Last week I said that fall was almost in the air. Well now it’s officially in the air! We had temps drop into the 40s this weekend which is crazy this early in the season. On Monday my morning run was in the mid 70s with 90+% humidity. By Saturday it was 46 degrees. The cooler weather has me feeling the fall racing itch! I doubt I will be doing any in-person races this year, so I guess virtual ones will have to do.
Weekly Run Down: Feeling the Fall Racing Itch
Monday: 7 miles with speed ladder workout (1 mile, 1200m, 800m, 400m) + core/hip exercises
Tuesday: Strength Training + 4.2 Stroller Miles
Wednesday: 6 Miles + Core
Thursday: Strength Training + 4.1 Stroller Miles
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: 11 Miles
Sunday: 3.6 Stroller Miles + Core/Glute Exercises
Total: 36 Miles
Workout Schedule
This week I tried something different with my workout schedule for a few reasons. I wanted to run early (solo) on the days my mom was coming to help with Grayson, this way I could be showered and ready to go work as soon as she got there. I also wanted to do my speed workout out Monday so my legs were not tired from lifting. This meant I lifted on Tuesday/Thursday and also did stroller runs those days.
Most weeks I’ve been taking a rest day on Thursday, but I opted to rest on Friday after my second strength session and before my long run. This meant I ran 7 days in a row and when I looked at my Garmin app I saw that I ran 40 miles over those 7 days!
I’m not sure if I will continue with this schedule or move it around again based on my workouts and work schedule. I kind of like having the option to run long on Friday. I guess I could always consider lifting over the weekend.
Monday’s Speed Ladder
This workout was to help me get ready for a 10k at the beginning of October. As I said, it was still warm on Monday so not ideal weather for a hard workout. I started with a 1.5 mile warm up and then ran 1 mile, 4 minutes of recovery, 1200m, 2:30 minutes of recovery, 800m, 2:00 minutes of recovery, 400m, cool down to 7 miles. I was happy with my paces considering the weather was warm and I haven’t done much speed work lately.
My splits at the and are a little weird because I programmed the workout into my watch with a 1.5 mile cool down but decided to do an extra 1/2 mile at the end.
Saturday Long Run
This was the first day the temps dropped into the 40s. While I’m not completely ready for cold weather, I was excited for this run. After the first mile I knew I had some faster miles in my legs so I decided to add in some alternating hard miles. My run looked like this:
2 miles easy
3 miles hard
1 mile easy
2 miles hard
1 mile easy
1 mile hard
1 mile easy
I wasn’t necessarily aiming for a certain pace, just something that felt a little faster than marathon pace that I could hold for a few miles. Changing up my pace like this definitely helped the miles pass by quickly.
It looks like it will warm up again this week but not be too hot. Hopefully we will be getting some nice fall weather! While I am feeling the fall racing itch, I don’t except to run any races any time soon. I haven’t seen any local ones that are in person, and even if there were I’m not sure I would be comfortable running them. Besides, it seems like there would need to be so many precautions in place that I can’t help but wonder if it would take away from the race atmosphere. I’ll probably just continue running and occasionally doing virtual races until the spring, and then maybe racing will be more of an option.
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Are you feeling the fall racing itch?
Do you think you will run any live races this year?
Are you enjoying cooler weather yet?
I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down!
wow pretty impressive 11 miler! So glad that you got some time to yourself this week too!
Thanks! It was a nice balance of solo runs and stroller runs.
i don’t have the fall racing itch, but today I definitely had some marathon training memories! There’s something about that fall running that makes me feel a little wistful. While I know I’m done with that distance, I have to say that I wish I could do it again. What can I say? Once a runner…
Great week Lisa!
I totally agree with that! I always miss marathon training this time of year (its been 5 years since my last one!) but at the same time part of me is kind of glad that I don’t have to do 20 milers right now.
Great week for you! 40 miles over 7 days is a lot of running!
The cooler weather is so welcome, isn’t it?! Sadly, I don’t think there will any in-person races for quite a while…hopefully things will be different next spring.
I agree. It seems like some organizations are trying to figure it out. Hopefully it goes well and they can pave the way for others.
I did my first virtual race in a few months this week and yes I have the itch big time!!! There was a live race in my area this weekend, and judging from the pictures I saw, everything looked really good. It looked, well, just like a normal race except everyone was spaced far apart. At this point both of my October races are scheduled to be live and although I am fully ready to get the “with an abundance of caution” cancellation email, there’s a chance that I could be doing “real” races very soon. And if they end up being virtual, that’s fine as well.
Oh that’s interesting! I can’t remember what area you live in? That’s a good sign that some races are at least planning to be live! Fingers crossed!
We had temps in the 30s this weekend but luckily it was sunny and warmed up.
7 days in a row. Don’t think I’ve ever done that.
Right now I am so not in racing shape. I doubt I will run a real one until 2021.
I am having memories of marathon training last fall. I do miss the excitement of a big race and looking forward to it.
I know exactly what you mean about marathon training. I trained for fall/winter marathons from 2011-2015 and every year since then I’ve missed it, even though its kind of nice to not be doing those 20 milers!
Fall is in Minneapolis too and its soo nice..A terrible time to be dealing with an Achilles injury 🙁
It will feel sad when the Twin Cities Marathon time comes around (the first weekend in October) not to either be racing or cheering.
You had a great week of training! Nice work!
I hate having injuries during perfect running weather! Hopefully this weather will continue for awhile as you heal and can run more.
Its definitely going to feel weird this fall when none of the big races are happening.
I don’t have the racing itch, but I guess I’m not ready to write off 2020 altogether. There is an organization that’s been doing small in-person races in the area — Bishop Events? They are small, with staggered starts and masks required at the start. The cooler weather makes me want to run farther, but I’m not up to double digits yet.
Oh I wonder if they do any races up this way? As much as I would love to race though, I am probably going to wait until the spring. I kind of want to learn more about how the in-person races are going before jumping into one myself!
Cooler temps for us today as well, but the week ahead is looking nice … sunny with highs in the low-80’s. No rain in sight, so I’m hoping to get outside every day for a ride (and maybe a few walks if I get the go-ahead from the podiatrist on Tuesday). Enjoy your week!
Fingers crossed you can start walking! I think it will warm up a bit here too, but not get too hot. Sunny and no rain sounds perfect!
I won’t be doing any in person races for pretty much the same reason. It does make me sad, because I LOVE racing at this time of year. Wasn’t the weather last week just fantastic?
I have a virtual race this week. I’m considering signing up for another that I can do at any point up til next May, but haven’t made up my mind yet. And Michelle’s @ Runningwithattitude post has me thinking about looking into the BAA challenge.
I enjoy that I have the ability to move my long runs around! Some weeks, anyway.
While it’s disappointing to not have real races, at least these challenges and virtual races come with lots of flexibility!
Fall was definitely in the air last week, but I heard on the news this morning that we’re going back up into the 70s this week – I’m not happy about that lol. All of the local races here have gone virtual for the Fall, but I also wouldn’t feel comfortable doing them in person if they were available. Honestly I don’t know when I’ll feel safe to do in person races again.
I know what you mean about the live races. While I wish I could run a real race, I don’t necessarily want to do one in these circumstances. I also really wonder when we will feel comfortable racing again.
Yes, fall is definitely in the air here in Virginia as well. As much as I’ve hated being injured, I don’t think I could have picked a better year. As I slowly make my comeback I’m hopeful that things will start opening up in 2021. Fingers crossed for both!
Very true! At least you can use this year to build back up nice and slowly.
Sounds like an awesome week in training! Usually if I run too many days in a row my body gets cranky and wants me to take a rest day. I’ve been enjoying doing my long runs on Saturdays and having the option to sleep in on Sundays lately. I typically do lifting M/W/F and run T/W/Th/Sa. Sunday is a total rest day.
I’m totally getting the fall racing itch! I wish we had live races, but I’m glad we have the 5k on tap and hope that if it goes well more races will pop up for us.
I used to always make my Sunday my rest day, but now I have more time to run on the weekends so it makes more sense to take a rest day during the week. I do miss lazy Sundays though!
It was super cool today! Low 80s/high 70s! With a breeze! I almost had to put on a sweatshirt!
You did such a great job with your miles and speed and running in general. I’m sure it’s a huge help to have your mom there.
I think we will see a few smaller races this year. Maybe nothing over a 10K, but there will be something.
Wow, that must have been a nice break from the heat!
It seems like some places are trying to do smaller races. I guess we will see how they go and maybe there will be more in the spring!
Great job this week! I don’t have it in me to run 11 miles at all. 🙂
Fall weather is here and I am loving it. To me it is the perfect weather for running. I love running in shorts and a LS top (a thin one cause then I warm up).
I don’t plan to run any live races this year – I doubt they will happen anyway. I am already used to that idea. Hopefully next year!
At this point I guess I’ve given up on the idea of live races. This time of year just really makes me miss them!
Fall definitely arrived here as well and running is SO much better! We’re warming up to about 80 during the day here this week but it cools off so nicely at night. I’d love for this weather to stick around for awhile before it gets too cold. I don’t anticipate any in-person racing here at all this year. I’m even beginning to wonder what will happen for large spring races.
We are having similar weather here and its been amazing! I also wonder what will happen with spring races. I am not optimistic that the big ones will be able to be held in person.