Emily's training blog

7 miles EZ!  Sore calves from the track.  

Unless things change, it looks like the weather in Chicago will be a lot like today's.

Around 60 degrees. Hopefully minimal wind. Forties would be optimal, but with a high of 62, it should be comfortable. 7:01 average. Marathon paced workout tomorrow to dial in 6:10.

Oh, it feels amazing to have legs back. I have to get rid of my watch next week becausebecause I keep wanting to push the pace and prove I'm in shape. Silly, I know. So, I warmed up two miles and then ran 3 x 10 minutes at marathon effort with five minute recovery. First set: 5:59 average. Second set 5:57 average. Thirdset I did a two mile and opened it up. 5:57, 5:42 for a 5:49 average. A bit faster than 6:10 pace, but it sure felt good. Ran these on the River Trail, which has a little roll to it. Mostly flat, though. Bring on Chicago!

Short and easy. 7:22 average.

Up late with sick kids.  Doctors appointments today.  I opted for extra rest.  Trying to avoid croup and laryngitis.  I figure with a Sunday race, I have a free day during the week.

Last workout.  2 mile warm up.  2 x 3 min, 2 min, 1 min fartlek with 2-1-1- minute recovery.  Finished with a "marathon paced" mile at 5:51  Cooled down home.  6:42 average for workout.  Legs feel great.  Just need to catch up on rest.

So ready to get this race going.

Half hour on Lakeshore Trail

20 minutes plus strides with Janae, Ken, and Jasmine

I'm glad I went and ran the Chicago Marathon. I wish it had ended up differently.  I'm glad I stuck it out. Race morning we didn't get too much warm up. We had to fight our way through the crowds and make it through security before getting to our tent; upon which they told us they were taking us to the line in fifteen minutes. I used the porta potty, got a couple of strides in, stripped down, and they made us stand right outside the corral for another 20 minutes or so.

I got off well. The lack of warm up didn't seem to hurt. I felt great, but I really need to learn the difference between feeling good and feeling easy in the first half of a marathon. Even though I didn't feel like I was pushing, it was too fast. I went through the half on target, but knew my legs were feeling the quick early miles. Fuel wise I was great. I got water and Gatorade at each stop and managed to get more in my mouth than down my front. All my gels sat well, too.

After the half we moved into more open area and the wind was much more noticeable, as were the climbing temperatures. I knew I had blown my chances (again) but vowed to accept the consequences, accept the hurt, accept my now bleeding feet and finish this sucker. I just concentrated on getting through each mile. Between 24 and 25 I passed Jasmine, which gave me a little boost. The little hill at 26 felt like a mountain. But, I made it through the finish.

It may sound silly, but I'm really glad I finished the race. I was disappointed in myself after dropping out of CIM. I didn't want to have two DNFs under my belt. I thought that if I ever want to become better and more experienced in the marathon, I can't drop out every time it doesn't go according to plan.

I know I have better in me. I sure wish I had started marathoning a good 10-15 years ago. It takes multiple efforts to learn how to race it effectively. Especially for an impatient runner like myself. So, Trials is not in the cards, but I'm not finished with the marathon. I'm already planning on Ogden in May. I'm excited to run a couple local ones before I try a biggie again. There's something about the marathon that keeps you coming back to it to punish yourself again and again in pursuit of that elusive moment of glory. I love it. I hate it. I love the journey.

I took a week off running, which was a good choice.  I felt like my body went into full on rebellion after the marathon.  I got sick, my skin broke out, and I wanted to sleep and eat.  A lot.   I'm glad I got a little break.

Nice to be back at it today.  Light run this morning.  I didn't feel too bad.  There's some hip soreness and lingering fatigue, but mostly it went pretty well.  7:39 average.

After running I went to the club for lift class.  I have long neglected my strength work.  It was nice adding some variety to my routine.  I will probably spend the next couple months adding in some cross training and lifting.  I like mixing it up.  

I will be sore tomorrow!

Sore from lifting.  But, otherwise the recovery is going well.   Much better than after St. George.  Downhill is hard to recover from.  My next big race is the Cottonwood Heights Thanksgiving Day 5k.  I like Thanksgiving races.  7:18 average.  

A little latent soreness and sluggishness today.  Still, I managed a 7:01 last mile.  So, legs are slowly but surely coming back.  Maybe I can creep under 7 by the end of the week.  7:24 average.

8 spookydark miles. I managed a 6:57 and a 6:58 at the end. I am speedy!

Lift class. Same as Monday. Felt ten times more difficult.

Cuz I'm lazy!

Nice morning run with a pick up in the second half. Missed the first mile split because I hadn't picked up satellite. 7:27, 7:19, 7:13, 7:01, 6:49, 6:52, 6:46, 6:31, 6:40, 6:20. 6:54 average for ten. Felt pretty good to turn over a bit. I will start some fartlek workouts next week.

6 treadmill miles progressive, bumping up every half mile and throwing in one minute pickups every five minutes.

Cycle class. I felt the quad burn. Lots of intervals today.

8.4 on a chilly but nice morning. 6:59 average. Off to suffer in lifting class.

Oh, I am so sore today!   I ran nice and easy.  We did a lot of drills yesterday with lateral movement, so my glutes and hips are so fatigued.  That's good though.  They need to get stronger.  7:19 average.  Hat and gloves weather.

REALLLLY flat today.  Running feels pretty good, but when I pick up the pace it doesn't feel so good.  Legs are definitely not totally back from the marathon.  I ran a 20 minute warm up.  Then, I ran 10 x 2 minutes on/off.  I had some in the 5;40-50 range, but mostly around marathon pace.  It felt like 5k pace.  Finished with a 6;09 last mile.  7:00 average.  

Can't decide if I want to go to a lifting class or Zumba class.  Hmmmm . . . .

7.6 miles. The river trail was misty this morning. I loved the Halloween atmosphere! 7:15 average

After running I went to the gym to lift.

At home 25 minute TABATA workout for kicks and giggles. I should be appropriately sore for tomorrow's long run.

Nice long run with my running buddy, Jenny. We went a little later in the morning which made for a pleasant run in the daylight. And, of course I always run longer with Jenny than I originally plan on. It was great except my sore legs got pretty tired after about 12. 7:14 average.