The more I run, the less I blog - Training week 17

This has been an amazing, soul-sucking semester for me.  I am in school full-time for the first time in 8 years, this time with 2 kids who only go to school half days and I've been training for my first marathon.  I don't know what possessed me to set this sort of schedule for myself, but I've almost gotten through it.  I haven't met my mileage goals but my legs feel strong and I know I'll finish.  Many factors will depend on how long it will take.  I'm looking forward to focusing on some trail halfs for the summer after this.

Last week:

4/1 - 4 miles
4/2 - 4 miles
4/3 - 5 miles
4/5 - 3 miles
4/6- 19 miles

Total: 35 miles

Legs feel strong, with some tightness my posterior tibial tendon and IT band.  I go to PT every week and things are improving and I've been able to continue to increase mileage.  I don't think the Saucony Kinvaras will work out long term, but its too late to switch shoes now for Big Sur.  They are just a little too restrictive and stiff for me... I'm looking at trying out some Skoras next but I'm not sure if any of their models are grippy enough for trails... I haven't seen them in person.

Almost to taper time

So, after that awesome 18-miler the fall I had a few weeks ago really affected me.  I ran probably 5 times in between the fall and when the real pain started.  I went on a 4 mile hilly run in the middle of a warm, sunny day and was probably breathing harder than I usually do.  At the end of the run I could barely breathe because my ribs hurt so badly.  I got an X-Ray to make sure nothing was broken and was forced have light mileage for a couple of weeks because it hurt to both inhale and exhale.  I even went to the doctor twice because I was so frustrated about the pain and wanted them to do SOMETHING besides pain medication but there is nothing you can do for chest wall injuries.  I'm doing much better now and back on plan for my   Here are weeks 14, 15, & 16:

3/11- 6.16 miles
3/12- 4 miles
3/14- 9.37 miles

Total: 19.5

3/20- 6 miles
3/23- 20 miles

Total: 26 miles

3/25- 4 miles
3/26- 5 miles

Total: 9 miles (hah)

The last week can't be blamed on injury.  Getting back to it this week. 20 miler on Sunday!

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.

Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve

Last week was a cut back week in my marathon plan so I hit the hills on my 10 mile long run at Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve in Woodside, California. I never get used to how beautiful the trails are in the San Francisco Bay and if you are willing to brave the elevation changes the rewards are great.  The preserve is located on the western side of the Santa Cruz Mountains and you can even see the ocean from the northern part of the preserve. I ran down the Harkins Ridge Trail to the Bay Area Ridge and Craig Britton Trail down into the base of the canyon to the Purisima Creek Trail and then back up the Harkins Ridge Trail.  I stopped to take pictures every few miles because it was so beautiful but the poor white balance on my iPhone dulled the bright green of all the trees so just imagine everything much more saturated than this.  It was pretty slippery with mud in some places, I look forward to coming back when it hasn't been raining so I'm not slipping and sliding down the hills.

 

Big Sur Training Week 12 of 20

2/26- 5 miles
2/27- 8 miles
3/1- 5 miles
3/2-10 miles

Total: 28 miles

I ran Purisima Creek Redwood Preserve today! Over 1800 ft. elevation gain over 10 miles... what a beating.  I will post pictures later.

Week 11 of 20

2/18- 3.07 miles

2/19- 4.87 miles (supposed to be 5, GPS went crazy and I went by time)

2/20- 8 miles

2/23- 16 miles

Total: 31.9 miles

I had some cramping issues with my left shin this week... including the first 4 miles of my long run.  It gets painfully rigid and I had to stop every mile or so. 

Week 10 of 20- Big Sur Marathon Training

Halfway there! Trying to hit lots of hills this week in preparation for Hurricane Point.

Wednesday 2/12- 6 miles / 602 ft. elevation gained / 10:18 average pace

Thursday 2/13- 7 miles / 275 ft. elevation gained / 9:48 pace

Saturday 2/15- 6 miles / 105 ft. elevation gained / 10:00 pace (end of a long day in the dark)

Sunday 2/16- 9 miles / 572 ft. elevation gained / 10:44 pace

Total: 28 miles

I'm feeling pretty fatigued this week.  It's another week of my highest weekly mileage so far and I'm slacking on the nutrition area.  I'm hungry but instead of eating high quality protein or anything good I'm eating a lot of ice cream sandwiches.  I'll work on that this week.