Marathon Training - Week 17 of 30

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr

I'm training for my first marathon, which will be the White Rock Marathon in Dallas on December 4, 2011. My training week runs from Monday to Sunday. Today is Monday, which means the beginning of a new training week!

First, a quick review of last week (week 16):

• Monday - scheduled rest - completed
• Tuesday - 3 mile run - completed
• Wednesday - 6 mile pace run - completed
• Thursday - 3 mile run - completed
• Friday - scheduled rest - completed
• Saturday - 11 mile run - completed
• Sunday - cross-training - spent the afternoon at a water park (I still say it counts)
• Total distance run - 23 miles

Whew! Tough week last week, but I got through it. The 6mi pace run and 11mi long run were both challenging additions to last week's schedule. Top that off with continued high temperatures as our local heat wave continues, and it made for a challenging week for sure. 

Now on to this week - Week 17 (Week 5 of Hal Higdon's Novice 2 program):

The 11 mile long run will be short compared to most of the long runs left on the schedule. This week the long run climbs to 12 miles. I have never done a 12mi run. Unless you count the half marathon (13.2mi) that I ran last December. But that was in MUCH cooler temps. No doubt - I'm finally getting to the point where I'm entering some uncharted territory. But I do get a bit of a mid-week break this week, as my Wednesday run this week is an easy run rather than a pace run. 


Here's what's on this week's schedule:

• Monday - scheduled rest
• Tuesday - 3 mile run
• Wednesday - 6 mile run
• Thursday - 3 mile run
• Friday - scheduled rest
• Saturday - 12 mile run
• Sunday - cross-training
• Total running mileage - 24 miles

Have a great week! 

Marathon Training - Week 16 of 30

Image via Wikipedia

I'm training for my first marathon, which will be the White Rock Marathon in Dallas on December 4, 2011. My training week runs from Monday to Sunday. Today is Monday (actually yesterday was Monday), which means the beginning of a new training week!

First, a quick review of last week (week 15):

• Monday - scheduled rest - completed
• Tuesday - 3 mile run - completed
• Wednesday - 5 mile pace run - completed
• Thursday - 3 mile run - completed
• Friday - scheduled rest - completed
• Saturday - 6 mile run - completed
• Sunday - cross-training - did 45min of cycling
• Total distance run - 17 miles

15 weeks done, 15 weeks to go... No more easy weeks on the schedule, it's about to get really interesting! 

Now on to this week - Week 16 (Week 4 of Hal Higdon's Novice 2 program):

The miles are starting to really pick up now. Can't wait for the weather to cool down! It's still really hot, with plenty of 100+ degree days in the forecast. The combination of long miles and intense heat may make the next couple of weeks some of the hardest of the program. Here's what's on this week's schedule:

• Monday - scheduled rest
• Tuesday - 3 mile run
• Wednesday - 6 mile pace run
• Thursday - 3 mile run
• Friday - scheduled rest
• Saturday - 11 mile run
• Sunday - cross-training
• Total running mileage - 23 miles

Have a great week! 

Marathon Training - Week 15 of 30

Image by origamidon via Flickr

I'm training for my first marathon, which will be the White Rock Marathon in Dallas on December 4, 2011. My training week runs from Monday to Sunday. Today is Monday (actually yesterday was Monday), which means the beginning of a new training week!


First, a quick review of last week (week 14):

• Monday - scheduled rest - completed
• Tuesday - 3 mile run - completed
• Wednesday - 5 mile run - completed
• Thursday - 3 mile run - completed
• Friday - scheduled rest - completed
• Saturday - 9 mile run - completed
• Sunday - 1 hour cross-training - spent the evening at a water park (trust me, it counts)
• Total distance run - 20 miles

Pretty good week last week, even got some rain for the first time in a long time. Not much else to say. Week 14 is in the books.

Now on to this week - Week 15 (Week 3 of Hal Higdon's Novice 2 program):

This is week 15 of 30!  I'm half way there!

This week I also celebrate 15 years of marriage! 

Love you hon! Thanks for 15 great years!

Yet another fairly easy week this week. This week feels like the calm before the storm, because after this week the miles start getting pretty insane pretty fast. I'll be honest - I've had my share of doubts creeping into my head over the past few days as I've been looking ahead on the training schedule. But then I think back on how many other times the end-of-the-schedule miles seemed impossible at the beginning, but completely do-able (albeit challenging) once I got there. So, I'm constantly reminding myself to take it one run at a time. And I'm watching Spirit of the Marathon on a regular basis.

Here's what's on this week's schedule:

• Monday - scheduled rest
• Tuesday - 3 mile run
• Wednesday - 5 mile pace run
• Thursday - 3 mile run
• Friday - scheduled rest
• Saturday - 6 mile run
• Sunday - 1 hour cross-training
• Total running mileage - 17 miles

Have a great week! 

Marathon Training - Week 14 of 30

Image via Wikipedia

I'm training for my first marathon, which will be the White Rock Marathon in Dallas on December 4, 2011. My training week runs from Monday to Sunday. Today is Monday (actually yesterday was Monday), which means the beginning of a new training week!


First, a quick review of last week (week 13):

• Monday - scheduled rest - completed
• Tuesday - 3 mile run - completed
• Wednesday - 5 mile pace run - completed
• Thursday - 3 mile run - missed
• Friday - scheduled rest - completed
• Saturday - 8 mile run - completed
• Sunday - 1 hour walking - substituted cycling
• Total distance run - 16 miles

Missed my first run of this cycle. But other than that, the rest of the week was great. I was pretty active last week because I was between jobs and trying to get some projects done around the house. So overall missing the 3 mile run isn't a huge deal. I was supposed to catch an early flight to Colorado on Thursday to visit some family. I rolled the dice on flying standby, but it didn't work out - I got bumped. Probably a good thing, because I didn't feel too good the rest of the day. So Thursday's run didn't happen. But, overall, a good week last week.

Now on to this week - Week 14 (Week 2 of Hal Higdon's Novice 2 program):

Another fairly easy week this week. Probably a good thing, because I'm starting a great new job this week, plus it continues to be extremely hot here in Texas! Here's what's on this week's schedule:

• Monday - scheduled rest
• Tuesday - 3 mile run
• Wednesday - 5 mile run
• Thursday - 3 mile run
• Friday - scheduled rest
• Saturday - 9 mile run
• Sunday - 1 hour cross-training
• Total running mileage - 20 miles

Have a great week!