It’s been a couple weeks since I last posted about my training for Marine Corps. One excuse for this is the last two weeks of training were kind of messed up due to running Hood to Coast and a surprise thunderstorm that completely ruined one of my long runs. But the real reason for not posting was I wasn’t really feeling all that into my training. Everything has been going well, I’m hitting my paces (even my new paces) and I’ve been following my schedule but for some reason I just wasn’t that excited. However, last week’s training went extremely well, I had a fantastic long run, and I’m starting to feel much more confident in my training.
Everyone hits that point in marathon training where you just feel tired and you start to question why you’re spending so much time and energy on training but you always have to remind yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing. For me, I’m running Marine Corps to better my marathon time and to experience a race I’ve heard so many great things about already. I also want to prove that I can get better at this whole marathoning thing and MCM will be the perfect place to make that happen. Besides, there really is something addicting about running 26.2 miles!
Monday: Rest day
Tuesday: 4 miles, easy
Last run at home around my town. I took it really easy because the heat and humidity is absolutely killing me. Felt pretty good though.
Plan: 4 miles, easy
Actual: 4 miles in 35:21 (8:47/mile)
Splits:
(1) 9:13
(2) 8:45
(3) 8:35
(4) 8:40
Shoes: Asics Gel Kayano 19
Conditions: 80 degrees, 60 percent humidity
Wednesday: 6 mile tempo
This was my first tempo ever and I have to say I was pretty proud of it. Since I changed my time goal for MCM I wasn’t quite sure what my tempo pace should be. According to my old plan (marathon goal pace of 9:47/mile) my tempo pace should have been a 9:05/mile. However, now that my goal MP is 9:05/mile, obviously my tempo would be faster. I decided to shoot for 8:40/mile and see how I felt.
Plan: 6 miles with 3 miles at tempo pace (8:40/mile)
Actual: 6 miles with 3 miles at tempo (8:20/mile)
Splits:
1.5 mile warmup at 9:30/mile pace
3 tempo miles in 25 minutes (8:20/mile pace)
1.5 mile cool down at 9:30/mile pace
Shoes: Asics Gel Kayano 19
Core Strength-
3×1:00 planks
2×0:30 side planks
3×0:45 supine planks
4×25 crunches
3×0:45 bridges
Thursday: 45 min. Strength Training
I’m vowing to get back into the swing of strength training so I made up my own workout.
Abs:
3 x 1:00 planks
3 x 0:30 side planks
3 x 0:45 supine planks
3 x 0:45 bicycles
3 x 0:45 bridge
Legs:
3 x 0:45 Stability Ball Jackknife
3 x 0:45 Stability Ball Hip Extensions
3 X 15 (each leg) Standing Side Leg Lift
Arms: 3 x 10 of all
Rotational Shoulder Press
Alternating Dumbbell Rows
Tricep Pulls
Chest Press on Stability Ball
3 x 21s- 7 x forearm lifts, 7 x bicep curls, 7 x overhead press
Friday: 6 miles with 4 miles at Marathon Pace (9:05-9:10/mile)
It was incredibly beautiful outside today so I was finally able to run during lunch again. I went running with my roommate and told her I had to run 6 miles with 4 miles at marathon pace (9:05-9:10/mile). Well, we ran one of the miles at MP but the rest were faster.
Plan: 6 miles with 4 miles at MP (9:05-9:10/mile)
Actual: 6 miles in 53:08 at 8:51/mile average
Splits:
(1) 8:55
(2) 8:38
(3) 8:55
(4) 9:09
(5) 8:48
(6) 8:43
Shoes: Asics Kayano 19
Conditions: PERFECT
Saturday: 4 miles, easy
I felt AMAZING on this run which was really surprising because I may have had one too many beers last night. My legs felt so fresh and I just felt like flying. I was supposed to run super easy to shakeout before tomorrow’s long run but I just decided to go with it.
Plan: 4 miles, easy
Actual: 4.04 miles in 33:46 @ 8:21/mile
Splits:
(1) 9:14/mile
(2) 8:14/mile
(3) 8:15/mile
(4) 7:44/mile
Shoes: Asics Gel Kayano 19
Conditions: 73 degrees, sunny, 42 percent humidity
Sunday: 16 miles with 2 miles fast finish
This was my first actual long run in two weeks due to scheduling/racing/surprise thunderstorms. I was pretty nervous it wasn’t going to go well but I think this was the best long run I’ve had in my MCM training cycle. I felt really great the whole time, my fueling was on point, and my breathing was good. My paces look a little all over the place but that’s because this is an extremely hilly route I run. I decided to try for a 2-mile fast finish and nailed it. So happy!
Plan: 16 miles LSD
Actual: 16 miles in 2:30:25 at 9:24/mile average pace
Splits:
(1) 9:50 (2) 9:11 (3) 9:25 (4) 9:37 (5) 9:47 (6) 9:48 (7) 9:29 (8) 9:17 (9) 9:37 (10) 9:25 (11) 9:19 (12) 9:32 (13) 9:33 (14) 9:17 (15) 8:54 (16) 8:21
Shoes: Asics Gel Kayano 19
Conditions: Started off kind of cool, 68 degrees and overcast but warmed up to 75 degrees with 66 percent humidity and full sun by the end.
Weekly mileage total: 36 miles
See all weekly training recaps here.
Nice training Hannah! I think it’s pretty normal to have a few off weeks both mentally and physically. You rocked HTC & I’ve noticed a lot of girls struggle to get right back into marathon training after the incredible experience that is HTC. Keep up the work & it will all pay off :)
Thank you so much Shannon! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one struggling to get back into training after HTC. It was just so much fun :)
I like your “remember why you started” picture! :)
Thanks! :)
You’ve been running strong and getting some good core/strength training in, keep it up~
Thanks, Laura! I had been slacking on core so I’m really starting to make it a priority.