I’m in my third week of training, but officially my 1st (week) according to Coach George and my training schedule. I felt really good this week – and strong. My Boston marathon goal is a bit aggressive, but I think it’s attainable with the right training, rest and coaching. Honestly, I can’t wait for April 16, 2012!
Total Mileage: 39
Monday {rest day} – mini yoga session on the beach
Tuesday {Iwo Jima hill workout} – this workout is NO JOKE. 6 x 400m-ish hills, with a slight recovery (flat) and quick feet (down hill). This is a 7-8 mile workout, including warm-up and cool-down. I felt really strong. I’d prefer to run with the morning group, but had to run with the evening group due to work travel (which was also a great group of runners and a couple Boston trainers).
Wednesday {4-6 miles, easy} – I ran 5 miles and felt really good. The workout included lots of hills on Military Road {for those in the DC area, you know that these are great for Boston training}
Thursday {rest day} – Bikram Yoga? Oh, how I love thee! Yoga is such great cross-training for runners and I can’t imagine my life without it.
Friday {tempo on the track} – 1×3 mile, 2 lap recovery, 1x1mile. Tempo runs kinda scare me – mostly because I’m not sure what I’m capable of (I rarely do tempo runs): Do I run really fast and die at the end? Do I run really slow and pick it up at the end? All things considered (my third tempo run in my life), I felt good. 3 miles in 20: 03 (6:41 pace) and 1 mile in 6:07.
Saturday (6-8 miles} – I had a work event at Fleet Feet DC and decided to use this as a fun opportunity to run 7 miles. I met a lot of really great people – who are really excited about running!
Sunday {10-12 miles} – Do you remember my amazing friend, Annie, who single-handedly coached me through my 1st marathon and {eventual} Boston debut?! Well, we ran 11 miles together today. The weather was awesome, we had a great run and it was really fun to catch-up with one of my best friends. 11 miles in 1:30:45 (8:15 pace)
Week #1 – the 1st week of 2012 – thanks for a great week! {1 down, 14 to go!}
What are you training for in 2012?
This plan sounds great Melody. I’m so excited to watch your training towards Boston! Love the idea of incorporating more yoga. I just decided that Monday will be a yoga day for me if I can figure out a way to make it work with my kids and the gym. 🙂 Great job so far!
I’m training for my first half ever in March! Pretty stoked! And I’m trying hot yoga for the first time ever next week and hopefully I won’t pass out, haha
Maria, that’s awesome! Good luck – I love half-marathons!
I’m running the Carlsbad Marathon in 2 weeks! Just ran my last 20 miler today, in fact. Ahhhhhh. Going to try and squeeze in a couple more P90X yoga sessions this week if my shoulders can take it. They are still sore from my first time doing it on Friday. OUCH!
Good luck in your training!
Great week! You tore up that tempo! 🙂
That’s a solid week! I love tempo runs. I always end up holding a fast pace and crashing at the end. or just hold the pace until failure.
Thanks! I’m still trying to work out all of the tempo-run-kinks (and it’s not easy) 🙂
This plan sounds awesome!!! Right now I have my eyes on a 20 miler in February! I keep hearing more and more about yoga and the tighter my body gets the more I am considering it!!
Woo Hoo! Great job! These 14 weeks are going to fly by!
looks like you had a great week of training!
I love how positive your post was … your excitement for the Boston Marathon is so apparent! Best of luck during the rest of your training …
How exciting! I’m dying to get this half over with on Sunday. The anticipation is killing me…not to mention my blasted knee. I can’t back out now!! 🙂
Good luck – you are going to do awesome! Can’t wait to read all about it 🙂
I can’t believe it’s Boston time again! looks like you had a great week.
Phenom training week! You are so speedy, I love it!, you will rock Boston !
Great training week! I started this week for my training for the Little Rock Half Marathon!!
Awesome week and great paces! I hope to see you at one of the workouts soon!
Sounds like a great “first” week!
Hi Melody! I am interested in trying to qualify for Boston this year, and also in joining Couch George’s training group this summer. Can you tell me – does he personalize a marathon training plan for each runner?
Thanks and good luck at Boston!
Seriously. I can’t imagine life without Bikram Yoga. Especially love it since the air quality is so bad in Salt Lake City that it is hard to run often…which is why i gained 50 pounds…i’m just training to get back into shape!! After that, possibly a marathon!