Hanson's Marathon Method Week 5 Rundown

Week 5 has come and gone! My mileage hit another all-time high (48 miles) and I am so psyched! I had some trouble hitting my paces on my Saturday long-run, but the weather definitely was pretty unforgiving (HOT for me in the 80's) and I started to develop a bit of a head cold. Otherwise, my training went really well and honestly I've been so busy with work lately that I can't even remember which runs were done outside or on the treadmill (yikes)! So, I'll do my best to recap this past week. 

Monday: 6 easy miles @ 10:10 min/mi on the treadmill and 20 minutes of strength training at night

Tuesday: 8 miles with 1. 5 warm-up & 1.5 cool-down and 5 x 1k @ 4:30 and 400 recovery (actual: 4:32, 4:31, 4:28, 4:28, 4:30) on the treadmill

Wednesday: 7 easy miles @ 10:10 min/mi outside? I think...& Tower Reformer Class

Thursday: 9 miles with 1.5 warm-up & 1.5 cool-down and 6 miles @ 8:46 (actual: 8:40) on treadmill at night because I slept in!

Friday: 6 easy miles at 10:02 outside? I think...

Saturday: 12 miles at long-run pace 9:29 (actual: 12 miles @ 9:36)

Sunday: Rest Day

Sunny Goods:

• My easy paced runs were right on target pace
• My tempo miles were 6 seconds faster than my needed pace!
• I'm focusing on my nutrition intake more and trying to get in some protein immediately following a run
• I've gotten sold 8 hours of sleep each night this week and 12 HOURS (each night) on the weekend!

Gloomy Goods:

• I didn't hit all of my paces on my speedwork session
• My long run pace was a bit slower than scheduled
• Head cold not so fun this week...

Hanson's Marathon Method Week 4 Rundown

One month of marathon #5 training has come and gone! This week had mainly pretty strong work-outs and I definitely wasn't feeling as sore as I did during week 3. I didn't hit all of my splits during my speed workout on Tuesday and had a bit of stomach issues during my tempo run this week, but overall I think if we didn't have some troubles along the way it would make training plans a bit too easy and predictable! Having these bumps along the way just makes me more hungry for those real 'quality' workouts. I also managed to partake in 2 fitness classes last week= a total win! 

Monday: 6 miles Easy @ 10:17 min/mi on the treadmill. 

Tuesday: 8 miles with 6 x 800s @ 3:40; Actual: 7 miles with 6 x 800s (3:48, 3:42, 3:37, 3:37, 3:38, 3:40). Overall, I'm happy with this workout. The track was busy AGAIN so I had to do this on the road (where it was busier than I expected) and trying to keep track of my splits, my 400 recovery mileage turned into more of a 200 recovery (I think anyways?), which is where I think I lost my mile (I may have been more towards 7.25 miles, but that's only a guesstimate). I guess next time if the track is busy, I'm better off just going to the treadmill! 

Wednesday: 6 miles easy @ 9:50-10:34 ; Actual: 6 miles easy @ 9:40. It was SO beautiful out this morning and I still kept my heartrate in check and really fought to keep my paces slow, but still struggled with keeping them really at an easy threshold. Guess it's something to improve upon! I also did a JumpBoard class at noon and felt really STRONG during the class. I'm really starting to notice a big difference in my fitness and strength. 

Thursday: 9 miles with 6 @ 8:46 tempo ; 9 miles with 6 @ 8:49 tempo. I wanted to do this one outside, but after a 2 mile warm-up my stomach was feeling funky and I really just wanted to be close to a bathroom should I need one, so I headed back to the treadmill to get my tempo miles in and a cool-down! The treadmill speeds can't get to 8:46 pace exactly, so I was a few seconds off. Next week, I'm hoping to do this work-out outside and hit those paces that I know I'm capable of!

Friday: 8 miles Easy ; Actual: 8 miles easy @ 10:20 on the treadmill. I was running late and was a bit time crunched, so I wanted to get my run in and shower immediately afterwards and also really wanted to keep that pace easy! 

Saturday: 8 miles Easy ; Actual: 1.15 miles easy @ 9:29 (oops- way too fast!), Power Barre class from 10-11am, 6.85 miles @ 10:21 outside. My legs and abs were so sore after the class and it was pretty warm out, so I'm just glad I pushed through and got that run done at a still relatively easy pace. I took a nice epsom salt bath and did a 10 minute recovery pose yoga class from JasYoga to recover. 

Sunday: Rest Day

Sunshine Goods:

• My fitness is definitely improving
• I can feel myself getting stronger 
• 6 miles now seems like a total BREEZE
• Kept my easy runs really at a nice easy (low heartrate) pace
• Took TWO fitness classes this week
• Did 3 sessions with the foam roller and 2 JasYoga recovery classes

Gloomy Goods:

• Speed workout didn't go as planned
• I didn't get to 45 miles like my training plan had
• Tempo run was a bit off target pace

The Half Marathon I'm doing in 3 WEEKS & Unplugging

Alright, so I FINALLY pulled the plug on a half marathon that I'm racing during this training cycle and it's in 3 WEEKS! I'm so excited (especially after seeing the awesome race swag (you have to check out their facebook page) that they've done in past years and because it's in another state that I can check off) and will be running the Jackson Hole Half Marathon during Labor Day weekend! 

The race looks like it gains little elevation overall and honestly looks like an amazingly organized event. I'm so excited to go there with Alex and Stella and since it's early Saturday morning, we'll have the rest of the weekend to explore Yellowstone some more (we went there about 2 years ago) and just relax. It always makes it easier when a race is at the beginning of a vacation/ weekend away. 

We are camping for the weekend (one night in Grand Tetons Nat'l Park & the other two nights in Yellowstone) and the course is run mainly on their bike paths (which are seriously so amazing). I CAN'T WAIT! I'd like to try to get in under 1:55 (and utilize some miles as my marathon pace). I'm still thinking about my race strategy, but thinking my first 3 miles will be a warm-up (around 9:00 pace), then 7 miles at marathon goal pace (8:46ish), and if I'm feeling good bump it up to around 8:30ish pace for the last 3 miles (finishing under 1:55)! That's obviously a 'goal race time/paces', so I'm open to whatever and would just really like to enjoy the race. 

This morning, I had my Track Tuesday workout (5 x 1 km repeats @ 7:12 min/mi with 400m repeats) and did it on the treadmill since I really didn't feel like going to the Track again and having it being used. I think next week the track schedule should change (getting ready for school to start) and I'll be able to use it again!

8 miles total (1.65 mi warm-up & 2 mile cool-down). I felt pretty strong and while the last 1 k repeat was hard, I could definitely still do another one or two before really struggling (which I'm taking as a good sign).

I'm really focusing on fueling properly after my runs, so I had some of the Superhero Muffins I made from Run Fast Eat Slow cookbook and their Can't Beet Me Smoothie. YUM! Also, definitely needed some Iced Coffee to wash it down. I'm also a bit disappointed because our temperatures are already starting to feel cooler and Fall-ish which means I will need to switch back to hot coffee here shortly. 

I slept better last night (normally I don't sleep as well before my speedworkouts) and I really think it was because I didn't overthink my workout that I had on the schedule the next morning! I actually totally forgot what my paces were supposed to be when I was getting ready to leave the house this morning and had to go back and double check it!

I'm going to try to NOT overthink my workouts for the rest of this training cycle because really, what's the point? We overthink things, stress about them, lose sleep, adjust our eating habits (maybe), and all for what? We typically don't gain much from overstressing situations, expect negative habits. Having confidence in yourself and these situations can be difficult to gain (especially in the beginning of a new endeavor), but it helps you tackle situations SO much easier (even IF they don't go exactly as planned). While it's definitely still a work-in-progress for me to have confidence going into each training run or difficult personal/work situation, I notice a large difference when I am able to really 'own' it and believe in myself. 

I saw this quote on my Facebook Timehop the other day and was really moved by it again. Maybe if we are able to 'unplug' ourselves from our destructive habits and thoughts, we'll be able to see the other side of each situation and believe in ourselves? Before tearing yourself apart, unplug. think. reset. and plug yourself back in. 

JULY MILEAGE

Last day of July! Can you believe it?!? This month definitely FLEW BY for me. I think starting the month off with our vacation really made this month super funky and go-by with a bit of jet-lag. 

I hit my HIGHEST MILEAGE WEEK EVER this month and am still in shock! I'm so awestruck that I was able to run this much this month (including a week of only 20 miles) and am really excited to see what else is in-store for me during this training cycle. I'm feeling fitter and stronger than ever. 

I remember when I first started running and my long-runs would consist of running and walking (I think I was definitely battling Anemia as well) and would feel really disappointed after each training run. My legs would feel really heavy and I would just be defeated and continue to beat myself up about it. Now that I've over 50 miles longer than that milestone, I just feel really lucky, strong, and capable of so much more! It helps to have something stable in your life like running when other things in your life are unsteady and unknown. 

I love how running is always there. Like your favorite sweater, it just fits and works with you rather than judging you if you maybe gain those 5 extra Ibs around the Holidays.

The first full week of the month was spent getting back into work and day-to-day rhythm and also building up my base mileage before marathon #5 training would begin the following week! 

The next three weeks were spent building up mileage by 5 miles each week and now I'm at a point where I'll stay pretty steady around 45 miles for about 4 weeks before adding on a few more to get to 50!

I also got the new Brooks Ghost 10's and have seriously been LOVING them the past 2 weeks! I wish I could wear my running shoes ALL THE TIME. 

I'm still debating adding in a half-marathon into this training schedule either in September or October- any thoughts? I'm torn between wanting to keep building my base and keep chipping-away at my speedwork sessions and also really try to trim-down my half marathon PR to the time that I know I'm capable of! I'm really always into being adventurous and "going for it", but I also want to play this training cycle safe and come to the starting line ready to run it all out. Hmmm...I have until tonight to make my decision on the September race (the price increases by $10) and I'm giving myself a deadline (the end of this week) to decide on the October race! I just really love racing! 

I also had my first double-digit run since the marathon last month (10 miles) and it felt really strong. My training plan had me running at my long-run tempo pace of 9:29 min/mi and I was a bit skeptical of hitting this pace since I didn't start my run until 1pm on Saturday (it was overcast, but still over 80 degrees outside) and my legs were pretty sore from the week of tough training runs. I stopped a few times during my run to get in the shade and cool my body temperature down and take in some extra fluids to prevent dehydration. I kicked it up in the last mile (the bad thing about my garmin is that I'm unable to see what my average pace is throughout the run and only what my current pace is) since I knew I'd be close to hitting my average pace and couldn't be more excited to see that I hit my pace EXACTLY at the end of my run! This was such an uplifting feeling. I'm hoping to have more training runs like this!

I took Sunday as my rest day and ran 6.15 miles on the treadmill this morning to get me to 150 miles for the month at slow recovery pace (my heart rate didn't go above 150 so that's progress!). 

How was your weekend?

Thoughts on racing a shorter distance before a big goal race? 

Any big milestones for you this month or training plans scheduled for August?!

EASY run days & thoughts on your 20's??

Happy weekend! This week sure flew-by for me!

It feels like forever since I've done a life update! I have been very busy with work, running, trying to fit in strength/stretching/foam rolling, sleep, and outdoor summer activities! I'm hoping to do a "what I eat in a day" post here in within the next few days, so don't forget to check back!

I went on an easy run yesterday morning (my first run outside since Sunday!) and really struggled with keeping my pace super easy. Now that I'm starting to gain more fitness and feel stronger than ever, I really want to play with my paces more, but I have to keep reminding myself that now is NOT the time to play with paces! I can play with my paces on my long/tempo/speed runs, but definitely not on the easy runs. The easier my runs are, the more I notice that I can recover faster and I'm gaining more fitness. 

The good thing with the slowing-down that I'm doing is that I can really take-in the scenery! It was so beautiful out and had that "early morning summer dew" smell going on- I kinda really wish there was a candle that had this smell because it always makes me think of summer mornings, waking-up early, drinking coffee on the porch, fog lifting from the valley floor, and cooler-temperature runs. 

Another thing that I'm thinking about is how there is so much PRESSURE on young people these days. I honestly feel like I've had more trouble with putting pressure on myself (and from others) in my 20's rather than in my middle and high-school years. Does anyone else feel this way? I'm sure some personalities can really thrive on this type of "flailing lifestyle" where everything is kinda unsure and up-in-the-air, but definitely not my type-A, OCD, obsessive planner self. It is nice to be a big day-dreamer and have so many goals, but if you look at them in the bigger picture it really is daunting and intimidating! I guess that's why we should really just focus on the smaller tasks (like my post yesterday?) and chip-away towards those bigger goals. 

I also feel like cherishing these times in our life are super important because we always want what we don't have or no longer have, right? So, I'm trying to embrace this stage in my life more and know that it will just make me a stronger person in the end. 

I have a ten mile run at my long-run pace (9:31 min/mi) on tap this weekend and I think I'll just see how I feel whether I do it today or tomorrow. The other day will be a rest day! We will also be resting this weekend (I think the past two weekends of camping really took a lot out of us) and hopefully a date night and maybe some paddle boarding! 

What are your weekend plans? Is anyone racing this weekend?

Thoughts on easy runs? Love them? Hate them?

What were your impressions of your 20's versus teen's? Which one was better or were they both just different?