Another week is complete, which means there is only one big week left until the taper! This was a 50 mile week, ending with a 20 mile run that included 10 miles at marathon goal pace. Rob and I went to DC for the weekend, so we did this run on a trail. It was the perfect change of scenery for completing this tough run! We were struggling through the first 8 miles, and later realized we had gone up a long, steady incline. It made much more sense when we later looked at the elevation map!
But I’ getting ahead of myself- let’s take a look at how the week looked overall.
Monday: 7 mile easy, hip and core exercises
Tuesday: 9 miles with 7 at MGP
Wednesday: strength training, hip and core exercises
Thursday: 7 miles easy
Friday: 7 miles easy
Saturday: 20 miles with 10 total at MGP
Sunday: Rest
Total: 50 miles
I’m at the point where I am trying to take my own advice from those tips for the peak weeks. It’s definitely been all about taking it one day at a time and cutting back on other things! Just a few more weeks to go now!
How were your workouts last week?
Have you ever been on a run where you didn’t realize you were going up a hill but knew it felt harder than it should?
Anyone else looking forward to daylight savings time?
Linking up with HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin for the weekly wrap!
OMG I need the clocks to change already! It’s too dark in the morning for me for running, I can’t stand it.
I know! Just a few more days…I can’t wait!!
Those false flats are tough! That elevation profile looks very similar to some of the runs I used to do on the W&OD trail when I lived in Northern Virginia. We used to call one specific section “the suck.” It hurt running and it also hurt cycling (I would be looking to see if I had a flat tire because it seemed so hard to pedal all of a sudden). Sounds like a great week! Lots of miles!
Thanks! That trail was awesome, but definitely tough!
You’re doing great at the peak of your training and that run sounds like no joke! I used to run a route with an incline like that and it was subtle enough that you wouldn’t notice.
Those subtle inclines can be really frustrating! It helps when you realize why it feels harder than running in flat ground.
I’m tapering now and I’m loving it 🙂 You’re almost there! Way to go with your fast finish long run! It must have been fun to do that in a new area with a new course.
It definitely helped!! I am excited to start my taper after Saturday:)
Hooray for time change. I’m ready for lighter mornings! Although it will be dark when I leave work. The DC trail looks like a nice place to run. When the incline is gradual, it is hard to notice. But I can definitely feel the slightest one on a bike! You have had such a great training cycle and I know you’ll do well in your race. You are almost there! I appreciate you linking up with us!
Thank you! Leaving work in the dark is kind of sad, but I don’t mind too much. I would rather the extra light in the morning!
You are rocking it out! Great job! I have mixed feelings about the clocks changing. That just means it will be dark out at 5 around here…
Yea that parts not fun. But I feel like I am usually staying home after work this time of year anyway, so I don’t really mind too much that it gets dark so early.
That 20-miler is incredible!
I am beyond ready for the time to change. I struggle to get out of bed on weekdays when the sun isn’t even out of bed yet! 😉 Actually, at first the time change in fall stinks a little because it’s completely dark when I leave work in the evening which makes me feel like my whole day revolves around work, but after a couple of weeks we get a little bit of daylight back and it’s perfect!
It is definitely depressing to get such little daylight..but I am looking forward to some more light in the mornings!
I was wondering what your marathon goal pace is?
Its like a 8:20-8:25 pace (3:40)
You’re training is going so well! Great job on your 20 miler this week! I have mixed feelings about the time change, I appreciate more light in the mornings but I don’t like how early it gets dark in the evenings.
I know what you mean-I hate when its already dark when I leave work in the evening!
I’m always torn when DST ends. I love having light in the evening, but it’s so difficult to wake up right now. It’s nice having the sun, but then I start to hibernate in the winter because it gets dark so early.
You are right, it can be depressing when it gets dark so early!
I am so looking forward to daylight savings giving us a leeeetle bit of light back in the mornings. Just in time for the NYC Marathon (and yours?) as usual too!
Exactly! It will be a nice change.
I am definitely looking forward to daylight savings! Getting up to run in the dark and cold is harder for me. My week of running went well! Since I’m not training for any specific race right now, my goal is to keep consistent with my runs and build my base. Its going great! Awesome job on another week of marathon training!
Great job to you too!
Congrats on such a great week!!! And an intense 20 miler! I can’t wait for your race 🙂
So ready for daylight savings time. The fact that I left DC at 7am this morning and it was still dark outside… no thanks.
The morning darkness is so depressing. It will be nice next week when we get some more daylight in the morning!
You are doing great with your long runs. Running that many miles without getting an injury is awesome! Must be the hip and core exercise you do. What do you do?
I am not looking forward to daylight savings time. I hate that it gets dark so early.
Thanks! I do things like clams, side steps, planks,and single leg dead-lifts/squats.
Awesome workout week! Especially your 20 miler! I bet it was a huge relief to realize that you’d been going up a hill and not just struggling for no reason. My weekend long run went up a sneaky hill this week. Fortunately I knew it was there, but my running buddy didn’t and was getting super frustrated. He was happy to know he wasn’t just losing it for no reason.
It definitely made me feel better after I realized! And the elevation just confirmed that it was tough.
It definitely made me feel better after I realized! And the elevation map just confirmed that it was tough.
I am definitely looking forward to daylight savings next week. It is hard to get up with it being so dark.
I know! I can’t wait either!
Oh, I forgot about daylight savings time! That will help me get out the door in the morning for my runs. I think we should keep knocking the clocks back an hour every month or so just to accommodate us runners. 😉 Great job at that running week. You’re doing so well!
That is a great idea!! How do we make that happen?? And then they can gradually go the other way in the spring. We should have started this about 6 weeks ago:)
Great job getting in strength work during a peak week! I love strength training, but this past half marathon training cycle I did a Hansons plan and just could not fit it in in the final weeks. I regret that now, so I want to make it a priority in my next training cycle.
Its tough to fit everything in! I think its helped me to always have Wednesdays devoted to strength training.
Great job on your 20 miler. I’m planning on doing mine in an unfamiliar place too. I hope it will help. You had a great week enjoy your taper. Thanks so much for linking up with us. .
Thanks! A change of scenery is always nice, especially for those really long runs.
Almost time to wind it down and taper! I whine on the slightest incline so you won’t find me going up without realizing it. Haha! Is DST this weekend? See? I’m in the dark!
Haha yes, its this weekend! I usually don’t know when it is but I have been waiting for more light in the mornings for about a month:)
Great job this week! Those peak mileage weeks are tough–I think more than anything, they are tough mentally more than physically. Hang in there!
Agreed! Lately its been all about taking it one day at a time.
It looks like you had a great week of training! Those peak weeks are always tough! I’m definitely looking forward to the time change!
Thanks! I am exited for this weekend when my taper starts plus the time change!
Awesome week of training Lisa!! You are going to be so ready. I think the hills are great and really build the strength we need.
I can’t believe it’s almost time for your race – the months have flown by!
It will really feel like fall when the clocks change…
Thank you! Yes, the hills definitely make us stronger. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone by either!
running in the dc area–hills are always surprising me! I feel like the slight incline over miles kill my legs. I’d rather just hit a steep hill and get the benefit of a downhill right after. lol. My normal 10 mile loop is CRAZY hilly. but my elevation gain/loss is only 400ft. and it doesnt matter how many times I run it, i still feel like its way hillier than it is.
There is a hill like that around here that I usually avoid! I definitely prefer having a nice downhill after. However, that trail was really nice so I would probably put up with the elevation if I lived there:)
haha yeah it’s actually not terrible, until the tempos and speedwork come in. Thank god it’s taper week!!
I cannot WAIT for daylight savings so it’s not pitch black out when I run! That long steady incline looks rough, but major props to you for running it!
Thanks! Yes its gonna be so nice when we have a little more light in the mornings:)
Great week, Lisa! At least your 20 mile run must’ve felt pretty decent on the way back having that descent!! I’ve done a short run before that felt great on the way out because it was slightly downhill and then the way back felt tough because it was an incline the whole way. With long runs though, I always look at the elevation first.
Thank you! It definitely felt better on the way back:)
Awesome job on the 50 miles!!! I think the most I’ve ever been able to do it 20 or 30 which was tough!
Thanks!! Most weeks I average closer to 30 or 40. Its tough on so many levels to run 50+ miles a week!
Congrats on your 50 mile week. Almost there. That steady incline of 8 miles will make you that much stronger. Way to go!
Thanks!
Oh man, sorry about the unexpected hill! I’m definitely ready for the time change. So over getting dressed in the dark. Congrats on a 50-mile week!
Thanks! I am so over the dark mornings too.
Ahh yes, the Capital Crescent trail is where you ran right? So right, a gradual incline that is SO deceiving!!
I think so…but we thought we were going to run on the C&O! I guess it splits and we didnt realize. It was still a great trail though!