This was a step back week (aka lower mileage/shorter long run). It made my legs happy, but even better, it made me happy. I love to run, but sometimes a shorter run does the trick even better than a long run. So I ran a little less, but I some how ended up on the stationary bike a little more. (How’d that happen?)
Week Stats:
- Number of workouts this week: 5 (interval run on the treadmill, 8 mile tempo run, 10 mile long run, two bike cross-training sessions)
- Total number of miles run so far during training: 130.9 (23.3 this week!)
- Geronimo’s total number of miles this week: 4.5
- Temperature on the coldest run: 32 degrees, windy, snow on the ground, but the sun was out!
- Days until the marathon: 63
The smartest thing I did this week was deciding to squeeze in my long run on Friday. It left my Saturday and Sunday wide open. Fantastico if you ask me! It was mighty cold out (32 with an icy chill in the air; it had snowed a little the night before), but the sun was out. When the sun comes out, I cannot help but answer the call.
blue sky = must run!
Geronimo kept me company for 3 miles, and I did the remaining 7 on my own. I decided to run somewhere new, and I ended up all the way in Mantel! I run toward this town regularly, but I’ve never made it all the way there because there’s a stretch of road (about a tenth of a mile) with no sidewalk. The speed limit on the road is “as fast as you care to drive” so I was a little nervous about being sidewalk-less even for a short stretch. Luckily, it’s not a very popular road.
I’m so glad I went exploring. It’s always fun to switch things up. So even though Mantel is very hilly, with cobblestone roads, narrow sidewalks, and not very big (I was out of town and out of sidewalk in half a mile), it was fun to run there.
Well, hello there, Mantel.
Long run Stats:
- 10 mile finish time: 1:41:57
- Average pace: 10:11 per mile
My goal pace for this run was 10:15. 10:11 is not too shabby if you ask me. I wrapped up Friday with a gloriously hot shower, compression socks, eating beans & rice, and watching Enemy at the Gates with my husband. Also not too shabby.
Another great week of training! Here’s hoping for 9 more just like it!*
gorgeous photos
Thanks! Those little peak-a-boos of blue sky made all the difference!*
Looks like a good week of training
Must be fun exploring new places over there!
It is fun exploring; it keeps things interesting.*
I’m glad you had a good training week. Step back weeks are good for the mind and the body. I hope week 10 is just as good.
You go that right. It just made me feel like knowing that I “only” had to run 10 miles as my long run.*
Another great week of training
You are killing it.
Thanks! It’s going better than I expected so far. I just need to stay consistent and injury free for two more months and I’ll be good to go!*
Great week, Amy! I love that last picture of Mantel!
Serious question: how do you not get burnt out on marathon training since it takes so long? Are your new routes and scenery helping with that?
Good question. The answer is: I have no idea. Just a deep need to run, I guess. That plus too much free time. Haha! The change in scenery does help. As does Geronimo’s need for exercise.*
Impressive. Maybe in my next life