2016 Chicago Marathon Training Week 10

I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for their Weekly Wrap.

Hoping everyone had a good week!

Chicago Marathon training is here!  I am excited (and nervous) to be training using the Hansons Marathon Method.  In a nutshell, this training is based on the concept of cumulative fatigue. You train your body to run often so that you are frequently running on tired legs.  The idea is to run this way so that during the last miles of a race you are prepared to push through the final miles. These plans are 18 weeks and have you running 6 days (easy, speed/strength, tempo, and long runs) a week with one rest day. 

Week #10, August 8-14

Monday:

• PLAN – 6 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – 6 miles @11:35 average pace

I did not feel well in the morning.  My body ached (not like after a workout ache) and my mother told me I had a fever. Well, that made sense.  I took a Tylenol and a nap and felt much better afterwards. I did this run on the treadmill and alternated a different song with paces of 12:00, 11:32, and 11:07.

I received 3 more Oiselle shirts.  Aren’t they cute?  I wore the black one on my run today.

Thanks to Timehop I was reminded of my long run and ice bath last year.  Lola as always was curious and wanted to know what I was doing.

Tuesday:

• PLAN – 3×1600 @9:04-9:27 pace (with 1 mile w/up and c/d) 
• ACTUAL – Total 6.11 @10:33 average pace

W/up and c/d @11:07.  Recovery @13.02.  I did not want to do this run.  I had spent about 5 hours setting up my classroom.  By the time I drove into the gym parking lot, I already had 10,000 steps for the day.  However, it definitely went better than I expected.  I alternated 3/4 minutes with the interval timer with paces of 9:23, 9:14, 9:05.

I need to remember to always believe in myself.

On a sad note, I lost my Ipod Nano.  I remember I had it with me in the locker room and then somehow I could not find it when I was ready to start running.  I went back to look for it and also checked around the treadmill but nothing.  I was hoping that someone would find it and turn it in.  

Before I went to set up my room, I stopped at IHOP for breakfast.  

This was when I walked in my room.

Again, thanks to Timehop, I was reminded of my first post and photo on Facebook from 8 years ago.  It was my coworker who convinced me to open an account.  I remember telling her that I was afraid no one would want to be my friend.  

Wednesday:

• PLAN – OFF
• ACTUAL – OFF

I went to school to finish setting it up.  And I am pleased to say that it is almost ready for my kids.

Thursday:

• PLAN – 8 tempo @10:18 pace (with 1 mile w/up and c/d)
• ACTUAL – Did not run.

It was one of those days where my body told me to stay home and rest.  That is what I did.  Well, I did go to Target with my mother for a few things and spent over $100!  I bought an Ipod Nano and look how small it is.  I called the gym that night to find out if someone turned in my other one.  Nope.

Friday: 

• PLAN – 6 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – 6.02 miles @11:55 average pace

I wanted to run outside instead of the treadmill but knew it would be hot.  I woke up early to do this run. It was hot but it felt great being outside.  And yes I did see those two chickens on my runs.

Saturday:

• PLAN – 10 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – 9.02 miles @11:09 average pace

Before my run I took Generation UCAN.  I was a little nervous because I am so used to taking gels, chews, or blocks during my run.  With UCAN I mix it with water and then drink it 30 minutes before my run.  The way it works is that it slowly delivers steady energy for the brain and body.  Also, it is a natural and slow releasing carbohydrate that keeps blood sugar stable.  I am experimenting with this product so I only drank plain water throughout my run.

I checked the weather in the morning and saw 75 degrees.  Perfect!  Wrong, it was humid and gross today.  For the most part I felt OK but I did get a headache after mile 6.  Someone asked me if I was hydrating properly and I thought I was but once I was done I drank a lot of water because I was indeed very thirsty.  Overall, I am very pleased with this run.

Sunday:

• PLAN – 10 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL –10.02 miles @12:12 average pace

I went to the trail for this run and it was great!  It was 70 degrees with lots of shade.  I ran with a friend and while we did take some walk breaks, I am pleased with my overall pace because it isn’t an easy course.  I was soaking wet at the end of my run. Gross. 

Week 10 went well.  I missed my tempo run on Thursday and that is OK.  Beginning next week is when I will start with the strength running portion of my plan.  They’re 10 seconds faster than tempo pace and longer than my speed workouts.  Next week I have 6×1 mile runs on my calendar.  The last time I did this workout was on April 5th and this is what I wrote in Google Calendar for that run “Total 8 miles @11:05 average pace.  I cannot remember the paces I did for the mile repeats but I only managed to do 4.  Legs felt tired and I could not keep going.  I did warm up and cool down plus 800 recovery after each mile repeat. ”  Let’s hope this time I do run all 6 mile repeats. 

Total mileage for the week: 37.17 miles

Total mileage for this training cycle: 386.82 miles

Total mileage for the year: 869.88 miles

Here’s how training has gone so far:

• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7
• Week 8
• Week 9