Marathon Training Week 1

  Wow the day I have been waiting for since November 13, 2010 when I finished my first marathon in Richmond, Va has finally came this week-Boston Marathon Training!  Richmond was my first marathon and I have not done a marathon since so I am going into Boston as my second road race marathon.  I have dedicated myself to a 18 week training plan with a friend of mine who's a strong runner and is training for Boston as well.  We have the same goal so having her to do workouts with is wonderful. 

  This week being my first week, I have learned some lessons about what cross training works well and what does not. I think I may have lifted a touch too heavy with my legs on Thursday making Friday's hill repeats not so fun and my legs still a little sore going into Saturdays run. 

  Richmond was a day I will never forget, the 26.2 miles were so much fun and to be real honest with you, we really did not follow a training plan to prepare.  We ran A LOT of races and added miles before and after the race.  We did our weekday runs and long runs on the weekend, however, we did not many workouts specific to marathon training.  It was just on of those days when everything that could go right, went right.




Richmond Start Line



Richmond Finish-2nd favorite day of my life!



 

I told myself after Richmond and thinking about Boston 2012 (which felt like-never, never land away) that I was going to go into this marathon having trained like a runner, plan and all.  Well before I knew it December 2011 was here and training was about the begin.  This training like a runner came with some sacrifices.  I decided to no longer train with my personal trainer after almost 4 years, I will not lift as heavy as I had in the past and also will not do as many races.  Time on my bike, swimming and weights will have some places in my training plan but not as a means to wear me out more as cross training. 

Training plan, running journal and 26 miles to Boston book!

 
  I have gone through a lot of internal turmoil over this decision to give up some of the workouts I am so used to doing weekly to be more rest and have more time to commit run workout.  In the end I think it will be the right decision.   I am so excited to be where I am and honored at this privilege.  When I get to the finish line where my husband and entire family will be waiting on me I want to know that I gave it all I could!

William raced 13.1 yesterday while I had a training run

Week 1-26 miles
Monday-8 miles 4 at 1/2 marathon pace-I did not do this workout as I had done 31 miles for my 31st Birthday so I took complete rest days Sunday and Monday of this week to make sure I was rested!
Tuesday-Yoga
Wednesday 9 miles (med long run)1:15 8:20 pace at 0500-Hilly route to get used to the rolling
then 1000m swim after our run
Thursday 3.25 mile walk, weights and 1150 swim
Friday-5 recovery pace with 6 hill repeats (3 x 10 sec and 3 x 1 min)
Saturday-12 miles 1:38 (med long run) 8:12 pace-great rolling course and finished on a big up hill
Sunday-walk 2 miles, 600m swim and weights

17 weeks to go----woo hoo!

One Epic Run One Epic Weekend--An Ultra Tale....

    Ultra history-In October 2010 we completed our first 50K, we actually did an ultra before we even did our first marathon in November of 2010.  In January 2011 we completed our second 50K and in May we did the Enoree SC 40 miler.  We have a pack that we always stay together on the trails, easy does it and we just enjoy each others company.  After the Enoree 40 miler I told William that I wanted a break from ultras, he of course said that was okay and went on a few weeks later and did another 50K while I stayed back to ride with friends.

   In July we were going over our schedule of events left for the rest of the year and I told William that I wanted to run a 50K for my 31st Birthday!  William thought it was a great idea and we started to work on finding an event.  We had an idea of a few in the area when our friend Joseph informed us he was putting together a race on my Birthday that was a 24hr run but participants could do any distance.  We were thrilled and started to plan out our weekend plans for December.

One Epic Run was an EPIC event.  The race took place in Croft State Park.  It was a closed 2.96 mile loop that was technical and challenging but also beautiful.  William and I both run trails in Brooks Cascadia and we agree that it is the best trail shoe for us and would be for you.

   

We were able to meet so many different people on Saturday that all had different goals and stories that they wanted to share.  Our goal was 10 loops then get the last residual mile on the road by the aid station so that the Garmin would read exactly 31 miles. 

We did not have to carry any water or fuel with us as the loops were only 3 miles.  We had our cooler and fuel in a bag right were we came out on the loop.  Also, the volunteers and aid station was top notch!  The PB&J was amazing, there were like 10 different kinds of jelly to choose from!  JPP rocked the PBJ!
10 loops went by really fast and never got boring.  It was also funny how 90+ runners could get so spread out over 3 miles!  Every time we would come up on friends they would sing Happy Birthday.  One of our friends even sang me Happy Birthday in Russia.  It was so fun to do what I love to do for the day of my birthday.

After we celebrated with friends, had cake and headed to our hotel in Greenville.  There were still a lot of runners when we left as many had plans of running all 24hours!

  We went and checked in, had a celebration drink and sat in the hot tub!  I wanted to have my Birthday dinner at Whole Food, as we only get to go there when we travel.  Dinner was delicious and then we spent the evening shopping and walking around the stores.  We did practice some yoga as well as our legs were very tired but we were happy that we really did not have any pain.

 

Sunday morning we had brunch plans at Larkins on the River with a great friend of ours.  We had a wonderful meal with great company.  The restaurant is beautiful with great menu items and ambiance.  We highly recommend it and cannot wait to go back next time we are in Greenville. 

 

We then walked around downtown Greenville and went ice skating.  William is so good at whatever we do, he was cutting up the ice. I was worried if we stayed any long he was going to be recruited to the ice capades!

Gosh, the City of Greenville is so beautiful and really put us in the holiday spirit. 

I am very blessed to have had such a great birthday and one that I will never forget.  2011 was a neat year, we started the first month of the year with a 50K and ended the last month of the year with a 50K!

Until next time--Run Happy!

Girls just want to have fun-weekend review!

Another weekend over, time goes way too fast!
Friday 12/2/11-I took the day off, I tend to take Fridays as my rest day.  After a tough week and to be ready for the weekend it works well.  William normally takes Thursdays off since that is a travel day for him.  William ran on lunch Friday and did his run workout 12x400's at the Dam.  After work we had a great time with our running friends celebrating a friend and inspiration to our running community's Birthday!

Saturday 12/3/11-What a special day!  We volunteered for the Girls on the Run 5K at Saluda Shoals Park.  One of our 2011 goals was to volunteer at a rac,  really wanting to give back to the community.  One of our tri friends is a coach for GOTR and told us about this run back in September, we are so glad she did!  We had a blast and the passion our friend who coaches a team has for GOTR just showed through when we saw her with the girls.  William had the only water stop with 3 other people for 700-800 runners plus all runners had to run with a buddy.  He was very busy and excited to see things from the other side.  I had the opportunity to run with an incredible 12 year girl, who is a runner girl!  She taught me more than I tough her Saturday and was a girl after my own heart in her running style. She ran a great race and ran faster than she ever had.  She was so sweet and encouraging to her teammate as we went back on the course to cheer them on.

                                                                           

GOTR is a great program, I wish this was around when I was in Elementary and Middle School, it is very empowering for these girls.  A lot of our smiling running friends were there volunteering andcheering which made it a lot of fun.  We then hit the Saluda Shoal trails for a 8.5 mile run which included 10 x 1 min fartleks and 4 miles with friends.  We had a great time running and catching up with them both. 

Sunday 12/4/11-Christmas decorating and Sunday brunch of course!  Then we hopped on our mountain bikes and road a mile to the gym (awesome!) quick swim workout-250m warm up 10x50 then 250 cooldown.  Quick transition to change and off to Pump class for some weights.  After we hopped on our bikes and road down to our community parade then road on home!  It's a great day when we do not have to start the car to go the places we want to go riding, running or walking makes it so much more fun.

Have a great week and Run Happy--Tesm Schmitz