NYCM 2013 Training: Week 4

How is it 2 days before August and I am already a month into marathon training?  Where has the time gone?

We have less than 99 days until November 3 when I toe the start line with thousands of my closest running friends!

This week I am linking up with Meghan and Kat.  I am really excited to link up again because I missed these weekly recaps.  Unless I am training for something, I have nothing to recap :(

Week 4 in Review

Sunday 7/21- 1 mile swim as a recovery from Saturdays 11 miles

Monday 7/22 Easy 4 miler

Tuesday 7/23 Unplanned rest day due to time restraints

Wednesday 7/24 7 ugly miles.  If you saw on Daily mile, this was not my day.  I mentally checked out before it started because I wasn't able to meet the people I anticipated to run with.  I almost went home but pounded it out anyway.  There was much more walking than I planned but they got done.  

Thursday 7/25 20 minutes tempo run.  This was pretty rock star :)

6 miles on the bike with mom

Friday 7/26 Rest day 

Saturday 7/28 13 miles which 8 were bridges at Ringling Bridge

I took this from my instagram.  My first ice bath of the season!!

Sunday 7/29 1 mile on treadmill, 20 minutes on a bike. 1 hour of yoga

Dad foam rolling

This makes for a pretty sure Genna :)

I hope everyone has a great week!  I have almost hit 100 miles for the month.  I haven't seen those numbers since December !! 

Weekly Workout Roundup and Goofy Training Week 8

WOW!  I can't believe in less that 2 weeks, I will have completed the half marathon portion of the Goofy challenge and will be in the process of the Full.  I can't believe how time flies!  I remember when I signed up back in April(ish) with Team in Training.  

This weeks runs were both good and bad.  I can definitely tell its taper because I have the urge to run and know it's a No-NO.  I am feeling all different pains in my body, especially my knees.  It is just plain awful.  This week also put me in the 100+ mile month which is probably also why my body is screaming at me. That is a big accomplishment for me as I am not the best at weekday runs, but as they are getting shorter, it is becoming more manageable.  

Last weeks 20 miler!

This is what my week looked like:

Monday's 3 miler was supposed to be for Sunday but I held it off.  My plan was to just walk, but I wanted to see how my legs felt.  I was able to do mile 2 in under 11 minutes.  It started to rain and my plan was to go to Publix to get some items and walk back.  I still managed to do that, but don't you hate when you run to the store and it rains on you, literally!

Tuesday's 6 miler ROCKED!  I did 20 miles on Saturday so I was surprised at how fast I was going.  I tried a new route and it was perfect.  My overall pace was 11:02 (for me, after 20 miles, fast)  and the last mile at 10:20.  That run what HOT!  I was surprised how warm it was on Christmas, I even wore shorts to the movies!

On Friday I attempted 6 miles, but at mile 3 my IT Band was screaming at me and I was taking no chances!  My miles were still low 11's then I walked back.

13.1 miles for the victims of Sandy Hook

Saturdays 13 miles, that is a story all in itself.  The first half was amazing!  I love running in the rain, I truly do!  I think it makes me run that much quicker.  We were popping our those miles at 11 mpm.  Then we hit the half way mark and my body started to yell at me.  I am really hoping it is the taper, so I am going to keep it easy the next few weeks.  A few of us ran this as 13.1 for the Sandy Hook Elementary Virtual 5k and Half Marathon.  We wore our bibs proudly, until the rain ripped them off.  With all the rain, my skirt was bogged down and was just plain uncomfortable.  This actually taught me to bring shorts if the weather calls for rain on marathon day, 26.2 miles in too much clothing and the rain, no fun!  I am so lucky to have had such an amazing group to train with!  They stayed with me to the end when my stomach was cramping and a nap sounded perfect!  Thank you TEAM!

Grab a button and link up! I can't wait to hear what you did this week?  

How do you handle the taper?
Did you push through any hurdles?
Have any Personal Bests?
What races do you have coming up?

I love to hear what you have to say!

Marathon Training: Long Run: 13 Miles

So, This post may be a little late and I am going to keep it very short..

Last week I had a 13 miler.  It's Taper Time guys!!

It was down at Ballast point, so I did my friday night routine, got up Saturday ready to Rock N Roll.

It was very nice and was very relaxed after having Friday off :)

So.. It was time to start going and it was dark (6am) and FREEZING for us Floridians!! It was about 55 degrees when we started.  I had no idea what I should be wearing.  Pants, Capris, shorts, Tshirt, Tank, long sleeves?  I was a deer caught in headlights so I brought a change of clothes if I needed.  I wound up wearing a Tshirt, shorts and a long sleeve over..I didn't start to warm up till mile 9 when I was headed back in the direct sun.

It was a very nice run minus the wind..Boy was it windy along Bayshore.

I wasn't really watching my pace, I didn't really care.. and when I did look about halfway though I was shocked.  Mostly because I looked at my pace the night before from my first 4 miler.  I was right under 13 minute miles, which most people walk faster than me.

So I was determined to keep up a good pace.  And when I say good, it is all relative to the person.  I was never a runner and just got back into running in June, so it has been 5 months I have been running fairly consistently.

At mile 9ish I was rocking an 11:18 pace

It got a little slower after that as it began to warm up, I had to go against the wind, and I did not realize that the wind can really affect you.

SOOOO... I finished up my 13 nice and strong.

Team In Training has a nice potluck waiting for my fat butt.  I ate some pretzels and drank some water then went back out to bring in Nicole.  We finished the last half mile together.  We started out first day of training doing 2 miles and we finished with a lot more.

We took our picture, talked a bit and when on with our day.

Nicole and I :)

Well, I am not going to go into my crazy weekend of weird events.  But I am wishing you all a happy weekend and happy halloween

Now here is my question for you.. 

How long did it take you to get reach your ideal pace? or

 Start to see a difference in your time?