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 #12, August 22-28

Monday:

• PLAN – 6 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – Total 6.02 miles @10:44 average pace

First day back at work.  To say that I was tired is an understatement…no kids yet just a day full of fun meetings.  Obviously I wanted to skip this run but made myself go (after a short nap).  I had so much energy and ran faster than I should have. 

Tuesday:

• PLAN – 4×1.5 miles @10:08 pace (with 1 mile w/up and c/d and 400 recovery) 
• ACTUAL – Total 10 @10:55 average pace

Another day full of meetings.  Gosh, those are more tiring than a run!  W/up and c/d @11:07.  Recovery @13.02.  I alternated a different song with paces of 10:10 and 10:00.  Tired afterwards but felt great throughout my run.  Legs were sore from TRX in the morning.

Wednesday:

• PLAN – OFF
• ACTUAL – OFF

Thursday:

• PLAN – 9 tempo @10:18 pace (with 1 mile w/up and c/d)
• ACTUAL – Did not run.

First day with the kids.  It was HECTIC and I was not prepared.  I did the best I could and saw many happy faces.  Some told me already that I was their favorite teacher.  I have a good group of kids. They’re well behaved and excited to come to school and learn.

Friday: 

• PLAN – 6 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – 6 miles @12:00 average pace

I was still sore and tired from Thursday.  I went to the gym in the morning because I did not want to run after school.  I alternated a different song with paces of 12:15, 12:00, and 11:46.  

I saw this gorgeous sunrise after I picked up coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts.

Saturday:

• PLAN – 10 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – 10.02 miles @12:58 average pace

I decided not to run with CES because they were running 16 miles.  Instead, I ran with my friend, Claudia.  She runs with a different group and they were meeting at 5am and that meant a 4am wake up call.  Oh well.  It had to be done.  I did not know it was raining and was NOT looking forward to running in the rain.  However, it did not rain as bad as last week and it was actually run.  We took our time and we enjoyed it.  I was hoping to see the sunrise but it was very foggy and cloudy.  

After our run we went to The Original Pancake House for a well deserved breakfast.

Sunday:

• PLAN – 10 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – 9.02 miles @12:34 average pace

Another 4am wake up call to run this morning.  Luckily it did not rain but it was humid.  It was close to 80 degrees and 85% humidity.  I took it slow and felt great throughout my run.  I was pleased to see the sunrise and it was gorgeous.  However, I ran 9 miles instead of 10.  Next week we have 16 miles on our schedule and I might start earlier.  But it all depends on how warm it will be that day.

Week 12 went well.  I was very tired and missed two runs.  I am very pleased with my strength run on Tuesday.  Next week I have 3×2 mile repeats and a 9 tempo run.

Total mileage for the week: 41.06 miles

Total mileage for this training cycle: 475.40 miles

Total mileage for the year: 958.46 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
• Week 10
• Week 11