Monday, January 15, 2018

Boston Marathon Training Week # 5

Big week, biggest mileage so far with 81 miles, as I near the completion of the first third of my 18 week Boston training plan. Time tends to fly a little when one gets into the teeth of such an endeavor. Fortunately the weather was better, as temperatures actually were quite mild a few days-I even ran in a tank top and was cognizant of humidity levels Thursday. What a contrast for sure

Physically I feel pretty good; still some tightness, or stiffness in my right knee at times, especially coming off harder workouts like on Friday. Also one of my toes on a right foot sore; feels like an ingrown nail, or perhaps a blister behind the nail. Did have to wear two pairs of socks on some of the real cold days, which may have contributed to.

Focusing more on being grateful for being involved in the 2018 Boston journey, and each attendant run, and subsequent mile. It can be a real grind-any marathon or ultra training is-and taking a few moments either before, or during the runs themselves helps keep me grounded and appreciative to be in the position that I am in. Repeating often the phrase "each mile" within runs, and giving thanks for each mile completed.

Staying connected with my friends locally who are training not only for Boston, but other marathons as well, and people I follow via social media. We all can inspire each other, especially to get through the tougher days, run, and weeks.

Had a conversation Saturday at lunch with a non-running friend about why I do all of this. Found it tough on some levels to articulate my thoughts without sounding half crazed, or like some self-made martyr. But its ok, we both laughed about it.

Speaking of food, been eating eating eating. Love it!  Trying to avoid sugar and processed food, though fell off that wagon some this weekend celebrating my Dad's 74th birthday. Also, been consuming 2 or 3 gels most runs. Figure it also helps keep my overall caloric intake up, plus it helps to have something to look forward to in the runs. Loving the vanilla, and salted caramel flavors!

Week #5 (1/8/18- 1/14/18)

81.1 miles total

Monday:  17 miles. WO#2. 8  + 5 x 1k I pace (jog recover rest of mile) + 800m, 400m + 3. Ran of roads at night Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Solid workout, worked hard and felt pretty good. First 8 miles ran steady pace, down into low-mid 7s. Tried to run the 1000s in 3:45 or less (6:00 pace), and averaged low 3:40s. 2:54 800m, 1:24 400m. Good workout to be able to get the legs to turnover fast after all the miles already run in the workout.  Run time: 2:06:52 (7:27 pace)

Tuesday:  10 miles. CB + Carolina Beach State Park. Ran 5-6 hill repeats on yellow blaze trail hill and sugar loaf. Harder pace up hill. Need to start incorporating more regularly- hills. Felt okay coming off harder Monday. Took roads after dark on the roads pretty easy. Did as much as I could in state park/ trails before darkness. Run time- 1:24:26 (8:26 pace)

Wednesday: 12.59 miles. CBSP + CB roads after dark. Easier, flowing pace. Liked hearing the sound of the ocean as I approached running onto the North End and back, used as motivation to get more miles in. The sound and the fury. Felt blessed to be out there, and more able to meet the challenge of so many miles. Adjusting to needing to put down 10+ miles most runs in order to hit weekly targets on "singles". Thought back to Running with the Buffaloes and the mentality of Goucher and the XC runners. Using as motivation going forward. Run time- 1:48:19 (8:36 pace)

Thursday: 18.04 miles. WO#1. 8 + 2 x 2T, 2 min jog recovery + 3 + 2T + 1. Amended WO a bit to be more like one form 2 weeks ago that I changed to meet Colin and Justin in CBSP. Wanted to get the mileage in before the threshold miles. Ran first 8 miles steady pace in 7s. T miles 6:16, 6:32, 6:23. Then 6:13, 6:29. Felt good about the workout, worked hard on T miles. Last 2 I pretended that Thomas, Ryan, Paul were running a 2 mile time trial with me. Pleased able to hit paces I did on feel after the accumulated mileage (started last 2T at 15 miles in). Nice running in a tank-top, almost debated going shirtless. Temps well into the 60s in late afternoon. Humid. Run time- 2:10:45 (7:15 pace)

Friday: 9.53 miles. Easy pace, mostly run on the CBSP trails. Got caught in some heavy showers in the morning, was kind of cold and wet for a point in the run. Was about 60-65, but only had t-shirt on which got soaked along w/ shorts and baseball cap. But sun came out later in run and felt good. Right knee pretty stiff in beginning of run; almost had to will it to move. Legs fairly beat up from Thursday, but did loosen up on trails  Run time- 1:26:58 (9:08 pace)

Saturday:  14 miles. Early morning, roads of CB North End, down into KB area middle of island. 9 + 6 x 150 I/O striders + 3M + 1. Was going to run hills in CBSP but decided to change up and get more miles in on the roads. Got it into my head to hit 80 miles on the week, but then goofed by one on the math. Need to also get back to doing striders more. Decided to throw in the 3 at M pace near end of run. Felt pretty good doing. Again thinking about Running with the Buffaloes and the high weekly mileage thru singles. Pushing/ motivating myself to get the extra mile(s) ends of run to add to the weekly tally, and add marginal fitness gains. Run time- 1:50:06 (7:52 pace).


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