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in Marathon Training, Running, Training, Weekly Run Down · September 12, 2021

Training Week 13: Surviving the Peak Week

This was supposed to be my peak week of training, and I went into if feeling pretty motivated. Then it became a stressful week and I questioned if I would actually get my workouts done. Everything worked out for the most part and I got in my miles. But it was still an eventful week!

actually get my workouts done. Everything worked out for the most part and I got in my miles. But it was still an eventful week!

Monday: Strength Training + 6.7 Easy Miles (3 Treadmill, 3.7 Stroller)

With the day off from work for Labor Day, I wanted to get in a good workout. I started out with strength training and then did 3 easy miles on the treadmill. After Grayson’s breakfast we went out for 3.7 stroller miles.

monday run

Grayson started to show signs of a cold and we began wondering what do to. His first day in his new classroom was Tuesday, but we couldn’t send him to school sick. And if he started coughing he would need a COVID test. At that point he had mostly a stuffy nose so we hoped for the best.

Tuesday: 8.2 Miles with 7 at MGP

I got my workout in bright and early (wait not bright….just early) and once Grayson was up we knew he couldn’t go to school. Rob was supposed to be off anyway so that worked out, and we made an appointment for him to be seen that afternoon. Luckily his results came back negative, but he had a pretty bad cough. I began crossing my fingers that I wouldn’t catch his cold.

tuesday workout

Wednesday: Strength Training + 4 Easy Treadmill Miles

I did my workout early since I didn’t know what the day would bring. We decided to keep Grayson home again, and I took off this time. For a sick kid, he sure did have alot of energy. He was back to being himself other than still coughing. I was still feeling ok but Rob was not.

Wednesday treadmill

Thursday: 7 Mile Progression Run

As soon as I woke up on Thursday I did a quick body scan to see if I was sick. I still wasn’t. I was shocked by this! So I went out for my run. I ran 1/2 mile easy, then a progression run for 6 miles ranging from 8:25 to 7:08, and cooled down for 1/2 mile. It was kind of rainy and slippery and there were more cars out than usual for some reason.

Thursday workout

Grayson went back to school and had a great first day in his new class! (Except he didn’t nap…which made for an interesting evening).

Friday: Rest Day

This was a planned day off to take Grayson to an appointment and then I went to the chiropractor for an adjustment. Spent the rest of the day catching my breath and trying to get in the right mindset for Saturday’s long run. The peak week can be so exhausting!

Saturday: 20 Mile Long Run

I was so nervous about getting this run done. By some miracle I didn’t get sick and Grayson slept well on Friday night, which meant I did too. I got up early, ate some oatmeal and drank coffee and water, and did a warm up. Just like last week, I stayed closed to home for the first few miles, then stated running all the hills. Its crazy how it can be pitch black for so long when I am starting a run and so bright out by the time I finish. I was definitely happy to have this done and pleased with how it went.

long run

Sunday: Planning for ~4.5 Mile Stroller Run to finish off the Peak Week

Even if I run 0 miles on Sunday, this will still be a strong week of running. (I’ve done 45.8 miles as of Saturday.) The goal for the Sunday run is to take it slow, shake out my legs, and just get some time outside with the family.

Now, it’s taper time! Although this week won’t see a huge cut in mileage, but it will be less than last week.

You can find my other weeks of training here:
Welcoming September (Training Week 12)
Embracing the Treadmill (Training Week 11)
Trying to Outrun the Rain (Training Week 10)
Back to Reality (Training Week 9)
Staycation 2021 (Training Week 8)
Closing Out July (Training Week 7)
Lower Mileage and Lower Temps (Training Week 6)
Runstock 2021 (Training Week 5)
Focus on Effort (Training Week 4)
Making Adjustments for Heat (Training Week 3)
Training for a Fall Race: Start Where You Are (Training Weeks 1 and 2)

How were your workouts last week?
Do you get sick when someone in your house is sick?
Do you get nervous before a long run?

How do you survive the peak week of training?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down!

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Previous Post: « Taper Tips To Get You Ready To Run a Strong Race
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marcia says

    September 12, 2021 at 9:23 am

    Cheers to peak week! So glad you were able to “dodge the bullet” and not catch Grayson’s cold. It is SO challenging to train when you have young kids.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 12, 2021 at 1:48 pm

      It’s so tough! Between colds and sleep issues, you just never know what to expect!

  2. Liz Dexter says

    September 12, 2021 at 1:19 pm

    Well done on your 20 and for not catching the cold! I’ve had a weird weekend as I’ve realised I’ve been overdoing it and running myself into the ground, so have had to take stock and knock some sessions out of my week. Disappointing, but I need to keep myself well. Best of luck as you taper …

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 12, 2021 at 1:49 pm

      Thank you! That’s good that you recognized that you need to step back a bit. I hope that giving yourself a break will help you to feel better!

  3. Chocolaterunsjudy says

    September 12, 2021 at 1:36 pm

    Peak week of training? What’s that, LOL!

    Glad Grayson didn’t have COVID, but still it’s always hard with a sick kiddo. I know if they have energy, though, that usually means they’re basically ok.

    Great job on the 20 miler! High 5!

    Most of the time my husband & I don’t get sick at the same time. I don’t get sick often, really, but man, I have felt run down basically all year long. So have a lot of people though!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 12, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      Out of all the times he has been sick this year there was only one time that he didn’t have any energy- and that was when he had a fever. Other than that he is bouncing off the walls as usual, just with a cough and runny nose!
      I agree that many of us have felt run down this year! I used to get sick every once in awhile when I was working with kids, but my husband never caught it. Now that Grayson brings home all these germs we both get sick way more often.

  4. Kimberly Hatting says

    September 12, 2021 at 2:34 pm

    I don’t necessarily get nervous before a long run, but I definitely dread most of them. I enjoy running marathons, but those final long-long runs are such a buzzkill for me…and (ironically?) the marathon itself almost always feels easier, even with those extra 6-8 miles. I still haven’t figured the dynamics of that LOL. Maybe it’s the reward of a real finish line. Glad you managed to stay healthy this week!!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 12, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      I wonder if its just the race environment that makes it more enjoyable for you? Those long runs can be so strange!

  5. Jessie says

    September 12, 2021 at 3:02 pm

    Way to go on peak week and that 20 miler! So glad you aren’t sick. All those kids germs, gees! Grayson should have all the immunity at this point!

    Enjoy the taper 🙂 Are our marathons on the same day? Mine is Saturday September 25th.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 12, 2021 at 7:15 pm

      I hope we are all building up our immunity! I read somewhere that it takes kids at least 6 months to stop getting sick all the time when starting daycare. We will hit 6 months in a few weeks!
      My race is the following weekend, October 2nd!

  6. Deborah Brooks says

    September 12, 2021 at 3:15 pm

    glad you were able to avoid another cold. At that age it always happens. Nice job on your long run! You are crushing this training cycle

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 12, 2021 at 7:15 pm

      Thanks! I feel like I really lucked out avoiding getting sick this time around.

  7. Wendy says

    September 12, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Yay to not catching Grayson’s illness! You must be developing that supermom immunity. It sounds like your peak week went really well. That has to have you feeling confident. Here’s to another good week of training! And health!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 12, 2021 at 7:16 pm

      Thanks! I’ve been drinking smoothies everyday and drinking Liquid IV immunity. Who knows, maybe it helped?!

  8. Kim G says

    September 12, 2021 at 4:01 pm

    Awwe poor Grayson 🙁 Glad to hear that he is feeling better and sleeping better too. Awesome job still getting in all your workouts this week, despite the extra stress Grayson not feeling well. Congrats on your 20 miler! For some reason, the 20 miler always felt like the most important long run for me (even though they are all important)!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 12, 2021 at 7:16 pm

      It does feel like there’s alot of pressure to get it done! I knew I would be ok even without it, but its nice to know you’ve run 20 miles.

  9. Jenny says

    September 12, 2021 at 4:14 pm

    I’m impressed by how much you’re able to run with so many other things going on! Glad you didn’t get Grayson’s cold.
    Yes, I used to always get nervous before long runs. But now I get excited for them. Of course, I don’t have any pace expectations- maybe I would be more nervous if I did.
    Enjoy your taper!

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 12, 2021 at 7:17 pm

      I was partly excited and partly nervous. I feel like there’s so much pressure because I have such a limited window of time to run these days!

  10. Coco says

    September 12, 2021 at 8:10 pm

    Sorry Grayson got sick, but glad you stayed healthy! Phew! Congrats on making it to taper town. I hope you don’t go too crazy with the reduced workouts. 😉

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 13, 2021 at 4:21 am

      Haha thanks! I think I will be welcoming some lower mileage and maybe a little extra sleep!

  11. Michelle D. says

    September 13, 2021 at 1:50 pm

    Congrats on making it to Taper Town! It’s great that your 20-miler went well. I’m sorry to hear that Grayson was sick again but glad he’s feeling better and had a good first day.

    • Lisa @ Mile By Mile says

      September 14, 2021 at 4:28 am

      Thank you! It was a bit of a stressful week but it all worked out!

Trackbacks

  1. Training Week 14: The Return of the Heat • Mile By Mile says:
    September 19, 2021 at 4:01 am

    […] can find my other weeks of training here:Surviving the Peak Week (Training Week 13)Welcoming September (Training Week 12)Embracing the Treadmill (Training Week 11)Trying to Outrun the […]

  2. Training Week 15: A Week Of Ups and Downs • Mile By Mile says:
    September 26, 2021 at 6:30 am

    […] can find my other weeks of training here:The Return of the Heat (Training Week 14)Surviving the Peak Week (Training Week 13)Welcoming September (Training Week 12)Embracing the Treadmill (Training Week 11)Trying to Outrun the […]

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Just over here taking a mid-run break to wring out Just over here taking a mid-run break to wring out my shirt and hair 🥵 Seriously the amount of sweat on this run was unbelievable thanks to a dew point of 75. Have I just blocked out summers like this or is this one worse than usual? Honestly though I’d still take this over the cold!

Are you over the heat yet this year? I think it’s the humidity that’s really getting to me!

#run #runner #runnersofinstagram #summmerrunning
Ignorance is bliss, sometimes. (Until you’re dyi Ignorance is bliss, sometimes. (Until you’re dying 5 minutes into your run wondering when it will finally cool off again). But really, this time of year I feel like there’s no point in checking the weather. It’s either hot or really hot. #summerrunning
Another cloudy day at the beach. At least it isn’t raining and windy today. I felt the 95% humidity on this fartlek run (maybe last night’s wine and bad sleep too) so it was a tough one. But workouts are for building fitness, not proving fitness, right?! How do you move on past a hard workout?

#run #runner #runnersofinstagram #runchat #vacation
Just a few random thoughts (and videos) from Satur Just a few random thoughts (and videos) from Saturday’s race…even though this wasn’t a goal race there are always lessons learned!

First off, my daughter woke up  around 1 am the night before the race. She almost always sleeps through the night now, but out of the 2 races I did this spring she woke up before both of them. It’s like she knows I am going to leave somehow. At least this time she went back to sleep pretty quickly and so did I!

Parking was easy, but it was a long walk to and from my car! (In past years I had parked closer but there was a ton of traffic coming and going)

The start line was so crowded that I couldn’t line up in the appropriate pace area. Many runners had the same challenge so the first few miles were chaotic with some people around me walking and others trying to run faster and weaving. I was just trying not to crash into anyone.

I didn’t bring my own water and wish I did! I needed it due to the weather and the water stops really slowed me down.

My watch never lined up with the mile markers. For some miles it was far ahead and others it was far behind. But overall my watch read 10.09 so it wasn’t too far off overall. 

Hard iced tea is a nice post race option. They also had hard lemonade and Heineken. (A few sips was good enough for me though)

Spring races < Fall races!

What’s the best post run beverage you’ve gotten after a race?

#run #runner #runchat #runbaltimore #baltimore10miler
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