Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 14

We are less than a month away, folks!!! And the nerves are settling in…

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Strength Runs–8:35
Easy Runs–9:40-10:40
Long Runs–9:30

Monday, October 3– 5 Easy Miles, 10:01 avg. pace

Easy miles around my neighborhood. I feel like I’ve been trying to make these be slower but they’re not coming out as slow as I’d like. This struggle was pretty much the theme of the week. And I know I have to work harder as I want my easy runs to really be easy, especially as I get closer to Hanson’s “taper”.

Tuesday, October 4 –8 miles: 1 mile WU, 6 @Strength Pace, 1 CD

I was a little late meeting up with my run club and rushed going into this run, unnecessarily, as I’d spent the afternoon Halloween decorating (priorities, right?). So my warm up was faster than I would’ve liked, there should’ve been an 800 recovery between the 6 strength miles, and my cool down should’ve slower. I was pressed for time going in and then pressed for time finishing as I had a dinner date with friends. My six miles were faster than strength pace–this whole run was just not exactly what it should’ve been, lol.

Wednesday, October 5 –4 Easy Miles, 9:22 avg. pace (<–ugh, another too fast easy run)

What??!!! Isn’t Wednesday rest day??!!!

It is…BUT, my best running friend Jennifer had a run today and I wanted to squeeze in a good luck run with her before she left to tackle the Chicago Marathon (more on that a little later!).

Thursday, October 6– 11 miles: 1 mile WU, 9 Tempo miles, 1 mile CD

It’s getting harder to wake up now that it’s getting cooler. I actually like summer running (I know, crazy!) because when it’s cold outside, all I want to do is snuggle under the covers. Much easier to wake up at 4 when it’s hot than when it’s cold.

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Again, a little faster than tempo pace. I finally got it together a little after the first half…

I absolutely love this ^ quote. I feel like that’s something I’ve been working on a lot this year as far as goals and challenging myself–not compromising or settling and just going for it.

Friday, October 7th –0 miles, REST DAY

I moved my rest day to Friday since I didn’t get it mid-week. It worked nicely as we were driving out of town early morning.

Saturday, October 8th– 8.15 Easy Miles, 9:53 avg. pace (<—yep, too fast)

We were visiting my hometown on the border and I got in some easy (too fast) miles along the fences.

I did my run on this side…

…and then had post-run tacos on this side.

Sunday, October 9th —10 Long Run miles, 9:30 avg. pace

This was the only run this week that was right on target pace, lol! My splits were kinda all over the place but it averaged out to be exactly what it needed to be 🙂

What I liked about our route, and this was done intentionally, is that we made sure to have long inclines throughout (to help prep for those darn NYC bridges).

It doesn’t look like much of an incline, but I could certainly feel it.

My motivator for this run was getting back so that I could track my BRF Jennifer at the Chicago Marathon. The rest of the morning was spent seeing her little runner figure move across the course (the Chicago Marathon tracking app was amazing!) and screaming out loud to myself. She was doing so well and then finished strong snagging a MASSIVE PR!!

I saw her hard work first hand leading up to her big day and saw what hard work brings. Yes, I cried. I was/am so freaking proud of her. This is a picture she shared–she’s done 3 marathons, all of them Chicago and all of them for #TeamFox. ❤

My badass amiga Jennifer

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Total weekly mileage : 46.37 An overall great week. I need to get my easy runs back to being easy. I had been doing well in previous weeks, just need to get back there. I can’t believe the big day is less than a month away….

–Did you know anyone doing the Chicago Marathon??

–Do you find yourself compromising with goals you’ve set?

–Am I the only one that decorates for Halloween?

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 13

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training, Running and tagged with Hanson's Marathon Method, Marathon Training, NYC Marathon, Vacation Running October 3, 2016

There really is no place like home….

I was visiting my brother and sister in Ohio all last week (ALL last week—Sunday to Sunday) and it was super tough getting in my runs because the midwest’s weather is on drugs. Seriously.

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Strength Runs–8:35
Easy Runs–9:40-10:40
Long Runs–9:30

Monday, September 26th–1 mile WU, 3x2miles @Strength Pace (8:35) w/800R, 1 mile CD

This run started at 2:30 in the afternoon. It was 63 degrees with 77% humidity. Basically, awful. Cold and awful. I don’t think it’s even been 63 for an overnight low in Phoenix.

1.) 8:23/8:34
2.) 8:36/8:38
3.) 8:34/8:28

Tuesday, September 27th–Rest Day

I switched up my days to fit accommodate the events we’d be doing while on my vacation and also to fit in with my sister’s work schedule. I wanted to run as much as I could while she was at work so it wouldn’t interfere with girl time.

We went to a Paint (while drinking wine) Night and it was so much fun. We were a little worried about our paintings at first, but we were able to make them look decent by the end, lol!

One of my friends said it looked like a bacon painting 😀

Trying to make a sunset happen…

Final masterpiece ❤

Wednesday, September 28th— 2.5 cold, rainy miles 😦

I basically moved everything up a day and so Wednesday was supposed to be my 10 mile Tempo Run. My sister had taken the day off so I went out somewhat early to get it out of the way. But it was raining. Hard.

The run needed to get done though so I went out there anyway.

At first, it was just rain and I got my warm up mile out of the way. Then it became torrential downpour and my phone rang right before the 2 mile mark. It was my sister asking if she should come get me–the news said the rain wasn’t going to be stopping anytime soon.

But I said, no, that I’d keep going.

Not too long after I had hung up with her, I saw a HUGE lightening strike that seemed to be right in front of me. The thunder that followed was deafening; between them both, it stopped me dead in my tracks.

I figured this was not time to pretend to be superwoman and I called my sister to pick me up. 😦

Thursday, September 29th–0 miles

Guess what was happening Thursday morning?? ….Rain

My only opportunity to run on this day was in the morning as we would be traveling to the city for the Cincinnati Bengals football game. I was bummed I didn’t get in a run, but I wasn’t going to let it ruin my very first professional football game 🙂

First NFL game and the Bengals won!! :D #WhoDey

First NFL game and the Bengals won!! 😀 #WhoDey

Friday, September 30th— 16 miles: 5 @Long Run Pace, 6 @Tempo Pace, 5 @Long Run Pace

I was determined to get my run in. I had to. There was no way I was going to miss my second “Hanson’s 20”. This peak mileage week was already a disaster–I wasn’t going to let it be a complete failure.

The tempo-run-that-wasn’t earlier in the week haunted me and I talked about it with my buddy @ohiotrirunner (who I got to have lunch with that day!). He said I could squeeze in some tempo miles in my long run to help make me feel better. Great idea!

Carb-loading before my 16 miler, lol!

After our pizza convo, I went back to my sister’s home. Her husband checked the weather and told me I had 120 minutes of no/light rain if I left that very second for a run. Didn’t have to tell me twice–I changed and headed right out.

Running right after consuming pizza probably wasn’t the smartest move but I was still able to do pretty well on this run.

First 5 miles were a little faster than long run pace, but I felt good.

Middle 6 tempo miles –The first 3 were on point 😀 but then it got a little faster than it needed to be.

Last 5 –Again, a little faster than target pace…oh wells…

This was such a confidence boosting run. I really felt good the entire way and it was nice because my sister lives inside this absolutely perfect 5 mile loop. I have no interruptions the entire way–no busy street lights–and the route has uphills and downhills so it’s not monotonous and boring like my routes here at home, lol! I wish I could’ve brought that 5 mile loop back with me!

It was my last run of September and I finished the month with a whopping 196 miles!!

I knew that the missed runs during the week kept me from reaching the 200 mile mark (and I have to admit, I was tempted to make my 16 miler a 20 just to hit it). I know though, that I still have a long month of heavy mileage ahead of me. 🙂

Saturday, October 1st–5.5 Easy Miles @10:30 avg. pace

We went up to King’s Island, an amusement park, early in the morning so this run was done in the afternoon in, you guessed it, rain. It wasn’t too bad though, just some sprinkles. Also, it was super easy to keep an easy pace because of the previous days 16 miler AND by the time I started this run, I had already reached my 10k steps!

As seen on my run. LOL, just kidding–this was at King’s Island

Omg, I have to show you this pic of me on one of the roller coaster rides at the amusement park. So my sister is on the left with her hands up–she’s a badass. My niece is in front of her–dabbing, naturally.

And then there’s me….

Sunday, October 2nd– 0 miles

I knew it was going to be tough to get in a run on the day I was to fly back. It was either going to have to happen very early in the morning or at night when I was back in Phoenix.

It just didn’t happen. And you know what? I was okay with that.

*********

Total mileage for week 13— 33

This was supposed to be a “peak” mileage week but I’m totally okay with not getting all of the miles in. I was on vacation and the fact that I got more than half of them in leaves me satisfied 🙂

–Do you struggle to get miles in during vacations?

–Have you wined and painted before? What was your masterpiece?

–Ever been to a football game?

–Are you scared of roller coasters?

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 12

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon Training and tagged with Hanson's Marathon Method, Marathon Training, NYC Marathon, Weekly Recap September 25, 2016

What goes up, must come down…..

Last week was my highest mileage week to date and while week 12 was meant as a cut back week, life made it a cuuuut back week. Not by much, but I’m known for being over dramatic 😀

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:40
Long Runs–9:30

Monday, September 19th —3.65 Easy Miles @10:02 avg. pace

This was supposed to be a five miler but a little over half way through my run, my husband texted me that he was at a burrito shop near where I was running. U-turn, run shortened.

Tuesday, September 20th–1 mile WU, 1.5milesx4 @8:35 target (w/400R), 1 mile CD

This run was a little faster than it should’ve been but I was kind of in a hurry to get this done in my 2 hour kid care time frame, lol.

8:04
8:31
8:20
8:16

Wednesday, September 21st–Rest Day, 10k Steps

I took my kids to the track again so I could get my 10k steps in. I signed up both my daughter and son to the fall season of the Healthy Kids Running Series and I told them they needed to start training.

Thursday, September 22nd–1 mile WU, 9 Tempo Miles, 1 mile CD

Holy cow, this was a hard run. I know the paces don’t show it as they’re faster than my 8:45 target but it was so ridiculously humid, I was fighting for each mile and by the time I got close to the end, I just wanted to get the whole thing over with.

At 4:15 a.m.!!!!

Friday, September 23rd–2.32 Easy Miles

I woke up at crazy 0’clock again to meet my hill running buddies. I was on the road at 4:30 a.m. but I could barely drive. Why? I woke up with pink eye!!! I had my glasses on and between that discomfort and my sensitivity to light, it was a scary drive.

But I made it. Our group started and I lagged behind, slowed down by my 11 tempo miler the day before, lack of sleep, and motion sickness from the bouncing of my glasses. Before I knew it, I lost them!! I got to the end of the road and my group was nowhere in sight!

I ran back to my car and sent a text to our leader asking where they were. He met me back at my car and I burst into tears apologizing for inconveniencing him. I think I was just overwhelmed by….everything. I seem to reach a point each training cycle where I feel this way. It felt good to just let it all out. I was done with the run and drove back home.

Saturday, September 24th–10.5 Long Run @9:14 avg. pace

After the previous day’s fiasco run, I went to a doctor for eye meds and thankfully, I started feeling relief right away. On Saturday morning, I met up with my NYC Marathon buddies and ran a good 10 miler without my glasses on (I held them). It was a blind run, but despite not being able to see, I ran comfortably.

It was 57 degrees at the start! Brrrr!!!!

Sunday, September 25th–6 Easy Miles @10:32 pace

I ran with my glasses on because it was dark for the entirety of my run so it was slow and not so fun but I got it done (a lil rhyme diddy there for ya!)

******

Even though there were some undone runs in there, it was a good week at 42.5 miles . My SOS (Something of Substance) runs were on point and that is what ultimately matters so I’m happy with week 12 🙂 Next week, I’ll be running in much cooler temps while I visit my family in the midwest. For this Arizona gal, it’ll be freezing!!!

–Does the cold bother you? It bothers me! I complain about the heat but would prefer that any day, lol!

–Ever get pink eye? 😦

–How was your running week? Do you ever get emotional during a training cycle?