Gettysburg Marathon Training : Week 5

What a great week!  Last week was my "step-down" week and I only ran 13 miles thanks to travel and house hunting issues.  Sometimes life gets in the way of training, so when I got a week full of great weather and no commitments, I had to take advantage of it!  

This is one of those weeks that really builds up confidence.  I had a really speedy (for me) track workout with a local running group, solid cross training, excellent long run, and higher mileage during my mid-week runs.  I don't usually grade my weeks of training, but this one definitely deserves an A+!  Let's get into the details!





monday

5 miles / 44:10 / 8:49 pace



The weather has been so beautiful lately that I decided to run commute home from work!  It was a perfect day out, and the run went by surprisingly quickly.  I usually struggle on runs home, but this one wasn't bad at all.  


tuesday

Group Core

This is a new class offered at my gym, and I love it!  It's a thirty-minute workout that's all about the core.  I'll be writing a more in-depth post about it, but I've really been enjoying it and seeing huge improvements.


wednesday

6 miles / 47:10 / 7:51 pace




I was finally able to join True Runner for the Wednesday track workout!  This week's workout was a ladder workout.  1 mile warm-up, followed by 1600 meters, 1200 meters, 2 x 800 meters, 4 x 400 meters, 1 mile cool-down.  I felt great on this run, and my splits were fantastic!  The mile time was 6:55, and the 4x400 was at 6:41.  Amazing run!


thursday

Group Power


Great workout as always!  I'm starting to move up in weight on some exercises, so I know that I'm getting stronger week by week.  We started a new routine this week as well that was pretty challenging!


friday

3 miles / 28:40 / 9:33 pace

This was my mom's birthday, and we had plans to go out after work for dinner.  I knew that my only option to run that day was to go before work, and I actually woke up early and did it!  This was the first time in months that I actually ran before work so I was really proud of myself.  It was chilly, but so calm and relaxing out.  I definitely miss those early morning runs and hope to get back into that soon!


saturday

4 miles / untimed

I wasn't feeling too great, so I just went out for an easy, untimed, unplugged run.  I think it's great to have runs like that when you can just relax and not care about pace.  I felt a lot better after finishing this run, so I think I just needed an easy day and some fresh air!


sunday

15 miles / 2:23:02 / 9:32 pace


This was such a great run!  Dan and I spent the morning looking at houses, and I ended up going out for my run a lot later than I was originally hoping.  I expected a horrible, sluggish run, but I felt surprisingly great.  I tested out a new pair of Pure Flows that I picked up that morning, which were really comfortable and made a big difference.  They did cut into my toes a bit, so it probably wasn't a great idea to test them on a long run.  

I also had a bit of an upset stomach during the run, so I didn't eat as much fuel as usual.  I had one Medjool date (eaten piece by piece for the first half of the run), a bit of Honey Stinger gel at mile 10, salt tab, and a ton of water.  It was a bit warmer than I'm used to (in the 50's and sunny) so I was chugging the water!  I think my nausea had to do with not hydrating enough throughout the day, so that's something I'll work on for next time.  Overall, my legs felt great the entire time, which is what I'm mostly concerned with!  


How was your week?
What race are you training for?
How was the weather in your area last week?
What grade would you give yourself for the week?

linking up with Holly, Tricia and Katie

Comments

  1. I'm jealous of your track workout with a run club! That's something I've always wanted to do, but no one does them in the morning. Glad you enjoyed this amazing weather and had great runs!

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    1. I wish it was in the morning too! That would be perfect!

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  2. I guess I'm training for the Pittsburgh Half since my goal half got scratched due to vacation. I ran 10 miles on Saturday for the first time since October & it was such a great run. Whole30 did nothing good for my running so I was glad to finally be back to a run where I felt like myself. I kicked it up a notch for a fast last 2 miles.

    Glad to hear you had a good long run as well!

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    1. Aw darn! A vacation is a good reason to skip a race though. Glad to hear your run was great, and sorry that the Whole30 didn't help your running! I had the exact OPPOSITE experience!

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  3. It's been chilly here in the south. We had a couple warm days, but more could than warm. Sad to say (not really) I'm not training for a race lol, but I'll rooting for you!

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    1. It's nice to have time when you're not training, especially if it's cold where you are!

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  4. Nice job with your running this week. I actually find it is helpful to mix up the times of my long runs even though early morning is when I run best. Some of the marathons I have run have late starts and if you don't practice that ahead of time, it could make the race very unpleasant.

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    1. Thank you! That's a great point...changing it up makes it more exciting and might help on race day!

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  5. Great job on another week of training! We need to get these pureflows figured out I don't even know what to run in at this point!

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    1. Thank you! Those stupid pure flows...why do they have to mess with a good thing!

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  6. I'm hoping that I will start running a little bit this week. I just need to get over the fear, first!

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  7. I'm not training for a race yet... I am enjoying running though and following along with the rest of y'all who are training! :) It looks like you had a really good week!!! :)

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  8. Great splits at that track workout! I'm expecting some huge PRs for you this spring!

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  9. Great week, lady! A 6:55 mile?! Holy cow! That's also a pretty speedy pace on your long run. I'm sure you're going to crush your marathon!

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    1. Thank you! If we weren't on a track I would think my timer was messed up!

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  10. Ahh nice work on your speed workout! That's impressive! Last week was an easier, lighter week running wise. That view of the city during your run is so pretty!

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    1. Thank you! I love those easy weeks..helps your legs recover!

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  11. This is awesome! I'm so glad you had such a great week. Particularly impressed by your great long run and all of the other fitness things you do to keep in shape!

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  12. It sounds like a really solid week for you and nice mile split. That is awesome. I hate when my stomach doesn't cooperate. It's funny I was just talking with someone that I have the same breakfast every morning (waffle with peanut butter) and it's really never failed me. It's those afternoon/evening runs that can get to me (but normally why I just run in the morning).

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    1. Thanks Hollie! Trying to get to your level ;) I'm still trying to find a perfect breakfast for me, but apparently sausage isn't it!

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  13. That 6 mile track workout on Wednesday is incredible! I bet your legs felt that on your long run? Did they? Or were they okay?

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    1. To be honest, my legs felt completely find after that workout for some reason! I wasn't even sore the next day. What is going on!?

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  14. How neat your gym offers this core class. I would like that it is only 30 minutes too. We all could use core work. How many times a week will you do this? I agree a+week for you! Thanks so much for linking with us!!

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    1. Right now I'm just doing it once a week since it's only offered in the evenings on Tuesdays. If they add more classes I'll have to go more often!

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  15. How neat your gym offers this core class. I would like that it is only 30 minutes too. We all could use core work. How many times a week will you do this? I agree a+week for you! Thanks so much for linking with us!!

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  16. Your run on Sunday looks beautiful!
    Ohh, the new Pure Flow... That stinks it's cutting into your foot. I was reading reviews on it this weekend and apparently that's a common compliant. Brooks discontinued the Pure Connect (and are replacing it with some ugly springy shoe) and did something weird to the Pure Flow. I've heard Saucony Kinvara is similar to the Flow but the 7 has a better fit than the Pure Flow 5. So frustrating when they change a shoe like that!

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    1. It's such a bummer! I loved the 3 and the 4. These are comfortable so I'm hoping that it's just a temporary thing until they're worn in more. I'll try to tie them differently next run but I might have to return them :/

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  17. Nice week of training.. I took advantage of the nice weather over the weekend and was able to get in some real good runs. I just made a switch to mizuno shoes because my pure flows were giving me problems, and it was the best decision I made

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    1. I might have to switch over too..such a bummer because I love Brooks!

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  18. good job on running before work! i love working out in the morning, hate it after work. i just don't want to do anything. the weather was good last week but starting to get miserable again, i am so ready for spring. my next race is at the end of april, i really need to start training properly!

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    1. Thanks Kristen! Morning workouts are definitely much more satisfying than after work. It was pretty nice out today minus some flurries..hopefully it will stay above freezing!

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  19. Awesome job! I have definitely been trying to work more on my core strength but I'll admit I'm not doing the best job of it.

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  20. The weather here went from in the 50's to constantly snowing! Ugh, I don't know when I will get outside to run again.

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  21. I love running in the mornings, I get my best work in then! Good job on all your running this week! That last picture makes me a little "homesick!"

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    1. Thanks Nadine! I love morning runs as well. So relaxing!

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  22. That's what I love about my early morning runs! It's just so quiet and peaceful at that time of day. It's a good way to get centered. You really did have an A+ week. I'm very impressed with your ladder workout. You hit awesome paces. Thanks for linking with us Gretchen.

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  23. Go you! I could never get into early morning runs (when I was running - soon to start back)!

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  24. Thanks for share that type blog. Nice Post !! Thanks! Great. Never thought such issue before, yet now I knew it well. http://thedehumidifierhq.com/

    ReplyDelete

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