Approximately a year ago, Beer Geek realized that his brother lived in the "path of totality" for the eclipse. He immediately made plans for us to visit South Carolina for a weekend. I, on the other hand, did not even have the eclipse on my mental radar until he informed me that I couldn't run a Ragnar this weekend because I'd be in South Carolina. Umm, ok. So, marathon training had to flex to fit around our travel schedule. This lead me to plan my 15 mile long run on Friday because I didn't want to run a long run in a place I didn't know and there was no way I could get one in before we left at 5:30am on Saturday. Friday morning dawned hot and humid. This became the theme for my next few runs. In fact, I would have never have run 16 … [Read more...]
Marine Corps Marathon Training: Almost halfway
I can't believe I am entering week 9 of Marine Corps Marathon training! Usually by this point, I'm starting to struggle with burnout and am desperate for fall weather. This has been such a crazy summer that instead, I'm finding myself actually almost back on my training plan and ready to buckle down and get it done. Last week was the first week in about a month where I actually ran every run on my training plan. I'm not going to lie - I didn't run every run exactly as planned. Life was just too busy and there was no way I could jump from a low 20s week up to a 40 mile week. So, here's what went down... Monday - Plan: 6 easy miles. Actual: 6 easy miles. Woot! Tuesday - Plan: warm up, 6x800 at 5k/10k pace, cool down. Actual: warm up, … [Read more...]
Marine Corps Marathon Training: Back on the Wagon
A few weeks ago, I was doing a great job of following the Hansons beginner plan. "Beginner" seems a bit of a misnomer as it's a challenging plan compared to most beginner plans. While the long run tops out at 16 miles, the overall mileage each week is similar to some of Hal Higdon's advanced plans. Anyways, things were going well and then we headed on vacation. Even worse, I caught that awful bug that sapped my energy more than the first trimester of pregnancy. (Between the unsettled stomach and the exhaustion, I would have been freaking out, except Beer Geek was feeling just like I was.) While we were on vacation, we did a lot of hiking and walking, but it wasn't until close to the end that I tried to run. I managed a 3 mile run in … [Read more...]
Was July a pass or fail kind of month?
It's that time of the month. No, not that one. The one where Marcia, Patty, and I rate our month in running as part of Tuesdays on the Run and we hope that you'll join us. I have to admit that I'm not sure how to rate this month. The last Tuesday falls kind of early - this last week could totally make or break me LOL. I've had some good runs. I've had some awful runs. But up until I got the stomach bug last week, I was nailing my Marine Corps Marathon training plan. If you've followed me in previous years, you'd know that I really struggle with managing all the runs in the heat of a Virginia summer. My trick this year? A running buddy. We ran in the rain... We ran in the heat... We ran stupid … [Read more...]
That time I fell off the map for a few days
Remember how I mentioned my love (0r not) of summer running? Well, despite my loathing of running in ridiculous heat and humidity, I dragged myself out on Tuesday after camp drop off and "ran" 8 miles with my training buddy. While there was some running involved, there was also a fair amount of walking up hills and a whole lot of "do we really have to do all 8 miles?" But we toughed it out and survived. Sort of. The next day I was planning another longish run, but between work, family visiting, and kid camp schedules (not to mention the heat), I was happy to manage 5 miles on the treadmill. Then the wheels fell off my training. Beer Geek came home on Wednesday from work and went straight to bed. Uh oh. I woke up feeling off on … [Read more...]
Training for a fall marathon in the south
Every year in March, I do my best to get into the Marine Corps Marathon. Every year in July or August, I curse past MCM Mama for thinking this was a good idea. It's not that I don't love the Marine Corps Marathon. I do. I love it so much that this will be my 4th time running it. What I hate is training for a fall marathon through the summer in the south. Case in point, yesterday when I went out for my run, the "feels like" temperature was 97*. At 9:30 in the morning. Ugh. I managed 4 miles outside and then finished the last 2 on the treadmill (with the AC unit next to the treadmill going full blast.) With the New York Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, and the Marine Corps Marathon all within a short number of weeks, as well as many smaller … [Read more...]
Runfessions are good for the sole
Or good for the soul. Something like that. How have we reached the end of June already? It seems like just yesterday I was packing for the trip with Beer Geek. Since then both kids have survived finals, Shoo graduated from elementary school, and Jones took a visit to San Diego with his grandmother. Now the boys and I are enjoying a week in Wisconsin. I have a feeling this summer is going to fly by. But it's the last Friday of the month, so that means it is time to head to the Runfessional. Marine Corps Marathon training has begun. Somehow I missed the first week and then I jumped to the 5th week. I should probably actually put the plan on a calendar so I at least know what I'm supposed to be doing. Otherwise I may find myself … [Read more...]
Tips for Marathon Training on the Treadmill
I was provided the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 treadmill in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion in this sponsored post. Last winter, I did not have a treadmill. My old one died after 10 faithful years of service and my new NordicTrack Commercial 1250 had not arrived yet. Thankfully, I did not have a spring marathon in the plans, because we got hit with 23" of snow IN ONE WEEKEND last winter. I'll train outside in all kinds of weather, but it's kind of hard to train when all the surfaces are covered with over a foot of snow! I know a lot of people who put in a lot of miles on treadmills last winter. Luckily, by the time I need to start training for the Marine Corps Marathon, my new treadmill had arrived. Unfortunately, so … [Read more...]
Running the last long run: Burke Lake Park
I've mentioned before that my MCM training did not go quite as I planned. My mojo was missing and life was just busier than it's been when I've previously run a marathon. Somehow, I just never managed to make the training a priority. There's really no one to blame but myself for the situation I found myself in this week, but when push came to shove, I got in the last long run. To make this run happen, I had to block my day on the calendar. I declined meetings. My to do list was empty. I knew I had 6 hours from the time I dropped off Shoo until I needed to be back to pick him up. This allowed me to run in a different location than usual. So, off to Burke Lake Park I went. Burke Lake has a 4.5ish mile loop around the lake that many … [Read more...]
Taper Quirks: I love a good taper!
Confession: Unlike most runners heading towards the Marine Corps Marathon, I am not yet in taper land. I have to do one more long training run before I head to taper. Instead of running long this weekend so I could start my taper, I was single parenting Shoo while he played in a soccer tournament (Beer Geek and Jones were off on their own adventure.) My Saturday consisted of driving lots of miles at stupid early in the morning, watching two games in the rain and then heading home to try to recover (which may have involved meeting a friend for a beer and a bit of vodka.) Sunday was supposed to be more of the same, but after another stupid early drive in the rain, I got to watch Shoo play for two minutes before his head slammed into the … [Read more...]
Marathon Training: Do not try this at home
Back in February, I totally succumbed to FOMO. I jumped online when the MCM 17.75 registration opened and secured my spot to run the "race to register." Even as I as registering, I was all "I'm going to give away the code. I don't want to run the Marine Corps Marathon again." Somehow, I got confused and signed up for MCM. OK, maybe I wasn't confused, I just had selective amnesia. You know how you forget how hard childbirth was as soon as they hand you the baby? Marathons are JUST like that. And in my defense, I love the Marine Corps Marathon. It's a great race with amazing support and a wonderful course. I would happily run it every year. If it was in the spring. This is how I want to look when I'm training... Not like … [Read more...]
Surviving the Summer Doldrums
I'm not a fan of August, which is kind of amusing since my birthday AND my favorite beer festival both happen in August. But that's 2 days of awesome surrounded by many days of struggling with summer. I've often commented that I get reverse "SAD". I just don't like being hot, I'm not a fan of swimming, and I fry (or freckle) in the sun. I'm like the antithesis of the golden brown Sun Goddess. Add in summer marathon training and I'm admittedly more than a little bit cranky these days. But, I know I just need to stick it out a few more weeks and then the mornings will be cooler and then the kids will go back to school and we will all get back into a routine. (What? Sleeping from 1am-10am is a routine. Maybe not a good one, but it's a … [Read more...]
