Marathon Training Monday - Week 10

WHAAAAT. We're already in the double-digit weeks of training! We are also four weeks from our 20-miler. And seven more weeks until race day. BUT, as always, training is one day at a time. Right now, I'm just thankful to have made it this far since I was barely running three months ago. This past week's schedule was similar to the last with a few changes.

Monday: 1 hour gym cross-training (cardio + core)
Tuesday: 50 min swim + 30 min cardio (elliptical)
Wednesday: 1 hour, 30 min run (8.9 miles)
Thursday: OFF
Friday: 1 hour drills + water run (SEAL Team PT)
Saturday: 2 hour run (13.1 miles!!!)
Sunday: OFF
TOTAL MILEAGE: 22 miles (~.5 miles less than last week)

I decided to once again keep my number of runs down to two, instead of three, and continue cross-training in the water and on cardio machines at the gym. I skipped Tuesday AM's long run because my foot and shin still felt sore/tired from the weekend. Sadly, there's something going on with me and the YMCA gym. I feel physically sick the entire day after swimming in it; it's somewhere in between the feeling of severe dehydration and a head cold (minus a runny nose). I might have to quit doing laps for warm up / warm down and stick with keeping my head above the water this week!

My foot felt 100% normal during and after Tuesday's workout, so I decided to do a group run Wednesday night. Bad: It was pouring rain almost the entire time AND we went on some trails, so my current training shoes are even more disgusting. Good: I ended up running home after the hour was over, so I got close to the mileage and time I was supposed to get Tuesday. Speed work was the only thing missing. Total time: 1:25:47; average pace: 9:339; fastest mile: 8:20; slowest mile: 10:46.

Thursday was a completely OFF day for me, which was awesome...slept in a little, then did a little baking(!) and wine sipping after work.

Garland and I both did the group water workout on Friday morning, which was a lot harder then last week (absolutely counted it as an hour training run!). I'm used to water running with a belt on, but we don't use them in these SEAL Team PT training workouts. It's a lot more difficult to maintain good form while not drowning. It certainly keeps you tuned in the entire time! We did a pyramid water run starting with one minute hard, went up to five minutes, then back down; each had a minute of recovery in between. 

Even though I did no speed work this week, I felt abnormally quicker. I think it must be the cooler temperatures...because something truly crazy happened on my Saturday long run: I beat my half marathon PR by little over one minute! It's been 2 years since my last half marathon, and it's fair to say a lot's changed since then: exercising with SEAL Team PT, training for and running a marathon, getting a stress fracture. Despite my setback and slightly different fitness goals, I guess I actually am stronger! I didn't start off trying to break records, but a little over an hour in I realized beating the time was possible and pushed for it. My self-awared prize was a grande PSL from Starbucks...mmm sweet, caffeinated carbs + protein. Total time: 1:54:07; average pace: 8:42; fastest mile: 8:18; slowest mile: 9:13.

The rest of our weekend was spent largely in Charlottesville. Saturday we met some friends and went to a few breweries and wineries---something I've been dying to do forever! Garland left early Sunday for a regatta, so I kept myself busy with church and brunch with a friend. Then I made the hour drive to Charlottesville again to pick apples (and buy donuts!) at Carter Mountain. Golden Delicious and Jonagolds (my fav) are in season right now; and there were plenty for the picking!