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NYCM Training Week 5: Savor the City

Wow, 89 days from now I’ll be heading to bed in preparation for the New York City marathon! While 89 days sounds short when I say it, at least in my head I know that it’s over 12 weeks away!

Last week’s 26 miles weren’t necessarily done in normal fashion but I finished the week feeling stronger than I have in a while! Reflecting on the workout schedule I posted last Monday night leaves me smiling:

Monday: 5 miles in Central Park+Pure Barre blogger class

Tuesday: cross training

Wednesday: 5 4 miles

Thursday: yoga/stretching +2 miles

Friday: 14 mile long run 12.5 mile run +Physique 57 blogger class

Saturday: 4 miles

Sunday: 2 miles

While I didn’t get the miles in the exact order, I woke up super early Friday morning to get a quality long run in even though the morning’s humidity left me soaking wet within a few miles. I was out late both Friday and Saturday night and was therefore thankful that I front loaded my week’s miles.

Looking forward to this week, my goal is to savor my last full week of training in the city for six weeks. Running in New York City can be an amazing energizing experience if you plan things correctly. Tonight, thanks to my office running club, we enjoyed one of my favorite runs in the city: Queensborough Bridge. The 5 mile run wasn’t always easy due to the incline but sharing this experience with two runners who had never experienced it was magical! I was able to share my bridge defeat with them that I experience during last year’s marathon and find inspiration in their excitement. In addition, they are such supporters that we’ve decided to run the bridge more often to help prepare me for the marathon.

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This week’s long run will allow me to finally enjoy the NYC Summer Streets program as I conquer Park Avenue with other NYC runners. The route, which runs from 72nd street down to the Brooklyn Bridge will be a perfect way to log miles without the normal traffic interference!

This week’s schedule will take me to 29 miles, just short of the 30 mile hurdle which I’ll conquer next week. In addition to enjoying my first personal training session with Lauren who is back from maternity leave, I want to squeeze in at least one yoga session to keep things balanced and loose.

Monday: 5 miles (Queensborough Bridge)

Tuesday: personal training+foam rolling

Wednesday: yoga+weights

Thursday: 6 miles

Friday: 4 miles

Saturday: 14 miles

Sunday: Rest

If I’m lucky, I’ll also enjoy a massage sometime this week. I can’t decide whether to schedule it before my long run, midweek, or as a long run reward.

Question: What is your favorite way to reward yourself after a great week of workouts?

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NYCM Training Week 3

Three weeks into marathon training I’m still thrilled to be back in the game. It can definitely get a bit overwhelming, especially as my travel has started to pick up again. I find that the best thing to do is take training day by day. Instead of looking out I sort of just focus on today and the next day so I don’t get worried or anxious.

Last week I was able to get all my runs in except one 3 mile run. But considering that I did a hilly 14 mile bike ride with my uncle that day instead, I’m okay with the decision. While I believe that sticking to your plan is important, I also think some level of agility is important, especially early on in the training plan.

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Last week included the following workouts:

Monday: 4 AM miles in Central Park

Tuesday: 4.75 mile PM Progression Run on the treadmill

Wednesday: Body Conditioning class at Equinox (cross training day)

Thursday: 4 AM miles on the treadmill

Friday: 13 mile long run in Vermont + 4 mile hilly,rocky hike in Vermont

Saturday: 14 mile bike ride in Vermont

Sunday: rest day

My total mileage for the week came to 27, not including the bike ride. Overall I felt last week was manageable and I was happy I fit in my long run which was my “priority run” during my vacation.

This week kicks off longer runs during the week which will allow me to safely build up my mileage. For example, this morning’s run was 5 miles versus the previous weeks’ 4 miles. I felt great this morning during my run and in fact almost stayed on the treadmill to pound out a few more miles. Maybe Theodora is on to something when it comes to Mexican fueling great runs. Last night’s tacos from Nada in Cincinnati did the trick for me this morning!

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What fuels your best workouts?

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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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