Detroit Marathon Countdown: 4 Days

I know I've sort of fallen off with my countdown posts.  Sorry about that.  Running the Marquette Marathon took some of the pressure off Detroit and I'm not as nervous as I anticipated I'd be back in June when I started training.  Wow, June.  That seems like forever ago!

Looking back over these past 18 weeks of training, I've done a lot of things to grow as a runner.  A lot of things that have helped prepare me for this marathon way beyond what just following the Hal Higdon training schedule would have done. Don't get me wrong - I'm glad I had a plan.  But I tweaked it here and there and I made it my own.  Not so much that I wasn't still following it.  I guess you could say I spiced it up a bit.  BAM!

Beyond the Plan:

• Early on I did GLR, which pushed me to run faster and harder than ever before, challenging me mentally like no other race I'd run before.  I didn't realize it at the time, but this was the foundation for my marathon training.  
• I sprinkled in races throughout my training program to help me train at race pace.  I did 3 10K races and 2 half marathons.  Plus the full marathon but that wasn't entirely planned. This isn't necessarily more than I would normally race in an 18-week period but I was definitely logging more miles along with these races.  And I didn't think anything of it, nor was I any more tired because of it.  Adding in the races made the miles more fun and it was a good way to challenge myself with speed.
• Speaking of speed, I've really picked up the pace, thanks in large part to my new Garmin. Just running the miles isn't enough if you aren't pushing your pace on some runs.  I highly recommend using a Garmin or equivalent, along with a pace calculator if you want set a new goal for yourself.  (I used the Runner's World calculator to obsess over, er, PLAN my pace for Marquette and Detroit.)  
• In July I started doing group runs with RUNdetroit, which is hands-down THE BEST running store around!  My Saturday runs are a whole lot more interesting now that I'm running through Midtown, Corktown, Hamtramck, and along the Riverwalk.  I've met some amazing people through this group and it's a great way to get in a fast 6 or 10 miles on Saturday mornings.  Recently on a rainy Saturday when my motivation to get out to run was dwindling, knowing there would be a big group of people meeting at the store was just the push I needed to get me out the door.  18 weeks ago I would have just gone to the gym instead!

Running gradually became more important to me over the past few years but in the last 18 weeks it has become much more of who I am.  It's part of how I define myself and I couldn't see my life without it.  Because of this, as I approach the marathon, I don't look to it as the end.  Yes, it's the end of THIS training cycle but it's not the end of my training.  After the marathon I will have more races, more Saturday group runs, more solo after-work stress-relieving runs.  I will have Boston.  

So after Sunday's race I'll take a few days to recover - do some yoga, get a massage - and then be back on the road, ready to run.  And if all goes to plan, I'll have a new PR to beat.

Are you running Detroit on Sunday?

Read previous Detroit Marathon Countdown posts - 17 Weeks, 15 Weeks, 12 Weeks, 10 Weeks

Detroit Marathon Countdown: 10 Weeks

10 weeks to take-off and things are humming along quite smoothly.  So smoothly, in fact, that I ran my first 20 miles this past Sunday instead of 5 weeks from now.  Why far ahead of schedule?  WELL . . . I told you I have a hard time sticking to a training plan, right?  So I've decided to bump up my training a bit and run my first marathon on August 31st.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I'm now running a marathon midway through training for my marathon.  Am I crazy?  Yes.  Yes I am.  (And proud of it!)

Here's the deal.  The Detroit Free Press Marathon was going to be my first.  I figured why not run one marathon once in my life.  Then I got it in my mind that I would try to qualify for Boston; however, I didn't think about registration deadlines.  By the time I run in October, Boston 2014 will be full.  I'm sure it will fill up faster than ever this year!  So I resigned myself to the fact that I would just do Boston 2015.  Oh well.  Then when I was at GLR, I was talking about it with my teammates who suggested the Marquette Marathon on Labor Day weekend.  That's when I got Boston Fever.  The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it.  So I signed up.  It was only 6 weeks before the marathon.  That meant 6 weeks to get from 13 to 20 miles, including 2 weeks of tapering. 

I kept my weekly mileage about the same, maybe adding an extra mile here or there.  The difference was on the weekends.  I only had 3 Sundays so I did 14, 17, and 20.  I felt great with the long runs!  On the 20-miler I didn't lace my shoes tight enough and ended up with a wicked blister under one toe.  (I get runner's toe regularly.)  My quads are sore but nothing some extra foam rolling and stretching shouldn't take care of.  Surprisingly enough, the last 2 miles were my fastest.  I know I still have another 6 to face but if the first 20 can be as easy as they were on Sunday then I'm fairly confident that in the race environment I'll do alright.

For nutrition, I've been eating my version of this chia pudding before my long runs, just as I would before any race longer than a 10K.  That keeps me going strong for the first 14 miles.  From miles 14-15, I nurse a Clif Shot Energy Gel and then follow it with some water.  I was worried because a lot of people say the gels bother their stomach but this works great for me.  For the marathon, I'll have another gel around mile 20, making sure to finish it where there will be a water station.  That should be good to get me through to the end but I might take 3 with me, just in case.  

Now I'm following the end of my training plan.  The taper weeks after the last 20-miler.  When I'm done with this first marathon, I'll get right back into the training plan with 7 weeks left.  With one exception.  I could probably skip that first 20-miler that falls 2 weeks after Marquette.  Maaaaaybe. (wink wink)

So there you have it.  First marathon coming up August 31st.  I'll keep you posted!

Read previous Detroit Marathon Countdown posts - 17 Weeks, 15 Weeks, 12 Weeks
 

Detroit Marathon Countdown: 12 Weeks

12 weeks.  3 months.  We're getting closer.  I've sort of been sticking to the plan.  In my own way.  In my first countdown post I wrote about how I planned to change things up a lot - double up on cross-training and runs and eliminate the rest day.  Well, it wasn't long before my body told me otherwise!  (Imagine that, right?)

Instead of trying to keep my regularly-scheduled cycle and boot camp program (2x/week each), plus adhere to the training plan, I've made a few modifications.  Here's what my weeks looks like at this point in my training:

Monday: Cross training - Yoga (60 min), Cycle (55 min), Weight Machines (20 min)
Tuesday: Run (6 mile social run)
Wednesday: Run (minus 1-2 miles from plan), Boot Camp (75 min)
Thursday: Run (6 mile social run), Cycle (55 min)
Friday: Yoga (60 min)
Saturday: Run (group run at RUNdetroit or a race - plan mileage may be adjusted)
Sunday: Long run

I'm using the plan as a framework and so far it's working out really well for me.  I ran 14 miles on Sunday.  It should have only been 9 but I was feeling good so I skipped ahead to next Sunday's long run.  (I told you I cannot stick to a plan!)  Anyway, it was my longest distance and the only time I've run anywhere close to that was in a race.  In fact, I've never run more than 10 outside of a race and never more than 7 by myself.  So this was HUGE.  It was quite the mental test.  My average pace was 7:34.  Not race pace but for an easy training run I was quite pleased.  I know I'm only partway to 26.2 but I'm getting there.  

Next up - nutrition on the long run.  GU?  Shot Bloks?  Liquified banana in a flask?  (haha)

What is your on-the-go nutrition for long runs?

Read previous Detroit Marathon Countdown posts - 17 Weeks, 15 Weeks

 

Detroit Marathon Countdown: 15 Weeks

I'm a few weeks into my plan and I'm finding the hardest part of following a training plan is following a training plan.  As I've said many times before, I've never trained for a race.  I just run.  (Not that I was running when I did my first half but that's beside the point.)

So when I say I'm not following my plan, it's not as if I'm not running almost every day.  It's just that I'm not following the mileage as it's laid out.  Take this week, for example.  I  swapped my Saturday and Sunday mileage because I did a 6-mile group run at RUNdetroit on Saturday.  My 5-mile Sunday run didn't happen because of some (ahem) unforeseen circumstances Saturday night involving red wine.  Rest day.

Because I rested on Sunday I needed to get my 5 miles in on Monday, which is generally a cross-training day.  I did both.  Can't miss my cycle!  Tuesday I was supposed to do 3 but now that my running buddy Julie is recovered from a hamstring injury, we're back to doing our 6-mile run.  Wednesday was supposed to be 6 but because I would also be running in Boot Camp, I only did 4.  Today was supposed to be 3 but again I ran 6 with Julie. 

So in general, it isn't that I'm running less than I'm supposed to be running.  I'm actually running more.  But not so much that I'm overdoing it.  I think it's okay during the week if I'm not super disciplined about the exact number of miles but on the weekend I have to be sure I get in the long runs.  This weekend I have 11, which will be my longest training run.  Ever.  Since, ya know, I've never trained before.  Anyone know a good 1/2 marathon I can just sign up for on Sunday instead?

Read previous Detroit Marathon Countdown posts - 17 Weeks

Detroit Marathon Countdown: 17 Weeks

My marathon seemed so far away when I registered for it back in January.  It still seemed so far away earlier this month when I was running DX-A2 saying, "Oh, I haven't started training yet.  My marathon isn't until October."  Thankfully I decided to look at a training schedule and count the weeks because BAM!  Suddenly here I am on week 2 of an 18-week training plan!  Looks like that marathon isn't so far away after all.

This is one of Hal Higdon's marathon training plans, recommended by some experienced runners who seem to know a thing or two.  Training is new for me and those of you who read my blog know that I do not train.  Never have, not for any distance I've run.  Which is why I've never run a marathon before.  But even I know, you HAVE to train for a marathon!  Although this is my first time running 26.2 miles, I've run 4 halfs and a few 10Ks this year, plus my weekly mileage is substantial enough that I felt I could bypass the Beginner and jump to the Intermediate training schedule.  (There is also an Advanced.  All of his plans can be found on his website.)  Here is the one I'll be following:

I love that the long run is on Sunday - that's the best day for me to get that in.  Monday is perfect for cross-training because I have a cycle class.  I'll definitely be making a few adjustments to the schedule, though, to accommodate Boot Camp and my other cycle class.  The Tuesday run is a little shorter than Wednesday so I'll flip those two, giving me less mileage on Boot Camp days.  I'll take my "rest" day from running on Thursday instead of Friday.  That way I can cycle on Thursday and do my run on Friday.  I'll have to do both Boot Camp and running Saturday but I can take it easy with the running part of class and focus on strength.  (*The aforementioned changes are not sanctioned by Hal Higdon and results are not guaranteed if you follow my deviation from the plan!  wink wink)

I'll see how it goes.  I've never done this sort of intense race training so I may find that one of my classes has to go.  I believe that cross-training is important, however, and I love the social aspect of group exercise.  As long as I get enough rest and refuel and rehydrate properly, I should do okay.  In fact, I already run most days now AND do my classes without a problem.

Two added challenges, however, will be the increased speed on Saturday (race pace) and increased distance on Sunday.  These are two elements that I don't incorporate into my weekly runs now and I think they are going to be key in helping me reach my goal.  What is my goal, you ask?

Boston 2015.  Shoot for the stars, baby!

Are you training for a marathon or have you recently run one?