A Terrible Summer for Marathon Training

Quick Points:

1. Close to defeat

2. Back on that horse

3. New training plan

1. Close to defeat

I will say that the last few weeks has been disastrous in terms of my marathon training, between this oppressive heat and a couple small injuries. Seriously, this summer's heat has messed up training plans, because my body just gets to a point when it gives up on me when it is too hot out. At one point over the last few weeks, I considered:

1. not running the Montreal Marathon.
2. downgrading to the Montreal Half Marathon.
3. going to Montreal to enjoy poutine and beer.

But, I think that I am going to power through and go with Option #1 (I'm still not opposed to Option #3). I decided to give myself until August 25th to make the final decision, because that will give me a chance to do two long runs (the 12 miler today and the 15-18 miler on Sunday). Scratch that, August 24th will be the day, because it is the last day that I can change the distance.  If I crap out and cannot hit at least 15 miles on Sunday then I will do either option #2 or #3. Perhaps, I will do both because I will feel sad going Montreal during that weekend and not participating in either event.

2. Back on that horse

To "ease" back into running, I did a 12 mile run today. Unfortunately, I ran on a treadmill because of the weather outside. For this run, I did it based on running for 2 hours rather than running for distance. To my surprise I was able to run a little over 12 miles at an fairly east pace with changing inclines. Doing this "long" run was a little surprising, because I have been really lazy these past couple of weeks and I did not do any real physical activity. . . no running, no swimming, no lifting, NADA. So, I guess that I had a decent physical base, but we will see how that last going forward with my new training plan. Many trainers say that it is fine to give your body a week or so to recover from a hard training program. We will say that I was not being "lazy" but I was being proactive to let my body "recover."

Also, I did have a little inspiration for this run, because the women's Olympic marathon was on TV, so it was nice to watch the second half of the marathon while training for a marathon. I only wish that the treadmill's TV had better quality for the screen. I know, I know, First World Problems.

3. New training plan

I found a new training plan for an eight-week training period, but I will pick up the training at Week 2. I think that I may adjust the back to back running days for Saturday and Sunday.

WEEK 2
Monday: 40 min XT
Tuesday: 3 x 1.25 mi (10K pace) with 3 min jog to recovery between each set
Wednesday: 4 mi + strength training
Thursday: 10 mi
Friday: off
Saturday 4 mi total including 8 x 100m strides with jog back recovery between each
Sunday: 16 mi

WEEK 3
Monday: 40 min XT
Tuesday: 8 x 400m (85-90% percent max effort) with 2:30 min jog to recovery between each set
Wednesday: 4 mi + strength training
Thursday: 10 mi
Friday: off
Saturday 4.5 mi
Sunday: 20 mi

WEEK 4
Monday: 40 min XT
Tuesday: 4.5 mi
Wednesday: 4 mi + strength training
Thursday: 10 mi
Friday: off
Saturday: 5 x 800m (85% max effort) with 2:30 min jog to recovery between each set
Sunday: 15 mi

WEEK 5
Monday: 40 min XT
Tuesday: 5 min @ 10K pace, 2 minute jogs x 5
Wednesday: 4 mi + strength training
Thursday: 10 mi
Friday: off
Saturday 4 mi
Sunday: 21 mi

WEEK 6
Monday: 40 min XT
Tuesday 4.5 mi
Wednesday: 4 mi + strength training
Thursday: 10 mi
Friday: off
Saturday: 4 mi total including 8 x 100m strides with a jog back to recovery between each set
Sunday: 16 mi

WEEK 7
Monday: 40 min XT
Tuesday: 3 min “on” (10K pace), 2 minutes “off” (recovery pace) x 6
Wednesday: 40 min XT
Thursday: 6 mi
Friday: off
Saturday: 4 x 5 min @ 5K pace with 2:30 min recovery between each set
Sunday: 12 mi

WEEK 8
Monday: strength training
Tuesday: 4.5 mi easy
Wednesday: 6 mi easy
Thursday: 4 mi easy
Friday: off
Saturday: 3 mi easy
Sunday: Marathon!

Busted Weekend

I did not do much in preparation for the NYC Half marathon this past weekend. There was just too many things that were all over the place, and I just could not focus enough to do the run. I think that I was supposed to run 7.5 miles this weekend. Actually, I tried to do it on Friday, but lack of motivation defeated me. However, I did complete a fast 3 mile run. So that is something  . . . I guess. 

Saturday I had a nice cross training session where I lifted for a bit (biceps and triceps) and participated in a bootcamp class. 

It was a decent class. I find that sometimes I cannot focus on a workout and I need to sign up for a class where someone is telling me what to do. I will say that Krista is a very enthusiastic instructor and I will gladly take another class taught by her. 

Random:

Random thoughts for this:

1. Why are spanish-langauge cartoons shown in the Bushwich location of Crunch? There were no kids working out. 
2. There is no way that a beagle would be a chef. They are too greedy when it comes to food. 
3. That said, the chef's hamburguesas marinas did look delicious

Why I hate the MTA

I was really lucky that I decided to cut my work out short after the bootcamp (I was going to do some lower back work). I get out of the gym to catch the J train (Saturday Brunch Day). I actually ran up all 80 million stairs to catch the train, because one was in the station. Looking forward to having multiple brunch beverages (ultimately undoing my work at the gym), I  hear the conductor say that the J train is not going to Manhattan after Hewes Street. Then at Hewes Street I see the MTA signs. 

The annoying thing is that I usually keep up with the service changes but this one caught me by surprise. However, I was able to make it to brunch even with the extensive delay of taking the J train shuttle bus. 

Ok back to doing work and I hope my running mojo will return this week.