Training log - Week ending 3/27/2016

This week was 60 miles of running, 6 "miles" of pool-running and 5000 yards of swimming -- training log is here.

Cross my fingers, I think I've kicked this viral thing.  I ran 60 miles this week - a considerable increase from the 6 miles I ran last week.  (I just took the "10% weekly increase" rule and inverted it....).   I started the week off tentatively, with a careful track workout on Tuesday (and a non-running day after, to be super careful).  But by the weekend, I was fine.

Which doesn't mean I feel great, of course.  I've unfortunately lost some fitness, which is a shame, since the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler is coming up next weekend.  But there's nothing that I can do or could have done about that - you can't play catch-up with fitness, and I'm sure that if I hadn't taken the down time, I'd feel a lot worse now.  I've got the Broad Street 10 Miler in a month - hopefully I'll be in better shape for that.

In other news, I registered for the Chicago Marathon this fall.  Yes, I still hate marathons.  But apparently I don't know when to say when.

Why Chicago?  Well...

Pros:

• Flat and fast course
• Very well organized race
• Easy logistics (direct, relatively short flight and hotels near the start/finish)
• Several friends are running it
• Chicago normally allocates entry via lottery, but they are allowing guaranteed entry to "time qualifiers" this year (they're ending guaranteed entry after this year).

Cons:

• I have to run a marathon
• I have to train for a marathon, in August, in DC
• Race day could be hot
• Early fall is very bad for me, allergy-wise (though hopefully Chicago will be better than DC)
• I have to miss the Army 10 Miler, since it's on the same day
• I probably have to miss the Richmond Half-marathon in November, since it's 6 weeks post-Chicago, which is a quick turnaround
• We're redoing our kitchen, with the construction happening in July and August.  It's gonna be hard to train for a marathon (and to fuel marathon training) if I don't have a kitchen when the hard training starts.
• I have to run a marathon

After considering all this, I decided to register and get a hotel.  Which doesn't mean I have to run the race.  But let's face it, I probably will.

And the whole training cycle, I'm gonna have this scene stuck in my head.

(The Untouchables - Connery, Costner, De Niro.  Fantastic movie - I can't believe it's nearly 30 years old)

Dailies

Monday:   7.5 miles very easy (9:17) plus drills, followed by upper body weights.  Foam rolled in the evening.

Tuesday: 9 miles, including a track workout of 2x(1200,800,400) - split 4:48, 3:02, 1:30, 4:42, 3:03, 1:25.  Followed with injury prevention work and 1000 yards recovery swimming.  Foam rolling at night.

Wednesday: a yoga class followed by 6 "miles" pool-running.  Sports massage at night.

Thursday:   5 miles easy (9:19 pace) to yoga, and then a yoga class.  Followed with 3.5 miles easy (8:35) plus drills and two strides.  Foam rolling at night.  

Friday:  10 miles, including a 5K tempo on the track in 20:51 (split 13:20, 6:45, 46 seconds - hot, humid, windy, sucked).  Followed with injury prevention work and 1500 yards recovery swimming.  Foam rolling at night.

Saturday:  11 miles easy (8:13) followed by drills and two strides, and then upper body and core strengthwork.  Foam rolling in the evening.

Sunday:  14 miles progressive, split as the first 2 miles at 9:24 pace, next 5 at 8:31, next 2 at 7:49; last 5 at 6:57.  Followed with injury prevention work and 1500 yards recovery swimming in the afternoon. Foam rolling at night.