Welcome to marathon training, again! Somehow it’s been one year since I started blogging. I thought it would be fun to share a couple of posts from back when I started the blog! This was my very first post, in which I talk about the marathon training cycle I was in last year. I thought it would be good timing since I start training again on Monday. Enjoy!
Welcome to Marathon Training
For my first post I decided to start off right in the middle of marathon training. 10 weeks down, 8 to go. I am training for the Baltimore Marathon on October 12th which will be my 3rd full marathon.
My first one was 2 years ago, the Philadelphia Marathon, which I ran for the pure excitement of running my first marathon. I wasn’t really worrying about time. I finished around 4:07 and was surprised and pleased with that time.
My second marathon was earlier this year- the Houston Marathon- in January. Leading up to that race I had been dealing on and off with injuries and didn’t feel like I could really train for a goal time. My husband and I ran this en route to our Honeymoon in Hawaii (we went on our honeymoon a few months after getting married). We didn’t run it together, but this was his first race so it was a huge accomplishment for him. I ran it in around 4:05 so just beating my previous time by less than 2 minutes. Considering the poor training/injuries and weather that day (pouring rain and windy, cold even for running), I was again excited with my time.
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Marathon Training Round 3
So for this marathon, I feel like I can put some more effort into running a tougher pace and hopefully breaking 4 hours. Based on my race times in other distances (which maybe I’ll post once I get more acquainted with this whole blog thing), I should be able to run closer to 3:40. I just think marathon training is so much different than other distances, and part of it is the mental battle of doing something for that long.
So far I think I am right on track with my training. I am just trying to walk the fine line between training well and over training, while staying healthy. I had dealt with injuries for about 3 years until a few months ago I finally felt like I was running pain free…and I have learned the importance of things like rest days, core work (including strengthening hips and glutes!), and good nutrition.
As I continue with my training I hope to touch of some of those topics in more detail. I am not yet sure how often I will post or if I will ever figure out how to have a more elaborate blog site like the ones I have been reading for years. But one thing I like looking at is other runners’ weekly training recaps. So, here’s what this week’s training looked like:
Last Week’s Training
Sunday 8/11: rest
Monday 8/12: AM: 7.5 miles w/3 at 8 min/mile, (average overall pace 8:29) core work PM: Body Pump class
Tuesday 8/13: AM: 9 miles easy (average overall pace 8:54) PM: Pilates DVD
Wednesday 8/14: 5.6 miles (6x800s). These were around 3:25-3:30 each. (average overall pace 8:12)
Thursday 8/15: Yoga class online
Friday 8/16: 4.2 miles easy (average overall pace 8:43) , core work
Saturday 8/17: 20 miles (average overall pace 9:21)
Total: 46.3 miles
I felt surprisingly good after the 20 miler. (I took an ice bath, but I don’t know how effective it was since the ice melted really fast.) However, I had a wedding that night so I was on my feet more than usual after a long run. I think I have made up for it today by spending most of the day on the couch. But it definitely feels like marathon training is in full swing….So once again, welcome to marathon training! 
Are you training for any fall races?
Have you ever dealt with injuries that seemed like they lasted forever?
Is anyone else dreading that the weather is supposed to go back to being hot and humid this week? (I feel totally spoiled by the break in the heat last week!)
Yay for one year! I love your blog, you KNOW I love the ‘archives’ concept, and I love this post! I hope you are having a great fun and relaxing time away!
Thank you! And thanks for inspiring the “archives” concept- it makes so much sense to share some of the older posts again, since we put effort into them at the time but there is always a gradual process for gaining readers, which can take awhile!
I think it is nearly time to resurrect some Suzlyfe oldies but goodies. And I like the idea as well of going back to a previous marathon for comparison’s sake. Right now it is raining outside, and was on the cooler side yesterday, so I can’t speak to your weather, but I am just hoping that certain plans that I have don’t get rained out. But then again, there isn’t much I can do about it if they do!
I would love to read some of your older posts! If I had the time I would dig through everyone’s blog (and probably find more blogs to read) but I think it just makes it easier to have the blogger share some of the stuff they wrote before having as many readers.
As you know by now, we did get some rainy weather earlier this week but luckily it was just the one day and have been having great weather since!
Good luck in your training. Sounds like you are doing a great job. I have a half marathon at the end of the month and a fall full coming up in November, so not quite marathon training for that yet. Luckily I have had no injuries.
Thanks! Good luck to you too, and yay for no injuries!
Congrats on the upcoming blogging anniversary! I enjoyed reading that old post and I’m looking forward to reading about this training cycle!
Thank you! The last year of blogging has flown by. And there will be lots of upcoming posts about marathon training:)