2016 Chicago Marathon Training Week 13

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 #13, August 29-September 4

Monday:

• PLAN – 8 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – Total 8.02 miles @10:59 average pace

I woke up EXHAUSTED on Monday morning.  See picture below.  That is how I felt.

I did my run outside after school.  It was a warm and humid evening.  I had a headache and was debating whether or not to go.  I did go and felt much better afterwards.  

Tuesday:

• PLAN – 3x2miles @10:08 pace (with 1 mile w/up and c/d and 400 recovery) 
• ACTUAL – Total 6 miles @10:39 average pace

W/up and c/d @11:07.  Recovery @13.02.  I alternated a different song with paces of 10:10 and 10:00.   I did not do all repeats but at least I did half of this workout.  And that was my last workout for August.  I managed to finish the month with 191.34 miles.

Wednesday:

• PLAN – OFF
• ACTUAL – OFF

Thursday:

• PLAN – 9 tempo @10:18 pace (with 1 mile w/up and c/d)
• ACTUAL – Total 11 miles @10:17 average pace

A new month!  I was looking forward to this run.  W/up and c/d @11:07.  Alternated a different song with paces of 10:21, 10:10, 10:00, and 9:50.  Prior to my run I had a Generation UCAN snack bar and water.  I was doing great till mile 8.5 and then had to stop and take a break before continuing.  It wasn’t a horrible nor a great run but it was just OK.  Overall I am pleased with it because it was a bit faster than what I should have run these tempo miles.

Friday: 

• PLAN – 7 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – 7 miles @11:48 average pace

Another run on the treadmill before work.  I alternated a different song with paces of 12:00, 11:47, and 11:32. 

Saturday:

• PLAN – 16 long @10:29-11:05 pace
• ACTUAL – 16.02 miles @11:26 average pace

A gorgeous morning for running.  Temperatures were in the mid 60s.  Pleased with how I paced my CES group for 10 miles because most of them were under 11:00 minutes.  Once I was done, I walked to my car (1/2 mile) and on the way stopped for coffee while I ate a Cliff Bar.  I was hungry.  I lost my motivation to run.  My friend, Claudia, told me to just run because I had already run 10 miles and what is 6 more.  True.  But I was tired.  So I ran but I also walked.  Those last 6 miles were done very slow. After my run Claudia met me at Portillo’s for burgers, fries, and beer.  The best!

Sunday:

• PLAN – 8 easy @10:52-12:16 pace
• ACTUAL – 8.02 miles @13:45 average pace

Another gorgeous morning to run 8 miles.  I met up with Claudia for this run.  We both did 16 on Saturday so we were tired.  We ran slow and enjoyed it.  We saw a gorgeous sunrise and stopped to admire it.  

Week 13 went well.  I felt tired but did not skip any runs (I did not complete all of the Tuesday run but did most of it).  I am very pleased with my tempo run on Thursday.  Next week I have 2×3 mile repeats and a 9 tempo run.

Also, don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a Headsweats visor and a tube of Nuun.  They’re both perfect for the remaining weeks of marathon/half marathon/other training.

Total mileage for the week: 56.06 miles <<The most I’ve run in a week.

Total mileage for this training cycle: 531.46 miles

Total mileage for the year: 1,014.52 miles <<Crazy to see that about half of those miles are from training for the Chicago Marathon.

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
• Week 12