Let’s talk training: Lessons learned

I’ll be up front, my mind is very focused on the Richmond Marathon. This will be mine on Saturday afternoon.

I have learned a lot the year.

-I require a lot of recovery for runs longer than 14 or 15 miles. I don’t bounce back from on LONG run fast, I’ve listened to my body and took time to heal before I run again.

-Marathon training=weight gain. It happens, and you just have to deal with it. It’s not a good time to diet.

-Half marathons are awesome.

-Glucosamine is a lifesaver. My knees are super achy without it.

-Sleep is very necessary, without it I can’t keep running.

-Running in different time zones is hard, but if you west, stay in your timezone and race day wake up call won’t be so hard!

What lessons have you learned?

20 miles #richmondready

20 miles is the “it” number for marathon training. I guess another 10k is supposed to be simple? I’m not sold on the fact that I can do it, but I did run 20 miles, and it took me under 4 hours to do it (3hrs 48min 51sec to be exact) !

It’s taken me a while to embrace a slower pace, and I’m by no means speedy. I like to keep a 10min/mile pace, but I can’t keep that pace for a marathon. For the first 16 miles I was pretty close to 11:15min/mile, but after 16.5 I slowed down, and walked more. I wish I had time for one more LONG run, but the race is less than 3 weeks away, and I’d like fully recovered legs over one more run.

On top of recovering from 20 miles, I’m trying to recover from a weird bug bite.

This was Saturday (bite happened Tuesday) it looks much better now. Hopefully a few more days of antibiotics and I’ll being good shape.

Now it’s time to taper, I want to keep my 2 short runs during the week and a longer run on the weekends, race week I’ll take it super easy. I think I’m #richmondready

Training Talk Thursday: running woes

It’s training talk Thursday again (and again I’m late with my post).

We are talking about training and racing woes, and I don’t have many. I think we all have aches and pains during training, but that’s really my biggest complaint.

I think nearly all distances runners experience GI discomfort at some point. I know what foods will make it worse, so I avoid those before long runs.

I haven’t run into many obstacles on race day, hopefully that stays the same in a few weeks! I try to stay calm on race day, there’s no need to panic at the start line.

Weather is uncontrollable. If it’s a training day, I’ll move my run inside. But on race day, you just deal with it. Freezing, thunderstorms, humidity, it’s all fair game on race day.

Less than 5 weeks-training recap

My marathon is 32 days away. Wow, it’s so close. I’ve been doing a lot of tweaking on my training. It’s easy to write out a perfect schedule for several months, but real life always adds obstacles.

My 15 mile run went well, I finished it, and was still able to walk. But I was sore for several days. I wanted to run 16 the next weekend, but between not sleeping well, thunderstorms, feeling achy, and having really bad burps(tmi?), I ran 4. I was really sore and achy after just 4 miles, so I got new shoes. I’m bad about logging my mileage with shoes. Then I worked, so no long run.

My 17 mile run was successful, in the fact that I completed it. It was not a pain free run, but honestly I ran from one side of town to the other AND back. I don’t that is supposed to feel great. I foam rolled, and tried to refuel. Eating after running is hard, it takes a while for my stomach to want food…..then it’s:

I had a sports/deep tissue massage the following day, and finally felt recovered about 5 days later. Long runs are hard on my body.

This weekend I ran 6 miles on the treadmill, it’s been very rainy, and I don’t have time for slipping on wet pavement. I ran 8×800, I hate 800s and I love 800s. They are tough, but also make the miles go by! I had time to run long, but I think it would have been too much. Training is supposed to be hard, but it’s not supposed to cause injuries. I need recovery time between long distances. I know others can run back to back, but I can’t, I’m learning to listen to my body (it can be pretty loud)!

Unfortunately, I work this weekend, so I won’t be able to get a long run in. Marathon training would be much easier to manage if it was my job! It can be very overwhelming to juggle kids/family, work and running.

I’ve got a fun LONG, LONG run planned in 2 weekends, I haven’t settled on an exact distance, but it will be my last before race day. Then, I want to really give my body a chance to heal.

I’ve heard that marathon training will make you gain weight. I was hoping this wasn’t true, but if you are planning on training for a marathon I have one piece of advice:

Is it that I’m eating more calories than I’m burning, that I’ve gained so much muscle, or my cortisol levels are extra high because of the physical stress of training? I don’t know the answer.

I am excited to Run Richmond, but I will be happy when it’s over. There are some other marathons I want to run, but I don’t see the name of the blog changing to Marathon Mama anytime soon.

Let’s talk training Thursday: essential Gear

We talked about training gear, but today we are talking racing gear. It’s often similar, but not the same!

1-SPI belt

It’s a perfect place to wear my number, and it hold my fuel. It took some adjusting to get it where I like it (pouch on hip, buckle in front of other hip).

2-GPS of some sort. I use either my a Garmin or Run Keeper.

3-Music-I know races have tons of entertainment, and often discourage headphone use. But I listen with one ear only. I always run with only one headphone in, I need to hear traffic, of the gym child care page, or race noise. I have a few playlists, and I’m working on the perfect playlist for Richmond!

4-Fuel-I’m still sticking with salted caramel Gu. It hasn’t let me down yet.

5-clothes-so obviously you have to wear clothes to run (although, there’s is an undie run 5k) but I feel like race day is a good day for an extra special outfit. Sometimes just a new top, but
something that makes you feel good! BUT, I do give it a test run (or buy a top I already have in a new color!)

6-Sun glasses/Chapstick/headband: all things I use training as well, can’t run without them!

7-Positive attitude! I’ve trained, I can do it, so let’s GO!

Panic mode

I’m getting panicy about my marathon. I’m stressed about getting all my training runs in, I don’t want to push too hard, but I need to get my milage up, and fast.

September was an awesome month of activity, but not great in the running department. It looks like I’ll be running 17 miles this weekend. I know 20 miles is the magic training number for marathons, but right now I’m counting on 17. If this run goes (good or bad as long as I get it done) I’ll have more confidence.

I’m breaking in my new shoes

I want the nice and comfy on race day. I’ve put several miles on them so far, and they seem to be good.

45 days til Richmond.

Let’s talk training Thursday: Racecation Tips

I think the is a perfect topic for me. I like to travel for races. We have a lot of good races at home, from 5k to ultra and EVERYTHING in between. I think 2015 will be the year of races around home, because I’ve run all over the place this year!

Disney is an easy Racecation, the races are well organized, and there’s plenty to do and eat all around. However, it’s probably one of the most expensive (if we are just talking about staying in the US). Between registration, air fare, accommodations, and park passes, you’ve spent a fortune. Disney does offer several price points for resorts, and we are lucky to be vacation club members, so our hotel is covered, but it’s still pricey.

Packing is tricky. We fly Southwest a lot, so we each get 2 free bags. I’m bad and usually check my running clothes. This is a no no because if your bags are lost, you can’t run. I hope for the best! I pack for all weather, forecasts are often wrong! I don’t bring fleece lined pants for a race in August, but in April in Oklahoma I would. I like to get cheap sweats from Walmart, keeps you warm before the race, and it’s no problem to toss them once you get started (I do this traveling or not).

I like to bring my race day food from home. Bananas are hard to pack, so I bring applesauce, and hope to make it to a store.

Even if you are not running in Disney, it’s easy to make it a family trip. My kids enjoy swimming at the hotel, playing with bubbles, frisbees, jump ropes, etc at the race. And honestly getting some family time at the hotel. We have less distractions, because we are all in one room!

Electronics can help too!

Training Thursday:training essentials

What do I need for training? MOTIVATION! Sometimes I need it more than anything. It’s fun to race, but long, solo training runs can get BORING. I can usually use my next race as motivation. Having a training/accountability partner is very helpful in training, knowing that someone is waiting for you is good motivation.

FOOD! Training makes me hungry. Having good snacks on hand in helpful, especially at work. I honestly go to work with a full grocery bag. Fruit, veggies, yogurt, nuts, and my main meal. I love Chobani flips.

Nutty for ‘nana is my top pick.

WATER! All day, everyday. It’s boring. I mix in Gatorade too. While running I use a Nathan Handheld bottle. I still getting used to it, but I like having water with me, and the pouch holds my phone and Gu. I refill the bottle mid-run, it’s 22oz, on a hot, humid, long run, it’s not enough.


GU! Salted caramel is the only kind I like.

CUTE CLOTHES! I know it sounds silly, but I like like cute running clothes. Swirlgear and lululemon are my favorite.

SLEEP! So important during training. I aim for 8 hours a night.

MUSIC! I often sing while running. I have a great Spotify playlist, and a back up iTunes playlist. I couldn’t train without my music.

BONDI BAND! The only headband that works for me. I use the sweat wicking, they are not as fun as the pattern ones, but I think they work better.

Training Thursday: Favorite workouts

So I’m a week late. I have a million reasons why, but let’s get down to business!

This week we are talking about our favorite workouts.

I LOVE yoga. Hot vinyasa is one of my favorites. I love sweating, stretching, then relaxing. I can tell a difference in my runs when I do yoga. I’ve made it my goal to get at least 1 yoga class in a week.

I saw a chart recently, that I can’t find again, that compared resting heart rate, per curved stress level, and other things, that I can’t remember, of runners, yogis, and non-yogi/runners. Yogis and runners had similar results!

There are several kinds of yoga, I like faster paced classes, but a slow stretching class is also beneficial.

Dumbo Double Dare

I came

I saw

I conquered

Recap after I sleep!