• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Mile By Mile

Life is what happens when you're busy running marathons...

  • Home
    • Contact Page
    • Privacy Policy
  • Recent Posts
  • Run Coaching
    • Coaching Philosophy
    • Contact Page
  • Left Menu Extras

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Training Plans & Downloadable Resources
    • Store
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • Virtual Race Resource Guide
  • Running
    • Running Posts
      • Runners’ Roundup
      • Fartlek Friday
    • Favorites
    • Races
    • Workouts
      • Running Workouts
      • Strength Training Workouts
  • Right Menu Extras

Weekly Run Down

auroras

Training Week 3: Making Adjustments for Heat

July 4, 2021view the post

I'm back after skipping last week's Weekly Run Down due to my blog being down! But everything is back up now so it's time to play catch up. Two weeks ago I started training for a fall race. I am hoping to do a marathon. but may consider doing a half if a full is too much. My motto as I've started training is "start where you are". I will slowly build, add some speed, and see where it takes me.

Training for a Fall Race: Start Where You Are

June 27, 2021view the post

What a wild week it's been! Our weather was all over the place and the cicadas are now out in full force, not to mention the many other animals I encountered on my runs. I never thought I would be writing a post about a cicada invasion, but here we are. Hopefully it will be over soon!

Running Through the Cicada Invasion

June 13, 2021view the post

It seems like the chilly weather has finally left for good this year and over the past week it's been warm and humid. Just what we would expect from June weather! It's been challenging to acclimate especially when it really hasn't been consistently warm. But it will only get warmer from here on out. The heat is on!

The Heat Is On

June 6, 2021view the post

After a tough few weeks (months?) I finally felt like I was making slow and steady progress with running this week. I was able to get my mileage back into the mid 30s, I did a fartlek workout, and I ran 11 miles in the rain. So I would say it was a successful week!

Making Slow and Steady Progress with Running

May 30, 2021view the post

It's been quite a few weeks around here. Between cold, allergies, and lots going on at work, I missed sharing my workouts last weekend. Despite all the craziness, the running goes on. Well it did for the most part. I definitely had to back off and take some extra rest days, but getting out there helped me get through some of the tough days. But even though the running goes on, unfortunately the coughing does too.

The Running Goes On

May 23, 2021view the post

The first full week of May is over, and as usual we had some days that felt like summer and others that felt like winter. Pretty typical for this time of year! There was some rain too, but at least the wind died down. My schedule allowed for some extra stroller runs which was a nice change. I spent the week enjoying solo miles and stroller miles!

Enjoying Solo Miles and Stroller Miles

May 9, 2021view the post

I ran the Pittsburgh Marathon as part of a virtual relay team. It was a fun way to to d race virtually while connecting with other runners. Check out my recap of the race as well as my other workouts from this week.

Pittsburgh Virtual Marathon Relay Week

May 2, 2021view the post

It was another interesting week around here. I went into it with the best intentions, but it didn't all play out as planned. Still, it was better than last week! I just felt like we took two steps forward, one step back (a few times!) At least we're moving in the right direction!

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

April 25, 2021view the post

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 12
  • Go to Next Page »

© 2025 Mile By Mile Blog All rights reserved

Footer

Mile By Mile Running

Life Is What Happens When You're Busy Running Marathons

Lets Run!
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
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
Follow on Instagram

Some of the links on my site are affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small compensation for clicks and/or purchases, but this will not cost you anything. Your support is greatly appreciated!

 

© Mile By Mile Blog, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Mile by Mile Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Mile by Mile Running · Copyright © 2025

Copyright © 2025 · Carpe Diem on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in