Week 8 - The Road to 26.2

My sister knows just what to do...

Right...so when is the summer haze going to lift?  It was another not so stellar week in terms of training...I don't know if it was the heat or the fact that I have a bunch of things all happening at once or maybe both?  I have not been bringing my A Game these past two weeks.  I had a six day hiatus from seeing Gym...SIX DAYS!!!  I was back on track by last Friday...with some quality time on the elliptical.  Fun on Friday night and Saturday late AM plans meant that my 10 miles needed to be delayed until Sunday.  Sunday is supposed to be a rest day...but with lots of things happening the next few weeks...I'm going to have to make my long distance day on Sunday instead of Saturday.  As long as I get it done...that is all that matters...right?

I finally put all of my long distance training walk/runs in my calendar so that I can manage my weekend schedule more efficiently.  There are limits to what you can do when you need to walk/run 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 miles on a particular Saturday (or Sunday).  Yes...these distances will all happen before the marathon in October.  It is crazy to think that the longest distance I did while training for the half marathon was 10 miles.  I'm both panicked and excited to see how I progress through these miles.  I am so slow...but my hope is that it won't matter...all I want to do is finish.  I need to get these 26 miles.

As I keep plugging away at the training, there are lots of things that keep me motivated.  Every like and comment on Facebook.  Every favorite and reply on Twitter.  Every text message that I get while on my long distance walk/runs.  This past Sunday...my sister sent me a text (she is in Grey, I am in green)..there is something to be said for sibling ESP.  The miles didn't feel as horrible as I thought they would, but they could have felt better.  I was chipping away mile by mile...but getting her note gave me extra "energy legs".  Counting down the last of the 10 miles helped...obviously I was on a treadmill...hence my ability to actually reply.  It amazes me how much support you can feel even if just electronically.  I feel like I always have someone cheering me along from the sidelines...even though I get my miles all alone. 

Week 7 - The Road to 26.2

So...it was a real lackluster week in terms of training.  I was focused on nutrition...but I had lots of fun stuff on the calendar...and that definitely shifted my priorities for the week.  I know that over the span of 20 weeks...there will be ups and downs.  Life happens...you can't plan everything...flexibility is good...you need to balance the fun and the work.  I missed every walk/run of the week...Monday, Thursday, and Saturday (should have been 6 miles).  Monday was interrupted because of work (although I did Pilates).  Thursday was interrupted because of fun dinner plans (although I did strength training in the AM).  Saturday was just lazy...too much tailgating on Friday makes an early AM run on Saturday difficult.  Too much fun on Saturday and plans early on Sunday AM and then later in the PM...make rescheduling said 6 miles difficult.  I decided to just let it go and rest my legs...Week 8 is a whole new everything.  The fun of Week 7 will be my fuel...

Week 6 - The Road to 26.2

Lilly keeping my Powerade Zero Chilly...

It was not the greatest week of training...it was not the worst week of training...but I am excited to move on to Week 7.  My focus points for Week 6 were to 1) get to bed early, 2) eat healthy, and 3) get outside on Saturday to get those 9 miles.  So...let's say that I think I went to bed earlier...but I am not entirely sure.  I did not have the greatest nutrition week and I did not get outside on Saturday.  But the good news is...I did 9 miles and my knee felt pretty good!!  Even though I didn't hit all of my goals...I learned a few things.  1) Doing my stretches in the pool is awesome...I think I may be hooked.  My range of motion was insane...and it helped in making me less sore on Sunday.  This is going to become part of my regular routine for sure...at least until the marathon.  2)  My Lilly Pulitzer Lunch Tote fits perfectly in my gym bag and keeps water and powerade zero perfectly chilled.  YES!!!  3)  I was reminded to let my intuition guide me.  I made a decision to cease my PT appointments.  Once I learned all the stretches...it seemed like more time away from my training plan then I was willing to spend.  The appointments after work meant I couldn't train after work.  Getting up super early every day of the week is just not practical given my long hours at work.  It was stressing me out.

That is the key point...the whole reason why I am training to get the miles and why I spend time with Gym is to help me manage my stress (and my T1 Diabetes).  It is key actually.  My job is crazy...and I love it...but my escape from the crazy comes in mainly two forms - - my time at the gym/training and watching soccer.  I'm embracing taking the extra time in other ways.  I never used to be disciplined in my stretching...now I have some strategic moves...and I'm using them as "zen moments" before and after workouts.  All in all...I feel like I'm headed in the right direction.  I can't ask for more than that.

Week 4 and 5 - The Road to 26.2

The essentials for long distance...

Time slipped by with some busy weeks and I realized that I have not updated for the past two weeks!!  No updates does not mean that work has not been happening.  It has been exhausting really.  But exhausting is good...it means you are working hard.

Week 4 -  The new training plan...which only has one rest day...Sunday...was in full force.  I was finally back in the groove...especially in terms of strength training.  A few adjustments now that PT is a part of my plan...AM dates with Gym will be necessary.  Mondays are for walk/run and pilates (on reformer).  Tuesdays are for strength training and PT.  Wednesdays are for walking.  Thursdays are for walk/run and PT.  Fridays are for strength training.  Saturdays are for long distance walk/run.  This is my life until October.  It will not be a cake walk.  It will be exhausting...but it feels good to have mapped out how I am going to progress through the plan.  My reward...getting those 26 miles.  I know I can do it.  I will do it.

New kicks already racking up the miles...

Week 5 -  The reality of the addition of PT and how that is going to change things hit hard.  Gym in the AMs after being used to getting a good full night of sleep is not going to be easy.  I am going to have to start doing a few things - going to bed at a decent hour and not eat like an idiot.  Truth be told...my nutrition has been non-existent since the half marathon.  I need to fix this.  I feel it in my energy level and in the long distance walk/runs.  I was exhausted this week...and my eight miles did not come easy.  There is one other thing that I have not done since the half...walk/run outside for long distance.  I have got to get over this fear...each Friday night I psych myself up thinking that I will wake up early and get outside.  I get up on Saturday and I settle on the treadmill.  I can work on pacing.  I should take it easy just in case.  I am afraid to hit the streets.  My goals for Week 6 are clear... 1) get to bed early, 2) eat healthy, and 3) get outside on Saturday to get those 9 miles.