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?

Pre-Season Marathon Training: Week 1

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training, Running and tagged with Hanson's Marathon Method, Marathon Training, NYC Marathon, Pre-season, Running June 6, 2016

Well, you guys know that I decided to go with good ‘ol Hanson’s this time around for NYC Marathon and once I took a good look at the plan, I realized that was a whole lotta miles. I figured it would do me good to get going on getting used to running a lot. Like, a lot a lot.

Having taken a week off to recover from the Canyon, I went for my first official run last Sunday–exactly a week after my second day crossing.

Sunday, 5/29–3 miles easy, 9:27 avg

We were in my hometown visiting for the Memorial Day Weekend and I took advantage of being home by running the course for the yearly Turkey Trot. I hate this course. It’s my Eleanor, I guess you could say (who knows where’s that from??) For some reason, I can never do well at this race. Maybe it’s home court jitters, I don’t know, but I always struggle bus it. Anyway, whenever we’re home, I try and run this 5k so that I can somehow train my brain to beat it. It’s not even that hard. Ugh.

The mountain on top of my left shoulder is in Mexico and the mountain to the right of me is in Arizona 🙂

Monday, 5/30–4 miles easy, 9:45 avg

I finally was able to meet up with a sub group of a running group I’m in. They always meet on Mondays at 5 but I somehow can never make it. Since it was Memorial Day, my husband had the day off and I was able to go out for another easy run.

Tuesday, 5/31–4 miles tempo, 8:38 avg

I felt ready for a good run on Tuesday, just in time for our 100 degree weather. Yep, 100+ degrees out to say good-bye to May.

Ice pop at the end–necessary.

Splits–8:27, 8:42, 8:44, 8:43

I started out a bit too fast but I was please at the consistency for the remainder miles. It’s something I’ve been working on all year and I’m happy I’m getting better at it.

Wednesday, 6/1–Global Running Day 5k, 8:23 avg

Our run club had an informal 5k to celebrate this special day and oh my goodness gracious, was it effing hot out there. Another over 100 degree day.

Splits were awful–8:07, 8:22, 8:33

Last I checked, a 5k is 3.1 miles!! Bleh…lol

Thursday, 6/2–Rest Day

You should notice (and I’m making you if you hadn’t 😉 ), that I had done 4 days of straight running. This was done purposely as again, I’m training to get myself used to Hanson’s insanity of 6 days of running with no rest. I figured I’d start slow with 4 days straight, lol.

Friday, 6/3–4.23 easy miles, 9:14 avg

You know you guys wanna move here….

This was tough because I started off easy, saw the first mile split and was pleased, and then continued running easy, saw the second mile a little faster….then continued running easy and saw the third mile faster, and then figured what the heck, I’ve already made this into a mini progression run–might as well make the last mile a little faster.

Splits–9:41, 9:24, 9:12, 8:43

I think Hanson’s easy runs will be tough for me. A lot of the miles are supposed to be done easy and my prescribed easy pace is 9:40-10:20. It’s crazy to even say this, but my easy comfort zone right now is around the 9 minute mark. I’m going to have work a little to get to Hanson’s easy. But, I’m pretty positive that once I get going with the plan, the accumulated exhaustion will settle and then Hanson’s easy probably won’t feel so easy anymore, lol!

Saturday, 6/4–Rest Day

I thought I’d be able to squeeze a run in, but I had an 8 o’clock hair appointment and didn’t want to rush to it. So, I slept in 😀

Sunday, 6/5–Long Run 6 miles, 9:19 avg

My Moms Run This Town Chapter meets on Sundays, so I ran my long run with them. We had a new mom join and I ran my first two miles with her to keep her company–10:14, 9:59. She turned around then as she was only doing 4.

I continued on with another mom to finish my six–9:05, 8:51, 8:55, 8:48. This was a good run as it had been a while since I’d done any road run over a 5 miler (since April 23rd!!).

From Sunday to Sunday, I had a 24.6 mile week. Pretty good 🙂

–How was your running week? Do you “train for training”?

–How do you get yourself to run easy?

–What’s the temperature like where you’re at? Do you wanna move to Arizona?