up for Phoenix Marathon (Feb. 28) thinking I’d at least have that marathon to train for if I didn’t get in. Yeah, you know what happened..lol

I took an entire full week off post Marine Corps. No running, no cross training, no nothing except for indulging in all things food and soda (and surprising, I didn’t drink that much!). Then the following week I started to ease back in.

But this week starts the first week of official Phoenix Marathon Training!
I’ve decided to go back to Hal on this one and do a modified Higdon plan. I still need to recap Run Less, Run Faster and really stress how my experience with it really shouldn’t be taken with much confidence as I was pretty terrible at following it 😦 but more on that later.

For Phoenix, I’m on a mission. I’m going to lay it out there.

I want a sub 4:30.

I really, really do. Last year, I finished at 4:44 and I really think I got it in me to nail a big PR like that. I was 7 months post pregnancy when I did my first marathon, I have a lot more training under my belt, and I simply have ~~more~~ ~~some~~ okay, two marathons of experience. Plus, this race is in my hometown, so no traveling (I think that’s a big point there) and I can’t neglect to mention the elevation course: Which leads me to this: I was talking to a girl about how I wanted to get a sub 4:30 and when I said I was hoping to do it at Phoenix she scoffed and said, “Yeah, that’s all downhill so you’re lucky. Should be easy to get it.”

Ummm, I didn’t get it when I ran the marathon the first time, missy (it sure as hell wasn’t easy either!) And neither did thousands of people who ran it that day. Huumpf!!!

I just don’t get how runners can be so negative to other runners. Runners are known for being such nice people and it’s those handful out there, like the girl I was talking to, who are blemishing our reputation. So if I do get my sub 4:30 do I have to put a little asterisk saying I did it at Phoenix, a course known for being fast?? If someone BQs do they have to add a disclaimer that it was done on a downhill course? I mean, really?

Get off my marathon train-ing. Guh-bye!

–What do you guys think? Does someone need to explain their PR or BQ?

I hope you all have a good week! To those in the U.S., Happy Veteran’s Day!!–make sure to tip your hat to those who served 🙂

Meeting the BRF and other Marine Corps Marathon awesomeness

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon, Race, Running and tagged with BRF, Crowd Support, Marine Corps Marathon, Running, Running Friends November 3, 2014

Besides crossing that finish line and getting medaled by a Marine, the other major highlight of the weekend was FINALLY MEETING SALT!!! A lot of people were surprised that we had never actually met up to that day considering how much we ~~obsess~~ talk about each other. We “met” over 3 years ago (whoa!) on an online mommy’s group (our daughters are the same age ❤ ) and we’ve been friends ever since. I convinced her to start running and she convinced me to start blogging and the rest is BRF history!

I knew she’d be running a 5k that morning but I also knew she’d be done quickly (I mean, it’s Salt) so I expected her at the finish line. When I crossed, I checked my phone messages and there it was, one of her telling me she was there! I let her know where’d I’d be collapsing and she appeared magically through the throng of family supporters carrying with her a beautiful sign.

We squealed like schoolgirls and hugged and then she plopped down beside me and we started chatting like if we’d known each other forever. It. Was. Awesome.

20141026_134948

I had zero doubts that I’d like her in person. We had “talked” to each other nearly every day through some sort of social media and texted each other occasionally. We were real life friends no matter the fact I hadn’t actually heard her voice (why we’ve never called each other, I don’t know. Oh, technology).

I was a hot mess after the race and wanted to get back to my room to shower so Salt gave me and my husband a ride. Around the block. Traffic was so dense that we spent 30 minutes getting a quarter of a mile. We decided to let Salt go 😦 so that she wouldn’t spend her whole day stuck in that awful mess. We shared a tearful goodbye with plans to meet again soon (we’ve got something up our sleeves) and I saw her go off in her little red Fiat into the sea of cars….

Other More Random Cool Stuff

One of the things that impressed me so much about the Marine Corps Marathon was the crowd support. I mean, I rarely, if ever, felt alone. Not only were there so many people cheering us on, many of them carried super funny, clever signs. Here are some good lines I somehow remember:

“Fine, Emily. We can get a cat.”

“Taylor, we just got engaged and you’re already running away!”

“Run like you’ve just been called a jogger!”

“Run like the Ebola vaccine is at the finish line!”

“Keep going–you’re not almost there! You’ve got a shitload of miles left!”

“Run like someone is chafing you!”

“Mike, I’m pregnant!”

“F*@k the friend that signed you up for this!”

There’s more but I can’t remember them. But seriously though, crowd support was AMAZING. There were several spots along the way with people handing out cups of beer, pretzels, candy, tissue (I took one), Vaseline–I mean, talk about support.

Another awesome moment was actually waiting for the race to start. A tent of Marines were selling coffee and hot chocolate pre-race and we stood in the long line waiting to purchase. I didn’t know how the hot chocolate would sit with me but I was so cold, I didn’t care. Anyway, the man in front of me handed the Marine a $20 bill and the Marine asked if he had anything smaller, to which the man replied, “Get as many people as you can with the change.”

Even the participants were super friendly. Not just in this instance, but throughout the race I saw runners concerned for runners, runners encouraging each other, runners just being their awesome selves. It truly was such a memorable experience. One that is worthy of putting on your “To Race” list.

Have you ran a race that was memorable? What made it so awesome?

Do you have an awesome Best Running Friend?