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in Half-Marathon Training, Run Happy Team, Running, Weekly Run Down · March 16, 2020

Frederick Half-Marathon Training Week 5

Does it feel weird to anyone else to be writing about our week of workouts when there is so much going on right now? However, I think it’s important that we do what we can to keep up with some parts of our normal routines since so many other parts of our lives are probably far from “normal” right now. I know some are impacted by the Coronavirus more than others, and I feel grateful that I can keep on with my training, at least for now. Let’s talk about Frederick Half-Marathon Training Week 5. 

I just finished week 5 of training for the Frederick Half-Marathon, and there are alot of unknowns right now. Click post to read about my runs and workouts this week. #workout #fitness #running #halfmarathontraining

My race is on May 3rd. As of right now, there are no plans to cancel or postpone the race. I know that can change but I am not sure when I would know. It’s so hard for everyone who has put in training for their races to have them cancelled or postponed. It’s not like you can really just sign up for one in a month, because we don’t know if things will be better at that time. 

For now I will continue on with my half-marathon training, knowing that I may not be racing a half this spring. I would consider a virtual race or just running 13 miles hard on my own to test my fitness. After May I’m sure I will need a break from training and will want to start considering what I might do in the fall. There are a lot of unknowns, but at least I can run!

Weekly Rundown: Frederick Half-Marathon Training Week 5

Monday: Strength Training
Tuesday: Rest Day
Wednesday: 6.2 miles with 2 x 15 minutes at tempo pace + Core Work
Thursday: 3 Easy Miles + Yoga
Friday: Spinning + Strength Training
Saturday: 10 miles with last 2 hard
Sunday: 4 miles + Glute and Hip Exercises

sunday run

Outdoor running

It was another week of all outdoor runs. It definitely feels good to be outside especially as the weather is getting more mild. I do wish there was more daylight in the mornings though! We have also been able to get out for walks later in the day too. Grayson has not been liking the stroller these days, so we’ve stuck to shorter walks rather than runs.

Tempo Run

This week instead of speedwork I did a a tempo run. I’ve been progressing my training from shorter intervals to longer ones, and now I’m getting into running longer intervals closer to race pace. I did this 2 x 15 minute workout over the summer when I was training for the Charles St. 12, and I remember it being very intimidating at the time. I was still a little nervous for how it would feel, but my paces were significantly faster. It felt challenging but manageable. 

Half-Marathon Training Week 5

Long run

I did my long run on Saturday and it was a rough day overall. It was a couple days after all the Coronavirus news had been really getting out (finding out schools would be closed, races cancelled, etc) plus Grayson has been teething pretty bad and woke up at 4:20am. I heard him while I was downstairs pumping before my run. I thought Rob went in and got him to go back to sleep because I didn’t hear anymore crying. Turned out he ended up sitting in there with him until it was time to get up because he would not go back to sleep. 

When I got back from my run at 6:40 I had a cranky toddler (and a tired husband) to help out with. I took over mom duties while Rob went out to about 5 stores to get supplies. (We were literally completely out of paper towels for probably the first time ever!) Finally Grayson took a 1.5 hour nap and everyone was feeling a little better after that. I did some foam rolling later on and we got outside for  walk. 

Long run

Yoga

I actually did a 23 minute yoga video this week, which felt really good! I thought I would share the link since sometimes people ask what videos I use. This is called Yoga for Runners: Injury Prevention. I used to use this video all the time a few years ago, and I forgot about it for awhile. It hits all the right spots and is a good length if you don’t want anything too long. 

Core work

So that’s about it for my week of workouts! I will be working remotely this week, so I’m not sure if I will rearrange my workout schedule. Usually I avoid doing anything that will take too long on Mondays and Tuesdays because those are the days I go into the office and need to be showered and somewhat ready by 6. I’ll have to see how I feel because this was a pretty hard weekend of workouts and I want to make sure I am recovered well!

Run Happy Team

And in case you missed it on Instagram, I found out that I was accepted as a Brook’s ambassador on the Run Happy Team! It was nice to have some good news amid everything else going on this week. 

Brooks Run Happy Team

You may also like:
Frederick Half-Marathon Training Week 4
Half-Marathon Training Tips for Beginners
Thanksgiving in Cape Coral 2014
Whole30 Breakfasts (#WIAW)
Meal Planning and Prep 2/22-2/28
Thinking Out Loud # 22 (Finally Thursday)

How were your workouts last week?
Have you had a race cancelled?
Do you need to make adjustments to your schedule due to the Coronavirus?

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Comments

  1. Catrina says

    March 16, 2020 at 4:47 am

    Congrats on becoming a Brooks ambassador!
    Good that you continue to train for the half-marathon as if it was going to happen. After all, we run because we enjoy being outside and moving our bodies. Hopefully, you will get to race in the fall again.
    All the best with working remotely this week!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 16, 2020 at 7:30 pm

      Thank you! I found out my race was cancelled today but I will probably keep up with a similar running schedule. It’s hard not having a specific goal to work towards!

  2. Marcia says

    March 16, 2020 at 9:07 am

    Whether your race happens or not, running and training are great stress relievers right now, when everything else is turned upside down. Congrats again on the Brooks gig!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 16, 2020 at 7:30 pm

      Totally! My race was cancelled (as expected) but I know I will keep running anyway.

  3. Wendy says

    March 16, 2020 at 9:41 am

    Congrats on being selected as a Brooks ambassador! You are right–good news is a welcome diversion right now!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 16, 2020 at 7:31 pm

      Thanks! I’m clinging to anything positive right now!

  4. Beckett @ Birchwood Pie says

    March 16, 2020 at 10:07 am

    Exactly, all we can do is control what we can control. I’m WFH until further notice, and I really don’t hate getting to spend a few weeks at home with my family. Because I don’t have to commute I can now do all of my runs outside, so that’s going to be great. I think my spring races will probably be canceled but I’m still going to train and stay in half marathon shape…it’s the journey not the destination.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 16, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      It is definitely nice to be home more! My husband works in healthcare and still has to go in, so that adds some extra stress around here. As long as its warm enough to get outside for walks it will be ok!

  5. Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says

    March 16, 2020 at 10:37 am

    Congrats on making the Run Happy team! Fingers crossed for your half. I’m hoping mine the end of June will be a go, I hadn’t signed up for the one in April & good thing as it turns out. I did email to cancel the hotel, but looks like I’ll have to break down & call them.

    The most important thing is to stay healthy & happy (and have paper towels, right?).

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 16, 2020 at 7:36 pm

      Well I got an E-mail today that is was cancelled. I figured that would happen! But yep, health and happiness are what is important!

  6. Kim G says

    March 16, 2020 at 12:00 pm

    I also felt a little odd writing about my weekly workouts but then I thought it would be good to try to keep as much of a normal routine as possible.

    Congrats on being selected for the Run Happy team! I made the switch to Brooks sneakers about 2 years ago and I’ve been so happy with them.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 16, 2020 at 7:37 pm

      Brooks have been my go-to shoe for so long! I’m hoping to try out some new models this year.

  7. Shathiso says

    March 16, 2020 at 1:49 pm

    My marathon is also on 3rd May and so far no cancellation. I’ll keep training as if it’s still on and if it is cancelled, I think I will just run the distance anyway. I’ve trained so long for this day so even if it means no medal, I’ll get it done!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 16, 2020 at 7:38 pm

      Well I found out today my race is cancelled. They are cancelling just about everything for the next couple of months here. Thats great that you will still run the distance either way!

  8. Kimberly Hatting says

    March 16, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    I just got word of my first cancellation (the race in Florida, on Saturday, which we aren’t going to be traveling to anyways). I agree…I think we need to go on with our workouts and training and keep some consistency in our daily routine. Congrats on the Brooks gig!!!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 16, 2020 at 7:39 pm

      I found out this afternoon my race was cancelled. After hearing some news updates today I figured that would happen! But I definitely plan to keep up with my workouts anyway.

  9. Debbie @ Deb Runs says

    March 17, 2020 at 11:38 am

    Congratulations on becoming a Brooks ambassador! That’s so exciting!

    I have had to completely shut down my personal training business for the foreseeable future. I made the tough decision last night to also stop seeing my home gym clients after making the decision over the weekend to stop see PT clients and teaching clients at the gym. It broke my heart, but it’s the right thing to do. 🙁

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 18, 2020 at 4:31 am

      I’m so sorry, but it does sound like the right thing to do. I really hope this doesn’t last too long!

  10. Renée says

    March 17, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    good week despite all the strangeness going on! and congrats on becoming a brooks ambassador! All of our upcoming races are cancelled schools are closed, gyms, sports clubs, training groups, theaters, bars and cafes and… our borders and air space are about to be closed 🙁 I need to get in a groove to work out at home more. I am also currently rotating every other workday to go into the office (same people each time in case any one gets sick, it limits exposure).

    even my parkrun launch is postponed until further notice 🙁

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 18, 2020 at 4:39 am

      It’s such a stressful time! Workout out at home can be tough when you’re used to using a gym. I’m just trying to get fresh air when I can. It seems to help me feel better each day.

  11. Lisa @ TechChick Adventures says

    March 21, 2020 at 1:22 pm

    Congrats on the Brooks ambassador. So cool!! I can remember those tough mornings with cranky little ones. I’m not sure how the heck I survived on so little sleep! Now I have teens who sleep far too long! 😉

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      March 23, 2020 at 4:01 am

      Haha I was on a call with some coworkers last week and a few of us have little ones that were up by 6 and others were saying their kids were still sleeping! (It was like 11am).

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Alright, my last post about the Richmond Marathon Alright, my last post about the Richmond Marathon (maybe). This one is about lessons learned/areas for improvement.

1) Starting in the right corral- I knew I wanted to start a little slow but I think I started too far back and I ended up boxed in later in the race. 

2) Increasing fueling- I think I did the best I could on this day but now that I know more about what works/doesn’t work for me I think I can try to get my carbs/hr a little higher for next time

3) Self-doubt- On paper I knew my training showed I could run a certain time. My coach knew I could run a certain time. But deep down did I believe I could run that time? I’m not really sure.

4) My right piriformis- This little muscle has been giving me trouble FOREVER and it likes to rear its ugly head the most during races. I’m working with a PT but it’s hard to address the issue when I can go months without any problems and then at mile 15 of a marathon it starts acting up. So while this is certainly an area for improvement I am not really sure what I’ll be able to do to keep it from happening next time.

5) Ignore the data leading up to the race- During race week my sleep scores were horrible, my HRV tanked, and my watch told me I was “strained”. I might just stop wearing it during the taper next time.

What lessons have you learned during a marathon or big race?

@richmondmarathon #racerecap
It’s been 5 days since the Richmond Marathon and i It’s been 5 days since the Richmond Marathon and it feels like a lifetime ago! I am working on my full race recap which I will post on my website but I wanted to share some reflections on here. Today I want to focus on what went well. Every finish line is an accomplishment, and while every race can teach us something I think it’s always important to focus on the positive.

First off, Richmond was a great race with amazing crowd support! There were some hills (a few steeper than I expected) but nothing crazy.

Fueling went well- after my train wreck of a run a few weeks ago I had to adjust my fueling plan and took out the Tailwind High Carb and went back to regular Skratch instead. I tried to make up for the difference with gels but my overall carbs per hour was a little less than it had been when using the Tailwind. I think I got about 65 g/hour so I’d like to get that up a bit next time but I didn’t get nauseous and took gels up until the end of the race.

Shoes felt good- during that same training run I had some top of foot soreness from my laces. I changed my lacing technique and had no issues on race day. 

Mindset- I did a lot of work preparing for the race mentally and was able to use those strategies during the race. I focused on one mile at a time and shifted my goals when I knew my original goal was not going to happen. 

Pacing- Even though I didn’t run my goal pace I was able to run fairly consistently without drastically slowing down at the end. 

Recovery- I felt pretty good following the race and wasn’t even sore anymore by Tuesday. This was probably the least sore I’ve been after a marathon.

Strong training cycle- this year I feel like I’ve been clawing my way back to where I was a year ago after several illnesses last winter and spring. I had a great training cycle with @lauranorrisrunning and I know I’ve made more progress than my race time shows.

Marathons are a huge investment so I really tried to make the most of the experience!

@richmondmarathon #racerecap
Happy Medal Monday! I can’t believe the Richmond M Happy Medal Monday! I can’t believe the Richmond Marathon was only 2 days ago. I’m barely sore (probably because I was trained for a faster time than I ran) and am feeling good.

I included a list of my marathon times on the last slide here, which I posted in my stories yesterday. I got some messages about how others can relate to feeling like their times “reset” at a certain point- whether it was after an injury, having kids, or just time off from running.

I think we can get so caught up in PRs that it may take away from the overall progress made in the process of training. Sure, there are runners who come back from having kids and immediately set a new lifetime PR. But many of us will need to chip away at our times to get to where we want to be.

Focusing on progress and the gains made in a training cycle vs a specific race time can help to keep things in perspective!

Now, I’m trying to figure out spring racing plans. What’s everyone running this spring?

#medalmonday
What a day! This race (and really, this week) was What a day! This race (and really, this week) was a rollercoaster. I knew pretty early on that my legs and my lungs were not feeling my goal pace. Each time I sped up it felt really hard- way too hard to not even be at 10 miles yet. So I just focused on running the effort that my body would allow. I used all the mental strategies I had to get through each mile. Ultimately, I wanted to run faster than my marathon last November, which I did by almost 2 minutes, making this a postpartum PR. More importantly, I smiled almost the whole time.

After finishing we had to rush to get out of our hotel room and spent the whole afternoon driving home. Over the past 2 days I’ve spent almost 10 hours in the car.

More to come soon…just hoping to get home and get some rest soon!

#richmondmarathon
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