Big Sur Training Week 13 of 20

I feel like this past week marathon training got real.  I had my longest run to date- 18 miles!  Man, that's a long run no matter how you slice it. It made me feel slightly more confident about Big Sur but it was a flattish 18 miles so I still need to hit some hills on one of my 20-milers before the race. I also fell doing speed (SPEED WORK KILLS) and messed up my knees, my hand and actually went to the doctor to see if my ribs were broken.  It still hurts but I didn't miss any runs and it's not actually bothered by running .

Last week:

3/4: Yasso 800s- 3 miles w/ 8:28 mpm. Fun! Until I fell. I averaged 7:35 pace for my fast intervals and even hovered around 6:40-7:00 for 1/4 mile before I ate pavement.
3/5: 6 miles @ 9:58 mpm 347 ft. elevation gained
3/6: 8 miles @10:00 mpm
3/8: 2 miles @ 11:45 mpm (horrible shin cramps)
3/9: 18 miles @ 10:18 mpm

Total: 37 miles

As far as fueling, I felt like I should have taken another gel (I took 3 Gu packets) and have more water/electrolytes but I was missing the cap for one of my water bottles and my Nathan vest mouthpiece tasted horribly of plastic so I ended up only taking 16 oz of water w/ Nuun tablets and 8 oz of water.  I also super hydrated before, to the point I was peeing clear before and during my 1 of 2 bathroom stops during the run.  Good thing I ran by some bathrooms! I'm hoping I can balance hydration so I don't have to stop so much during the race.

Big Sur Marathon Training Week 3 of 20

Still in Texas. Still running. Will be back in the Bay for the New Year.

Week 3 of 20

12/24- 3.54 miles (supposed to be 4, MapMyRun GPS went all crazy in the beginning of the run) @ 8:40 pace
12/25- 5 miles @ 8:52 pace
12/26- 3 miles @ 8:39 pace
12/28- 3 miles splits at 10:47/11:20/8:40 because I was dragging my mother-in-law's Great Pyrenees for the first two miles before I dropped him back off for the final mile.
12/29- 8 miles @ 8:54 pace

Total miles: 22.5 miles

Big Sur Marathon Training Week 2 of 20

Late on the update! I'm visiting family deep in the heart of Texas and haven't had a chance to post last week's training (if anyone is out there reading with bated breath).  I ended up skipping my speed work day because I was still dealing with my bronchitis-type cough and went to the doctor for some Symbicort and cough medicine.  I probably could have run that day but my daughter was having a hard time in dance class (when I usually do my speed work) so I wasn't able to get away to run. ANYWAY, excuses, excuses right?  I'm on the right track this week and hope to actually do 100% of my planned runs.

Week 2 of 20

12/18- 5 miles @ 9:17
12/19- 3 miles @ 8:42
12/21- 3 miles @ 8:43
12/22- 7 miles @ 9:15

Total: 18 miles

Felt good.  Definitely getting better about getting out there (with the exception of 12/17) regardless of what else is going on in my life.  12/22 I flew out to Texas but still managed to get 7 miles in even though I really didn't feel like it.  I've been running exclusively in Vibram Bikilas and they have been fine... although I am having some heel issues that I'm hoping is not plantar fasciitis. I've been trying to be conscious of shortening my stride and that seems to help.  I also seem to be getting moderately faster- it's hard to slow down to what I think my training pace should be because my natural comfortable pace is around 9:15-9:30 now and that is a huge improvement from the 10:30-11:00 "easy" pace I was at least year.  Thank you SF hills and speed work!

BIG SUR 2014

BIG SUR 2014!!

Yes, I am yelling.  I just can't contain my excitement because I just registered for my first marathon. Not just any marathon, but one of the most beautiful marathons in the world. Because it is such an amazing race, it sells out quickly and long before the event. So, I have a little over 9 months to train for the April 27, 2014 race date!