Marathon Training Pre-season

Posted by hellyontherun in Bloggers, Marathon, Running and tagged with Marathon Training, Pre-season, Run Less Run Faster, Runner Friends, Running, Training Plan June 30, 2014

Last week and this upcoming week are serving as pre-season to marathon training. A sort of trial period before I move on to the big leagues–aka: the official marathon training plan. I don’t know, this is how I work things in my head 🙂

Anyway, last Monday, my schedule had me running 6 miles, a warm up and cool down and 4 miles at medium tempo pace. But, ever since my 27k a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been nursing a sore right foot so I decided to take it easy and run a total of four miles, 1 warm up and 1 cool down with 2 miles at mid tempo pace.

That was the plan and I started out milking the warm-up going at a pace slower than I’d done in a long time. I was feeling the heat and was just having a case of the tired Mondays. After the first mile beeped, I picked it up knowing I “had” to make the next two miles at pace. While I increased my pace considerably from the warm up mile, I was still 20 seconds away from the tempo pace.

Same thing happened with mile two. I was at least glad that the middle two miles were close in pace and I milked the fourth cool down mile almost exactly as the first.

Mile 1- 10:26
Mile 2-9:07
Mile 3-8:54
Mile 4-10:27

At least I was consistent lol!

This is what I was dealing with at 7:22 p.m.

Tuesday was supposed to be a cross training day according to my Run Less, Run Faster plan but I decided that I could bend the rules considering it was still pre-season. So I ran. (You’re doing it wrong, Helly!) Whatever.

I met up with my run club for the Tuesday evening run but I knew before it even started that it wasn’t going to go well. It was so freaking hot!

6:05 p.m.

I wasn’t even thinking of going out fast, instead just focused on maintaing a decent pace. I was doing okay the first 3 miles (of five) but the last two I was just so light headed and weak from the heat; I had to slow down. I’m honestly surprised at how I kept myself from walking.

Mile 1-9:57
Mile 2-9:54
Mile 3-10:01
Mile 4-10:37
Mile 5-10:37
Average-10:13/mile

Again, at least I was consistent jaja!!

Wednesday was speed work at the track but my husband had a late day at work so I took it to the gym where I did a 3.5 mile interval run finishing at an average 9:43/mile pace (def no speed work there!). It was a nice, relaxing run and doing the intervals helped pass the time on the treadmill. I don’t mind running on the ‘mill and with temps how they’ve been I think I’ll probably be on it more this summer.

Thursday was a cross training day so back to the gym I went and I hopped on the bike for a 10 mile ride. I loved sweating and the feeling of having just had a good workout. It puts me in such a good mood!

Friday was a rest day but I did squeeze in an ab video 🙂

Saturday was my first crazy o’clock run of the summer. My alarm went off at 4:30 and by 4:45 I was out the door for my “long” run with my run club. My pre-season plan had me going 6 so that’s what I went out with the intention of doing.

I could definitely feel the difference in temperatures running at 5 in the morning versus at 6-7 in the evening. It was a cool 77 and it felt SO great.

I hooked up with a friend who runs at a pace I like. She was going 8 and I figured I’d stick with her until it was time for me to make my return. We chatted and went along and before I knew it, I was at mile 3 ready to head back. I debated sticking with her since I felt so good but decided to be conservative and think about my foot so I said good-bye and turned back.

I was glad I did this. Normally, I would’ve kept on going because a.) I felt so good and was going at a good pace and b.) I had great company but I reminded myself that I had a long training season ahead of me. I think that I’ve matured in this way since last/first marathon..

Mile 1- 9:23 Mile 4-9:14
Mile 2- 9:25 Mile 5-9:16
Mile 3- 9:27 Mile 6-9:07
Average-9:18/mile

Again, I was really happy to see consistency. I felt like my splits were always all over the place last marathon attempt and I wanted to really work on them this time around. I was also very pleased to see the second half of the run be faster than the first half.

Sunday on my plan has a rest day/optional cross train and yesterday I chose the former. I wanted badly to meet up with my buddy Jeremy who was hosting a Run Tweet Eat social on the trails but my foot was super achy and I decided to rest it (and sleep in). Of course I saw all of their fun pics on Instagram and Facebook and wished I’d gone lol! Oh well, next time 🙂

Overall, it was a great week– 18.5 miles run and 10 miles on the track. I did an okay job with sticking to the training plan and like that I have next week to continue testing it out. After that, it’s game time!

–Did you have race this weekend?

–How was your running week last week?

–Are you good at keeping a consistent pace? (My splits are finally looking sorta normal!)

P.S. If you’re also training for a fall race or will start soon, check out my sole sister Salt’s Fall Race Training Directory for training friends!

To The Treadmill I Go

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with Arizona, Awkward Photo, Heat, Marathon Training, Running, Treadmill June 26, 2014

I knew this day was coming.

Tuesday, I went for a 5 mile run with my run club at about 6:00 in the evening. It was still 106 degrees out and let me tell you, the run was brutal. It was the first time I had really felt uncomfortable in the heat while running. Okay, I’ll be real. I almost died.

I went out slower than usual so as not to burn out even though the sun was doing a good job of that. I was handling it okay up until mile 3 when I just felt the heat beating on me and completely wearing me out. I was going two minutes over what I’d normally run. Two minutes!! I had water with me and had been drinking periodically but it mostly ended up on my head and shirt. But even that did nothing to cool me off.

I started to think that maybe my outdoor runs were numbered.

Yesterday was track day, and I figured 3 miles of “speed work” (using that term loosely here lol) I could manage. Plus, there’s been ice pops at the end!

But my husband had a late day at work and I couldn’t make it to track (at least in time to meet up with my run club). This is where I had some decisions to make. Do I run outside or head to the gym? I recalled my feelings of light headedness and exhaustion from the day before and it was a no brainer. Treadmill time!

I’m actually a rare one that doesn’t mind the treadmill. I still get to do what I love which is running. This is also the only time that I listen to music when I run, although I still mostly don’t. (I didn’t yesterday.)

I spiced it up doing an interval workout and the time flew! That wasn’t the only thing flying–of course I had to document my run with a photo but I guess I should have let the treadmill stop before I attempted to take the pic:

Whoa!!!

So not only am I a horrible selfie picture taker, add the treadmill pic to the list. Oh well! 🙂

It’s likely I’ll be visiting the treadmill often, starting like now. The heat has become pretty intense and the weather doesn’t look like it’s getting any cooler.

And if I really want to run outside?? Crazy o’clock in the morning it’ll have to be 😀

–Do you enjoy running on the treadmill?

–Are you bad at taking selfies or treadmill pics like I am?

100 Days of Summer Challenge–Quarterly Check-in

Posted by hellyontherun in Healthy Eating, Running and tagged with Dumb and Dumber, Healthy Eating, Hydration, Marathon Training, No Soda, Running, Summer Challenge June 25, 2014

Let’s all stand up and give a round of applause to MEEEEEE for having gone 25 days with NO soda!!!

I can’t believe I’ve gone that long. And let me tell you, it has not been easy.

The closest time that I thought I was going to slip up was the night of my 27k night race. I was so exhausted when I finished that all I wanted was a Big Gulp. I remember around mile 15 telling myself that I would allow a cheat day if I could just make it to the end. An ice, cold fountain drink was the only thing motivating me at the time.

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fave movie ever!!

When I did finish, I called my husband to tell him about this deal I had made myself and he was able to talk me out of it. At that point, I was two weeks in and he reminded me that the hard part was almost over. The withdrawal stage was no joke. Headaches, moodiness, yes. all of that I experienced. I knew it would happened and tried my best to not annoy my husband and practice extra patience with my kids. Luckily , I had coffee. All the coffee. Anyway, the first two weeks were the toughest and I was coming out of that stage; I could do this. Plus, he knew that I would feel super guilty the next day and told me so. I’m so happy his persuasive skills worked.

So here I am, 25 days in, a quarter of the way done with the challenge. For some reason, looking at it that way, in fourths, helps me deal with it better. I know it sounds like I’m being super dramatic about this, but seriously, I drank a TON of soda. So much so that when I meet up with friends, their jaws drop when I refuse the Coke they offer. (This happened on a play date recently. My girlfriend had bought Coke just for me because she knew I was visiting.)

My fridge pre-challenge

I’m very much looking forward to reaching the half way milestone. I think once I make it there, the end won’t seem that far away. Many people have told me that by the time I’m done, I’ll probably not want to drink soda anymore. I can say at 25 days in that that’s very unlikely. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever stop. I’ll maybe drink less, but I can’t see myself not drinking it ever again. I don’t know, I could surprise myself though.

I’ve liked how less bloated I feel but I haven’t noticed any decrease in weight or anything. My purpose with this challenge wasn’t to lose weight anyway but more to see how it would affect my training. If it would make a difference. It’s so hot here in Phoenix that hydration is so important. Would eliminating soda and drinking more water help my running? That’s what I’m most curious about.

We shall see. 75 more days!! 😀

–How have you challenged yourself recently?

–What do you think you’d struggle with doing/not doing for 100 days?