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NYCM 2012 Marathon Training Week #2

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I’ve got a feeling that this week is going to be even better than last week. This evening’s four mile run relieved all of the day’s stress and left me excited for the week. It’s views like this, the time with my thoughts, and inspirations from my coach and friends that have me ready for a great week. The biggest advice I give to anyone who is marathon training is to keep putting one foot in front of the next each day. I know that there will be more than a few rough runs during these 16 weeks of training but tonight’s run made it all worth it. Warm air, a fresh breeze, time with my thoughts, and other runners on the path smiling and waving left me smiling at 8pm.

You can’t ask for much more than that from a run.

This week’s mileage is 29 versus last week’s 25 but it’s broken up across 5 days with my longest run being 12 miles and shortest being Friday’s 3 miles. The goal for this week’s long run is to listen to my coach.

  • Start early
  • Log 8 miles as close to 10:30 pace before the NYRR Central Park 4 miler
  • Log 4 miles during the race at either 10:30 or faster, depending on how I’m feeling.
  • Bring fuel
  • Listen to Tina Fey’s book during my run to help me get in the zone

Since I don’t know anyone training at this pace, I’m going to leave the house early and run solo. I’m also going to pick my bib up on Thursday so I don’t have to worry about doing that Saturday before the race. Ideally I’ll show up right as the race starts and just get in the back so I don’t have a long downtime.

If you’re training, how was last week? Any tough lessons you learned or changes you’re making?

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Marathon Training

Guess what kids? Yup, it’s marathon training time again. This is the time of year when the blog will revolve primarily around running, trying not to eat everything in sight, early morning wake up calls to avoid the heat, and more. But, runners fear not because I promise to balance out the running talk with the same old food, fashion, workout reviews, and travel posts!

This year, however, there are some changes to the plan thanks to the help of my training coach, Gia. If you’re a long time reader you know that New York round 1 was amazing and crossing the finish line for the first time was one of the best moments I’ve experienced to date. However, New York round 2 was pretty much one of the worst moments of my life. After some serious assessment and discussion about the last year, Gia and I decided that in order to do our very best possible to ensure that the 3rd time would be a charm, we have to make some changes that may not always be fun but they’ll pay out.

The Next 17 Weeks Will Include:

  • Running outside
  • More protein
  • Less “empty cross training”
  • More weekday miles
  • Abs

Having the energy to be a weekend warrior has always made me proud. I’m able to work long hours on the weekend and then wake up bright and early, earlier than most of my friends like, for long runs and then squeeze in some other workout that same afternoon and the next day, never giving my muscles time to relax or recover. This year’s plan includes higher mileage during the week and then only running and yoga on the weekends. In addition, the yoga is supposed to be more restorative than strength.

In addition, I’ve been scared of the heat and hills of running outside in New York City and Central Park during the Summer months for way too long. Now that I’m regularly running with my co-workers every Monday I’ve become far more confident in my ability to not only run outside, but also run in Central Park and log miles after work.

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I’ve already talked about the more protein goal on my blog so I will therefore leave you with a link versus being repetitive.

007 I’ll also leave you with two things: protein can come in more forms than powder (per the picture above of tonight’s dinner for two) and I’ll remind you just how delicious a protein shake can be for only 200 calories, especially when it includes chocolate powder, Almond Breeze light, ice, and 1/2 a banana! 20 ounces of pure delicious, cold nutritious protein that tastes a lot like dessert!

003Oh and we can’t forget to talk about ABS. While I’m not rocking abs like Tina or Susan, I am feeling pretty confident about how much my body has leaned out the past few months. In addition, I officially have the top 2 packs of a 6 pack which gives me more motivation than ever to work my abs. Combine that with the fact that Amanda and Susan are hosting a fabulous, ass blasting AB CHALLENGE (#abchallenge) this month on their blogs and YouTube, I can promise you that a stronger core will be crossing the line this year than last. Plenty of people stronger and faster than me say that a strong core can be key to strength and stamina during long runs so I’m going to trust them. 006

Last but not least, here’s week 1 of my marathon training plan, along with the notes section. 

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The only change you may see this week would be doing my 10 on Friday instead of Saturday due to my in-laws visit to NYC this weekend.

So there you have it, marathon training has kicked off and I couldn’t be more excited for this year!

If you have time, I’d love if you could support my friend Dorothy as she has been selected as one of 10 finalists for the Skechers Go Run Cover Model Contest! She and I would both love for you to support her by voting for her here!

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Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Hey Healthy Happier Bear readers! I’m Heidi from Life in Pink. I have a long convoluted history with running. I started running in high school on the track and field team and later the cross country team but was never the fastest runner. Needless to say I didn’t pursue running in college and hardly ran at all except on rare occasion. When I moved to DC after college, eventually I got stuck in an office with no windows and 3 other government relations coordinators at a thankless firm. It was my unhappiness there that inspired me to sign up for my first marathon.

Tough Lesson #1: Train Hard I researched training plans briefly, and just hit the register button when the Marine Corps Marathon opened up. Loving to run sometimes isn’t enough to get you to put one foot in front of the next for 26.2 miles. I didn’t train well for that first marathon. I didn’t train hard. I trained half heartedly. And if there’s one thing you don’t want to do half heartedly friends? It’s train for a marathon. That wall? Instead of mile 20, it comes at mile 15. That bus that picks up stragglers? It’ll be nipping at your heels around mile 18. But I accomplished my goal of simply finishing. Tough Lesson #2:Training Takes Time For my second marathon, I decided to take the time to train properly. Seven am runs to beat the grueling DC summer heat became a well versed habit. I did hill repeats on Capitol Hill and I cross trained with lunch time spin classes. Regardless, committing to my training and giving up those Friday nights out paid off when I shaved over an hour off of my previous marathon time.

Tough Lesson #3: Have A Cheer Squad Not every race goes perfectly. Whether it’s a 5k, a half marathon or a marathon, having family there with band aids when a blister is forming at mile 19, or even just someone to hug you at the end, family and friends make a world of difference. I ran my hometown race in Burlington, VT in 2009 and again in 2010 and set my marathon PR in 2009 with my dad and grandfather cheering me on at the finish. At mile 20, just before running by my grandparent’s house, my aunt texted me and asked where I was. My response? Mile 19, need Band-Aids. Seriously, it was like a race car team changing my tires before I went back out on the course. It was amazing. But seriously? I’ve run races where there’s no one there thanks to my husband’s US Army training, and I’ve run races where I have a whole team of cheerleaders – and having the cheerleaders is always more rewarding.

Tough Lesson #4 It’s All About the Attitude After my amazing PR and the elation that came from that at Vermont City Marathon 2009, I registered for it again. It was a beautiful race, if you’ve never been to Vermont? Go. Visit. Fall in love. Run the Marathon up there – the finish line next to Lake Champlain is one of the most beautiful. I registered for the race after Adam and I moved to CT in Fall 2009. Race day came, and I did not feel confident. I ran the race anyhow. How could I not? No one really wants to DNS an expensive race that you traveled to and took time off of work for. But I used myself as a mental punching bag for a good 15 miles. Everything I could have done wrong, I did. Marathons are not just physically challenging, they’re mental. You can train all you want but if you’re head isn’t in the race? You’re not going to have fun and above everything else, running and racing should be fun.

It’s not about the distance, it’s not about your time. It’s about being mentally strong. It’s about being confident. It’s about the reward – finishing. No matter what distance you run don’t feel like because you’re not running marathons or ultras or triathlons, that you’re not as accomplished as others. Stop comparing yourself and just be proud of yourself. I’ve taken these lessons not just in my running, but in every day life. Because ultimately attitude is everything and having a positive one will not just get you through 26.2 miles, but also through any other situation in life. After my 4th marathon, I took a break. Do I want to run another? Sure. Five is better than four right? But right now, I’m not at a place in my life where I can commit to the training, the long runs, the miles, and the pain in my knees. Knowing that leaves me in a better place to tackle the distance in the future.

Thanks again for the opportunity to share my lessons with your readers! -Heidi

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