Week 2 of 16: Marathon Training Take THREE

Marathon training? Take THREE.

Ever since my first marathon I have had a love/hate relationship with the marathon. I love it for how strong and accomplished it makes me feel, but I hate it for the pain/agony/time etc. that it takes to train & to actually run the race. I just don't think I was meant for long distance races like that.

I love the half marathon, and oddly, have yet to run a decent 1/2 that I was proud of. It's on my list for this fall.

So while this year's 26.2 may be my last (for a while) I'm trying to also make it my best.

Katy & I are training via the Runner's World Run Less, Run Faster training plan. Basically, you run three times a week but you make each workout really count, plus you're definitely well rested for each run. Tuesday is track work, Thursday is a tempo run and Saturday is your long run. I love it so far because I have time for yoga & spinning yet I'm still getting in the miles necessary to train for the big race. I'm a firm believer that you don't have to log 40-50 miles a week just to prepare for the marathon. Of course, it can't really hurt either as long as you're going about it smart.

This week's training (officially week 2 on our 16 week plan):
Monday: AM spin class <--It was tough! But love how strong spinning makes me feel.

Tuesday: Track Tuesday! We did 1 mile warm up, then 4 x 1200 with 200 walks in between. Sarah & Katy kicked my a$$. I love Track Tuesday's though because the Charleston Running Club comes out there mid way through our workout and they're always speedy & inspiring.

Wednesday: Off. Was planning on yoga or spinning but was feeling a bit under the weather. Which was okay by me because I was well rested for this morning's run!

Thursday: 5 mile tempo run in 45:00. I was aiming for my 10k race pace + 30 seconds (which would be about a 9 minute mile) so I came out perfect! This was a great treadmill run, one of the best runs I have had in a while. I was pretty pleased with my speed because lately, I have been lingering over the 10:00 min/mile pace...which I don't love.

TOMORROW: Would love to get some yoga in, but will probably take the day off because I have friends coming into town! Will be drinking tons of water and eating well in preparation for....

Saturday: Long run with the TNT team, 11 miles on the docket. It should be cooler than past weeks (in the 80s) so I'm definitely looking forward to that.

Happy 4th of July!

Blogger Support for TNT!

I promise I have an update on Week 1 training coming up soon, but for today, please go here...

Bobbi is AWESOME. Not only does she do it all, but she manages to blog about it all too. (I can't keep up. Clearly.) She generously offered to help me raise money for my TNT campaign today!

The deets (from her blog):

>>If we sell 30 Enviotes (plus you will receive the Envipal for free ($8 value)), I will DONATE $150 ($5 PER BAG) to Kristen for her Team in Training Fundraising efforts.

>>So you are going to get a great reusable tote + a wonderful lunch box for only $20 and I will be giving $5 of it to a wonderful cause!!!

>>We only have until tomorrow night May 26th to make this happen, so let’s get shopping!!!

THANKS Bobbi!

I bought my tote, did you? I promise to be back with my Chicago 2010 Training Schedule and an update on how the first week went soon! Happy Tuesday :)

10/10/10 Chicago Marathon!

I know I'm basically MIA from the blog world, but I did want to let y'all know I just signed up to be a mentor for Team in Training this fall season for the Chicago Marathon! I will be raising money again and hopefully will be able to keep this updated with my training and progress.

Will come back to post my training schedule and other thoughts soon :)

XOXO
~ChasRunner

My girls & I at M's bridal brunch at her wedding weekend in April in the Keys - the 1st of us to get hitched!

Happy New Year!

Well I know I have been absent, I never even gave you Part 2 of my Marine Corps Marathon experience. I have been a bad blogger. I can't promise I will be better about posting in the new year, because well, I have a feeling this is going to be the busiest year of my life to date. But definitely, in a good way. Growing up ain't easy, folks.

My 2009 in Review:

• I left the world of public relations and marketing & started a new career in the world of finance.
  
• I began the grueling process of taking three tests to get licensed in my field.
  
• I passed all of my tests! Including the horrendous Series 7.
  
• I trained for and ran in my first marathon, the NC Marathon in May.
  
• I ran a 200 mile relay race through Colorado with 11 other new friends.
• We moved into a new apartment.
• I got addicted to power yoga & practiced it as frequently as I could.
• I chopped all my hair off!
  
• We joined our first CSA & experienced a variety of local veggies we had never eaten before.
  
• I kept training and raised over $3,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through their Team in Training Program.
• I ran my second marathon in 2009 with TNT, the Marine Corps Marathon.
  
• I got injured at mile 21 of the Marine Corps Marathon, & barely finished it in 4:47 thanks solely to Katy pushing me through!
• We made so many new friends in Charleston, I started a monthly supper club with a fantastic group of women, & Matt and I fell more in love with the Lowcountry than ever.

Oh yeah, and I'm still injured! If you follow me on Twitter, you would know that since the marathon at the end of October I have been injured & therefore not running very frequently. At first I thought it was my ITB, then perhaps my PCL. The physical therapist said it was tendinitis but I've been doing the strengthening exercises he gave me, & it's not getting any better.

So my goal of 2010? To get up & running again! I'm going to try the Active Release Technique of chiropractic next week and if that doesn't help, I'm going to a sports medicine orthopedist. It's been challenging, but at least it has got me cross-training!

I'm really looking forward to continue to challenge my body in 2010 through new forms of exercise. I'm biking more & working out in the gym more. I hope to continue my yoga practice & visit my favorite studio at least twice a week. Matt & I are even doing a cleansing detox next week to get our year started off right! (My personal goal? Get my body looking somewhat like Shakira's. Yeah, I know it's a lofty goal.)

Well, I'm either going to go workout or continue to sit here, drink coffee & lazily watch TV while Matt sleeps in.

Happy New Year everyone!!