Week 7, 6, 5 - Boston Marathon Training

It keeps getting more difficult to recap each week because time is flying by in this training cycle. Every other day I'm like, "I can't wait for this to be over! When will it end??" and then I'm also like, "OMG its so close and I'm not ready!" Marathon training creates so much mental craziness and physical exhaustion I'm never surprised that I feel so differently from day to day.

The last few weeks were some of my toughest. Work's been busy, mileage has been hard both in volume and intensity of workouts, and I've really fallen out of my diligent recovery routine. I'm still feeling pretty good and am positive this has been one of my best training cycles yet, so there's definitely some positives coming out of that grittiness.

Week 7 held my first tough long run. Up until this week's 18 miler, I was feeling super confident in myself. The weather for this weekend called for warmer temps than I'd been used to, but I couldn't bring myself to get up earlier. I paid the price. By mile 13 I was struggling hard. It was eye opening to a few of my weaknesses - one of which is pushing too hard, too fast, at the beginning of some of my repeats. Working on reining that in.

Week 7 Schedule:

Monday: 4 recovery miless (9:06 avg.)
               20 minute recovery yoga
Tuesday: 2 miles (Morning @ 8:07 average)
               8 miles (Evening @ 7:30 avg) - Progression (8:01, 7:27, 7:09, 7:14, 7:20, 7:29, 7:38)
Wednesday: 7 aerobic miles (7:58 average)
                     10 minute kettle bell workout
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: 6 miles + 8 x 100 meter strides with 100 meter recovery between (8:00 average)
Saturday: 18 miles (7:48 avg) - 6 miles @ 7:53 avg followed by 5 x 1 mile @ GMP (7:05-7:15) + 1 mile easy in
               between
Sunday: 5 recovery miles (8:32 average)
               Hip Strengthening (planks, side planks, donkey kicks, bird dogs, bridges)

Week 6 held some 800 repeats that I decided to do on the road (which is much harder because the track is just faster). Holy shit. Those killed me. I also had a super tough long run. I was supposed to work through the first 2 hours at a comfortable pace, and then do 2 sets of 20 minutes pushing the pace. The last 20 minute set was so painful, I stopped twice wondering if I was doing more damage than good. My coach confirmed the workout was supposed to be pretty challenging, and not to be discouraged. Sometimes it's hard not to be, but if anything, my mental game is going to be fierce come race day.

Week 6 Schedule:

Monday: 6 aerobic miles (7:53 average)
               20 minutes strength training (shoulders, biceps, single leg deadlifts)
Tuesday: 9 miles (7:25 average) - Yasso 800s on the road because I hate the track!
               1.5 mile warm up + 8 x 800s (3:04, 3:05, 3:10, 3:07, 3:09, 3:06, 3:09,3:10) + 3 min recovery between
               each + 1.5 mile cool down
Wednesday: 4 recovery miles (8:57 average)
                     20 min yoga
Thursday: Cross Training - 20 minutes elliptical + 30 minutes of strength training
Friday: 6 mile shakeout + 8 x 100 meter strides with 100 meter recovery between (8:10 average)
Saturday: 3 hour run - 22.75 miles @ 7:55 avg - 2 hours comfortable + 2 x 20 mins at 7:05-7:15 with 10 min recovery after each
Sunday: 4 recovery miles (8:48 average)
               Hip Strengthening (planks, side planks, donkey kicks, bird dogs, bridges)

Week 5 was a little cutback, and by the end of it, I was feeling like myself again. I also got to spend Sunday after my recovery run at the LA Marathon cheering on tons of runners to their new PR's. It was so fun and really got me excited for Boston and what an experience that will be.

Week 5 Schedule:

Monday: 6 aerobic miles (8:08 average)
               20 minutes strength training (shoulders, biceps, single leg deadlifts)
Tuesday: 10 miles (7:19 average) - 1.5 m w/u and c/d + 3 x 12 min cutdowns (7:00, 6:48, 6:36), (6:54, 6:48, 6:34), (6:51, 6:44, 6:34) + 3 min
               recovery between each
Wednesday: 7 aerobic miles (8:30 average)
               Hip Strengthening (planks, side planks, donkey kicks, bird dogs, bridges)
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: 6 miles + 8 x 100 meter strides with 100 meter recovery between (8:12 average)
Saturday: 2 hour run - 15 miles (7:55 avg)
Sunday: 4 recovery miles (8:58 average)

One more 20 miler is on the schedule this weekend and then it's time to taper. I can't believe how quickly this training cycle has flown by.

How have the last few weeks of training been for you?

Did you run the LA Marathon?

J