Category: Weekly Recap

ZOOMA Half Marathon Training Recap, Week 3

ZOOMA Half Marathon-1

I am excited to be training for the ZOOMA Half Marathon on September 15.  I am also excited to share that I will train using the Hansons Half Marathon Method.  In a nutshell, this training is based on the concept of cumulative fatigue.  You train your body to run often so that you are frequently running on tired legs.  The idea is to run this way so that during the last miles of a race you are prepared to push through the final miles. 

Week #3, June 11-17

M Ran 4.00 miles
T OFF
W OFF
TH Ran 7.25 miles
Ran 3.01 miles
Ran 4.00 miles
S Ran 8.00 miles

4 miles to start off the week and my first day of summer school.  I have 12 students in my class and it is an ideal number to have in a classroom.  They finished first grade early in the month and will be going to 2nd grade in August.

The next day I got my first picture.  Made me smile.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-10

I didn’t run on Wednesday because I woke up late in the morning.  After school I had  a PD and then was too tired to run.  I did Wednesday’s run (6×800 with 400m recovery and 1.5 miles warmup and cooldown) on Thursday.  Each interval was on pace except the last two.  Not too bad, right?  I did this run in the Brooks PureFlow 7 and afterwards noticed that my left leg/calf was hurting again.  The same thing happened the last time I ran in them but I just wanted to make sure and that is why I ran in them again.  Well, not no more.  I am sending these back.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-11.jpg

The rest of the runs were all easy runs.  It’s been hot in Chicago and it was tough being out there for both of my runs on Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday I did get up early but didn’t start running till almost 8am.  By the the sun was out and made it even more hot.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-12

I knew it was going to be just as hot on Sunday so this time I made sure to get out there even earlier.  I saw the sunrise.  So pretty!

I did 8 miles @12:51 average pace.  I struggle a lot on this run.  But I don’t care because I got it done and it was within my easy pace range anyway.

Total mileage for the week: 26.27 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  67.31 miles
Total mileage for the year: 518.71 miles

Here’s how training has gone so far:
Week 1 and 2

ZOOMA Half Marathon Training Recap, Week 1 and 2

ZOOMA Half Marathon-1

I am excited to be training for the ZOOMA Half Marathon on September 15.  I am also excited to share that I will train using the Hansons Half Marathon Method.  In a nutshell, this training is based on the concept of cumulative fatigue.  You train your body to run often so that you are frequently running on tired legs.  The idea is to run this way so that during the last miles of a race you are prepared to push through the final miles. 

Week #1, May 28-June 3

M Ran 4.01 miles
T OFF
W Ran 4 miles
TH OFF
Ran 2.00 miles
Ran 3.00 miles
S Ran 6.01 miles

I ran in new shoes (Brooks PureFlow 7) and somewhat enjoyed the HOT weather.  I was off on Monday and the week went by fast!

ZOOMA Half Marathon-2

My left leg had been bothering me so I made sure to stretch and foam roll more than ever before.  I used a tennis ball for the glutes and that felt so good.  Weird but true.

I was supposed to run 3 miles on Friday but only managed 2.  It was a beautiful morning for a run!   

ZOOMA Half Marathon-3

The next day my leg felt much better.  The stretching, foam rolling, and wearing compression socks definitely helped.  

ZOOMA Half Marathon-4

ZOOMA Half Marathon-5.jpg

First week of training went well.  This week was mostly easy runs which I like.

Total mileage for the week: 19.02 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  19.02 miles
Total mileage for the year: 470.43 miles

Week #2, June 4-10

M Ran 4.00 miles
T OFF
W Ran 5.01 miles
TH OFF
Ran 3.00 miles
Ran 4.00 miles
S Ran 6.01 miles

My last day of school began with 4 miles!  I wore a long sleeve top and was definitely overdressed.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-6

I went to a professional development on Wednesday and then on Thursday and Friday went to school to set up my classroom.  I will be teaching summer school for 4 weeks from 8:30am-12:00pm.  I am actually excited about it!

Saw this during my PD and actually made me think about my running goals (sub 2 half marathon, sub 5 marathon, and eventually BQ).  For now I am going to focus on a sub 2 half marathon.  I am thinking of aiming for it at the RnR New Orleans Half Marathon in February.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-7

The rest of the week also consisted of easy runs.  For the most part I’ve managed to run them at an “easy” pace.  Sometimes it isn’t that easy because I want to pick up the pace and just run faster.

Today’s run was supposed to be 8 miles.  I was halfway into it when these two dogs somehow showed up in front of me and scared me.  A lot.  I stopped and waited for them to leave.  They stayed for about 5 seconds and then they took off.  A car stopped and one of the passengers asked me if I was OK.  The driver even offered to give me a ride.  I thought that was nice of them but I told them I was OK and took off in the opposite direction.  I was still kind of shocked and thinking of what would have happened if the dogs had jumped at me or bitten me.  I was angry that they were loose out there instead of in a leash.  I still wanted to finish 8 miles but my mind took control and I was done at 6 miles.  

Next week on Wednesday I will have my first speed workout for this training cycle.  It is 1.5 miles warm up and cool down, and then 6x800s with 400ms recovery.  I am not sure if I should do this run in the morning before or after class.  We’ll see what happens!  🙂

Total mileage for the week: 22.02 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  41.04 miles
Total mileage for the year: 492.45 miles

Illinois Marathon Training Recap, Week 22

Illinois Marathon-2

Week #22, April 23-29

M Ran 3.61
T 4.35
W 2.86
TH Rest
F Ran 1.60
S Rest
S Ran 13.27

My last week of training!  I did one quality session (which I was shocked that I had to do) and the rest of my runs were done at an easy pace

Monday morning I had a professional development at school so I didn’t have to get in early.  I went running in the morning and enjoyed seeing the sun. 

Illinois Marathon-197

On Tuesday I went out in the evening (later than I wanted to) for my last quality session workout (10 minutes warm up, 6×400@2:40 per rep, and 10 minutes cool down).  Boom!  Mission accomplished! 

Friday was my last run (20 minutes) and I took my time and enjoyed it.  

Illinois Marathon-200

I went to work for 1/2 day and then drove to Champaign for the marathon.  It was a long drive (2.5 hours).  My race didn’t go as I expected.  Spoiler alert: I did instead the half marathon.  I will have a recap of the race on Tuesday.

Total mileage for the week: 25.70
Total mileage for this training cycle: 488.79
Total mileage for the year: 409.95

Here’s how training has gone so far:
• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7
• Week 8
• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11
• Week 12
• Week 13
• Week 14
• Week 15
• Week 16
• Week 17
• Week 18
• Week 19
• Week 20
• Week 21

That concludes my training for the Illinois Marathon.  I am signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon in October but I think for now I will hang my marathon running shoes.  I have a few races I want to PR (5K, 10K, 10 miles, and half marathon) and would like to focus on will like to focus instead on those race distances.

Illinois Marathon Training Recap, Week 21

Illinois Marathon-2

Week #21, April 16-22

M Ran 10.76
T Rest
W 6.52
TH 2.49
F Ran 2.89
S Ran 5.90
S Ran 2.49

Before I tell you about my week, can we talk about Desi winning The Boston Marathon!!!!  Wow, so amazing!  I was watching it in my classroom when she was in 2nd place, then I stopped watching (can’t remember how long) and then the next thing I knew, she was in 1st place.  Beautiful!!!

Have you seen this Tweet of a video of here crossing the finish line?  Watch it as many times as you want.  I know I did.

I missed my long run this past weekend.  My coach asked me if I could do it on Monday.  I told her yes but then found out we were expecting snow.  Oh boy.  When I got home I didn’t want to run.  I wanted to read more about Desi and The Boston Marathon.  Also, I was cold and tired.  I asked my coach if it would be horrible if I didn’t run.  See the message below.  That and Desi’s win was enough to get me out there.  I did.  And it wasn’t bad at all.

Illinois Marathon-193My run was 40 minutes warm up, 3×10 minutes @10:43 with 400m recovery, 2×5 minutes @10:01 with 400m recovery, and 30 minutes cool down.  Did better than expected!

Illinois Marathon-194 I was excited but also nervous for Wednesday’s run (15 minute warm up, 1.50 miles @10:43, .50 mile @10:01, .50 mile @11:56, 1.5 miles @10:43, .50 mile @10:01, 10 minute cool down).  It wasn’t too cold but a little windy.  I did stop about 2-3 times for a little to catch my breath and then kept running.  Felt great and was pleased with my splits.

Illinois Marathon-195

The rest of the week were easy runs (Thursday was 30 minutes, Friday was 35 minutes, Saturday was 70 minutes, and Sunday was 30 minutes).  

We finally have some nice and warm weather in Chicago.  I began stalking the weather for next weekend in Champaign and am pleased that it will not be cold.  🙂

Illinois Marathon-196

Today was a fun run at Fleet Feet Chicago sponsored by Brooks.  We had a chance to try out the Levitate.  I’ve heard so many great things about it and was excited to run in them.  As soon as I put them on, I knew I was going to like them.  They felt very soft and cushioned.  What I don’t like is the price ($150) which I think is expensive.  It is definitely more than I am willing to spend.  I know they’ll be reduced sometime this year when the newest version is released and then I can buy a pair for me.

Another GREAT week of training and pleased with all of my runs.  Less than one week to go!

Total mileage for the week: 31.05
Total mileage for this training cycle: 463.09
Total mileage for the year: 284.26

Here’s how training has gone so far:
• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7
• Week 8
• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11
• Week 12
• Week 13
• Week 14
• Week 15
• Week 16
• Week 17
• Week 18
• Week 19
• Week 20

 How was YOUR week?  

Illinois Marathon Training Recap, Week 20

Illinois Marathon-2

Week #20, April 9-15

M Rest
T 3.72
W 6.36
TH 3.62
F Rest
S Ran 3.32
S Rest

Great day for running but legs felt very tired.  I surprised myself and ran a “fast” mile of 11:53.  Must remember to run S-L-O-W-E-R now that I am so close to my marathon.

I almost skipped my run on Wednesday because I was tired.  I haven’t been sleeping well.  I woke up very early on Monday and Tuesday and after work what I really wanted to do was nap.  🙂  It was 60 degrees outside and I know I’ve been complaining a lot about the weather so it was the perfect day to be out, right?  I wore shorts and compression socks.  Luckily I also wore a long sleeve top because once outside I was COLD.  Very weird.  It was 52 degrees when I was done.

My workout was interesting (15 minutes warm up, 4×800 @5:20/rep with 400m recovery, 4×400 @2:20/rep with 200m recovery, and 10 minute cooldown.  Each interval was done faster than expected and that made me very happy!

Illinois Marathon-185

Thursday had pretty decent weather and I couldn’t wait to run in shorts!  However, it felt chilly on my run (like on Wednesday) and am glad I wore a long sleeve top.

Illinois Marathon-186.jpg

The weekend was all about crappy weather.  Wind and rain.  I went back and forth with debating on doing my long run (40 minutes warm up, 3×10 minutes @10:43 with 400m recovery, 2×5 minutes @10:01 with 400m recovery, and 30 minutes cool down) on Saturday or Sunday.  By the time I finally decided to do it on Saturday, I realized that it was going to take me over 2 hours to finish and I wouldn’t be back in time to shower and meet my family for lunch.  I told myself that depending on how I felt after lunch and the weather conditions, I might still do my long run on Saturday.

Lunch was fun.  We went to a Mexican restaurant.  The food was OK but it was great hanging out with the family.  After lunch I went home and took a nap.  🙂  I felt much better after my nap I went out for an easy run (40 minutes).  It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be and regretted not doing my long run instead.  I even managed to finish each mile at the same pace – that has never happened!!

Illinois Marathon-187

I wanted to cry Sunday morning.  As much as I tried to motivate myself, I just couldn’t do it.  I skipped my run.  Did I feel guilty?  Yes.  I sent a message to my coach and she said I could do it on Monday.  The problem is that we are expecting snow.  So we’ll see if I run on Monday.  Sigh, really over this weather.  But I guess I shouldn’t really complain since the weather conditions for the Boston Marathon as expected to be worse.

Illinois Marathon-188.jpg

Total mileage for the week: 17.02
Total mileage for this training cycle: 432.04
Total mileage for the year: 353.21

Here’s how training has gone so far:
• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7
• Week 8
• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11
• Week 12
• Week 13
• Week 14
• Week 15
• Week 16
• Week 17
• Week 18
• Week 19

How was YOUR week?  How is the weather where you live?