[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk]
Ohhhh we’re halfway thereeeee…
Although I still have week 8 to go before I’m *officially* at the halfway point, my friend Autumn and I crossed into half marathon territory yesterday with a 13.1-mile run. I cannot believe I’ve still got 62 more days, though.
Here’s more on week 7:
How I’m feeling this week:
Pretty darn good. The last two years, I have trained for the half marathon in about 9 weeks. I only started training again 7 weeks ago and already ran a half marathon. Not to mention, the last two years I could barely MOVE after that run. Yesterday I was hurting at the end of my run just a bit (hello, burning hips!) but then I was fine. And I woke up today and I was fine. It is truly amazing how your body just adjusts and prepares. Now if only I could drop a few pounds 🙂
What I ran this week:
- Tuesday 2/28: 5.00 miles, 51:54 (10:22 average pace), treadmill (including TUT 10 minutes)
- Thursday 3/1: 4.00 miles, 50:50 (12:45 average pace), treadmill, mostly flat (including 1 mile of walking)
- Saturday 3/3: 13.10 miles, 2:12:49 (10:07 average pace), road, some hills (part of the marathon course)
TOTAL: 22.09 miles, 3:55:33 (on par with my training schedule)
How I cross-trained this week:
None
What I ate:
{I am going to start talking about meals before, during, and after my weekly long runs.}
Day Before:
Breakfast:
Smoothie (green monster) + coffee
Bagel with cream cheese
Lunch:
Small corn muffin
Dinner:
Cheese and crackers
Fish with polenta and greens
2 dinner rolls
Piece of peanut butter pie for dessert
+Water, water, water all day
Long run day:
Breakfast:
1/2 bagel with sunflower butter
1 cup coffee
1 banana
Water
During the run:
1 Gu (2x caffeine)
1 cup water
After the run (about 20 minutes later):
Soy chocolate milk
Lunch (about 2 hours later):
Jimmy John’s Turkey Tom sub
Jimmy John’s Thinny Chips
Lots of water (with Nuun)
Dinner:
Buffalo chicken wrap
Onion rings
A few nachos
1 beer
4 Girl Scout cookies
More water
(Clearly I like to reward myself after a long run!)
Roadblocks this week:
Work is picking up, so that means less time during the week to run and cross train. I missed yoga again this week.
Then there was Thursday. As lovely as yesterday’s run went, Thursday just SUCKED. I was in a bad mood, then arrived at the gym about 7ish for a 7-mile run on the treadmill, tired. I forgot to eat a snack beforehand, so I was hungry, too. Every TV at my gym had the news on, which I did not want to see (I can only see enough politics for one day), and everyone was just annoying me. Then my shin really started to hurt. I gave myself 3 miles, then walked 1, then called it a day. I went home for some RICE-ing and tried not to beat myself up about it. I did not want to hurt myself more. Some days just suck. That’s how running goes.
Goals for the week ahead:
Get my miles in during the work week. I’ve got two after work things going on this week, plus a busy week, so it’s important I get my miles in. I need 5 miles Tuesday then 8 on Thursday. Working 9ish hours on top of an 8-mile run just seems sort of impossible. In weeks 13 and 14 I have to run TEN MILES on a Thursday. TEN? Clearly whoever wrote out this training plan loved to get up at 4 a.m. and/or did not have a job. One week at a time, though. I can’t let myself get overwhelmed. If I need to modify, then so be it. Eye on the prize: Which is another 12-13 miles on Saturday.
This week’s running topic: Running Mentality
As the weeks go on, I’m noticing my mentality on running long distances is completely changing. The day before my half marathon this week, I made sure to eat carbs and drink lots of water, but that was basically it. I wasn’t super nervous like I was last May when I had the half race the next day. I treated it as just another training run. I also make sure to take each week at a time, because like I said above, if I start thinking about everything on my to-do list on top of weeks where I have to run 39 miles, I get freaked out. Taking one run at a time, and fitting it into my schedule just works for me and makes things a lot easier.
Another important thing is to get rid of the “just.” I am guilty of it. When someone asks me how many miles I have to do, I’ll say, “Just 5,” or “Just 9.” JUST 9? My “Just 9” is another person’s marathon. Or if someone says they have to run “Just 3,” to someone else, that is ridiculously far. Each runner is different, and everyone has different training plans. Some people WILL overtrain for their upcoming half or full marathon. They are running way too far too soon. Others run 20 miles for fun. It’s important that every mile, and every step is great. I “just” ran 3 miles and walked 1 on Thursday when I was supposed to run 7 but you know what? That wasn’t my day. Everyone is different and it’s important that you’re getting out there and moving, whether you a runner, or if you do yoga, love to walk, take zumba, etc. etc.
Fun find of the week:
A running infographic!
Past recaps:
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Pre-training post with my 16-week training schedule
pliu891 says
I love this blog! I’m training for my first even marathon right now and I love how detailed your blog is about your training schedule! Good luck! and congrats on covering 13!
Deanna says
Aw thanks so much! It helps keep me accountable. Good luck to you as well!