Category: Half Marathon Training

A new coach, San Antonio, and back to work!

I am excited to share that I have a running coach.  After a few weeks of using the Hansons Half Marathon Method, I started working again with Mary.   I worked with her and Rochelle while training for the Illinois Marathon.  While the marathon didn’t go as I wanted it to, I enjoyed many of my workouts (even in the cold days of winter) and had a great time training with the both of them.

She sent me my schedule for August 12-26 and I got really excited when I saw it.  Most of my runs are easy runs (4-6 miles) but I also have a few quality sessions (warm up and cool down with 6 x 30 second intervals, 8 x 30 second intervals, and 8 x 1 minute intervals).  >> I already did the 1st two quality sessions and did very well in them.

My sister and nephew live in San Antonio so my mother and I went to visit them.  It went by fast!  We arrived on Thursday and came back on Tuesday (last week).  Our original return date was Monday but the flight was delayed from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.  We would have been getting in at midnight so we decided to stay another day.

The last time I went in the summer, I remember it being very hot.  This time it wasn’t too bad.  I was able to do 2 easy runs, one in the morning and one in the evening.  

San Antonio Weather

We spent the days at home relaxing and also visiting my aunt and cousins.  My aunt made mole and I helped my mother make tamales.  They’re delicious but so much work.  We had a great time but I was looking forward to coming back home.  I missed Lola and I think she missed me too!  🙂

Summer break is over!  I went back to work on Monday.  I worked on my room prior to my San Antonio trip but didn’t finish everything.  I went again on Friday.  I stayed late on Monday and I’m still not done but pleased with how it is.

Classroom-7

Here is what my first week with Mary looked like for me!

Sunday:  5 miles easy on a humid day in San Antonio.

Monday:  4 miles easy also in San Antonio.  I did this in the evening so it wasn’t as humid.

Tuesday:  OFF

Wednesday: 4.85 miles which consisted of 2 warmup, 6×30 seconds w/1 minute recovery, and 2 cooldown.

Thursday: 4 miles easy

Friday: 5.23 miles which consisted of 2 warmup, 8×30 seconds w/1 minute recovery, and 2 cooldown.

Saturday:  6 miles easy

Sunday:  OFF!

Monday:  4 miles easy

Total: 33.08 miles

Linking up with Marcia, Patti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun

 

 

ZOOMA Half Marathon Training Recap, Week 10

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 #10, July 30-August 5

M Did not run
T OFF
W Ran 4.00 miles
TH Ran 5.00 miles
Ran 5.00 miles
Ran 2.00 miles
S Did not run

Tuesday was the last day in July and I ended it with running 102.44 miles.

Total July 2018

I almost skipped my run on Wednesday but then realized that I didn’t run Monday nor Tuesday.   Decent weather and got some negative splits.  I ran in a new pair of shoes – Brooks Launch Levitate.  

I set out again early in the morning for 5 miles on Thursday and Friday.  Felt pretty good on both days.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-47

Then Saturday it was awful.  I wanted to do 6 miles but only managed 2.  I went out too late and got too hot.  I was also very tired and just could not keep going.  Total time running was 27:24 for an average pace of 13:41.  Sunday morning I woke up late and didn’t have time to do my run.  I did some errands, went to do laundry, and then picked up my mom to meet my nephews for a late lunch.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-51

Oh man, I am in trouble with these long runs.  I thought for sure it would be a better week since we had some cool weather.  

Another week training for the ZOOMA Great Lakes Half Marathon.  It wasn’t that great but it wasn’t that horrible.  On Thursday I am going to San Antonio with my mom to visit my sister and nephew.  It is supposed to be even HOTTER over there.  Not sure how I am going to get my runs done.  Not sure if I even want to run.  🙂

Total mileage for the week: 16.00 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  231.11 miles
Total mileage for the year: 682.46 miles 

Here’s how training has gone so far:
Week 1 and 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9

Goodbye July and Hello August!

Where did July go?  I feel like I just wrote about the end of summer school and still having a few more weeks of summer break.  

Hello August

• July was a busy month with family activities.  My sister and her husband were in town and we did something pretty much each day.  We went to a cotillion on the 14th and then the rest of the week, we went downtown to Millennium Park and to Lake Katherine, and also visited lots of other family members.  Plus, we ate A LOT!  I am surprised my pants and shorts still fit.

• Training went well this month.  I am currently training for the ZOOMA Great Lakes Half Marathon in September.  I did most of my runs but missed 3 long runs and an easy run.  We had some hot days but lately it has cooled down and that has made the runs a bit more enjoyable.  How many more days till Fall?

• Ran 102.44 miles.  Another month over 100 miles.  I am now 55% done of my yearly goal.  There are 154 days left in 2018 and I still need to run 533.41 miles to achieve my goal.

2018 Goal

• Total time running was 21:10:59.

• 21 days of running.  With the Hansons Training Plan, I run 6 days a week and so far have been doing OK.  I’ve trained before with this plan but lately have been struggling with my long runs on Sunday and the hot days this summer.  I’ve forgotten how tired I get using this plan.

July 2018 Calendar

ZOOMA Half Marathon-27

• My weekly speed workouts have not been going OK.  I’ve been struggling to hit the required paces and that frustrates me.  I know the weather is a big factor because I remember during the winter I did so well in my speed workouts.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-41

• I ran 1 race in July.  I ran the Elmhurst 4 on the 4th on July 4th.  It is one of my favorites and it was so much fun!  I have no races in August as it will be all about training for my upcoming half marathon.

Overall, I am proud of myself with how I did in July.  I missed a few runs but didn’t stress too much about it.  I go back to work on August 20th and I am sort of looking forward to it.  🙂

July 2018 Report Card

So how did July go for you?

Linking up with MarciaPatti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun

ZOOMA Half Marathon Training Recap, Week 9

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 #9, July 23-29

M Ran 5.00 miles
T OFF
W Ran 7.10 miles
TH Ran 4.00 miles
Ran 6.00 miles
Ran 4.00 miles
S Ran 6.50 miles

Monday was another early wake up call to run.  Felt great and was able to get negative splits!

Wednesday’s workout was 5×1000 with 400s recovery and 1.5 miles warmup and cooldown.  I was disappointed because I did not hit the pace I was supposed to.  

ZOOMA Half Marathon-41.jpg

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday runs were 4, 6, and 4 miles again.  The weather was decent which made the runs enjoyable.  Some days you can do negative splits and some days you don’t.  🙂

Sunday’s run was 3×2 miles with 800m recovery and 1.5 miles warmup and cooldown for a total of 10 miles.  I went out early to enjoy the cooler temperature.  I was planning to do this by the lake by decided to do this close to home.  This run did not go well and I stopped at 6.5 miles.  I was frustrated.  I wasn’t hitting the paces I was supposed to and instead just decided to run whatever pace I could.  Then I got too hot and tired.  Then my left foot began to bother me.  I stopped and just walked home. 

Some days you have good runs and some days you don’t.  Oh well.  I can’t be too hard on myself since I am still doing pretty good with training for the ZOOMA Great Lakes Half Marathon.

Total mileage for the week: 32.60 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  215.11 miles
Total mileage for the year: 666.46 miles 

Here’s how training has gone so far:
Week 1 and 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8

ZOOMA Half Marathon Training Recap, Week 8

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 #8, July 16-22

M Ran 4.00 miles
T Ran 7.75 miles
W Ran 4.00 miles
TH Ran 6.00 miles
Ran 10.00 miles
Ran 4.00 miles
S OFF

Wow, what a week!  I made some changes due to family stuff and the RnR Chicago on Sunday (I didn’t run but was a spectator).  I was determined not to miss any runs this week.  I didn’t!  🙂

Ran 4 miles on Monday and then went to see “The Incredibles 2”.  A good movie!  My favorite part was the scene with the raccoon.

Tuesdays are my days off but I moved my runs to be off on Sunday to spectate the RnR Chicago.  I did 10 x 400.  It was a tough workout and I didn’t not hit any of my paces.  I was hot and tired (my own fault).   There are some pretty flowers by the airport.

My sister is in town with her husband and daughter.  We went out to eat with another sister and my mother.   IHOP was celebrating their 60th anniversary so they were offering 3 short stacks for 60 cents.  My niece and I shared Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes and Belgian Dark Chocolate Mousse Pancakes.

Wednesday was 4 miles, Thursday 6 miles, Friday 10 miles, and Saturday 4 miles.  I went out too late on Thursday to run 6 miles and it was a mistake.  I don’t know why I thought it was a good idea to run in the middle of a HOT day.  I did my long run on Friday and it was tough too.  The last time I ran 10 miles was in May for the Solder Field 10 Mile.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-37

Later that evening I went to Fleet Feet South Loop to see Kathrine Switzer.  🙂

Kathrine Switzer-9.jpg

It rained for most of the morning on Sunday.  I felt bad for the runners.

Overall it was a good week.  I did all of my runs and don’t think I’ve ever run for 6 straight days.  That was exhausting!

Total mileage for the week: 35.77 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  182.50 miles
Total mileage for the year: 633.86 miles 

Here’s how training has gone so far:
Week 1 and 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7