This week was 57 miles of running, 33 "miles" of pool-running, and 1000 yards of swimming -- training log is here.
And that's a wrap on this cycle. This was my last week of marathon training, including my last 21 miler plus a tempo workout.
I'm actually feeling very fresh, and also like I haven't trained very much or very long. Which is honestly a bit disconcerting. I'm trying to remind myself that the myth that we're supposed to feel awful and exhausted when marathon training is just that - a myth. What we perceive as "training hard" is often times overtraining, while the "just right" feels like it's too little.
The purpose of marathon training is NOT to pile as much work on as one can handle without breaking; it's to get fit, and then to show up on race day fresh and ready to go.
Fortunately, since I've done two marathons already this year, I'm not TOO freaked out about feeling like my cycle has been too short. The distance is familiar to me, not mysterious. So I just keep telling myself that regardless of how much or little I did this cycle, I'm fit, I know how to race the distance, and now I just need to show up on race day ready to give it my best shot.
Of course, showing up ready to go on race day can be challenging for reasons outside of training. One example: my partner was really sick this entire week (and yes - he and I both got our flu shots). This was quite concerning to me, as I had my last 21 miler this weekend, and Richmond half next weekend - both of which were key parts of my marathon training. It's also worth noting that because of my asthma meds, I'm at a greater risk of catching a bug than the rest of the population, and getting sick is almost a certain guarantee of an asthma flare.
(not to mention that I really really hate seeing him sick - I felt awful for him).
I took some hilarious and arguably extreme measures to avoid catching his bug, including disinfecting _everything_ every morning, washing my hands more than Lady Macbeth, changing our pillow-cases and sheets quite often, and wearing a flu mask to sleep at night. So far, it seems to have worked - I hope that continues.
I'm actually feeling very fresh, and also like I haven't trained very much or very long. Which is honestly a bit disconcerting. I'm trying to remind myself that the myth that we're supposed to feel awful and exhausted when marathon training is just that - a myth. What we perceive as "training hard" is often times overtraining, while the "just right" feels like it's too little.
The purpose of marathon training is NOT to pile as much work on as one can handle without breaking; it's to get fit, and then to show up on race day fresh and ready to go.
Fortunately, since I've done two marathons already this year, I'm not TOO freaked out about feeling like my cycle has been too short. The distance is familiar to me, not mysterious. So I just keep telling myself that regardless of how much or little I did this cycle, I'm fit, I know how to race the distance, and now I just need to show up on race day ready to give it my best shot.
Of course, showing up ready to go on race day can be challenging for reasons outside of training. One example: my partner was really sick this entire week (and yes - he and I both got our flu shots). This was quite concerning to me, as I had my last 21 miler this weekend, and Richmond half next weekend - both of which were key parts of my marathon training. It's also worth noting that because of my asthma meds, I'm at a greater risk of catching a bug than the rest of the population, and getting sick is almost a certain guarantee of an asthma flare.
(not to mention that I really really hate seeing him sick - I felt awful for him).
I took some hilarious and arguably extreme measures to avoid catching his bug, including disinfecting _everything_ every morning, washing my hands more than Lady Macbeth, changing our pillow-cases and sheets quite often, and wearing a flu mask to sleep at night. So far, it seems to have worked - I hope that continues.
Dailies
Monday: Yoga and 8 "miles" of pool-running. Foam rolling at night.
Tuesday: 4.5 miles very easy (9:40), upper body weights/core, and then 3.5 miles very easy (8:33). Later did another 2 miles (8:42). Foam rolling at night.
Wednesday: 14 miles, including an 8K tempo on the track in 32:18 (6:40/6:29/6:27/6:24/6:18), plus a few 400s plus long recovery in about 93-94 seconds (jumping into a friend's workout). Also injury prevention work and 500 yards recovery swimming. Foam rolling at night.
Thursday: Yoga, followed by 10 "miles' pool-running; later another 4 "miles" pool-running. Foam rolling at night.
Thursday: Yoga, followed by 10 "miles' pool-running; later another 4 "miles" pool-running. Foam rolling at night.
Friday: 12 miles very easy (9:04), drills/strides, and then upper body weights/core.
Saturday: 21 miles, split as first 7 averaging 8:42; next 7 averaging 7:28; last 7 averaging 6:41 (majority of last 7 was downhill). Also injury prevention work and 500 yards of recovery swimming. Foam rolling in afternoon.
Sunday: 11 "miles" pool-running. Foam rolling in evening.
Great words of wisdom in this post about training, and how we aren't meant to beat ourselves up but build ourselves up. Hope to see you in Richmond!
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