Tag Archives: Marathon Training

Never-ending

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

Growing up, I used to watch Mexican soap operas. And I loved that each novela would have a grand finale. It wouldn’t go on and on and on like American soap operas. (How long has General Hospital been on?) Of course there were times that I’d get sad when a novela would end–it was so good! But I appreciated the fact that they would give the viewer closure by having an end.

I *loved* watching this actress growing up 😀

What does this all have to do with running?

I don’t want BQ training to be my General Hospital.

While I love training, and get legitimately sad when it’s over, I reeeally don’t want training to Boston Qualify to be never-ending. Please Lord let there be an end (and with good results LOL)!!

I’m always excited to start a new training cycle and I’m excited this time too, but…

REAL TALK: Sometimes I wish that BQ training could’ve been a continuation of NYC Marathon training–I felt so confident and in it then. I honestly think it was because I knew deep down inside I could get my sub 4 hour goal, despite it requiring a 45 minute improvement. I wasn’t scared of the “end” of that cycle. I was excited. I knew I could reach my goal.

I take comfort in the “known” which is why I think this particular training cycle scares me so much. I don’t know if I can reach my goal. I don’t know when this BQ training cycle will end. That confidence I had going into and training for NYC Marathon is not here with this BQ training. I’m trying. I really am–to be optimistic, and tell myself that with hard work and commitment it can be possible. But the high expectations of this particular end is both exciting and terrifying.

Does that make sense? Does any of this make sense?

I love challenge. I love taking risks. I even like being scared. As far as running is concerned, this will be my biggest challenge, my biggest risk, and the scariest thing I’ve ever attempted.

Here’s hoping it doesn’t become a never-ending training cycle! 😀

Week 1–St. George Marathon Training: Road to BQ

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

I know all of you have been anxiously awaiting my weekly training reports, LOL! Last week was Week 1 of 20 on the road to BQ. I still can’t believe I’m attempting it. I’m a ball of emotions right now (you bet I’ll write about it) but all I can do is trust the process ❤

 

 

Monday, June 5th–4 Easy Miles, 8:42/mile

I joined a friend for this run in the early a.m. –I’ve been getting up SOOOO early this training cycle. #gottagetthemgoals

9:06
8:30
8:36
8:35

Tuesday, June 6th–1 mile WU, 8 miles indoor bike, strength training

My training schedule is opposite of my usual run club days and I no longer run on Tuesdays and Thursday 😥 But, since I can’t be away from my friends for too long, I join them for a warm up mile (at 4:45 a.m.!!!!) before heading inside to the gym. That’s loyalty, amiright?

Wednesday, June 7th–6 miles hill cut-downs

Holy hilly hell. This was hard, but this. was. FUN.

1 mile WU
4×1:30 uphill controlled
Recover
4×1:00 uphill strong
Recover
4x30sec uphill very strong
Recover
4x15sec 100% effort
1 mile CD

Team BTB (Believe Train Become)

Thursday, June 8th–Strength Training

I’m supposed to cross train Tuesdays and Thursdays, but today we drove to the beach so all I squeezed in were some core exercises and squats. Something is something.

my lil beach bums ❤

Friday, June 9th–5 Easy Miles, 9:36/avg

the beach at Puerto Penasco, Mexico

This was my endpoint.

Saturday, June 10th–12 Miles Long Run, 9:27/avg


This was a tough run. My husband and I had to really make it work with the route we had to get to 12 miles. Our biggest obstacle, besides the undulated hills, were dogs! There were so many loose dogs on this route and we weren’t even in the actual city! But we got it done and I was SO proud. Getting in a long run while on vacation can be tough but when there’s a goal to be met, you do what you gotta do 🙂

Sunday, June 11th–Foam Roll Recovery

Sundays are my new rest days and I actually did rest this time because we traveled back home. Other Sundays I’ve still been meeting my MRTT group for some easy miles which I’ll continue to do if life permits.

And that’s Week 1– 8 miles cycling, 27 miles running

–Do you plan ahead to make time for your workouts/runs on vacation?

–Are you a beach person? Where is your favorite beach? I’m not particularly a beach person and haven’t explored many, but love to see where people go 🙂

Thanks for reading and I hope you follow along for the rest of this crazy BQ journey of mine! ❤

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Saying No

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

There’s a lot of things I’ve been saying no to lately. This wasn’t always an easy thing for me to do. Still isn’t.

But as the years have gone by, I’ve found it necessary to say no to things that inhibit my growth as a person, a parent, a teacher, and a runner.

Here are few things I’ve said no to recently:

Saying no….to over scheduling. With school out, I’ve felt a little pressure to sign my kids up for all the things. At my daughter’s Pre-K graduation, several parents asked what camps my daughter would attend. Ummm…none? It didn’t even cross my mind to sign her up for anything. I just figured we’d hang out all summer together. It made me start questioning myself, “Should I put her in something? Am I being a bad mom for not signing her up for a class/camp?” But, no. She’s fine. I’m fine. She’ll be plenty busy when school resumes and summer time will be family time.

You guys, I have a Kindergartner!

Saying no….to all the the races. When I was training for New York City Marathon, I did not race at all during my training cycle. My eye was on the sub-4 prize and I didn’t want to lose my focus. I have the same feelings now about St. George. I’m on a mission to Boston Qualify and I don’t want to worry about races/PRs before that happens. I was signed up for Rock and Roll San Diego, a race I’ve been really wanting to do. As a Rock and Roll ambassador (Rock ‘n’ Blogger–did I even tell you guys I was selected?!?) I have the ability to go to any race. I jumped on San Diego…. But then life stuff came up and San Diego no longer fit in that plan–so I pulled out of the race. I have a ton of friends going this weekend and the FOMO is for real. But, I have to stay firm on my no. Beyond the life circumstances that came up preventing me from going, I also have to keep my eye on the BQ prize. So as of right now, I have zero races leading up to St. George.

Saying no….to negative thoughts. I mentioned in previous posts that I’m trying to get my diet together. I gained some weight after New York City and Phoenix Marathon and I’ve felt it (and seen it, sadly). It’s tough to put on clothes and them not fitting as they should–the negative thoughts start creeping in and it’s easy to let them overtake you. But no, I’m fine. I’m doing what I can (healthily) to lose those pounds I’ve gained, and I just need to be patient.

Saying no….to fear. I’ll be back to teaching this fall. Yay!!! And while I’m excited, I’m super scared and nervous to be at a new school, teaching a new subject–still English, but I’ll have two sections of beginner writing for non-English speakers. This is a foreign territory for me (see what I did there? I crack myself up!) and I have a thing about the unknown. I like knowing. Unfortunately, that’s just not how life works, lol!

Saying no….to comparisons. I’m really good about not comparing myself to others. I love following people’s training journey, and I’m able to be happy for their successes without feeling like I’m lacking or slow in comparison. I have a very good friend who is also training to BQ at St. George and people have joked if we’ll remain friends afterward. I think that’s so silly–we don’t compete against each other. We really don’t. We are genuinely happy when one has a good run or race. We don’t base our progress/success on whether one is faster than the other.

BQ training buddy ❤ #makeithappen

BUT, it’s very difficult for me to not compare myself to myself. I’ve written about this before. I’ve come off two marathon training cycles and I’ve allowed myself to rest/recover. Right now, as I begin my next cycle, I feel like I’m starting over–which I am. And I have to allow myself to be okay with that. I can’t expect my fitness to maintain year-round; my body needs some down time. I look at pictures/paces from last year (and even a few months ago) and I wonder if I’ll ever get back to those times. I know it’s dumb, but those negative thoughts again…they creep in. I re-read the post I wrote last year and I found myself nodding at my words:

“…right now it’s important for me to focus on the present. I shouldn’t be working on becoming someone I was a long time ago, I should work to be a better version of me–”

And as always with time and growth– each year, each marathon, you learn.

“I’m a better version of myself now than back then because I know more. I know more about training, diet, mental strength. I’m stronger on a lot of levels. And I know that with hard work, I can be faster than back then.”

I can say yes to all of that!

–What have you said ‘no’ to lately? Is there something you feel you should say ‘no’ to?