Category: Hansons Training

Tuesday Topics: My favorite running books

I love to read!  It makes me sad to see my students struggle with reading.  Many read very slow and then many times have no idea what they just read.  We have independent reading time every single day and I hope this does not make them dislike reading.

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This week’s Tuesday Topic: What are your favorite running books?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

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Here are a few great books I’ve read:

Born to Run:  I loved reading about the Tarahumara Indians and their barefoot running.  They’re amazing natural ultramarathoners!  I remember learning about chia seeds.  🙂

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Run Less, Run Faster:  If you “only” have time to run 3 days a week, then this book/plan is for you.  I am pretty positive I used their plan for one of my races.  There is also an app where you add the race distance, date, and calculated 5k and you will get your 3 runs and paces for each week leading up to the race.

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Hansons Marathon Method:  I have the books for the marathon and half marathon.  The plans are intense but doable.  For the 2016 Chicago Marathon I trained using this method.  I was aiming to finish under 5 hours, but I didn’t.  I did get a PR so that counts, right?  You can read what I wrote about it HERE.

HansonsTrainingPlan

Boston Bound:  It is an easy to read book that details Elizabeth Clor’s struggles as she attempts to get a BQ.  She tried for 7 years and finally qualified in October of 2014.  She ran the Boston Marathon on April 18, 2016.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul – Running for Good:  I read about this book in Wendy’s blog.  Immediately I ordered it from Amazon.  I could not put it down.  The book is full of wonderful stories of runners talking about their struggles, goals, and accomplishments.  I loved that each story began with a motivational quote.

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Living with a Seal: Another book from Wendy’s blog.  This book is HILARIOUS!  Jesse invites a Navy Seal to come live with him and to train him to get in shape.  His only condition is that Jessie does everything he tells him to do.  I don’t think I would last a day with him.

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I am currently reading “Meb for Mortals.  I bought this book last year before the Chicago Marathon.  I know, I know, that was a year ago.  I should have finished it by now.  

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Any other good running books I should read?

Tuesday Topics

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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.

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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.

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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

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• 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.

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• 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.  

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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.

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

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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