Six weeks down, zero runs missed. Last week was the first real big week. On tap was 50 miles of left foot, right foot, repeat. The real highlight though was our trip to Seattle. That’s right, Ev and I escaped the swelterfest known as Austin and made our way up into the Pacific Northwest for a long weekend for rest and relaxation. And running.
Sometimes you need an easy week and sometimes you don’t. Last week was one of those times when I definitely needed an easy week of running. I diligently knocked each one out exactly as the schedule said, including a sweltering lunch time run in the heart of Texas summer heat. There were no tempo or speed miles and no real long distances. It was much-needed after a rough Week 4. Heading into Week 6 I’m feeling refreshed and ready to light it up. I’m looking forward to hitting 50 miles this coming week, particularly with an 18 mile run that I can do in Seattle’s cool, dry climate. I’m not even sure how to prepare for a place where their HIGH temp is cooler than our LOW temp. I think I’ll figure out a way though.
| Distance | Time | Pace | Heart Rate | |
| Monday | 8.17 Miles | 1:07:28 | 8:15 min/mi | 147 bpm |
| Tuesday | 5.00 Miles | 48:40 | 9:44 min/mi | 132 bpm |
| Wednesday | 8.13 Miles | 1:09:25 | 8:32 min/mi | 144 bpm |
| Friday | 4.02 Miles | 37:15 | 9:16 min/mi | 140 bpm |
| Saturday | 12.43 Miles | 1:41:10 | 8:08 min/mi | 152 bpm |
| Total | 37.73 Miles | 5:23:59 | 8:35 min/mi | 145 bpm |
Week 4 is in the books leaving destruction in its wake. More specifically, my self-destruction. I hit all my prescribed runs, but not really all the paces I wanted. I’m happy I got through each day without much drama, but disappointed with most of the performances.
Now we’re getting serious. It’s been a long time since I cracked 40 miles in a week, which isn’t really all that much when it comes to marathon training, but it’s a milestone nonetheless. Another milestone is going 14 for 14 on scheduled runs so far in the training plan. Hopefully I’ll be able to say I went 74 for 74 by the time the race rolls around, but we’ll see.
Week 2 was much better than Week 1. Sticking to the schedule didn’t go particularly well, but the actual running was much improved. I hit all my runs, though had some more rescheduling to fit into general life. I pushed my long run up from Saturday to Wednesday to accommodate the Couples Triathlon on Sunday. Yep, I participated in another tri even after swearing off switching to running-only.
For now things are going smoothly, but my paces are slower than I’d like. I can’t expect to pick up where I left off at my peak, but I’m hoping I see some big gains soon. Otherwise I may need to reevaluate my goal for the race. Still early though, so only time will tell.
| Distance | Time | Pace | Heart Rate | |
| Monday | 8.31 Miles | 1:10:26 | 8:28 min/mi | 151 bpm |
| Wednesday | 13.23 Miles | 1:47:38 | 8:08 min/mi | 155 bpm |
| Thursday | 10.00 Miles | 1:25:23 | 8:32 min/mi | 144 bpm |
| Friday | 5.00 Miles | 46:48 | 9:21 min/mi | 138 bpm |
| Sunday | 3.00 Miles | 23:06 | 7:42 min/mi | — bpm |
| Total | 39.53 Miles | 5:33:24 | 8:26 min/mi | 149 bpm |
Well, Week 1 of my Team VW Chicago Marathon training plan is in the books. It started off shaky but quickly found a groove. It’s nice getting back in the running seat, but I can tell I’m thoroughly out of running shape. It’s true my swimming abilities have seen some exponential improvement, apparently at the cost of my running fitness. That’s OK though! Week 1 in the books and things can only go up from here.
Tapering. The time in the typical marathon training plan that sucks the most requires a lot of discipline. It’s the 2-3 weeks before race day, when all the strenuous training is behind you, and it’s time to scale things back to give your body the rest it needs. The issue is, leading up to the taper time is some of the most intense and dedicated training. Then, you’re expected to cut back by as much as 60%. Ask any marathon runner out there and s/he’ll tell you about a few irrationalities that take over. Fortunately for me, I don’t have that discipline to taper correctly, so the craziness / irrational feelings haven’t struck me (yet).
Another week in the books, and one week closer to the race. Actually, now that Week 15 has finished, we’re only three weeks (21 days!) until San Antonio! As I type that I realize 21 is going to be a theme in this post. I’ll stay away from cliches like black jack or alcohol and spare you the uncreative juices. Instead I’ll stick to a more boring professional discussion about how a regular Saturday long run turned into a super fantastic epic trek totaling no less than 21 miles. Continue reading for some exaggerated details about how it went. Hint: BOOM!
::sniff sniff:: Being sick ::cough cough:: when training for a marathon is pretty terrible. When the two primary tools are your legs and lungs, it’s tough going when you can barely breathe. ::achoo:: Ultimately, there’s a decision to make. It’s a fine line between continuing with the training plan, maintaining already-achieved fitness, and overexerting yourself right into an Armageddon-like situation, ending up worse than if you had just rested. Which way did I go?
Like I mentioned last week, the temps are starting to fall, which means running is getting more enjoyable. When the thermometer weather.com says it’ll be in the upper 50s (!!!), you know things are going to be fabulous. So fabulous in fact, I needed to put a shirt on. I don’t remember if I mentioned it, but I haven’t worn a shirt while running in Texas since May. I’ll allow you to absorb that sentence, react, and… compose yourself. Ok, we good? Good.
