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.
