56 days until the gun goes off at the start of the Boston Marathon. 56 days left to train hard, eat right, and get the mental strength ready for 26.2 miles of hills, sweat, and cheers.
Training has continued to go well with this awesomely mild winter. While this can never compare to the joy of Spring and Summer, if we have to have winter, this is the way to have it.
This week I bump up to an 18 mile long run. I'm doing speed work, hills, extra long runs. Doesn't this all sound like fun?
In other news, life has been going at a whirlwind pace, but more to follow. For now, I'm here, I'm running, and I'm going after Ness.
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
FINE! It's Winter. Otherwise known as training weeks 3 & 4
Sigh. I hate winter. I find myself longing for the simplicity of just walking out the door in the morning. Instead I'm gathering hats, boots, gloves, scarves, making sure I have appropriate work shoes to replace the boots. And to run I'm grabbing my gaiter, hat, headband, glove, tights, pants, shirt, jacket. And after all of those clothes I STILL have to jump straight in the shower after I run so my cold sweat doesn't put me into hypothermia. I love running, I just hate winter.
But here I find myself, January 22nd, having finished my 4th week of training. There have been two snow storms and too many days of single digit temps. And it turns out East Side residents still haven't learned to shovel.
My training plan includes specific workouts. Like doing downhill repeats at 5k pace. Or 5 miles at marathon pace. Both of those things become a lot harder when patches of ice and 4 inches of 'used' snow are present at every other step. A year ago I found myself battling these same conditions while preparing for the Green Bay Marathon. When Spring finally poked it's head back out, I found myself stronger and faster than I was before spending months running in what basically felt like a giant sandbox. I want to do well at Boston. I'd like to try and improve my time to 3:35 or 3:30. But honestly, Boston will be awesome even if I take 5 hours to finish. It's BOSTON!!
So I'll be here, dreaming of warmer weather, keeping up my anti-treadmill stance, and running through it all. Cause that is my Ness.
In other news, I now have 10 followers. YAY! Thanks all :)
In Pursuit,
Sarah
But here I find myself, January 22nd, having finished my 4th week of training. There have been two snow storms and too many days of single digit temps. And it turns out East Side residents still haven't learned to shovel.
My training plan includes specific workouts. Like doing downhill repeats at 5k pace. Or 5 miles at marathon pace. Both of those things become a lot harder when patches of ice and 4 inches of 'used' snow are present at every other step. A year ago I found myself battling these same conditions while preparing for the Green Bay Marathon. When Spring finally poked it's head back out, I found myself stronger and faster than I was before spending months running in what basically felt like a giant sandbox. I want to do well at Boston. I'd like to try and improve my time to 3:35 or 3:30. But honestly, Boston will be awesome even if I take 5 hours to finish. It's BOSTON!!
So I'll be here, dreaming of warmer weather, keeping up my anti-treadmill stance, and running through it all. Cause that is my Ness.
In other news, I now have 10 followers. YAY! Thanks all :)
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Road to Boston--Week 2 done!
Second week of training done, 14 weeks left. This past week included another hill workout, a marathon pace run, and a long run of 9 miles.
This was the first time I made a marathon pace (MP) effort on purpose. I ran the Green Bay Marathon in 3:37:45 which equated to 8:18 mile pace. I want to train for a 3:30 marathon in Boston which is 8:00 mile pace. That is a huge jump in pace when the hills of Boston are looming. But even if I decide to adjust my goal, I can still train for an 8:00 goal. Or, at least I thought I could.
I started my MP run with a nice slow mile, then geared up for a 24 min 3 mile loop. I finished it in 25:07 which is about 8:22/miles. Quite a disconnect in times there. And pretty disappointing to not even hit my previous marathon pace. A few things I'm going to try next time.
1) Try and keep a steady pace. I went out too fast and had a hard time keeping up the pace.
2) Push myself. I think I gave up a little at the tough pace. Hard workouts are hard. That is why I have easy days. If I want to enjoy the easy days, I need to earn them by working hard the rest of the time.
3) Relax. The time goals are goals and they are mine. I won't lose a shoe contract or TV deal if I don't run a 3:30. While I enjoy improving myself, running is fun for me and it will be fun even if I don't hit my goals, so RELAX!
My long run went well. It was a gorgeous 30 degress (ah...perception :)) and calm. I finished in an hour, sixteen minutes. That tells me that I can improve on MP days and I also probably was running too fast for a long run. But it felt good and took me 9 miles closer to the marathon.
Run. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. And on we go!
In Pursuit,
Sarah
This was the first time I made a marathon pace (MP) effort on purpose. I ran the Green Bay Marathon in 3:37:45 which equated to 8:18 mile pace. I want to train for a 3:30 marathon in Boston which is 8:00 mile pace. That is a huge jump in pace when the hills of Boston are looming. But even if I decide to adjust my goal, I can still train for an 8:00 goal. Or, at least I thought I could.
I started my MP run with a nice slow mile, then geared up for a 24 min 3 mile loop. I finished it in 25:07 which is about 8:22/miles. Quite a disconnect in times there. And pretty disappointing to not even hit my previous marathon pace. A few things I'm going to try next time.
1) Try and keep a steady pace. I went out too fast and had a hard time keeping up the pace.
2) Push myself. I think I gave up a little at the tough pace. Hard workouts are hard. That is why I have easy days. If I want to enjoy the easy days, I need to earn them by working hard the rest of the time.
3) Relax. The time goals are goals and they are mine. I won't lose a shoe contract or TV deal if I don't run a 3:30. While I enjoy improving myself, running is fun for me and it will be fun even if I don't hit my goals, so RELAX!
My long run went well. It was a gorgeous 30 degress (ah...perception :)) and calm. I finished in an hour, sixteen minutes. That tells me that I can improve on MP days and I also probably was running too fast for a long run. But it felt good and took me 9 miles closer to the marathon.
Run. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. And on we go!
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Monday, January 2, 2012
The Road to Boston--Week 1 done!
Well, I've finished the 1st week of training and have 15 weeks left to go! As tired as I was after training for two marathons in 2011, it feels really nice to be back on a plan. I can just check out the fridge to see what's on tap and I go out and do it.
This first week was pretty easy with one hill workout and 3 easy runs, plus my Sunday long run. Thank goodness for this plan that made sure I did that long run! I was staying with friends over the weekend and would be on country highways for my run. I woke up and got completely dressed before seeing the 'blizzard' out the window. Plus the sun wasn't up...not safe running conditions. I put off my run until about noon, and let's just say I'm glad it is over. The wind was terrible! And I ended up going head to head with it for the last two miles, ice crystals on my lashes and brows and a frozen face. Yuck.
The good thing about winter training is the strength it will give me when we are finally blessed with snow again. And thankfully, back here at home, the winter hasn't been too awful. Got the first dusting of snow last night, but the roads and sidewalks are still pretty clear.
Moving on to week two, I have an extra 'tough' run with a marathon pace workout, but overall, we are still easing into things. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can check off another sucessful week.
Oh--and Happy New Year!
In Pursuit,
Sarah
This first week was pretty easy with one hill workout and 3 easy runs, plus my Sunday long run. Thank goodness for this plan that made sure I did that long run! I was staying with friends over the weekend and would be on country highways for my run. I woke up and got completely dressed before seeing the 'blizzard' out the window. Plus the sun wasn't up...not safe running conditions. I put off my run until about noon, and let's just say I'm glad it is over. The wind was terrible! And I ended up going head to head with it for the last two miles, ice crystals on my lashes and brows and a frozen face. Yuck.
The good thing about winter training is the strength it will give me when we are finally blessed with snow again. And thankfully, back here at home, the winter hasn't been too awful. Got the first dusting of snow last night, but the roads and sidewalks are still pretty clear.
Moving on to week two, I have an extra 'tough' run with a marathon pace workout, but overall, we are still easing into things. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can check off another sucessful week.
Oh--and Happy New Year!
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Monday, December 26, 2011
The Road to Boston
Today starts my 16 week journey to prepare for the Boston Marathon. On April 16, 2012, I will run my 4th marathon. This is a journey I have taken before. Each one different, but each also the same. The time, the commitment, the pain, the nervousness. 16 weeks to break down the body, build it back up, and be one of thousands, hitting the streets for the time it takes each of us to run 26.2 miles. To finish the journey, sweaty, sore, the scent of gatorade and triumph surrounding all of us. This is my Ness. Today I begin the journey again.
In Pursuit,
Sarah
In Pursuit,
Sarah
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