Marathon training and I have had a Love/Hate relationship the
past 6 weeks. But after this past weekend’s 2 hour and 30min run (20.3 Miles) I
am finally feeling confident that I have the Time on Feet long runs down and my
hilly mid-week long runs have been clicking all along. Thus, I am starting to
lean more towards a loving relationship with marathon training.
Now my major goal is to learn how to mentally and physically
get through my marathon pace/effort workouts. The only part of my training I
have not figured out. (I even count that I figured out how to run EASY on my
easy days as an accomplishment…this is what you have to do to survive the first
weeks of marathon training…give yourself credit for the most ridiculous
“accomplishments” well at least in my
world..) Now back to Marathon Pace sessions. I wrote mentally first because
based on my other training and my 2 “workout races” the Marathon Pace sessions
I am being given should be well within reach physically. I find the half
marathon pace sessions very doable right now, but somehow can’t get my brain to
sustain my effort on slower, longer intervals and sessions. My solution is to
try to prepare better mentally and break the session up in my mind like I do my
long runs. I try to never over think the fact that I will be out running for
over two hours so maybe I shouldn't think about mile reps 4-8 until I've done
#3. Also, this week we are going to just focus on the effort and less on
hitting my actually goal pace for the session. I need to just complete the
prescribed session this week as my minimal goal. (This past week I hit the
mileage goal for the day, but changed what I was doing to shorter reps at half
marathon pace since mentally that was all I could get through).
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| "I think I'm getting the hang of this Marathoner thing" |
The plan worked! I got through my first Marathon Pace
session correctly yesterday. I did 2 X 4 miles at Marathon Pace and even though
it got pretty windy by the end I was never discouraged. I think one of the
major factors was that my fiancé Ryan volunteered to ride his bike while I ran
which made a huge difference. I didn’t think about how much I had left I just
cruised along.
This morning I have an easy Mid Week Long Run and then the
next challenge will be longer surges in my Long Run this weekend!
A few other updates:
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| More Amazing shoes for More Awesome miles! |
Huntsville 10 Mile: Texas 10 Series: Very hilly course. Ran 6:10-6:20 the first 5 mile loop then chatted the whole second loop with new friend running 6:30-6:40 pace (We split the prize money and points for the series). Then I finished up 20 Miles total for the day!
Rock n Roll Dallas Half Marathon: Ran Marathon Goal Pace and
was happy to still be the 4th Female overall.
A great “Ice Bath” swim in the Pacific Ocean after a great
20 Miler in Long Beach. Had great company from one of my Kiwi athletes for the
1st 14 Miles.
Grandma's Marathon in 7 weeks!
