Marathon Training : A Change of Plans

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you all had a good weekend and managed to stay warm.  Last week, we got hit with a huge cold spell, and every day had negative wind chill.  Not a good way to start the year off, but you gotta do what you gotta do to get your training in!

I also have a bit of an update!  As you all know, I have been training for the Newport News One City Marathon.  As it turns out, plans changed and I can no longer do that one.  It works out well because I hadn't signed up for it yet (because I knew the day might not work out), and now I have more time to train!  I have been feeling a little under-prepared with all the traveling I did during the holidays, so this makes me feel a lot better.  

So- I decided to do the Hall of Fame Marathon in Canton.  I was actually already signed up for the half (during their $26.20 promo), and just switched my registration over to the full.  I feel really good about this decision, and feel like I'm really going to crush the training.  Here's to another 16 weeks!

Monday

Barre / 1 hour

Happy New Year!  I had to start 2018 with a bang, so I signed up for a class at The Dailey Method with my favorite instructor. The class was so great, and ended up with a 10 minute stretch/intention setting for the year.  When we left, we got mason jars with a tag telling us to add in favorite memories from the year.  I can't wait to read what's in the jar next New Years!

Tuesday

Rest Day

Wednesday

4.5 miles

I did a hybrid sort of workout on the treadmill- 1 mile warmup, 2.5 miles going between hill repeats and marathon pace, 1 mile cool down.  I'm not really a treadmill fan, but don't mind it if I can mix things up and watch something to distract me.

Thursday

Rest Day!

Friday

4 miles / 8:58 pace

Even though it was 0 degrees (with -18 windchill), I wanted to get my run done outside.  So, I bundled myself up in about 20 layers, made sure no skin was exposed, and headed out.  It turned out to feel great with all the layers on and I really enjoyed this run!  It was sunny out (which is rare in Pittsburgh), and I had a good run, and managed to hit my goal of 4 miles at marathon pace.

Swimming / 400 yards

I told myself that I would make 2018 the year that I finally did a triathlon.  Since I want to do one this summer, I figured there's no time like now to start swimming!  I went to a YMCA close to my house for the first time, and it was so much fun. The gym is amazing (can't believe I never went before), and the swimming went great!  It was definitely hard since it's been a long time since I've done lap swimming, but I got it done.

Saturday

4.5 miles / 9:31 pace

Another cold day, another bundled up run.  I headed to the park and did a few miles on road and a few miles on the trail.  It was really relaxing because the park wasn't busy, and it was actually a pretty beautiful day out.

Sunday

10 miles / 9:16 pace

I headed out for my long run, and started to feel so stiff around the 3 mile mark.  I just felt like I was completely frozen, and it almost hurt to move my arms and legs!  I was hoping to get 15 miles on this run, but after 10 I just had to stop.  It was disappointing because my pace was great and it felt good, but I had no desire to keep going in the cold.

Swimming / 700 yards

I went straight from my run to the gym to get in some more swimming.  I tried to pace myself more and go further than I did on Friday.  I actually felt really good and was happy that 700 yards didn't feel that hard.  The first triathlon that I'm eyeing has a 900 yard swim, so I feel like I might be able to manage that!  

One more side note- I started the TRUE 30 day yoga challenge on the Yoga with Adriene YouTube channel.  I usually do her challenges every January, and this one is going really well.  I've been posting my daily practice on my instagram if you're interested in checking it out!  It's been helping a lot with recovery, and I love adding it in to my daily schedule!