The next couple of weeks are going to be hard for me – I have back-to-back weekend events, night events, travel and marathon training. I don’t mind the night events or even the travel, but I am worried about my long runs. How am I going to get in the miles? Will I have to run by myself? Week 5 is the start to the mayhem – and I’m learning the flexibility is key to marathon training (and life, for that matter).
Mileage: 45
Monday {rest day} – I co-lead a ladies fun run on Monday nights at my local running store. I use the fun run as an easy, slow run – it’s the perfect way to work out my muscles from all of the weekend miles. 4 miles.
Tuesday {track} – This workout was hard for me. I didn’t feel as strong as I would have liked, but I pushed through the workout and was happy with my splits. 2 mile warm-up, 7 x800m (1 lap recovery), 2 mile-cool down
7x800m (3:07, 3:04, 3:04, 3:03, 3:03, 3:02, 3:00)
Wednesday {4-6 miles} – I had a Nightlife event at one of my accounts and use this event as a workout (one of the perks of my job). Hill workout for 5 miles with the group.
Thursday {rest day} – I took the day – and needed it!
Friday {tempo run} – I had to rearrange my weekend schedule, so I ran a modified tempo run. 5 miles at 7:30 pace, with the last 2 miles at tempo pace (6:37). I did not run on the track, so there were a lot of variables including, traffic lights, cars, etc.
Saturday {14-16 miles} – I ran 15 miles (progression run). I was exhausted from my week (travel, work) and it took a couple of miles for me to feel good. Last 4 miles were close to race pace (Miles 11-13 at 7:40 pace, Miles 14-15 at 7:17 pace). I was happy when it was over.
Sunday {6-8 miles} – I ran 7 easy miles (8:15 pace) and felt a lot better than I was expecting I would (with the high mileage on Sunday). These runs really help work out the kinks and soreness.
5 down, 10 to go!
All my runs are solo and I think an ipod, being able to enjoy the scenery/or a movie on the TM, checking the run off of my list, and the bragging rights after I am done is how I get through. 🙂
I run most my run solo (except for a kid or two in tow sometimes). I try to do my long runs without the stroller but that doesn’t always happen. One thing that I have found works well for me to get through the boredom is listening to audiobooks on my iPod. Not for everyone but I’m an avid reader so it’s a great way To get them in!
I have always trained by myself- including running my long runs solo. Sometimes it’s difficult, but for the most part I deal with it okay. It allows me personal thinking time and if I hit a rough couple of miles I just think about how far I have come and what my long term running goals are.
You do a great job of re-arranging your training schedule according to what you have going on with work. I haven’t had to do that recently, but I have the feeling I will be doing a lot of that for my spring marathon this year.
Love your blog, keep it up!
books on tape!
Glad you pushed through all your workouts despite the hectic schedule…Makes you sometimes look forward to those rest days and enjoy every minute. 🙂 On long runs, I just try to have lots of good music and a positive attitude, when I hit the pavement. It always helps when the sun is shining too. Have a great week!
When I have to do long runs solo, I mentally “chunk” it. For example, I’ll take the dog out for 10 miles and then drop her off back home and then run the rest. That way it doesn’t seem so far to run alone. 🙂
a 45 mile week? I’d say you found a way to fit it all in. Good job! And I do all of my long runs solo with music.
All my runs are solo before work, so the long runs start in the (very) dark. I look forward to observing the change in light through the trees. I also feed on the gradual increase in activity as the streets start to fill. Oh….and the GPS reminds me to pick up the pace.
it’s cheating, but I’ll do the first half of my LR without music and then let myself plug in for the back half – gives me something to look forward to!
I always run by myself. The trick for me is to think about how if I stopped in the middle of my long run, I would have to do it all over again the next day. And the threat of having to do it again is enough for me to get it done.
Oh man I am sooo bad at doing long runs solo. I need to read all the tips you get too. Last week I switched my long run to a weekday so I could do at least half of it with someone else, so I guess that’s an idea but not always a viable one. I also like to play mind games – pretending I’m not going as far as I really am. Am I delusional?! Possibly!
I’m solo 99% of the time – it works my mental muscle. In the end I like it – I know that during a race I don’t need anyone else – I can count on myself to get me to the finish line because a marathon is easier than all the runs I’ve gone on leading up to it xoxo
Great week! I’ve enjoyed seeing you out at runs! As for solo long runs, I don’t mind them. I’ll usually wear my iPod if I am running alone, so that helps.
On my solo long runs, I like to listen to iheart radio and my favorite radio show: The Kane show 🙂 This makes it go by so much faster!
Sometimes I really enjoy running on my own. Audio books are good if you need a distraction otherwise a new playlist is always nice.
I am so impressed with your paces. Great job!