Marathon Update

A benefit of Marathon Two is that you can reflect on Marathon One and make adjustments to hopefully help you be more successful the second time around.

So some of my goals for this round of training and how I am doing with meeting those goals:

Cross training: I failed at this during One, did none. I was late to start this with my training, but now I think I've got it. Adding a bit of strength training after an easy run, and adding cross training on off days. Want to add some hill repeats after easy run 2.

Maintaining training pace: Eh. The warm temps help make that more a reality. I'm doing better but it's not always by choice. My twelve miler, which should have been easy since I had done several long runs in the weeks before starting the official training, was BRUTAL. Logically I know the heat was the blame, but it still is messing with me. Anyhow, I will keep at slow and steady on those long runs.

Injury free: IT band still lets me know it is there but I am careful to stretch after each (er, most) runs.

Nutrition: Could be better. I probably don't eat enough. And what I do eat isn't always the best choices. Looking at trying out Shakeology to at least add a boost to start my day.

Hills: I avoided hills with training One and did the bulk of my long runs on a route near my parents' house which is as flat as you can get. Didn't help me so much when I was faced with hills on the marathon course. I have been doing a great job intentionally running routes with hills. I know this is the only way to do it.

I think that is it? I had some great pace runs the past couple of weeks, even in high temps. So that was good.

Back at it

Two weeks down of Marathon Training. Running Maine in October. Silly of me to think I could run anything sooner than now. It took me a long. Long. LONG time to feel really recovered from the marathon. I ran through the summer and fall and then had minimal running late fall/early winter (consumed by the move). Kick started running again in January...and have been consistently running a 4 day a week (2 easy, 1 pace, 1 long run) since end of Feb. Went into this marathon training feeling a lot more in shape than the previous marathon.

Decided to follow Hal Novice 2 again. Four days is manageable. And I like to avoid speed work. This program has pace runs but no tempo/speed work. I know that's kind of lazy of me. But I'm ok with that.

Still struggling to do any cross training. I know I SHOULD do Yoga once a week. I know I SHOULD work my abs/arms. But again...I'm lazy.

One day last week I gave in. I did what I know you should never do. I allowed myself to not run, despite time in my day. And "spring" like temps. To me, once you allow An Excuse to keep you from working out, you've opened that door. Who knows. Maybe that missed day saved me from giving into a cold. From injuring myself. From getting hit by a truck.

Either way, today was a no brainer. My run was happening. A completely open day. AND "springISH" like temps. As I headed out the door I was feeling sluggish. That early afternoon fatigue exacerbated by too many carbs on the day and not enough fruits and veggies (and caffeine).

It had been a week since I last ran. And I only had one work out logged within that week (hey, I had better things to do. Like a Beer Tour. And...recovering from the Beer Tour). So theoretically my legs should have been fresh. Plus I wore my calf sleeves for that extra spring.

Except that fresh boing was not there. Within two steps I knew what type of run I was going to have. Heavy legged. Slow times. Blech.

But yet I ran. And I knew I would. Because I had decided to. And despite the heavy legs, slow miles, and partially ice covered trail, I decided at two miles into my run to turn my planned four miles into five.

And that's the thing with running. While I am not in my top running shape right now. And while I am tired. And fighting this damn cold that I seem to fight all winter long ever single since Greta entered the world...well. Once you decide to do it. You DO IT. And that's the mental game of it all.

So while my sneakers aren't earning the miles that they will this spring through fall...my mind is getting the exercise it needs.

Happy Running!