I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for their Weekly Wrap.

Hoping everyone had a good week!

WeeklyWrap

2016ChicagoMarathonRecap1

Chicago Marathon training is here!  I am excited (and nervous) to be training using the Hansons 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. These plans are 18 weeks and have you running 6 days (easy, speed/strength, tempo, and long runs) a week with one rest day. 

Week #11, August 15-21

Monday:

  • PLAN – 8 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
  • ACTUAL – Total 8 miles @11:31 average pace

I did this run on the treadmill and alternated a different song with paces of 12:00, 11:32, and 11:07.

2016ChicagoMarathonRecap75

That evening I went to an event sponsored by Fleet Feet Chicago and Generation UCAN to meet Dathan Ritzenhein.  We got to hear a bit about the product he uses to fuel his runs, how he become a runner, and his accomplishments.  There was a fun run prior to the Q&A session (I did not run) so I got a chance to talk to him and ask him specifically how he fuels.  Also, there were samples of their new snack bars (Peach Passion and Coffee Bean) and they were both delicious!  I ended up buying a box of the Peach Passion bars and the Berry UCAN Hydrate.  Overall, it was worth the trip to the store.

Tuesday:

  • PLAN – 6×1600 @10:08 pace (with 1 mile w/up and c/d and 400 recovery) 
  • ACTUAL – Total 9.50 @10:48 average pace

W/up and c/d @11:07.  Recovery @13.02.  I was not looking forward to this run.  It is a very intimidating run.  Surprisingly I felt great and it was a confidence booster.  I did get a little tired at the last mile but managed to power through. The first 3 repeats were done at 10:10 and the last 3 I alternated a different song with paces of 10:10 and 10:00.

Prior to my run I ate a UCAN snack bar and drank coffee.  Maybe that’s why I felt great?

2016ChicagoMarathonRecap78

Wednesday:

  • PLAN – OFF
  • ACTUAL – OFF

I finally got a haircut!  It has been two years since I’ve had one.  I cut off 8 inches and will be donating it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Short but not too short to put it up in a ponytail for when I run.

2016ChicagoMarathonRecap83

Thursday:

  • PLAN – 8 tempo @10:18 pace (with 1 mile w/up and c/d)
  • ACTUAL – 10 miles @10:10 average pace

I had a doctor appointment in the morning for a yearly physical.  Then I hung out at Panera for coffee and a bagel before heading to the gym.  W/up and c/d @11:07.  Alternated a different song with paces of 10:21, 10:10, 10:00, and 9:50.  Yikes, this was a little bit faster than I was supposed to run but I felt great so I just kept running.  Prior to my run I had a Generation UCAN snack bar and coffee.

Friday: 

  • PLAN – 7 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
  • ACTUAL – 7 miles @11:34 average pace

In the morning I got a massage which felt great.  Then went to Target and also had lunch with a friend. I did not want to go right away to the gym so I waited a bit and hung out with Lola.  

I alternated a different song with paces of 12:00, 11:32, and 11:07.  I was on a roll and was surprised when the treadmill stopped.  Bummer.  I did not know that was going to happen.  Oh well.  I started the machine again and finished my run.  I was tired.  TIRED.  Sigh, I think I need to do these a bit slower.  

2016ChicagoMarathonRecap84

Saturday:

  • PLAN – 16 long @10:29-11:05 pace
  • ACTUAL – 13.02 miles @12:27 average pace

I was looking forward to this run.  I checked the weather and it was ideal (or so I thought) and that is always something to look forward to in a long run.  Well, about 6 miles into the run it began to POUR. Literally it rained cats and dogs.  Then it cleared up for a little bit.  However, I was not feeling it.  I was tired.  I could not get my legs to run fast enough.  For the rest of the way I ran and walked.  And it rained again TWICE.   I was over the rain and just wanted to be done.  I also chafed in my arms and near my lady parts.  Not fun.

I will admit that this run left me questioning why I was even training for the marathon.  I think that if it wasn’t for the fact that it has a sentimental meaning, I would have stopped my training on Saturday.  Yes, that is how much it affected me.  But I also know there will always be bad runs during marathon training and it is part of the experience.  

2016ChicagoMarathonRecap85

Sunday:

  • PLAN – 8 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
  • ACTUAL – Did not run.

Just one of those days.  No energy and no desire.

Week 11 went well.  I was very tired and missed one run.  I am very pleased with my strength and tempo runs and how they went better than I expected.  Next week I have 4×1.5 mile repeats and a 9 tempo run.

Summer break is over and I go back to work tomorrow.  I am excited and looking forward to the new school year.

2016ChicagoMarathonRecap86

Total mileage for the week: 47.52 miles

Total mileage for this training cycle: 434.34 miles

Total mileage for the year: 917.40 miles <<Yikes!!

Here’s how training has gone so far:

18 Comments on 2016 Chicago Marathon Training Week 11

  1. What a great week! My thought when I get a haircut is that it has to be long enough for a ponytail! Usually the back is but sometimes stylists like to leave short pieces in the front. Next time post a picture of you at a front angle with the hair. Anyway, YAY for Generation UCAN. The Peach Passion bars are my favorite. I probably shouldn’t say this but I really do not like the taste of the coffee bean ones, and I typically DO like coffee flavored stuff. Peach tasted more natural!

  2. It’s great watching you hit and pass your planned paces! This is definitely a great cycle for you. I won’t lie…when I saw all the runners training today at Busse Woods, I got a little sad. I hope to be back at it next year!

    • Thanks! It has been an interesting training season. I’ve never run 6 days a week and it is hard and exhausting. I know it will be worth it once I cross the finish line.

  3. Wow that’s a lot of weekly miles. Great job! Some runs are pure torture but I think we are gifted with those in order to truly appreciate the good ones. I’ve never tried a UCAN product. They seem to be doing the trick for you though. I’m not sure if our Fleet Feet carries UCAN since I rarely go there. But, I’ll have to go check that out. Thanks for linking, Zenaida.

    • Thank you! I agree that runs like those are what make us stronger. Just a few more weeks and I will be done with training and happily crossing that finish line.

  4. That event at fleet feet sounds fun. I also recently got a haircut. I was way overdue. I got it short enough that I can still put it up in a pony tail while I run but I don’t have sweat dripping down my back like before when it was way long.

  5. I was wearing the same exact outfit you wore in your Monday pic last Friday! 🙂 Shake off Saturday. It was a bad run, it happens – you are gonna rock Chicago, lady! I believe in you!

  6. How cool that you got to meet Ritz! What is he like in person? Yay for the haircut and donating your hair! Doesn’t it feel funny washing your hair for the first time after getting it cut? It’s like something is missing, you use too much shampoo, etc. =D

  7. How neat you got to talk with Dathan about running! I’ll have to check out the Ucan bars.I saw this amazing post about you donating your cut hair to a charity! This is awesome and it looks great and still goes up no problem for all those runs! You’re really making great progress in your training and your paces are right on spot if not better most times, the others don’t fret over. Some days we have it and some days are not our best. It’s all part of the process.

    • Thanks! I am glad I was able to cut my hair. But I still have the ponytail and need to mail it out. I went back to work on Monday and it has been HECTIC. I am very happy tomorrow is Friday and then weekend around the corner.

Leave a Reply to Elizabeth ClorCancel reply