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...]
An amazing weekend and 15 minutes of fame
Some weekends you have incredible plans and go out and do adventurous things. Some weekends you take it easy and just enjoy the life you have. This weekend was one of the latter types, but it was still an amazing weekend for me. Friday night we stayed in and took it easy. We also finished the remaining beer from Ragnar Trail Richmond. Yes, there are benefits to being sponsored by a brewpub and being the captain. Saturday I got up early (but not crazy early) to volunteer at a Ragnar event. The weather was crummy, so it didn't go as well as expected, but I had a fun time. Then I came home and went for a run and did some chores around the house. I'm wearing the new Skirt Sports Hover Capri here (affiliate link) and it's super … [Read more...]
Marine Corps 17.75 2017 Race Recap
Marine Corps 17.75 March 25, 2017 1:58:22 Temp: mid-50s What I wore: hat, short sleeve shirt, Skirt Sports Happy Girl skirt, compression socks, and my Altra Escalante shoes I love this race. It's one of the hardest races I run each year, but I keep coming back. I didn't originally sign up to run because of a scheduling conflict, but had a change hours before the transfer period closed. A quick plea to the Facebook group and Boom! I was in. Life continued to be a little crazy right up to the race. My Saturday plans changed more than once and then on Friday Shoo stayed home with a stomach bug. Thanks to him just feeling icky and a mom friend being "on call", I was still able to shoot down to Quantico with friends to pick up my … [Read more...]
Marine Corps Marathon 2016 Race Recap
Marine Corps Marathon 2016 October 30, 2016 4:55:10 Temp: Low 60s and slightly overcast at the start, low 80s at the finish What I wore: hat, MRTT MCM tank, Skirt Sports Happy Girl Skirt(this is an affiliate link), Crazy Compression socks, , and Altra Running One 2.5 (affiliate link). I carried a handheld water bottle, one GUs, a cut up rice krispy treat, and an extra nuun tablet. (Oh, and my metro card in case I decided that I needed to DNF.) As I mentioned many times over the last few weeks, I was undertrained for the Marine Corps Marathon 2016 race, so my plan was to have as much fun as I could. I totally succeeded in my plan, but in a very different way than I thought I would. Marine Corps Marathon 2016 Pre-Race I was more … [Read more...]
Final Countdown to MCM
Three more days until it's time for my 3rd and final Marine Corps Marathon. (OK, I reserve the right to run the 50th in 9 years if I want to.) I'm as ready as one can get, but I swear I'm all over the place mentally. On the bright side, I did manage to vote on Tuesday and go for a run down to Iwo Jima. I also worked on my DuClaw recipe for this month. Lesson learned: unsweetened baking chocolate is not the same thing as bittersweet chocolate. Also? When you chill it, it turns into a brick. So, I had to go to the store to get the right kind of chocolate and discovered that going to the store when you are tapering is even worse than when you are hungry. But on the bright side: BEER! Yes, folks, it's time for the … [Read more...]
MCM Goals: The Elephant in the Room
The topic for this week's Tuesdays on the Run is "goals", specifically what goals do you have left for the year. Oddly, the main goal I have left for the year wasn't even on my list of goals for the year. What goal is that? Finishing the Marine Corps Marathon. At the beginning of the year, I had no intention of running Marine Corps. In fact, I had no intention of running 17.75. But then I got caught up in FOMO and quickly registered for the 17.75 race in the five minutes that it was open. How does that even happen? How does one go from not really wanting to do something to participating in the crazy rush to get into a race? Yep, definitely FOMO. Somehow I also entered the lottery. Seriously people, what was I … [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...]
My minimalist fall racing and training plan
Or maybe I should title it "how few miles can I run and still finish a marathon." Today's topic for Tuesdays on the Run is "Fall Races". Tell us what your running or what your favorite races are. Who knows, I might show up at one... My schedule is really empty for me. So empty that I'm kind of getting hives about it while simultaneously thinking I should get rid of my Marine Corps Marathon bib. Yes, I have issues. Not racing means I actually need to run some decent length training runs. I'm not very good at that. I know this is shocking, but I only have 3 races this fall. What???? Ragnar DC I'm looking forward to this even though I wasn't originally planning to run. I'm running with Mad Fox Brewing's team "Mad Fox 12 Pack". My … [Read more...]
Runfession is good for the soul
TGIF. This has been a busy week and I'm tired. Thursday was my birthday and it was an ok day (not amazing, but acceptable), until the end of the day. Then I happened to notice that the bubbles from Shoo's bubble bath were coming out of our basement toilet. I'm pretty sure that's not a good sign. I'm hoping that when the plumber shows up it's not a big clog, but I'm mentally prepared for it to be a big deal. Sigh. So, let's get on with some runfessions... I've been using Hansons Marathon Method to train for Marine Corps Marathon. In theory, at least. I haven't hit a full week of training in over a month. And speed work? I don't even know what that is anymore. On Sunday, I finished my goal of 23 half marathons in 23 states in … [Read more...]
Marine Corps Marathon: Training with Hansons
Thank you to Bob's Red Mill and Fit Approach for sponsoring this post. Here we go again: time to kick off training for the Marine Corps Marathon. And Virginia has been doing her best to remind me why I always say I'm done with fall marathons. I mean, who likes to run in 90% humidity? I looked like I'd gone for a swim! But, I ran 17.75 just to get into the Marine Corps Marathon, so you know I won't be dropping now. So, I've cracked open my trusty Hansons Marathon Method book and placed my runs on the calendar. For those who are curious, I've put both the Advanced and the Beginner versions on my calendar. I aspire to complete the Advanced, but I'm a realist and acknowledge the fact that sometimes I get lazy and other times life … [Read more...]
