This was a cutback week, and it was also much cooler out than last week. The lower mileage and lower temps made such a difference with my running! After last week I was feeling like every run was a bit of a struggle so this was a nice confidence booster. I will need to remember this feeling as my mileage and the temps go up again!
Training Week 6: Lower Mileage and Lower Temps
- Monday: 4.7 Mile Fartlek Run
- Tuesday: Strength Training + 4 Stroller Miles
- Wednesday: 6 Miles with 3 at MGP
- Thursday: Strength Training + 3 Easy Miles
- Friday: Rest Day
- Saturday: Lower Mileage Long Run of 10 Miles
- Sunday: 3.7 Stroller Miles (Planned)
- Summary of Training Week 5: Lower mileage and lower temps
Monday: 4.7 Mile Fartlek Run
Another week of pushing back my harder workout to Wednesday. The previous week’s Saturday long runs are wearing me down thanks to the heat. By Monday, I’m not really feeling ready to tackle a hard workout. So I ended up doing a fartlek run with 8 x 1 minute hard, 2 minutes easy. The longer recoveries make this not such a hard workout!
Tuesday: Strength Training + 4 Stroller Miles
It was so nice to not be completely drenched in sweat just from walking outside! Even though I’m running lower mileage overall this week, today’s run was the same as usual- 4 miles.
Wednesday: 6 Miles with 3 at MGP
This was my harder workout of the week, but nothing too crazy. I ran 2 miles easy, 3 around marathon goal pace, and 1 easy. I ended doing this on all hills so it felt a little harder than I would have liked.
Thursday: Strength Training + 3 Easy Miles
Thursday was all about the recovery run. I lifted early (like I started my lift at 4:25am) and then did 3 easy miles. It’s tough to squeeze in both on work days, especially when I’m going to the office. I almost did this on the treadmill to save time, but since the weather was so nice and I was running lower mileage I did it outside.
You can check out my review of the Coros Apex 42mm here!
Friday: Rest Day
I enjoyed a full rest day, but did do a little bit of foam rolling and core work.
Saturday: Lower Mileage Long Run of 10 Miles
Between the lower mileage and lower temps this was a great run! My body wasn’t 100% but I felt so much better than the last few weeks when it was like 75 and 90% humidity. (I think it was around 63 with 81% humidity when I started). My pace was about 45 seconds faster with a lower heart rate just because of the weather. I was sort of thinking I wished I had a longer run on such a nice weather day, and could have done my shorter long run on one of the hotter days! Oh well!
After my run we went to a park area with a playground. It’s a long walk from where we park to the playground (over 1/2 mile) plus we did this storybook walk around the park where they have signs with a story along the path. We were out walking around for almost 2 hours. Let me just tell you, my legs were DONE after that! And Grayson loves to run so we had to walk really fast to keep up with him. Luckily when he got tired Rob carried him, because I don’t think I could have done it!
Sunday: 3.7 Stroller Miles (Planned)
I’ve been posting these early Sunday morning, so not sure exactly what the day will bring. Rob has been sick the past 2 weeks so hopefully he can join us this week again.
Summary of Training Week 5: Lower mileage and lower temps
It was a good week of training and probably a good time to cut back. Hopefully the lower mileage this week will help me move into a few more weeks of harder training. I’m about to get into some longer runs, which will help me decide if I’m really in it or not for this marathon. I have a feeling the weather will be a huge factor for training as well!
You may also like:
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?
Does the weather make a big difference for how your runs feel?
Do you rest after a long run, or do you go out and about staying active?
I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down!
Ha ha. A cut back for you is more than for me.
I definitely try to be active after a long run. I do my errands before I get home to collapse.
Humidity is a killer for a run but that’s the kind of summer we are having.
I also try to get things done right after my long run, because if I wait until later in the day I won’t have any energy left!
We went into a heatwave week this week – it was over 80 most days which is a LOT for the UK. I ended up not running at all apart from Thursday morning at 6am, then made up for it when it cooled down over the weekend. Well done on a solid cutback week!
Glad it cooled down for you this weekend! Its so tricky navigating all this extreme summer weather.
We’re in the midst of a hot and humid spell, which makes me not miss running too much! The weather is supposed to moderate as the week goes on. I’m hoping to maybe start walking on the trails later this week.
That could be great if you could get back to doing some walking! Hope the weather cooperates for you.
I’m sorry Rob’s been sick so long! I hope that he feels better soon.
Weather is a HUGE factor when it comes to runs for me. But then there are so many factors, as you know!
Running after a toddler is definitely a workout in & of itself.
He did end up running yesterday but didn’t feel great- I’m sure its tough jumping back into it after over 2 weeks off. The return of the humidity didn’t help I’m sure!
It is so challenging for me to do these longer runs in this humidity as well. I just keep reminding myself how great it will feel on race day in October. We got this!
I really hope its cooler by October! I mean I’m sure it won’t be as hot as it is now, but I know some years its still be really warm well into the fall months.
That’s awesome you had a break in the heat! No such luck here. It’s been VERY humid and in the 90s. I’m over it. Shady trails are the only viable option.
I hope you get a break from it soon! Our heat and humidity is back already. Ugh.
The ‘normal’ summer temps felt great for a few days this week. It was nice to leave the house and it not feel like soup outside due to the 100% humidity!
Really sorry to hear that Rob is still not feeling well 🙁 I have heard that there’s a lot of people suffering from summer colds, the flu and strep throat currently. Hopefully he starts to feel better soon.
Our house has just been sick pretty much non-stop since April thanks to Grayson starting daycare. Rob managed to avoid the first few rounds but this one hit him hard!
I’m glad you had such a great week. Lifting at 4:25 — so did you get up at 4:00? I’m not sure I have that in me anymore! That storybook walk sounds cool.
I get up at 4 almost every day…yesterday I “slept in” until 5:30 which is the latest I’ve slept in a long time!
Although I can handle the heat and humidity pretty well, my runs definitely have felt tougher recently (at least the longer ones). I’m just grateful I’m able to recover from them pretty easily. Don’t the cutback weeks feel nice 😉
The cutback week felt great! Doing “only” 10 miles felt like nothing. Thats really good that you can recovery from your hot runs so well!
seems like a really good week for you Lisa! but lifting at 4.25am???? that’s like… the middle of the night practically!
Nice when the weather cools down a tiny bit and the runs feel good!
Haha I start my day in the 4 am hour way too often!
Glad you had such a good week! i usually try for a mix of rest and activity following a long run, but a few years ago when I was training for a marathon, I did a 20 mile run and then had no choice but to be on-the-go for the rest of the day. The next day my legs felt incredible, and I’m usually sore after long runs. So I think being as active as possible really helps recovery.
If you get up at 4 am, what time do you go to bed at night? Just curious.
My goal is usually 8:30. That hasn’t really been happening lately. These days I’m in bed by 9ish…9:15 at the latest.
Glad you had a nice reprieve from the humidity- what a difference the cooler weather makes. Great week!
Thanks! It was so nice. Its tough now that the humidity is back!
This weather was so much better, and the summer came back 🙁
“It was so nice to not be completely drenched in sweat just from walking outside!” I said this almost verbatim to my boss when I went to do an errand last week.
I’m not sure how how running and office are going to coincide, trying to see if I can make runs work on home days, but we’ll see
Its tough adjusting to being back in the office and also getting in all my workouts! I don’t know how I did it before!
I’m glad you had such a good week! Cooler temps certainly help. The heat and humidity have returned with a vengeance here – hopefully, this will all pay off in the fall, right?
I sure hope so! This summer has been brutal!
Indeed, it is hotter and much more humid this week. Bleh! Stay safe out there! I’m planning to get out super duper early tomorrow for my run to try to beat the heat. Today, I wimped out and rode my spin bike instead of riding outside.
I hope your husband is feeling better by now.
It’s been a rough week but this weekend is looking better!
You have been crushing it! But I’m jealous because I want lower temps.
Poor Rob. Your family really needs a BREAK! I hate this for you!
The colds just keep going around and around! It’s so frustrating!
I have seen those storybook walks about the park. I think they’re neat! Great job this week! It’s been hot this week here. Ha, we’ve been talking about this all Summer, right? 🙂 But I do know it’s been a very unusual year. Kind of makes me nervous about Fall (my favorite season).
I am also worried about fall because my race is so early in the season! I hope it cools off by then!