I have not really talked about this lately, because I feel like it's not as
big of a deal, but I signed up for another marathon. It's in August. So, I am
already a few weeks into my marathon training for the race. I have to admit,
like everyone (I guess) I would like to qualify for Boston. But I am not sure
if I have it in me. I am not doubting my ability to get faster, but I have
recently been distracted by trail racing, which I love, and am contemplating
signing up for a 30k in June and a 50k in August.
Am I crazy? Maybe. Can I do it all? I don't know. Can I try? Yes.
I am not going to bore you every week with my training details, but this week (and probably every few if I remember) I am going to! You know I hate it when people say, "I blog for myself" but in this case, I do want to get my training miles, fuel woes, and notes down on paper so I can look back later and see what I did wrong, needed to change or where I went right! And if it helps someone else, that is great too. So it's for me, and for you, if you want it. If you get bored reading post after post about mileage and taper and Gu, you may want to skip this one.
The Marathon: Santa Rosa Marathon
The Training "Plan" (loosely followed so far!): Hal Higdon's Advanced Plan. I wanted to run at least two 20 mile runs before the race. This advanced plan actually calls for 3. This plan also suggests alternating (on Thursday) hill, speed and tempo runs. Some of the other plans did not have any speed work, but I NEED to get faster in order to get the (new and "improved") 3:35 BQ time required for my age group. And I would LIKE to get more like a 3:30.
Week one went exactly as planned. I did two easy runs, a hill run, a pace run and a long run. The plan calls for 6 days of running per week, which I find a bit excessive, so I put two of them together and still got the mileage with 5 runs instead. I was surprised by how hard the pace run was. I ran it at an average of 7:55/mi, with my fastest mile at 7:10/mi.
Week two was the weekend of The Relay, so I ran 16 miles total on Sunday, but it was run in 4 separate legs (7 mi, 2 mi, 6.2 mi, 1.2 mi), so I guess my actual long run was only 7 miles. I also skipped the tempo run on Thursday but ran my 1st leg (7 miles) of the Relay near tempo pace (7:43 according to the McMillan Pace Calculator).
Am I crazy? Maybe. Can I do it all? I don't know. Can I try? Yes.
I am not going to bore you every week with my training details, but this week (and probably every few if I remember) I am going to! You know I hate it when people say, "I blog for myself" but in this case, I do want to get my training miles, fuel woes, and notes down on paper so I can look back later and see what I did wrong, needed to change or where I went right! And if it helps someone else, that is great too. So it's for me, and for you, if you want it. If you get bored reading post after post about mileage and taper and Gu, you may want to skip this one.
The Marathon: Santa Rosa Marathon
The Training "Plan" (loosely followed so far!): Hal Higdon's Advanced Plan. I wanted to run at least two 20 mile runs before the race. This advanced plan actually calls for 3. This plan also suggests alternating (on Thursday) hill, speed and tempo runs. Some of the other plans did not have any speed work, but I NEED to get faster in order to get the (new and "improved") 3:35 BQ time required for my age group. And I would LIKE to get more like a 3:30.
WEEK ONE: Goal: 27.5 miles / Actual: 27.5
miles / Long Run: 10 miles
Week one went exactly as planned. I did two easy runs, a hill run, a pace run and a long run. The plan calls for 6 days of running per week, which I find a bit excessive, so I put two of them together and still got the mileage with 5 runs instead. I was surprised by how hard the pace run was. I ran it at an average of 7:55/mi, with my fastest mile at 7:10/mi.
WEEK TWO: Goal: 31 miles / Actual 31 miles / Long
Run: 7 miles**
Week two was the weekend of The Relay, so I ran 16 miles total on Sunday, but it was run in 4 separate legs (7 mi, 2 mi, 6.2 mi, 1.2 mi), so I guess my actual long run was only 7 miles. I also skipped the tempo run on Thursday but ran my 1st leg (7 miles) of the Relay near tempo pace (7:43 according to the McMillan Pace Calculator).
WEEK THREE: Goal: 31 miles / Actual: 32 miles /
Long Run: 13 miles
As you can see, I lowered week three to 5 days a
week as well, and added a bit of extra mileage in the form of a trail race. I love
adding races to my training plan as long runs, as they are so fun! However, I
maybe should have dialed it back a little and spread it out over 6 days, since
I was pretty sore from the Relay. This week’s Thursday run was 4x800 intervals,
which I ran at an average of 7:52. The fastest 800 was 6:36. In order to get a
3:30 marathon according to Bart Yasso, I should be running my 800s at about 7
minutes. I wouldn’t mind being faster than that though.
WEEK FOUR: Goal: 33 miles / Actual 28 miles / Long
Run: 19 miles
 |
| This also includes 4 mi walk on Mon and 5 mile hike on Fri. |
Week 4 was hard because I was still a bit
fatigued from the Relay/Half, and then I went to my parents house and my 6 mile
run became a 1 mile run because of snakes and poison oak. I also knew that I
was going to be running a pretty long run on Sunday and did not want to be as
tired on Sunday as I was last Saturday. So I took it easy this week. I am glad
that I did because Sunday’s run was pretty hot and VERY hilly and I went
through a lot of water and a lot of wear and tear on the ol’ quads. And thank
goodness, because I feel great now because of it! I also "skipped" Thursday's hill run because the run on Sunday had about a 7000 ft climb. I think that warrants a skip! Wednesday I moved heavy boxes and gardened and washed cars. I am calling that cross training.
So, a few questions for you guys: Have you ever run an Ultra race? Do you
think I can fit in a 30k, an ultra and a marathon in a two month period? I
am planning on running a flat half marathon at the start of June just so I can
analyze my road racing fitness level a bit, but other than that, much of my
running/training will be on trails. Have
any of you run the Santa Rosa Marathon? Do any of you hate training recaps? Go
ahead and say it; I won’t be mad.
I like training recaps since I am a runner. And I think it is nice to be able to go back and read through your training recaps. I have definitely done that.
ReplyDeleteI personally think it might be too much to do ALL of those races, especially since you are shooting for a 3:30 marathon... I'd be more apt to just really focus on that v. adding in other races!
Good luck on all your new goals! I think they sound awesome. I'm one to dream pretty big and then take things as they come so this all looks wonderful to me!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind training recaps. Shoot, I write them myself quite often. I enjoy reading what other people are doing, what their training is like, how they go about a plan of attack.
ReplyDeleteAll the best with your training! Since I have no experience with ultras, but with have an aggressive goal for the marathon, I suspect the ultra and 30k may be a bit much.
ReplyDeleteWow! That is a lot going on, but if anyone can do it, you can!! I have never "met" anyone with as much energy as you!
ReplyDeleteI like the recaps now that I have been running. Before that I used to just skim over them when bloggers post them, but now I find them extremely motivating!
I am impressed with your training plan and races! Good luck! I think you can do it all if you stick to the plan and listen to your body. Sometimes I read race recaps and sometimes I skim but either way us runners always like numbers :-)
ReplyDeleteAwesome plan! I have no advice, but if you think you don't seem like you battle many injuries, so I bet you could do it.
ReplyDeleteBoston! Awesome goal!! You can do it!!
Wow, you are brave! Boston 2013 baby!
ReplyDeleteI love reading about running :)
ReplyDeleteAnother full? go get it girl! Good call. Yes, you can do a full, 30k, and ultra within 2 months. Make that 30k into another full and you will qualify for the Marathon Maniacs.
ReplyDeleteBring the training recaps on! You know that I love reading them. Also I love that you are claiming a BQ goal. I am pretty sure that you are going to get it and keep running on those trails!
ReplyDeleteI actually love reading training recaps! I hardly ever post them either, mostly because mine haven't changed much the last few months and aren't very interesting. But it's fun to see how other people train, especially for marathons. I love that you've got some big goals! I would think it's doable, although you may be pretty wiped out by the end of the summer. So excited for you to go for the BQ! That's my next goal too... whenever that time comes. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll admit it, I hate training recaps. Well, hate is a strong word. More like, I skip over most of them. So, don't take it personally if I don't comment on your training posts. You shouldn't fear that you're losing me as a reader ... that is, unless this blog becomes ALL about training ... in which case, my eyes might glaze over a bit. =)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the full! I don't mind training recaps but then again I'm game for reading just about anything. I have no experience with anything but half marathons so I'm not in a position to offer advice about tackling an ultra or anything like that but I think if you are able to and you get to a point in your training where you think it's possible then go for it!
ReplyDeleteI call that cross training too!
ReplyDeleteI will enjoy reading more about your training... as you know, I am sponge.