Last week was my first week of marathon training using the Hansons Marathon Method. I knew from reading their book that it was a tough plan, but it’s the perfect plan for where I want to be right now.
The week’s plan called for 4 six mile runs, 1 eight mile run, and speedwork. It was a bit of a challenge mentally to start my first week of training, knowing that I’d be running an hour or more each day. Thankfully, I was at my parents’ house, so I knew I’d be able to leave the kids and go. Even better, my dad joined me for a couple of the runs.
Here’s how the week went down:
Monday: 4.5 mile tempo run instead of 6 slow miles – I had work to do and a plane to catch, so I crammed in a quick run at a 10:20 pace (tempo in Hansons marathon training is marathon pace.)
Tuesday: 6 miles with my dad (10:15 pace). We ran the first five a bit too fast, so the last mile involved walking. We still managed to average
Wednesday: another 6 mile run (10:15 pace) I started out slower but picked up the pace and ended up finishing in almost exactly the same amount of time as Tuesday, but feeling a lot better about it.
Thursday: 8 miles (10:29 pace). I was really feeling the mileage at this point, but we managed a relatively strong run.
Friday: 5 miles (10:18 pace) instead of 6. I had stomach issues this whole run, so was quite pleased that I even managed 5.
Saturday: 12 x 400 with 400 recovery. OMG, this was hard. I forgot my book, so I looked online and the Hansons marathon plan I found said to do speedwork at 5k pace. My most recent 5K was a 9 minute pace so that’s what I did. And I hit it every.single.interval. In the end, despite a couple of short walks during recovery, I did 7.5 miles at 10:18 pace. My legs totally felt like jello when I was done!
Sunday: Rest. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to have a rest day! My legs were totally wiped.
So, week 1 of Hansons marathon training is in the books and I was mostly successful, albeit a bit too fast. Week 2 is very similar, so I feel like I should be able to hit my planned mileage, even though we are home now. I just need to remember to slow down on the easy runs.
In other news, we had a blast this past week.
We went to the Madison Mallards baseball game (where the good beer was flowing and I ate a brat covered in pulled pork, ham and bacon):
Hit up the Madison zoo:
Stopped for dinner where we had good beer and my mom and I shared an entire head of roasted cauliflower (and Shoo got to see Germany win in soccer):
And then had a totally Wisconsin bonfire (note the “lawn chairs”):
As usual, I’m happy and sad to be home. I missed Beer Geek and my house, but I always love visiting my parents and Wisconsin.
Thankfully, I had some good Skirt Sports mail waiting for me when I arrived…
I’m linking up with Tara at Running’n’Reading and Erin at Her Heartland Soul.
Don’t forget that tomorrow is Tuesdays on the Run. This week’s topic is “2015 Goals Update.” We are halfway through the year – how is it going for you??? We want to hear!
Did you do anything unusual this weekend? (Eating that much meat is totally out of character for me, but it was so good!)
OOOH SEE?
as a sister to a marathon runner and a nonrunner I STILL NEEEEED to learn about Hanson’s.
Ive never heard of it.
That sounds like an intense week of training! Congrats on packing it all in! My hubby is from Wisconsin and I have been to a Mallards game, have to say one of the most fun baseball games that I have been to! Sounds like a lot of fun! Have a great week!
I love love love Wisconsin. In the summer anyways… The baseball game was a blast!
One of these times, we need to meet up in Madison! My hubby’s father has a place in Lodi, just north of Madison. Maybe at The Great Dane for a beer?
I think my aunt and uncle have a house in Lodi (or near there.)
I love the Great Dane. I’ll be back up there in August for a couple of weeks. Message me and we can figure something out.
Great job – lots of miles!
Thanks!
It sounds like you had a delightful trip. And a great week of training!
It’s always awesome to go home to my parents’ house. Someone else cooks – that right there is a huge win.
That is a ton of miles for a first week! I’ve heard of lots of folks doing that method with success, but those numbers are way too intimidating for me. I’d like to say I don’t have time, but really it’s more that I just don’t have the want-to. 🙂
It’s harder than I expected, considering I’ve done a lot of back to back running.
Wow! What great mileage for the first week in! You’re doing great 🙂
Thanks!
First week done and you nailed it! That’s especially impressive considering you were travelling.
Thanks, but honestly it’s easier to run at my parents’ house than at home.
Nice week of training! Oh my goodness that brat looks AMAZING! Looks like you had a fun time!
Thanks and it was so very good. I’m definitely a carnivore LOL.
Congrats on making it through week 1 of your training! Hanson’s is no joke but it definitely teaches you to run on tired legs, that’s for sure!
OMG, my legs were so tired today. I felt like I was running the last 6 in a marathon instead of just running 6 miles LOL.
WOW! Great job on your training, Erika! Woo hoo! Those are some tough workouts (especially in week 1) and I have no doubt you’ll be running super strong by the time race day gets here. I’ve never tried the Hanson’s plan but I know lots of people who have had great success with it; I think I’m too wimpy – ha! Thanks so much for linking up with the blog!
It’s a tough plan. I’ve run 5 days a week a lot, but adding the 6th day is taking a lot out of me.
I am intrigued by Hansons. But, I’m too old to run six days a week. Seriously. I’ll be following your journey! It sounds like you had a wonderful week at your parents.
I’m not that much younger LOL, but I seem to do ok with back to back runs. I may be slow, but I recover quickly. ;o)
Congrats on making it through Week 1! I too am a Hansons fan. While I don’t run marathons (I joke that I “don’t do ‘thons”), I’ve read their books and pretty much follow their half marathon training plan with a few minor adjustments. Becoming a 6 days a week runner has only benefited me and made me stronger and faster too. Hopefully you will see the results you want and great job getting out there!
I’m hopeful that my legs will get used to it soon. Today my legs were super tired and I was dragging by mile 6.
I haven’t taken a close look at Hansen’s Method. It sounds like the perfect plan for you running back to back days!
It’s a tough plan with running 6 days a week. Right now, my legs are perpetually tired…