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

Hoping everyone had a good week!

WeeklyWrap

rnrdctrainingrecap

Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Half Marathon training is here!  I am excited to be training using again the Hansons Method for this race.  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 (I am starting a bit late so I will start with Week 4) and have you running 6 days (easy, speed/strength, tempo, and long runs) a week with one rest day. 

Week #3, December 12-18

Monday:

  • PLAN – 4 miles easy, 10:30-11:00 pace
  • ACTUAL – Did not run.

I had no desire to run in the snow.  Plus it was slippery and I just did not want to run.  All I want for Christmas is a treadmill.

Tuesday:

  • PLAN –12 x 400, 10:30-11:00 pace
  • ACTUAL – Total 2.01 miles @11:44 average pace

The first and last time I did this workout was on June 14th.  I did this run on the treadmill and this is what I wrote about it “W/up and c/d @12:00.  400m done at various paces (8:34-9:05). Recovery @12:30.  I remember when 8:34 did not feel hard but today it did.  I did 45 minutes of TRX prior to running so maybe I was just too tired?  Still I am proud of completing this because I wanted to stop after the 4th one.  I don’t think I’ve ever done 12.  Total 8 miles at 89 minutes. Average pace is 11:07.”

My plan was to go to the track but it was too cold.  So I  joined a gym.  I know it will be a very cold winter and I do not want to miss my runs.  I had an offer from LA Fitness for $29.99 each month (multi-club user) and no initiation fee (it is $99).  

I could not finish my workout.  Something felt off so I went home.  I did manage to run 2×400 (2:02 and 2:04) and I am pleased with how I did.

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Wednesday:

  • PLAN – OFF
  • ACTUAL – OFF

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A day full of ReadyGEN training (reading curriculum) followed by a building meeting.  Fun times!

Thursday:

  • PLAN – 3 tempo miles, 9:09 pace
  • ACTUAL – Did not run.

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Another cold day.  I thought for sure classes would be cancelled.  Nope.  Seven of my kids were absent so I couldn’t really do much during school.  They helped me move some things around and I was exhausted at the end of the day.  No running.  

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I signed up for RnR Denver next year.  Another state to cross off my list next year.

Friday: 

  • PLAN – 4  miles easy, 10:30-11:00 pace
  • ACTUAL –Total 4.02 miles @11:03 average pace

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I did not want to miss another workout.  I woke up at 4:30 to make it to the gym by 5:00.  I wore my Garmin Foot Pod to compare paces/time between that and the treadmill.  A little off.

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My watch has an average pace of 11:03 but when I entered the numbers from the treadmill on my Nike+ app, it comes out to a 10:42 average pace.  That is a big difference.  I remember changing up the speed higher but the pace on my watch would not change from 11:xx to 10:xx.  I have run with my foot pod outside twice so maybe I need to do a few more runs so that it calibrates properly?  Who knows but for now I will just go with what it says on my watch.  Splits are: 10:59/10:51/11:13/11:09.

Saturday:

  • PLAN – 5 miles easy, 10:30-11:00 pace
  • ACTUAL – 5.02 miles @10:56 average pace

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My plan was to do my run at the gym but changed my mind once I went to Target and saw that it wasn’t too cold.  So off to the lakefront I went.  I wore 3 layers and was somewhat comfortable. I actually enjoyed this run.  I enjoyed the decent weather because it is rare that we get a day like this in December.  Splits are: 10:17/11:23/10:42/11:25/10:57.

Later that evening I wrapped up presents for my kids.  I have been doing this since I began teaching.

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Sunday:

  • PLAN – 9 miles easy, 10:30-11:00 pace
  • ACTUAL – 9.02 @11:03 average pace

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This time I went to the gym.  It was empty when I got there but it quickly filled up.  This run was just blah.  I could not wait to finish it.  During the summer I did many runs on the treadmill but this one was tough.  After mile 5 I stopped after each mile to convince myself to not quit and to keep going.  Yeah, that’s how bad it was.  Splits are: 11:17/10:57/11:02/11:05/11:02/21:56/10:52/11:04/11:11.  Not sure what happened in Mile 6..21 minutes?

Week 3 went OK.  I skipped two runs and did not complete my speed workout.  I joined a gym so I am hoping to not use the weather as an excuse and do my runs on the treadmill.  In week 4, I have 6 x 600 and 3 tempo miles.  Oh, and I will be on winter break beginning on Wednesday at 3pm!!!

Total mileage for the week: 20.07 miles

Total mileage for this training cycle: 57.23 miles

Total mileage for the year: 1,245.41 miles

Here’s how training has gone so far:

 

15 Comments on Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Half Marathon Training Week 3

  1. A gym membership will definitely come in handy for your Chicago winters! I’ve never tried using my Garmin on a treadmill. I guess it uses some type of calculation from your previous GPS data to determine an estimated pace on TM? I know you are ready for a much deserved winter break. Enjoy! Thanks for linking, Zenaida!

  2. Winter break starts here today and with -9, I wonder if schools would’ve been closed?? All the best with round 2 of the Hanson’s Plan. Isn’t it weird to look at a workout and remember how it went the first time around? I take back every nasty thing I ever said about my treadmill.

  3. Solid week of training 🙂 I’m really hoping I don’t have to use a treadmill this winter-it’s mind-numbingly boring to me!! My husband took advantage of the RnR sale and signed up for his first marathon-Seattle-that was such a good sale!!

    • Yay for Seattle! I’ve done the half and would love to do it again. But now I need to be very particular about which races I do that are out of state. Cannot justify spending more money than necessary.

    • Thanks. Right now I will be happy with 40 degree weather. I agree about the treadmill. I told myself that I need to do more runs outside but Mother Nature is not cooperating so treadmill it is for now.

  4. 2 degrees? I so can not even imagine that! But hey all the snow is very pretty, loving all the pictures but please keep that stuff up there! 🙂
    Wishing you a very Merry Christmas Zenaida, thank you for supporting us in 2016 and I hope it will be a great year in 2017 for the both of us!

    • Thanks Tricia. I’ll tell Mother Nature not to be mean and to keep all of the snow here and not send it south. 🙂

      Here’s to 2017! Hopefully we’ll get a chance to meet up!!

  5. Your weather looks so brutal. I agree that it’s not worth risking slipping and falling by running in the snow. You made the smart decision. Nice job keeping up with your plan.

Thank you for your comment!