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NJ Marathon

Week 12 Recap

by 4 Comments

3/27/11

8 miles tempo

1:08

8:30 avg pace

2 miles warm-up
5 tempo miles:  8:17, 8:02, 8:00, 8:09, 8:07 (on target:  training plan called for 5 miles @ 8:09 pace)
1 mile cool-down

I ran this with “Maximus” my neighbor.  I’m happy since these 5 miles were truly “comfortably hard” – the way tempo pace should feel.  I was still somewhat able to talk (although it seemed to take forever for me to get a sentence out).  Twelve weeks ago this pace wasn’t so comfortable and that is what makes me so happy.  Seeing progress is motivating!

Here’s what Week 12 of NJ Marathon training looked like:
MON:  rest
TUE:  7 miles speed
WED:  yoga (I have to confess that I was sore for the next 2 days after this class)
THU:  7 miles easy
FRI:  18 miles
SAT:  rest
SUN:  8 miles tempo

A total of 40 miles for the week.  I cannot believe I only have 2 weeks left of the Monster Month and then it’s taper time.  This training cycle has flown by.  This coming week I’ll be switching things around a bit since I’m running the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler next Sunday!  More on that in another post.

I feel like I haven’t posted pictures of Hawk in awhile.  He got a new Spring ‘do last week so why not show it off?!

Have great Sunday everyone!

WOW!

by 14 Comments

3/24/11

7 miles easy

10:00 pace

7 miles on the boring treadmill while watching Teen Mom.  It’s freezing here and doing the rain/snow thing.  I kept the pace real easy since I have an 18-miler on schedule for tomorrow. 

Moving on to more important stuff…welcome new readers!  To say I’m overwhelmed by being yesterday’s featured cat lady would be an understatement!  I’m still in the process of reading all of your comments (thank you!) and plan on responding to each and every one of them (all while stalking your blogs).  To bring you up to speed, I figured I’d include some running fun facts in this post.

  • I’m training for my 8th marathon, the NJ Marathon, on May 1.  I’m thinking of sporting a Snooki-esque bumpit and faux tan for the marathon….to, ya know, blend in.  I kid, I kid…my parents live at the Jersey Shore.
  • You can read about my training plan here.
  • I’m obsessed with the Boston Marathon (trying to qualify, that is).  I don’t plan on qualifying on May 1 (I hope to run a 3:50); just hoping to get one step closer.
  • I LOVE long runs – especially 18-20 milers.
  • I LOATHE speed work but do it each week.
  • I incorporated yoga into my training cycle this time around and it has made a huge difference in my flexibility.  I didn’t realize how tight my hips and hamstrings were from running until I went to a class.

Speaking of yoga, last night I went to RYAH for a 75-min vinyasa class.  Maura was the instructor; I’ve taken her Wake Up Yoga class before and really like her.  Her class last night was kinda intense (holding poses for a long time) and kinda relaxing (letting us stay in child’s pose for just a wee bit longer).  The only problem?  The music!  Didn’t help that I was right next to the speaker either.  I know I tend to fixate on things while practicing yoga but this was like a techno song that never ended (but it was chanting…nonstop).  During savasana all I could concentrate on was “om shanti om shanti om shanti shanti om”.  Over and over.  Eek!  I’m still singing chanting it!

Is it just me or do you fixate on certain things during a yoga class?  Or while running?  Sometimes during races, if I’m iPodless, the sound of feet smacking the pavement gets to me after awhile!

April Races

by 4 Comments

3/10/11

7 miles tempo

1:02

8:51 avg pace

1 mile warm-up, 5 miles at 8:41 (~ goal marathon pace), 1 mile cool-down.  Done on the dreaded treadmill.  Ugh.  Each week I say no more treadmill and then the rain forces me inside.

Onto fun stuff…I have 2 races coming up in April!  I haven’t raced since the Philly Half Marathon last November so I’m looking forward to it.  And it’ll be good prep for the NJ Marathon on May 1.

Cherry Blossom 10-Miler – April 3
So excited about this race!  This has been on my “races to do” list for a long time.  I love 10-milers because you can run faster than half marathon pace but not all out (and I hate to run all out, hence no 5 or 10Ks for me).  I usually do the Broad Street Run here in Philly (a very popular 10-miler – super flat and fast) but this year it’s the same day as my marathon.  Bummer.  So the Cherry Blossom is filling my need for a 10-mile race this Spring.

The race uses a lottery system for entry, so I was very lucky to get in on my first try.  I love running DC races.  Matt and I lived there for 3 years after college and it’s where I began running.  I could run the Marine Corps Marathon every year and never get bored.

My PR for the 10-miler is 1:23.  I think I can beat that on April 3 🙂  Fingers crossed!

Penn Relays Distance Classic 20K – April 17
I ran this race back in 2009.  This race is pretty interesting.  They don’t promote it so you don’t receive any reminder emails about next year’s race.  Trying to find the active.com site to sign-up is difficult.  Back in 2009, less than 200 people actually ran the race.  It’s supposed to kick-off the Penn Relays but I wouldn’t call it much of a kick-off!  Do I love it?  Absolutely!  The race starts and ends at Franklin Field, on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus.  Since it’s such a small size, the race director literally yells for everyone to gather on the street (there are no seeds) and yells go!  No fuss whatsoever.

Funny but true story…since there are so few runners, you can imagine that everyone gets pretty spread out by the end of the race.  I was coming back through Penn’s campus (towards the finish at Franklin Field) and I was following a girl up ahead of me.  She was pretty far ahead and turned so she was no longer in my view.  When I eventually got to the turn she was no where to be found.  Uh oh.  I wasn’t sure which way the race went but I knew the general direction.  I asked a Penn security guard if he saw any runners with bibs go by.  He looked at me like I had 10 heads.  Not so helpful.  So I went in the general direction back to Franklin Field.  I have no idea if I remained on the race course or not.  Can you imagine being completely alone during a race?!?!

My friend Jimmy also ran the race that year.  He almost got lost but was smart enough to pick up his pace so he had someone in front of him to follow.  He is running the race this year too.  We are both writing down the last few turns of the race just in case…

Two weeks after this race is my marathon so I decided to not race the Distance Classic.  I’m going to use this race as a marathon-paced run.  I don’t want to risk going all out 2 weeks before the marathon (especially since this race is only 2 weeks after the Cherry Blossom 10-miler).  Call me conservative but I wouldn’t want to jeopardize the marathon that I worked so long and hard for.

Phew…long-winded race explanations, huh?  I must be excited 🙂

Morning Track + Week 9 Recap

by 2 Comments

3/8/11

7 miles speed

I was at the track by 5:50 this morning.  I love having the track all to myself.  Four women showed up to run a mile but thankfully they stayed in the outer lanes.

The workout:  1.5 mile warm-up, 3×1-mile repeats (7:25, 7:30, 7:37) with 800m rest interval in between, 1.5 mile cool-down.  Not my fastest mile repeats but I was huffing and puffing like a dog.  Another reason why I like being at the track alone; I sound like I’m dying during speed work.

Let’s recap week 9 of NJ Marathon training!
MON:  rest
TUE:  8 miles speed + yoga
WED:  8 miles tempo
THU:  rest
FRI:  yoga
SAT:  18 miles
SUN:  5 miles easy

Total of 39 miles and 2 yoga classes!  I was happy with this week of training, even though it began with some heavy, tired legs.

My plan for the rest of the week:  yoga tonight, rest tomorrow, tempo on Thursday, yoga on Friday (I have the day off – YEAH!), long run on Saturday (20-miler — take 3), and easy miles on Sunday.

Have a great day!

 

What Is A Runner?

by 8 Comments

3/1/11

8 miles (3 mi speed and 5 mi GMP)

1:13

9:08 avg pace

I was supposed to do 2x(6x400m) at 1:44 pace (roughly 7:00 min/mile).  So essentially 12-400m repeats.  The first set was tough; I just didn’t have enough kick in my legs (splits:  1:47, 1:44, 1:46, 1:45, 1:51, 1:47).  Instead of pushing through another set, which would have been disastrous, I decided to run the remaining miles at GMP.  No big deal, at least I got some speed work in.

Now for the philosophical portion of my post…what is a runner?  Yesterday I saw this tweet from Hal Higdon:

Some runners never race. They are happy to run each day without ever committing themselves to possession of a race T-shirt. Good for them.

Well said, Hal!  I don’t think a runner should be defined by how many races he/she has done.  Nor do I think “real” runners are only ones who run marathons and half marathons.

Real runners need to run…they crave that endorphin high.  The enjoy the solidarity of running or the companionship of running with others.  They love watching the sunrise/sunset while running or hopping on the treadmill in the early morning hours while the house is still quiet.  They love a good sweat session that only running can provide.  They like to push themselves to run distances and paces they never imagined.

It doesn’t matter if you run 12 miles a week or 70 miles a week, races or no races…you run because you want to and need to.  You run because you love it (OK, I know a few of you are saying “I don’t love to run”.  You may not love it but there’s something deep down that drives you to run, it may not be love but it’s something!).

Today’s March 1st which means 2 months until the NJ Marathon and Spring is right around the corner!

Think Spring!

 

 

 

Week 8 Recap

by 2 Comments

2/27/11

8 miles easy

1:17

9:37 avg pace

I was excited to get up early for an easy run!  Easy runs remind me of why I love running so much.  You don’t have to worry about split or interval times; you just run.  There’s no pressure, just total freedom.  It was a beautiful morning and I ran without my iPod just to soak it all in.  Ahhhhh 🙂

Gotta make this post short and sweet since I’m meeting my friends for brunch.  We are trying to get back on our brunch schedule after a short hiatus.  I love brunch with the girls.  So much fun!

NJ Marathon Week 8 Recap
MON:  6 miles speed (and I became a believer in speed work)
TUE:  rest
WED:  8 miles tempo
THU:  13 miles long
FRI:  yoga
SAT:  rest (ultimate lazy day)
SUN:  8 miles easy

Total of 35 miles for the week.  My mileage was lower this week since it’s a drop-back week.

Off to brunch…have a great Sunday!