Running week of 9/28-10/4

[SJCzar]

Kacie - It must feel great for you to be able to feel almost back to pre-injury form. I don't know how you manage to find the time to get everything in. You must be super organized and totally committed to your training routine.

I originally began my marathon training with the same running friend that I did my half with in the spring. She was having knee problems and decided to concentrate more on the biking for now. I decided to keep on the plan and shoot for a Nov. or Dec. marathon. The plan was set up for the "Indianapolis Monumental" on Nov. 7th. I have not registered yet and now I am thinking that I may just switch to the "Rails to Trails" here in Wisconsin instead. Much less travel time and more low-key event. Sometimes I think that just in case this is my only marathon that I may want to pick a bigger, more destination type marathon. Maybe not doing that this time will keep me training for the next one.

While I miss the warm summer weather for everything else it does seem like fall is an excellent time to get out there and run. Sounds like everyone else here is feeling the same way.

[katluvr]

I did it...2 days in a row. (I really laid in bed and did NOT want to get up).
Same 3.4 mile loop. Maybe a "smidge" faster. Lower back acting up this AM.

Then when driving to work about 8, it is sunny and cool out and all these folks out running. I am jealous, I don't want to go to work. I want to run in the daylight (and sleep in some!).

K

[Susan Otcenas]

I want to run in the daylight (and sleep in some!).

Ain't that the truth!!

Nice work on getting out there 2 days in a row. I *never* run 2 days in a row. I like running, but not *that* much.

I was up at 4am this morning, out the door at 4:30. Two hours and 25 minutes later, I'd completed my first (unofficial) half marathon!! I'm slower than dirt, but I'm so tickled to have been able to gut out all 13 miles. It gives me a measure of confidence that I'll be just fine for the "real thing" on the 18th.

I've been trying to get a good measure of my sweat rate, so this morning I weighed myself before and after the run. Despite drinking 20 ounces of water, I was still down 1.5 pounds. So, nearly 2.5 pounds of sweat in 2.5 hours. Zowie. That's in 51 degree temps with no sunlight. Can't imagine how much I'd sweat if it were 80 degrees and sunny!

Susan

[katluvr]

Susan, very respectable time on your unofficial half marathon.
I used to always finish a race in about that time. (worked w/ a coachto get down to 2:10) Believe it or not that really puts in the middle of the pack. You'll probably cut off some time w/ the whole race excitment/adreneline rush.
And to do that alone at 4:30 in the AM...you go girl! Long run in the middle of the week? WOW!

[Susan Otcenas]

Thanks! I think I'll go a little faster on race day too. I lost at least 5 minutes to standing at intersections waiting for lights to change. And I'm sure adrenaline will carry me part of the way too. I'm hoping for a 2:15 finish, but truthfully I'll feel a huge sense of accomplishment regardless. Sometimes when I'm out there, I can hardly believe that I'm the same person for whom less than a year ago, 30 seconds of running was enough to get my heart rate up and a minute of running felt like a long time.

I have some big goals for 2010 and will start working with a coach on 11/1. One of the things I want to spend more time on is speedwork (aka less-slow-work??).

I always do my long runs mid-week. Actually, I almost never run on the weekends at all. Despite how it might appear, I'm essentially a lazy slacker at heart. Seriously. If I don't get my workouts done the very first thing in the morning, they pretty much don't get done. At the end of a work day, I simply don't have the energy or motivation to work out. Weekends are for cycling, being lazy, trying to catch up on the never ending mound of dirty laundry....

[indigoiis]

[QUOTE=Susan Otcenas;465527]Thanks! I think I'll go a little faster on race day too. I lost at least 5 minutes to standing at intersections waiting for lights to change. And I'm sure adrenaline will carry me part of the way too. I'm hoping for a 2:15 finish, but truthfully I'll feel a huge sense of accomplishment regardless. Sometimes when I'm out there, I can hardly believe that I'm the same person for whom less than a year ago, 30 seconds of running was enough to get my heart rate up and a minute of running felt like a long time.

/QUOTE]

I have a half on the same day! I haven't tried the actual whole thirteen though. My plan calls for ten miles on Sunday... I think I am about the same pace as you. I am a little nervous about going ten but I am just going to take it easy and enjoy it!
Kudos to you Susan!

[Susan Otcenas]

I have a half on the same day! I haven't tried the actual whole thirteen though. My plan calls for ten miles on Sunday... I think I am about the same pace as you. I am a little nervous about going ten but I am just going to take it easy and enjoy it!

Good plan!

The first time I ran 10 miles it felt like I'd crossed this huge barrier! After that, my confidence really soared. I know it's just a number, but there's something about breaking into those double digits that felt really significant to me.

My friend Angela, a very accomplished runner, told me I'll be the most over-prepared half-marathoner ever. I've been training for this for a year. My long run got one mile longer each month, and so I'd have 4 (ok, sometimes only 3 ) long runs of the same distance each month. I know most people ramp up their distance and mileage much more quickly than I did, but this slow buildup really worked for me, especially since a) I really didn't run much before and b) I was losing weight at the same time.

Just as in cycling where you don't really need to ride 100 miles before doing your first century ride with a group, I think running is the same way. Most of my friends who've run marathons didn't run longer than 20-22 miles before event day. So, I think you'll do just fine.

I think from here forward I'm going to start to taper down a bit. Probably just do 9-10 on my long run next week, with a really easy week the next leading up to event day. I can hardly believe the 18th is just around the corner!