Training Update March 19, 2018

Training Update

March 19, 2018

I did it! I'm down to only ONE (significantly) long run left in marathon training. After 19 miles on Saturday, I'm flying high and feeling great about the last few weeks of training. I'm definitely happy to have another "dial-back" week to relax a bit as my legs are pretty sore following this week's miles, but mentally, I'm feeling strong about the race.

Monday, March 12 - Rest

I do love my Monday rest days, and I've been doing better the last few weeks at keeping up with a strength training routine. I definitely think I could benefit from adding strength training to an additional day during the week but Monday's routine has definitely been helping me build up some of the stabilizing muscles in my legs. It's a great way to start off the week!

Tuesday, March 13 - Planned 5 Miles

Ran 5.29 miles in 44:19 at an 8:23 pace.

I ran quite a bit faster than I was anticipating which tends to happen when it's cold and windy. The rough weather also hurts motivationally so I was feeling more fatigued than usual by the end of the run. I forced myself to run an extra block at the end of the run just to shake off some of the mental blocks I was feeling which ended up helping a TON. It was a great reminder of how comfortable running has become for me, even the tougher runs.

Wednesday, March 14 - Planned 5 Miles

Ran 5.01 miles in 41:50 at an 8:21 pace

Another run that was quite a bit faster than I was anticipating. The weather was not my friend this week and I found myself once again running into a strong wind as well as plenty of snow towards the end of the run. My knee was a little achy but loosened up towards the end of the run. I've been giving my legs plenty of ice and attention this week.

Thursday, March 15 - Planned 5 Miles

Ran 5.03 miles in 43:10 at an 8:35 pace

Even though this run wasn't much slower than my other paces this week, Thursday's run felt significantly more relaxed and controlled. I wasn't pushing myself, I was just enjoying the miles. My legs felt looser and my knee felt much stronger, especially after some much-needed stretching and foam rolling.

Friday, March 16 - Rest

Does bowling count as cross-training? My wife and I along with several of our friends are part of a monthly bowling league so Friday's rest was spent at the bowling alley.

Saturday, March 17 - Planned 19 miles

Ran 19.01 miles in 2:53:12 at a 9:07 pace

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! 19-miles was tough but not tougher than I was anticipating. Mentally I felt great, much better than during my 18-miler a couple of weeks ago. I was able to stay calm and relaxed through most of the run which I think is a great sign, the less time I spend thinking about how tired my legs are, the better!

That being said, after the turn-around at the halfway point, I was definitely feeling some tightness in my left hamstring. I was able to stretch it out a bit on the trail and ultimately it didn't have too big of an impact, but it was definitely noticeable. Still, I focussed on keeping an easy and steady pace through most of the run and am definitely happy with my final pace. I even ran the last mile in 8:22!

Sunday, March 11 - Rest

I do love my Sunday rest days! I may not have gotten my mid-day nap but spent plenty of time catching up on TV from the week. Here's to hoping that by the end of this training program it may be warm enough to spend some time outside on Sundays!

My Week in Review

As my Saturday runs are getting longer, I'm starting to focus my attention on race day plans and strategies. Although I've still got plenty of miles to go before 26.2 in April, I'm keeping an eye on trends in my runs and focussing closely on my pace as well as hydration and nutrition on my long runs. This was the first week I was noticing how thirsty I was towards the end of my run so I'm starting to tweak my plan based on the locations of the on-course aid stations.

This week's training was a HUGE boost to my confidence as we approach the marathon. My last two long runs were tougher than I was used to, and I was starting to question just how difficult this race was going to be. This Saturday's 19-miler helped significantly though as my legs were feeling strong throughout the run. I know that the marathon is going to be a challenge, but I'm feeling a lot better about my readiness to take on that challenge.

My goal for the race is to come in under 4-hours which is going to be tough, but I'm staying optimistic. Although I don't have a specific pace strategy mapped out now, I can guarantee I'll be spending the final few weeks of training running through potential scenarios in my head