I feel like I am learning so much during this training cycle. I don’t remember facing near as many challenging weeks last go round, but there is a purpose and plan for everything so I am embracing the valuable lessons that it’s teaching me.
I’m such a Type A, “stick to the plan” girl. Always have been, but I am really having to learn to let go and trust that I know my body. I’m lucky to be blessed with a very knowledgeable and experienced runner in a husband who is so wonderful about helping me with advice as well. Though I’m pretty sure he is tired of the hundreds of questions I’ve been asking this week.
One day, one week, one run at a time is the best way to face it. I’m going to have great weeks, bad weeks, and a little of everything in between along the way. I’m embracing it and focusing on becoming better and stronger.
Let’s just right into this week’s runs:
Monday – 6 miles
Monday I had a bit of a surprise. I knew we had a thunderstorm during the night, but thought it had passed. I took the dog out and everything looked good I got dressed and headed out to run.
Halfway out of my neighborhood I saw three pretty big bolts of lightning hit the sky. I immediately turned back around not wanting to risk getting stuck somewhere. In total I got in 0.5 miles done outside so I finished the last 5.5 on the treadmill.
The run itself felt really good; however, I just wasn’t feeling the treadmill. It got it done!
Tuesday – 10 miles (Tempo Run)
The week drastically changed pretty quickly when Tuesday rolled around. Wes headed out with me to do my tempo run.
I warmed up for 1.5 miles and then we started. I really don’t know what went wrong on this tempo. The first 4 miles were on pace but I felt so off and mentally I was somewhere completely different. On mile 5, I was slowly down pretty dratsically and I think Wes could tell I wasn’t there so he suggested we cut it.
I stopped at mile 5 and felt really defeated. I finished the run out with 10-12 10 second strides and then a couple hill sprints and cooled down.
I tried to just move on but I think the fact that I couldn’t really pin point why I felt so off really bothered me. I still don’t really know what happened, just having to accept that it was one of those days.
Wednesday – 7 miles
I headed out to a different area since Wes was going to be out there with me doing his workout and ran 7 easy miles on Wednesday.
On Tuesday morning during my warm up I tripped of something. I didn’t fall thankfully, but when I caught myself I must have landed funny and my hip was bothering me. I just wanted to take it really slow when Wednesday rolled around.
I had a pretty decent run overall. It was nice to have a change of scenergy.
Thursday – 9 miles (Speed Workout)
I knew my scheduled hard effort workout wouldn’t have been smart for Thursday. I could have done it, but I was afraid it would take every last thing out of me.
The original workout (which I haven’t decided if I’ll repeat next week or not) was a ladder workout: 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 1200, 800 and 400 with 400 rest between each all at around a 6:30 pace. For me, that’s no easy workout.
After discussing it with Wes we decided it’d be best if I did more a cruise interval workout to help keep my legs moving but not take everything out of me.
I came up with the following workout:
Warm up
1000 meters (at GMP 7:26), 800 meters (at HMP 7:05-7:10), and 400 meters (at 10k Pace 6:49)
I did this set 2 times and then repeated an 800 and 400 at the end.
200 meter recovery between each and 400 meters between sets
Cool down
In total it was 9 miles and I finished right in the nick of time to get back home, shower and get to work!
Friday – Off
Rest day was greatly needed this week, per usual!
Saturday – 11 Miles (7 hard effort)
I had really high hopes for my run on Saturday. I tried to clear my mind of everything that had been going on and just run.
The goal was 11 miles total with the middle 7 at around marathon pace.
The result?
Well…not quite what I was hoping. I got up earlier that normal but the heat still kicked in and the humidity was awful. I was dripping sweat by mile 3 and my ear buds wouldn’t stay in my ears.
I ended up changing it from marathon pace to “moderately hard effort.” The end result for the 7 was: 7:15 (too fast), 7:25, 7:35, 7:42, 7:41, 7:55 and 7:43. My hip was bothering me towards the end and I had to stop twice (once for water).
It was brutal but looking back I’m happy with the effort I put in.
Sunday – 8 miles
The goal is a very easy and recovery focused 8 miles for Sunday.
I am also really excited because I get to try out these awesome Hoka Clifton 2’s on my run!
I’ll let you know how it goes!
Total mileage this week came right around 51. I’m happy with it. I’ve got more work to do and possibly a little pace adjusting, but I’ll be back at a later date to talk about that.
Happy Sunday!
How did your running go this week?
Have you ever had a run that just felt “off”?
I had MANY, MANY runs that just felt off, especially lately. It happens, unfortunately.
My running week has been decent, but my long run yesterday was just awful. Legs didn’t want to move and felt so, so heavy. I went so slow! What I’ll do next week is doing my easy runs even easier, and that’s honestly the only suggestion I can give you. It’s hilarious, but I averaged exactly 8:38 as well for my easy runs this week 😉 I’m not following Hanson, but my range for easy runs is 8:30-9:00. I think I’ll give it a try and force myself to run closer to 9:00 during those runs.
On another note… The preliminary corral assignments for Chicago have been posted!!! They assigned mine (C) according to my fall marathon time, not my most recent one 🙁 I sent them again a link to my spring marathon time and hopefully they’ll move me up one corral…
Hi Sara!
I was really inspired by your hard work and progress during your last marathon training cycle. It even inspired me to use the Hansons plan for my fall marathon! I’m just a week ahead of you so I KNOW how exhausting it is (and you are definitely speedier than me!).
My honest question is, do you think you are struggling more this time because your goal is just a bit too aggressive?
I know you will have an awesome race and that your hard work will pay off again in October!
Thanks Kirsten! That’s a great question and one my husband and I have been discussing a lot. We’re probably going to adjust my marathon pace by about 10 seconds and see how that goes. The problem is because it’s been so awful hot and humid here it’s hard to tell if it’s due to the weather this summer or if it’s a bit too big of a jump for me right now.
I’m doing a small adjustment and will see how that goes for the next several weeks. I just don’t want to run myself into a wall. Though as you probably know Hansons is no joke so it takes a lot of reflection. Hoping to see how the next couple weeks go with this and see how it goes from there! 🙂
Good luck on your training!!
I just finished my first 8 mile tempo with the Hanson plan.. I had previously been doing all my tempos on an indoor track at 7:35-7:38 pace feeling great. This week I took it outdoors and ended with a 7:48 pace while stopping to puke twice. Big fail!! Not to mention my miles were anything but consistent. Totally get some workouts just being… Badddd.