Marathon Training Update!
Happy Wednesday friend! I hope this week is going well for you and you have your eyes on the weekend ahead. Mine will consist of my favorite things at the moment: running, cycling, and pizza! Since we’re on the subject of working out, I figured that I would share a small marathon training update! It’s crazy to believe that I’m close to being 14 weeks out from the Chicago marathon! It doesn’t seem like a long time but at the same time it seems forever away. Any other runners training for a marathon this summer?
As far as the actual training goes, I think I’m doing well with hitting my weekly mileage goals. I’ve been able to find a group to do my track workouts with and a recovery run with during the week. Not only does it make the heat much more bearable but it helps me stay accountable and not skip runs. I normally am not one to do so but I have been working hard on building my base and getting miles in my legs since about March so now is usually the time where I start to taper off in the motivation department.
So, I’ll be completely honest and admit that I’m not running as much during the week as I said I would BUT I am always hitting my long runs. Even though I’ve been fighting with the Houston heat and humidity, I’m working on getting outside early enough to get my run in. The reason why I dropped two easy runs from my schedule is that life just happens. I can make time for the additional two runs but with the other crosstraining I do, it gets hard. At this point, I think I’m okay with hitting my three runs each week as well as keeping my cycling in check as well as weight training.
Another thing I want to touch on: NO INJURIES! Y’all this is the longest I’ve gone without even so much as a niggle. It’s been amazing. I’m 100% convinced it’s from weight training and I refuse to let anyone tell me otherwise. Working on lifting weights and strengthening my weaker muscles has done wonders for my running. It’s the best and if you’re not doing any weight training, you should get on it. I swear it’s made me faster too!
Nutrition is going well. I’m down to 140 pounds (started the year at 155) so I’m proud of myself for that. Not really restricting or “dieting”. Just been working on eating real food and having the right amount of portions with every meal! Still testing out race day nutrition since I have to account for the crazy amount of sweat that’s happening on my recent long runs but it looks like Salted Watermelon Gu are my favorite! I’ve been having to have a glass of Nuun before and after my long runs with some salt tabs during just to avoid any weird headaches and cramps. It’s bad out there y’all but it what we do to get stronger! I hope to have a mock race day trial closer to race day and keeping my fingers crossed for cooler weather when I do!
This training cycle has been good to me. I’ve changed stuff up from the original plan (I mean, everyone does this right?!) but it’s going so well. I feel much stronger and I’m looking forward to each week ahead!
Are you training for the Chicago marathon? How’s your training going?
