Training Week 99
I am training for the Milwaukee Marathon on October 2nd.
Day 687 | September 5, 2011: 3 m run
Monday was another day I failed to get up early to run, so I ran late at night, after we drove back to our house from Iowa (Actually, Wisconsin, because we dropped my cousin off in Milwaukee, but that doesn’t really add anything to the story. But look. There it is somehow. Hmm).
I WORE A SHORT SLEEVED SHIRT! I don’t remember the last time I wore a short sleeved shirt! I’ve been wearing tanks all summer.
That’s my NYC 2011 Training shirt. I love orange, so I had to order it (once it went on sale because it was expensive-o).
Blah blah blah. My run was quick and easy. I’m able to run faster in cooler weather. I hope it stays cool!
Distance: 3.0 | Temp: 52° | Time: 26:43 | Avg Pace: 8:53 | 1: 9:25 | 2: 8:52 | 3: 8:23
Day 688 | September 6, 2011: 3.6 m run
I ran with Erin‘s work running club group during lunch. The weather was so nice I couldn’t say no! Erin wasn’t able to make it, but I ran with someone I did the Ragnar Relay with, who is also training for the Milwaukee Marathon. It was fun to chat and see how his training is going.
I ran with the fast guys and had another fast (for me) run. I better be careful with those!
Distance: 3.6 | Temp: low 60s | Time: 31:37 | Avg Pace: 8:47 | 1: 9:26 | 2: 9:02 | 3: 8:17 | 4: 4:50
Day 689 | September 7, 2011: 6 m run
I ran the hilly course behind my house (after a warm-up) and the hills have never felt easier! I am loving this cool weather. I finished with a cool-down in my neighborhood, by running cross country style (through the grass) for the last fifth of the mile. That was fun!
Funny – the gramin totally cut out some mileage on this run. But I think it added a bit of mileage to Tuesday’s run. So it all evens out in the end!
Distance: 6.0 | Start Temp: 65° | End Temp: 60° | Time: 1:01:45 | Avg Pace: 10:17 | 1: 10:55 | 2: 10:08 | 3: 10:04 | 4: 10:23 | 5: 10:15 | 6: 9:56
Day 690 | September 8, 2011: rest
Day 691 | September 9, 2011: 4 m run
This 4-miler was supposed to be easy but I went a lot slower than I should have… closer to marathon pace! I was feeling kind of bad about that, but then remembered that I woke up from a nap then immediately went running. So I may not have been 100% awake!
Steven rode his bike with me and we ventured on to the hilly trail behind the house. That could be another reason I was running so much slower!
Distance: 4.0 | Start Temp: 69° | End Temp: 66° | Time: 42:46 | Avg Pace: 10:41 | 1: 10:39 | 2: 10:49 | 3: 10:46 | 4: 10:28
Day 692 | September 10, 2011: 22 m run
The longest run of training… the 22 miler! Dun dun dun!!!
Erin is totally awesome and offered to come to my house and pick me up (I was car-less on Saturday) and ride her bike with me while I ran. And so we did.
We started at 11:00 am and did an 11-mile out and back on the Des Plaines River Trail. It always blows my mind when I run that far on that trail, because it’s fairly straight, so I pass a lot of major streets I know. I think about how long it takes to drive the distances, and it just amazes me.
Anyway, you know how it is when I run with Erin. We chat chat chat away (I have been really hyper and talkative lately) and the run flies by. We look at our watches and say “Whoa! We’ve been out here for three hours!” and it doesn’t even feel like it’s been 30 minutes. We have a lot of fun.
The first 16 miles went really well. I noticed I was getting hungry at 14 (never a good sign) so I took a GU early, but otherwise stuck to my every 4 miles method. The temps were in the mid 70s, but the sun was out and fierce, so I was starting to fade at the end. But, I stuck to our walk every 2 miles routine, drank as much water as possible (well over 150 ounces) and kept on.
Side note: around mile 16, I saw a horseshoe, and figured it was a sign of good luck for us running the Milwaukee Marathon! Also, I think I played the Mr. Saxobeat song a million times while running. Thanks for the recommendation, Christina! (Wow, the singer is pretty, click on the link and check her out).
I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it through those last few miles, but that is why I did an out-and-back – so that I had to get back to the start somehow. Erin kept telling me stories and keeping me distracted. It helped A TON!!! I slowed down, but I knew I could finish. And I did!
But I felt like I was going to throw up when I finished. Probably from too much sun, not enough food (I was losing salt like crazy – it was all over me). Erin helped me hobble over to the water (blistery toes, but hey, not much chafing!) and I sat on a dock with my feet in, until Erin realized I could walk down the boat dock and get in.
Ah, it felt so good. It brought me back to life!!! My legs felt so much better as I moved them around in the cool water. This end-of-long-run-getting-into-the-water thing is becoming quite addictive.
We grabbed food afterward and went back to the house to eat. I couldn’t stop thanking Erin for taking care of me during my long-a$$ 22-miler. I was so happy I got to run it with her. Only three more weeks until Milwaukee!!!
Distance: 22.0 | Temp: mid 70s | Time: 4:04:18 | Avg Pace: 11:06
Day 693 | September 11, 2011: 11.6 m run
I ran the Fort 2 Base Nautical 10 Miler as a recovery run with Bobbi. It was fun and easy, and the race was great! More on that later today or tomorrow…
Week Summary: 50.2 miles <– highest weekly mileage ever for me!
This was my peak week for Milwaukee Marathon training! So. Much. Running. Good thing I love it!
I am going to start personal training again next week, and I can’t wait to get that back in to my routine.
Themocracy
Great week! Looking forward to hearing about your race today.
I am SO freaking glad you were there today! You kept me going and played cool music when I needed it and danced through water stations! THANK YOU! Even if I got tired and cranky and quiet at the end, I was so glad to have you there (cramped up toes be damned!). You’re the best 🙂
Ha ha. You’re welcome. I don’t feel like I was much help but I had fun running with you!
I hope your toes feel better and you have a good recovery day tomorrow 🙂 I am proud of you for making that race part of your 22! That scared me but you went for it!
What a rockstar week!! I have my first 20 miler on the schedule this weekend. I am hoping to have someone to run with or a friend to bike along beside me but we’ll see. It could just be me.
It might be good practice to run on your own if you are doing the marathon on your own.
However, I did my first 20 last year as part of a supported 20-miler run and being around other people really energized me. I knew after that run I could complete a marathon. So I guess I would go for recruiting someone, lol!
Isn’t the river so much better than an ice bath? It’s like healing in nature…i love it! And I love that you are getting addicted to it, so I’m not the only weirdo posting pics of me in running clothes popping a squat in the river! lol! So proud of you for all your runs this week!! 🙂
It is so much better! I hope we get to do a long run and river ice bath together some day!
Thanks 🙂