Week 1

Training for marathon # 9 kicked off this week with some sweltering weather early in the week, which certainly didn't make it any easier to ease back into training. I was feeling really burnt out by Thursday, but things cooled off for the weekend and I was able to finish up the week with some decent runs. I know it will take some time to get used to the heat again and to adapt to workouts after several weeks of "just running"; need to be patient!



Monday - rest or xtrain

As part of my new endeavor to keep up a cross/strength/core-training regimen, I set out for an hour bike ride while hubs was running. When I got home I tackled my core + strength routine before collapsing in a heap on my yoga mat. Rest day? Huh?



Tuesday - 12K with 8x400 10K easy

After Mother Nature foiled our Track Tuesday plans, I braved the sweltering sun and heat with a lunch run. It was borderline unbearable, but I managed to maintain a decent pace despite giving myself permission to go as slow as needed. I think I just wanted to get back into the a/c.

10.0KM (6.2mi) - 55:06 - 5:30/KM (8:52/mi)



Wednesday - 10K easy 12K with 8x400 5x400

Wednesday Weather Whine

It became obvious early in the workout that 8 repeats would not be happening on this day. I just did what I could do...

Goal time for 400s: 1:31 - 1:34 (400 recoveries)
Results: 1:34, 1:33, 1:37, 1:38, 1:35

I was completely and utterly spent and knew I couldn't have pushed it any harder or farther.

12.0KM (7.5mi) - 1:08:12 - 5:41/KM (9:08/mi)
+ strength/core


Thursday - 7K easy

Thursday was our first night of the summer marathon clinic and I knew there'd be lots of talking and a short run. I decided to run from home to add a couple miles. After an introductory talk and some drills/photos in the parking lot, we broke off into our pace groups for a 7K run. It was... okay. I felt tired from the get-go and just stuck with the group, trying to keep up some conversations to get through it. I had planned to run home too, but wasn't in the mood so a friend was kind enough to give me a lift on her way. Blahhhhh.

9.6KM (6.0mi) - 53:46 -5:36/KM (9:00/mi)



Friday - 10K with 1K time trial

Still feeling pretty slow and tired, but pulled off a decent time trial at the track.

10.0KM (6.2mi) - 55:20 - 5:32/KM (8:54/mi)
1K time trial: 3:49.27

Saturday - 5K easy

I woke up to a great morning to run and headed right out the door, running a little bit longer than planned with perfectly progressive negative splits.

8.0KM (5.0mi) - 43:42 -  5:27/KM (8:47/mi)
+ strength/core

Sunday - 27K long

Long run with the group. I headed out early on my own for an extra 10, since they were only running 17. It was another nice cool and mostly overcast morning - if only it was like this every morning all summer! We ran a particularly hilly route on some country scenic roads; I felt good and we nailed our target pace, picking it up for the last couple KMs.

 

27.2KM (19.9mi) - 2:29:13 -  5:29/KM (8:49/mi)



Week 1 Total Mileage: 76.8 KM (47.7 mi)
Total Time: 7:05:19
Average Pace: 5:32/KM (8:54/mi)
Cross-training: 1h cycle + 3x strength/core routine