Grand Rapids Marathon - 5 weeks of training remain!

My running motivation this week was nonexistent. This was basically a week of heading out to run because I had to run, not because I wanted to run. I know that this is a normal part of training and I just need to push through. I kept reminding myself that I only had two 50+ mile weeks left. I could also tell that I was feeling a tiny bit beat up and taking a few extra rest days was super tempting.

Monday
rest day :)

Tuesday
unscheduled rest day

When I saw it was in the 90s I just couldn't. My legs were still tired from my 20 miler on Sunday and I had absolutely no interest is suffering through 8 miles in the heat. I wasn't sure if I would try to make up the mileage later in the week, but I just could not force myself out the door.

Wednesday
Distance: 11.03
Pace: 9:34

I was supposed to run 12 miles, but due to a major math fail I ended up back at my house at just 11 miles (note: 9 + 2 never equals 12). I decided that 11 was close enough.

Thursday
Distance: 5.08
Pace: 9:35

Friday
Distance: 18.3
Pace: 8 miles EZ (9:37), 10 miles MP (8:40), plus a little extra

I shifted my long run to Friday to free up Sunday morning a bit. On Saturday I hosted a party to celebrate my husband's birthday and I knew I would be too tired for a long run on Sunday. The weather was perfect and I felt so strong hitting those MP miles! I focused on taking it one mile at a time. I ran a slight progression starting with 3 miles in the 8:50s, 3 miles 8:40s, one mile at 8:30s, and the final two miles in the 8:20s.

My Garmin actually died 17.38 miles into my run, so I am just hoping that for the final 0.92 miles I was able to hold my pace. I didn't feel like I was fading, and really, that is the important part.

Saturday
Distance: 5.07
Pace: 9:54

Sunday
Distance: 12.5
Pace: 9:12

Total: 51.98 miles (just slightly shy of the 52 miles I had originally scheduled)

It wasn't a fun week, but knowing I was able to just get it done makes me happy. Although it was a slight reduction from last week, the intensity was really increased this week. A long run with over half of the miles at goal pace is definitely helping my marathon confidence.

Next week: Race week! With a half marathon on Sunday, I will be reducing my mileage this week and keeping all runs leading up to the race easy. I am anticipating somewhere between 40-45 miles, depending on how I am feeling.

Grand Rapids Marathon - 6!!!

SIX WEEKS! This marathon thing is starting to feel very real and I can't seem to decide if that is a good thing or the worst thing ever. It is extra crazy to think that of those 6 weeks, 3 weeks will be spent tapering and 1 week will be focused on racing a half marathon, which really only leaves 2 real "normal" weeks of training.

A couple weeks ago I put in an amazing 20 mile run and was starting to feel confident that I was ready for the full 26.2 miles. This week I struggled through my 20 miler and was left feeling like the marathon is going to be a disaster. I'm glad that I still have one more 20 mile run scheduled, because I have a few ideas about what went wrong this weekend and will have a chance to test my theories.

First of all, it was much hotter this weekend than it was a couple weekends ago. Plus it was hot all week leading up to my long run. I think that the weather took more out of me than I realized and I went into the long run extra fatigued. Fortunately it is extremely unlikely that the forecast will be showing 90s in October in Michigan (the average high for race day is 59), so I shouldn't need to worry about the heat for the race.

The second issue might have been due to poor fueling leading up to Sunday. For my first 20 miler I was very careful about what I ate on Saturday and made sure to eat a healthy pasta filled lunch. This weekend I didn't really pay attention to what I was eating and had Chinese takeout for lunch and nachos for dinner. Carbs: yes; remotely healthy: no. I needed a bathroom break about 10 miles into my run and about 13 miles into my run I was starving.

I managed another couple decent miles and then really struggled the last 5 miles. So many times I told myself to keep my chin up and hold it together. I just wanted to sit down and cry. Looking at my Garmin data, my splits for these miles aren't terrible, only about 15-30s slower that I would have liked. I am really pleased that I didn't give up and call for a ride home. I know that the marathon is going to be difficult and I need to try to be ready to for it.

Monday 8/31
rest day

Tuesday 9/1
Distance: 7.0 with 7 strides
Pace: 9:20

Wednesday 9/2
Distance: 11.0
Pace: 9:46

I was hoping to run 7 miles at HMP, but it was just too hot. I decided to start at goal marathon pace and try to work my way down to half pace over the course of the run. After a two mile warm up I managed the following splits: 8:47, 8:47, 8:36, 8:22. After those 4 fast-ish miles I was done. I couldn't even keep moving at a slow jog. I walked for a few minutes and then for another few minutes. Eventually I was able to get running again, but I kept it slow and easy.

Thursday 9/3
rest day

Friday 9/4
Distance: 12.0
Pace: 9:24

Saturday 9/5
Distance: 5.0
Pace: 10:01

Sunday 9/6
Distance: 20.25
Pace: 9:54*

*Average pace includes a bathroom break at mile 10 and a short break around mile 17 while I messed with my watch. If I were to remove those breaks, my pace would have been 9:45.

Total: 55.25 miles

Keeping the ball rolling

Usually I look forward to the start of a new month because it feels like a fresh start. A chance to get back on track and start over. A nice clean slate. Not this month.

Now, I don't want to let my ego get too big, but I feel like I've been killing it this summer! I don't want a fresh start, I want to keep the ball rolling!

In July I surprised myself by running my first 200 mile month (200.25 to be exact). Although my long runs weren't quite what I wanted them to be, I had a couple of really solid tempo runs and my training volume was way up (May and June each had about 150 miles).

In August I ran a total of 213.15 miles (that 0.15 is totally important, right?). I got my long run up to 20 miles including running the last 5 at goal MP. My average distance per run is in the double digits (213 miles, 21 runs). My yearly mileage is up over 1000. I've even lost the 5ish pounds I gained while injured last fall.

I definitely do not want a fresh start. I want to make September my third consecutive month of 200+ miles. I want to take all of the hard work and training from the past couple months and start seeing some awesome race results. I want a sub 1:45 half Let's try not to talk about that! I want to run my first marathon!

I'm coming for you! (source)

At the same time, I am tired of the hour+ runs almost every day of the week. I'm tired of getting up at 5:30 on Saturday AND Sunday so I can run before it is a million degrees out. I'm definitely looking forward to the cutting back and relaxing in November and December. But right now looking back at just how hard I have been working this year is making me so excited that race season is finally (almost) here!