Sometime this week, it finally hit me that I’m running 26.2 miles in 3.5 months. Yikes! I think watching this video had something to do with it:
Watching this video was simultaneously exciting and scary. I think the next big “revelation” will hit me when my long runs get into the 14+ mile category, which will be farther than I’ve ever run. Like I said, exciting and scary.
Anyway, here’s what I was up to this week:
Mon: Rest.
Tues: 0.3 mile warm-up + 3 miles tempo (9:07, 9:17, 9:18). I was really nervous about this run, knowing that I lost a lot of speed over my vacation. So I was pretty pleased with these 3 miles at better-than-my-10K-PR, McMillan-Running-suggested tempo pace… even if I did end up walking for ~1 minute between miles 2 and 3. I was feeling so good that I decided to do a P90x Ab Ripper workout. Unfortunately, I lasted all of 7 minutes (out of 15) before I collapsed into a useless pile.
Stats: 3.3 miles @ 9:28/mile + 7 min Ab Ripper
Wed: Spin class with Ali O at the YMCA. It’s been years since I’ve gone spinning, but I always liked it. Having just joined the Downtown Oakland YMCA, I was excited to check out their classes, and I knew that Ali was a member there. We signed up for neighboring bikes and sweated it out for 50 minutes, all the while huffing, puffing, and making abstract sweat-dotted artwork on the cement floor. You can read more about our spin class adventure on Ali’s blog.
Stats: 50 minutes spin class
Thurs: After killing my legs with a tempo run on Tuesday and spinning on Wednesday, I decided to take it super easy. Highlight: I ran into fellow running blogger RoseRunner, who was also on her morning run around Lake Merritt. We connected a few months ago over email and since we both run regularly around the Lake, I knew it was a matter of time before our paths would collide. It was cool to finally meet her in person!
Stats: 6.2 miles @ 10:46/mile
Fri: Rest.
Sat: Since the Gypsy Runner and I were going to a family event near Lake Chabot, I decided to move my long run to Saturday. I’ve run around Lake Chabot several times, and the one big hill at the beginning of mile 3 always kills me. (Elevation change: ~280 feet over 0.5 mile.) I pushed myself to run (i.e., slowly jog) to the first tree line this time, which cut a whole minute off my mile pace, as compared to the last time I ran this course in April, but I still had to walk to the top. I also got my first running-related chafing “injury” under my arm. Boo!! I blame the Patagonia shirt I was wearing, since this has never ever happened to me before. On the positive side, it was very peaceful (I saw one other runner during the middle 3 miles) and the views were very nice, as always.
Stats: 8.6 miles @11:52/mile
the marshy part of Lake Chabot
One of the very peaceful trails on the other side of that crazy hill. Makes the climb totally worth it.
Sun: Went swimming for the first time in AGES. It’s been at least 3-4 years. I was a little bit nervous, strangely. I also didn’t have high expectations, which was a good thing because boy am I out of swimming shape! I couldn’t swim a lap without stopping, so I would swim one length (25 meters), stop, catch my breath, and swim another length. My triceps are sore! It was a good workout, and I’m glad I went. I hope to see significant improvements in this area as I continue my training.
Stats: 500 meters over ~30 minutes
WEEKLY TOTAL: Target 17 miles/ Actual 18.1 miles + ~87 min cross training
How I feel about it: Pretty good! Mileage and cross training are both going well. My legs are sore but not too sore, and I’ve been diligent about stretching and rolling. A- *
* I was recently asked to clarify my grading for these weekly recaps. Basically, I’m a glass half-full kind of person… and I’ll gladly accept any accusation of grade inflation. I’d probably give myself a C for effort, a B for hitting my marks, and an A for extra effort/above and beyond. I once heard (or read) that if you’re accomplishing more than 70% of your goals, then you’re setting the bar too low. Well, you know what I have to say about that? I’d rather set my goals within reason than to feel like I’m always failing. Maybe once I feel like I’m a badass expert marathon woman, then I’ll go for a higher failure rate, but until then, bring on the grade inflation!! 
You’ve SO got CIM! Plus, you have the time to get there- you already know you can go 13, so why not 15, then 18, then 20? No problem.
Thanks for the support Laura!
Sounds like a great training week! Balanced and successful. Great that you’re in such good shape coming back from vacation, too!
If meeting more than 70% of your goals was a sign of setting the bar too low, I would end up with my bar set at a point that I couldn’t strive for without getting hurt all the time. I love your grading scheme.
Yeah, so far so good. It’s only week 2 though, so we’ll see how this continues to go.
As for the goal setting — I feel like you have to be a true masochist to set the bar that high. Thanks but no thanks!
CIM!!! I love all the posts lately about people starting to train for it. Best. Marathon. EVER. I am so excited.