This weekend was, umm, interesting. Living near DC, we are always affected by the Inauguration. Add in the Women’s March and the whole area was in a bit of an uproar. For the moment, I am continuing my personal choice of keeping politics off my blog and social media, but it was a pretty amazing weekend to live here.
Let’s focus instead on my lack of a training plan since the Marine Corps Marathon. Heck, let’s be honest, I didn’t even have a training plan FOR Marine Corps Marathon. But I really needed some time to just run for the love of it. So, despite running every day for the Runner’s World #runstreak, my mileage has been pretty low. It’s time to get back on the horse now.
In what I am sure you find to be a shocking turn of events, my “A” race for this spring is NOT a half marathon. I know, crazy! Instead, thanks to an amazing sale at Pacers this past December, I’m running the GW Parkway Classic again.
I’ve run this race a couple of times and worked loading the buses a few times. There’s much to love about the race, but one of the best things is the mostly straight, mostly flat/downhill course. You know I have a thing for crazy hilly races, but this is not it.
I don’t expect to PR – my 10 mile PR is 1:30:49 and my GW Parkway PR is 1:31:03. I do, however, have the goal of sub all 10 minute miles and an average pace below 9:30. For perspective, my fastest half last year was 2:14:16, which was a 10:15 pace, but I recently ran the Great Chocolate race at a 9:28 pace. To get there, I’m actually bringing back real speedwork for the first time in years.
GW Parkway Classic Training Plan
I’ll be using a combination of tempo runs, speedwork, and hills to add some variety instead of just running long and slow. I’ve taken Hanson’s half marathon plan and merged it with my availability. In addition, I’ve decreased the distance on my Wednesday runs and added some cross training two days a week.
(See why I like a bullet journal? I love to write things by hand LOL)
Compared to some of my recent plans, this is a reasonable mileage plan while still setting me up for the month of May/first weekend of June, which will likely have a total of 7 half marathons. Yes, I know I have a problem.
I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap and Courtney for Training Updates.
Speed work is such a necessary evil isn’t it! I have been really bad about it lately and need to kick it up a notch. I started a bullet journal this year, and mostly use it for training, logging the miles on my running shoes and keeping track of kid stuff
Woohoo! I love this race. I hope we can find each other at the start or somewhere in the massive MRTT group photo.
In case you forgot, the first 5 miles has rolling hills. 🙂
It looks like you have a great training plan! I just signed up for the Parkway Classic and I’m looking forward to running a new-to-me race!
Ever since Tink, I’ve only been running for fun. I did one virtual race in October, but that was it. I don’t know when I’ll make this official training for Bolder Boulder, but for now, I’m still having fun just running with no goals yet.
I like to write things out by hand as well! Looks like you have a great plan in place. I still have not ever run this race. Maybe next year
I do love me a 10 mile run, which is why I’m going to do the Lakefront 10 miler in Chicago…again! I think I’ve got Marcia roped in and maybe Kim…how about you? March 18?
Love your bullet journal! I love the 10 mile distance.
First of all, congratulations for completing the Runner’s World run streak. Secondly, a most flat/downhill 10 mile race? Sign me up! Your training plan will definitely set you up nicely for your half marathons too. I was hoping to run quite a few halves in February/March but I think my foot is going to limit that. (Sigh) Thanks for linking, Erika!
Looks like you’ve got a great plan for going forward! I’ve never done a 10 mile race before, typically only do 10ks and half marathons, but a new 10 mile race has opened up close to me so I may just have a dabble at the distance.
I love writing out plans too, I also have a bullet journal, I love it!
I did a few before I started all the half marathons. It will be interesting because I usually struggle from 7-10 and then pick up the pace for 11-13. Wonder if I’ll be able to do better in those miles…
I never did speed work before but when Holly was helping me I found out quickly while I didn’t like it, it really helped me.
I try to keep it up but it is hard.