Training for Marine Corps Marathon week 7: the one before the zero week

So week 7 of training was not super high mileage, but actually contained (just a few) decent runs.

Speed work early week with more 800's- and things felt good. If you look at my pace for 800's one would never think that I could run a 3:30 marathon, but apparently I just lack a really fast gear.
The weather was much cooler, and things went well.

I ran bitch hill on Tuesday, and it was pleasant.

16 miles on a hideously humid day on Thursday. I never felt great- this was a tough run in really disgusting conditions. I am uncertain if I have ever been as sweaty before. I felt pretty lousy during the last mile, despite chugging 1.5 liters of water during the run, and downing 3 electrolyte Humas and several salt pills. I felt quite good as soon as I finished, which is always a sign that I did not actually over exert, but simply suffered splendidly.

22 miles of rugged hiking over the weekend wrapped things up.

Rugged Rainy miles....

I plan to have a legit zero week this week. I planned this from the get go, as a good way to prep for the final stretch of training and work out any little physical issues. I keep feeling tempted to squeeze in a mid week run, but I plan to resist. If nothing else, my Boston training cycle this year taught me that rest is best sometimes!


Stats:
Miles: 30.1
Hottest day: 4,000 degrees and 56,987% humidity for my long run
Longest run: 16.0
Hiking miles- 22.0 holy crap

Training for Marine Corps Marathon Week 6: the one with the hot weather

So week 6 started off with 2 days where the temps were well into the 90's.
I just can't handle it....

So, Wednesday (with the weather still completely repulsive, but less deadly) I headed out to start week #6.

On this particular day, my lower legs still felt just horrible. Such a mess! Luckily- this was the end of the crap (at least for this week.)
Why?
-maybe because I committed to glute activation and stretching pre-run
-maybe because my legs just decided to get their shit together
-other, who knows what

So on Wednesday I did some unstructured speed work- because nothing felt worse than running easily.

I don't plan to post anything other than unattractive pics

Thursday was bitch hill. No real wildlife this week, but I did have to stop to help someone get their stubborn horse on their trailer.

Saturday was a 15 miler- probably the best long run of this cycle, even though it was pretty damn hot (about 84-80 during the run)
Why?
-run done on relatively rested legs
-run done on Saturday afternoon, instead of a random Thursday after crazy work
-fitness increasing?

Sunday was an easy few miles- the legs still felt good but I was just spent. Long run plus horse show plus not eating enough had me feeling crummy.

Overall, a solid week. Not high mileage but I'm still showing up. Next week will be more of the same, with a MAJOR cut back the following week. Also, more hiking miles next weekend (I'm basically on an every other weekend hiking schedule this summer-which is pretty awesome.)

Stats:
Miles: 32.4
Hottest day: Hottest run was 86 on Monday. Gross. 
Longest run: 15.0
Hiking miles- Off week :-( 

Training for Marine Corps Marathon week 5: Some better weather (before the shit hits)

Week 5 was over quickly, as I completed all my appointed miles by Thursday.

It was a much more pleasant start to the week weather wise (despite my face in the first pic!) I believe it was something absurd like 68 degrees when I ran on Monday, so I FINALLY did some speed work. 6x800's at a mid-7 pace (mostly in the 7:20's) seemed pretty good given my general lack of effort in that department.

A great run actually

It was still solid weather on Tuesday, so I ran over bitch hill in a much peppier way that last time. I did find a little horned sheep who needed a little help getting un-stuck from his fence. He/She was crying pitifully from the time I caught his eye, but he was rather thankless once I released him and scampered off, little butt a-shaking. Rascal.

Not smart

It was certainly warmer for some easy Wednesday miles, but not humid. Nothing special about that particular run, I was just feeling pretty tired.

Thursday was long run day. It was a totally decent day (about 79, getting muggier but not bad, deer flies swarming like little assholes.) I was about 82% dead on my feet, so it honestly felt like an 18 miler. I was worked over.

Overall, the calf crap worked out better this week. They felt so crampy on Monday that I was shook- but after my first repeat they totally snapped out of it. Weird. I didn't even think about them again until Thursday. They felt meh on and off for a while- then the rest of my legs decided to feel meh as well, and I forgot about what little jack asses they are.

No running over the weekend, but a hike up Eisenhower on Saturday and the Hancocks on Sunday certainly kept me active. It was a really, really great hiking weekend.

A good place to be!!

And on to week 6, which looks like a horrible, humid disaster of a shit heap.

Stats:
Miles: 33.8
Hottest day: Hottest run was 80. It was in the upper 80's on Saturday. 
Longest run: 13.5
Hiking miles- 16 which is excellent, and was a ton of fun

Training for Marine Corps Marathon Week 4: Getting it done

There were a million reasons to skip my workouts this week:

-Getting 1100 bales of hay over the course of 24 hours
-Being really busy at work
-The humidity rising, an the temps soaring
-Being old and sweaty

I did not skip any runs, but I did move things around a bit. I really can't wrap my head around a long run in 96 degree temps, with high humidity. Nope.

I did have a little trouble with my calves this week, and it's hard to say why. They don't really hurt but during two of my runs they both felt really tight, as though they were on the verge of cramping. I see this being one of two things (as my shoes don't really need to be replaced yet.) My legs are either protesting somewhat, as they transition to better fitness. Or, I'm still not nailing the whole electrolyte balance thing. Who knows.

Due to the Friday/Saturday/Sunday extreme heat warnings, all the real work was done early in the week.

Monday was basic stuff, on tight calves.

Tuesday I ran super early, the legs felt just fine and I ran a little fast here and there. Certainly not a structured speed workout, but a little zoom.

Wednesday was bitch hill, tight calves, super gross out. Like, hot pea soup.

Disgusting

I did my long run after an even longer work day on Thursday. Overall, it was ok. I had to call Eric for some extra food, as I became starving! It was just a tough long run. I was tired, it was hard. I did the planned mileage, suffered moderately, and sucked it up.

Also disgusting

I scooted out early Saturday(in just horrible humidity) for a short few with Ellie. The weather was just sopping and disgusting. It was really an unpleasant weekend.

Stats:
Miles: 35.1
Hottest day: 94, I did not run. Hottest run was 80, super humid, and with 2.3 million deer flies
Longest run: 13.4
Hiking miles- NONE TERRIBLE!!!!! (busy. work. stupid. no day off. AGAIN)

Training for Marine Corps Marathon: Week 3. More summer.

There were about 1.2 million reasons not to run during the past week. Hot, humid temps. A mid week 2 day horse show. Stuff and Things.

But I got out and did it.

Still no speedwork, which I must remedy.

I'm still in a place where I need to figure out my hydration/sodium/electrolyte balance as well. I know my stomach gets funny when things aren't quite in the correct balance, and it seems to be a work in progress (I'm looking into those salt stick pills as an option. I use the huma gels with the added sea salt- and really like those. But feel that I need more for longer workouts. Help??)

I bumped up the long run to 12 and change this week with no issue. My other 3 runs were basically at a standard pace, although one was over bitch hill (more of a workout, clearly.) We had one family run (Eric, Ellie, Me) at ass o'clock in the morning. I'm not too fond of running early, and yes, I am aware that I am a rare case.

There were massive fires in Canada last week, and we were smack dab in the path of the smoke. Apparently, the smoke was so high that did not impact the air quality, but it certainly created some serious haze.

Anywhoo.
Easy, early 5 miles on Tuesday morning. No photo, no proof.

Bitch Hill Thursday in the HAZE.

Some clouds but mostly smoke

Basically every run was a sweaty slog. I am determined to LOVE THE HEAT.

FRESH AS A DAISY

And yes, I have embraced being the person who wears a hydration pack. It's something I learned to love while hiking, and it is convenient AF. How else can you easily carry 1.5 liters of water?? Also, Osprey makes a really tidy little pack and I am a huge fan. I hydrate more with water than with beer on pub run day at this time of year, and I appreciate the capacity of this pack.

#hydration

Stats:
Miles: 30.4
Hottest day: Well, we had a 91 degree day but my hottest run was an 80% humidity 80 degrees
Longest run: 12.6
Hiking miles- NONE TERRIBLE!!!!! (busy. work. stupid. no day off.)

Training for Marine Corps Marathon: Week 2. When summer hits.

No doubt about it. Summer is here!

It was an active week. Busy at work. Several solid runs. 14 miles of hiking. Definitely not a lazy time!

I lucked out again on Saturday, and by the time I got out to run the weather had changed from 92, blazing sun and cloyingly humid to 75, thunder and rain (and cloyingly humid.) Other than the inevitable chafing they occurs, there is nothing bad about a rainy run!!

The one area lacking this week was speed work. I am going to have to figure how to toughen up and get it done. Yes it was 86 degrees during my "speed work" workout time, which left me feeling incapable of any speed at all. I imagine it will probably be that hot for many runs. The thought of getting onto the treadmill is just horrible- so I will have to figure this out.

I have ended up concluding that my long runs will just have to be "sometime" on the weekend. I ran a 9 miler last Sunday to try to "get ahead". As it turned out, I ended up deciding this whole notion was dumb and confusing and I just went out for a normal "long" on Saturday. I was planning to count the 9 from last Sunday in this weeks mileage, since I did not technically count it last week.
SEE: STUPID.

Things are going pretty well. It's gross running in the summer but it was my choice to do this so I'm going to either make excuses, or make it happen. I'm going to become a god damn summer warrior.

To the pub in the thunder

To a mountain top (at a walk hahah)

Over the bitch hill

Stats:
Miles: 27.5 (an yes, the poor lost 9.1 is still not being counted hahaha)
Hottest day: 86 gross (92 but I didn't run then)
Longest run: 10.4
Hiking miles- Close to 14

Training for Marine Corps Marathon: Official week one

This week marked the "official" (18 week) countdown to MCM. I determined that I I counted the past few weeks as "official" training, that it would bother me forever. Because who does a 20+ week plan? Apparently, I do...

Summer arrived (in all ways) last week, but I was able to get in a good few days of early season work.

I hope to pre-load my weeks during these first few, allowing extra time at the end of the week to either:
-Go to horse shows/deal with life
-Hike
-Stack hay
-Get in one of the "following weeks" workouts, if I know the shit is going down.

Prepping for Hyannis/Boston over the winter I had the following challenges to cope with:
-Winter weather
-Coping with said terrible conditions
-Having no staff at work

During the summer I have the following challenges to consider:
-Summer weather......
-3 or 4 multi day weekend horse shows
-last minute, physically taxing thousand bale hay deliveries
-12 hour workdays, but a few days when I get done early (yay!!! not a challenge!)

I'm basically planning to get my runs in when they can be done. I feel like this could make for a really messy looking week (on Strava anyhow) but the miles get in regardless!

It was nice to feel motivated last week. I reached my "required" mileage by Thursday which was a really great feeling.

Easy run Monday, "long" 7 mile run Tuesday, 8x400 at a mid-7 pace on Wednesday, and a recovery day on Thursday. I added a few miles (like, 3) on Saturday because I wanted to check out what was going on in town. #nosy

I got soaked on my Tuesday run, which actually feels pretty great during the hot summer months.

I'm just drenched. 

I ended up doing next weeks "long run" (9.1) on Sunday because by early week schedule is STUPID. It was 65 and raining too, so BONUS. This will make me look MOTIVATED on Strava this week, and LAZY next week, but I know what's up.

Stats:
Miles: 24.8 (not counting the bonus 9.1)
Hottest day: 83, woof
Longest run: Technically, 7

Training for Marine Corps Marathon: Week one (pre training)

Yes. Somehow I decided that it would be a great idea to run a fall marathon this year.
I'll admit this: The last time I made such a decision I declared "never again!!"

My assumption is that since I have made the choice to run a late October race, this is a great chance to change my attitude and embrace sweaty summer training. I suspect this will not be a yearly occurrence, but I plan to not only make the best of it, but really give a good effort.

I took some off time in May, as per the plan. And then caught a nasty cold, which was not on the plan. During June, I hope to do 4 runs per week, all base building.

Week one went as planned.

4 runs, all pretty standard, all about 4-ish miles.

Weekly Stats:
Miles: 17.8
Warmest run-: 79 which felt HOT