Training through the Long Weekend - Wineglass Marathon Training Week 3
Week 3 is complete (and has been for a few days as this blog is delayed….whoops)! Let’s talk about discipline vs. motivation. Right now, at the beginning of the training cycle, motivation is fairly high. I’m enjoying slowly increasing my training volume and mileage. However, there are certainly days when I don’t want to head out for a run or workout. During those times, I am trying to practice relying on dedication and routine. Every run that I end up going on is a win and I know that my focus on my overall end goal of running a strong marathon is what is going to get me through these 16 weeks, even when motivation ebbs and flows.
Monday - July 1st - 4.1 mile run
I really enjoyed starting this week with a run that is gradually progressing in mileage - today I bumped up a mile to 4 total. I really enjoy this easy run to start the week and felt good overall. Not pictured here but I’m also trying to switch up the shorts I’m wearing to include some shorter options to try to work on my truly horrendous biker short tan lines. It seems as though no matter how often I’m in a bathing suit, I’m in running shorts more enough.
Also, don’t you just love when the 1st of the month starts on a Monday?
Tuesday - July 2nd - Gym Session (25 minutes bike + 20 minutes lower body strength)
In the spirit of trying to slowly increase my overall training volume, my bike rides this week were 25 minutes instead of 20. Although adding 5 minutes or 1 mile at a time might not seem like a lot, it’s these gradual increases that I know will allow me to stack my training in a smart, sustainable way.
I really do enjoy lifting and in general stick to lighter weights but I am trying to increase as possible and will hopefully be able to handle some heavier weights later in training. Regardless, I know the time at the gym is going to make me a stronger, healthier runner (and human).
Wednesday - July 3rd - Track Workout - (2 x 800m, 4 x 400m + warmup, recovery & cooldown) - 5 miles
Looking back at my marathon training last year, I don’t think I ever stepped on the track for a workout. I stuck to fartlek or interval style workouts on the roads. While this strategy certainly has benefits - namely, learning how to recover while you are stilling running and incorporating hill variation along the way, there is something about the track that feels like you are truly working on your speed and running fast. Luckily, there is a track that I can ran to from my apartment so I think this is going to be a staple in my routine this cycle.
My goals for my first workout were to get over the nerves of executing a track workout for the first time in a very long time and practice running different speeds. As I get closer to the marathon, I will focus more on marathon specific workouts. For today, I did 2 x 800m at 10K pace and 4 x 400m at 5K kick pace. Rest between each interval was 200m walk and 200m jog. I warmed up and cooled down for a total of 5 miles. I used my 10K time from my most recent race in May as a reference point. Although I ultimately hope to be running much faster for these distances by the end of marathon training, right now I want to run paces that reflect my current level of fitness so I can execute them well. As training progresses, I will change my workout paces to more closely align with goal paces that change with my changing fitness levels.
Thursday- July 4th - Gym Session (25 minutes bike + 20 minutes upper body strength)
Although we were heading to our Airbnb today to make the most of a long weekend, I did want to make sure I got in my workout before we left. I hopped on the bike for the usual and then lifted light for upper body. I am still recovering from neck and shoulder pain on my left side so I am continuing to test the waters with light weights. I want to strengthen my upper body without further hurting myself. Today felt very good for the most part. There were a few exercises that hurt (mainly overhead movements) that I stopped and the others I kept super light. It felt really good to get back to using the weighted machines.
Friday - 3 mile run
Late Friday morning, Graham and I headed out for a run to explore the farm property we were staying on. It was hot and humid and we were sweating hardcore. To our delight, the dog that stayed under our cabin and led us around anytime we left our front door, joined us for the excursion as well. We really bonded with her last night after comforting her through a very intense thunderstorm. She kept up well and we were so happy to have her company.
We navigated through tall grass, inched our way up steep hills and explored different paths. We found some beautiful views and it was incredible to be in a place that felt so different than where we live while only being an hour away. Such a nice change of pace and the terrain made us feel like we were training for cross country races again.
Saturday - Long Run - 10 mile run
Although I knew it would mean running a few loops, I was determined to still get in my long run while away for the weekend. I ate my packed unfrosted strawberry pop-tarts, hydrated and headed out the door.
I ended up running two and a half loops and Stella (our name for the sweet dog) joined me for the first one. Each loop involved very steep hills, uneven terrain and long grass. Although it was challenging, it was fun to have to really work for this run. It felt like a gritty long run and it was amazing to be running in such a unique place and having the most amazing views at the peak of each incline.
By the end of the run I was absolutely cooked so dipped into the debris-filled little pool next to our cabin and then we had a massage therapist come to our place which was the ideal way to recover.
Sunday - Rest day
I love having a rest day as the last day of the week! We enjoyed our last little bit of time at the farm, packed up and headed home.
Weekly Totals - 22.1 miles, 50 minutes biking, 40 minutes strength
I am very proud of this week of training. It’s always challenging to navigate training while traveling - there’s more packing, coordinating and need to be flexible - and I felt as though I was able to tackle it and approach it as a fun, different way to get in miles. I knew that my runs at the farm wouldn’t be my fastest but I got them done and enjoyed it along the way. I know I will definitely need to continue to rely on dedication while traveling and other plans come up during the next 13 weeks of training.
Talk to you next week!