Boston Training - Week 9

Sunday 1.30.11

• Run: 20 miles
• Yoga: 90 minutes

Monday 1.31.11

• Elliptical: 75 minutes
• Strength Training: Core: 45 minutes

Tuesday 1.1.11

• Run: 9 miles w/ 12 hill repeats
• 12 hill repeats
• 36 seconds
• 37 seconds
• 35 seconds
• 36 seconds
• 35 seconds
• 36 seconds
• 35 seconds
• 35 seconds
• 34 seconds
• 35 seconds
• 34 seconds
• 32 seconds

Wednesday 2.2.11

• Elliptical: 25 minutes
• Deep Water Run: 45 minutes
• Strength & Flexibility training: 45 minutes

Thursday 2.3.11

• Run: 8 miles

Friday 2.4.11

• Run: 7 mile tempo run

Saturday 2.5.11

• Yoga in the Water: 45 minutes
• Recumbent Bicycle: 30 minutes
• Strength Training: Core, lower body & upper body: 45 minutes

Sunday: 2.6.11

• Run: 16 miles
• Yoga: 75 minutes

Total time:  2:15:30 for 16 miles (8:28 pace per mile)

First 8 miles: 1:09:00 (8:37 pace per mile)

Second 8 miles: 1:06:30 (8:18 pace per mile)

Resulting in a 2:30 negative split!

Another solid week of training in the bag! Gosh, I feel like my old self again, and it is GREEEEEAT!!!! The long run went well this morning. I slept in later than I have the other 8 weeks of training but we got some wicked snow yesterday, and I wasn’t confident that the roads would be clear at 6:00am.  I waited until 9 to hit the pavement. It was a nice change of pace, taking my time in the morning, eating some breakfast, stretching a bit, then heading out the door. The roads were free of snow and ice, but had quite a bit of slush. Ick. I survived though, the first 8 miles flew by yet again, and I was feelin’ rather swift. I had a GU at mile 4, as I was feeling some hunger pangs. Seriously, do I have a tape worm? I also slammed some orange Gatorade each mile of the run. At the turn-around I was feeling rather relaxed and felt I could pick-up the pace a little, which I managed. Woo hoo! After my run I took a bubble bath, ate some veggie chili and then went to an afternoon beginner’s yoga class. The class was a nice slow pace, and we focused on the back and hamstrings, which was clutch. However, it was a little too basic for me, and I prefer the flow of the earlier morning class. Next week I think I will resume my regular schedule. Gotta live and learn, right?

The highlight of my week would definitely be my hill repeat workout on Tuesday. I chose to move this workout to earlier in the week. I had originally planned for the repeats to occur on Fridays, but that was making it so that Thursday I had speedwork, Friday would be another hard attempt at hill repeats, and then two days later would be my long run. Wasn’t making much sense. I was able to recover from the hills by Thursday for my tempo workout, and then felt fresh for today’s long run. So I think I’m gonna stick to this plan.

I have used Smart Coach from Runners World for all of my marathon training, it just has really worked well for me, and I’m a creature of habit. However, I’m a firm believer that not every person can thrive on a cookie-cutter plan. You gotta listen to your body, and tweak things accordingly. Being able to truly listen and hear your body just comes with time and experience. With this being my 8th marathon attempt, I wouldn’t exactly consider myself a veteran, but definitely not a novice. I am truly beginning to feel like I am getting better at this distance, and seeing it completely for how wonderful and beautiful this aspect of my favorite sport truly is. I can’t wait to see what I can do come April 18th.

70 days ’til I go head to head with a shload of wicked fast runnahs!

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