Trying to fit in marathon training around vacations, part two: Key West.
No, we didn’t run in Key West. It just wasn’t gonna happen.
Instead, we modified Hal’s program to fit our needs.
We were supposed to run:
- Monday: Rest day
- Tuesday: 3 miles
- Wednesday: 6 miles
- Thursday: 3 miles
- Friday: Rest day
- Saturday: 11 miles
- Sunday: cross-training
Instead, we changed up the 11 with our previous week’s planned 6 (a step-back week), and I jammed them all into the front-end of the week.
Monday, I got out for the first 3 miler on the treadmill. I decided to learn to enjoy my short runs on the treadmill once a week. It’s nice to have AC and entertainment, plus Piper loves playing in the kid’s play area while I’m working out. I also get to work on weights if I want to, and don’t have to get up at 5:30 in the morning.
Tuesday, I ran my first 6 miler of the week. This one was an easy one, and I felt great. I headed out for a nearby park, exactly 1.5 miles away, then made 3 loops around the park (0.9 miles around). I’ve found this to be a really great “longish” run because the park has an ice cold fountain that I can stop at if I need – and as these runs get up to 8 or 9 miles, I’ll definitely need it.
Wednesday, I planned to wake up early for my second 3 miler, but decided to hit the gym again. It was totally packed, so I had to hit the upstairs “family deck,” where the treadmills don’t have TVs. I was bummed that my guilt-free half hour of crappy television had been interrupted, but I cranked out 3 miles really quickly, even pushing hard through the last mile. Then, because I was feeling so good, I hit the weights for a bunch of lunges, squats, calf-raises and some upper body.
Bad idea.
Woke up at 5:15 am on Thursday for my last “long run” of the week, a very tough, hot, tired 6 miles. Ugh. I had to walk about a tenth of a mile at mile 4 and mile 5. Not pretty. My lungs and body were fine, but my legs were really hurting. No more heavy weights the night before a long run! Lesson learned.
The reward for this week’s training?
A Key West sunset. A couple of them. We get to see a lot of beautiful sunsets, but nothing beats the energy of the sun setting in Key West.
Week 4 was a comparatively easy week – and now week 5 gets back to mileage increases again. Up to 12 this week – I hope I’m ready for it. I think I am.
Congrats on another week of marathon training! I am impressed with how you can juggle your training around vacations and stuff. Admirable.
And you’ll crush that 12-miler.
Portia recently posted..I ran a mile!
We’ll see! I have a solo 15-miler to do in two weeks, and then Ginger has to do her 18-miler in Costa Rica in September. Can’t put life on hold for 18 weeks – so it’s a struggle. But thanks. I know you appreciate how tough it is to keep on keepin’ on for that long!