As mentioned in this post, I’m attempting to get my own BQ. I am excited to be training using again the Hansons 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. I am not sure when I will qualify but am determined to get there.
Week #8, May 15-21
M Ran 6.02 Miles
T Ran 1.63 Miles
W OFF
TH Ran 7.02 Miles
F Did not run
S Ran 6.02 Miles
S Ran 10.02 Miles
Monday’s run was awful. I was supposed to run my 6 miles between 12:57-13:57 and even that felt tough. On my way back I saw a new teacher’s store and went in to browse. I am excited about school being over in a few weeks but I LOVE seeing stuff that I could use in my classroom. I did see the best poster on the wall that made me smile and continue with my run.
Tuesday’s run did not go well either. I was hot and just wasn’t feeling it. Earlier that day we received our assignment letters for next year. I was assigned to teach the same grade next school year. That made me happy. However, my best teacher friend was moved to another school and that made me angry. I could not understand why. She is a great teacher and gets her job done. I was hoping that this anger would push me to get the workout (6×800) done but it didn’t.
Thursday’s tempo was another hot one and I did not hit my tempo pace (11:27). But you know what? I did not care. I was just happy to be running.
Saturday’s run went better than I expected. I went later in the day when it was about 60 degrees and felt so good that I ran faster than I was supposed to. I just had this energy and just kept going.
I still felt good on Sunday and 5 of my miles were under 12:00 minutes. According to my plan, each mile is supposed to be between 11:57-13:27. I did pretty good!
I know my two runs in the beginning of the week did not go well but I am happy that my last two did.
Total mileage for the week: 30.71 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle: 188.60 miles
Total mileage for the year: 236.79 miles
I know lots of people who have had great success with the Hansons method. I tried it years ago and it was too much running for me too many days in a row so I bailed. Good luck to you and look forward to hearing how it goes
Thanks! It is many days of running and sometimes I find myself not in the middle to run.
Glad you were able to push through your miles. There’s no way I could do Hanson’s, but I sure admire people who do!!!
Thanks! You are doing great in your running too.
I’m sorry that your runs didn’t feel great this week 🙁 I think it’s really hard to get adjusted to the hot weather, especially the crazy hot weather we got this week! I’m glad that your run on Sunday went well!
Thanks. I know we all have those bad days but it is awesome when we have those runs in which we feel like running forever.
I love that you’ve set your sights on a BQ, no matter how long it takes. I’ve done the Hansons Method for a few half marathons and my only full marathon. I love the method but this year am not sure if I have the time for it. It sounds like I was training at very close to your paces, and those runs take so long at those paces! But I do love the method since it built my confidence so much. Sounds like you’re doing great this training cycle!
Thanks! I remember reading Courtney’s blog and she referenced you and your blog in her posts. I agree that it helps with confidence.
The Hanson’s method freaks me out LOL Kudos to you, though, for making it work 😉 We had hot weather here last weekend, and also on Tuesday…then everything got cold & damp. Hoping it turns around this week.
Thanks! I am hanging in there and doing the best I can.
Glad the runs went better throughout the week. I also think hansons is too much running for me. Kudos to to you! -M
Thanks. It is a lot of running but you get used to it. But there are days in which I find myself not wanting to run at all and I don’t run.
I’m glad the runs toward the end of the week felt better. I am so ready for school to be over. My high schooler’s last day is Thursday. My 5th grader has a few more weeks. We learned her teacher will be moving to a different school to teach 7th grade Science. It was obvious he wasn’t very invested in teaching 5th grade. I hate when that happens. Passionate teachers rock.
Thanks! I am jealous that your daughter’s last day is Thursday.
The great thing about this plan is that even when you have an off day, you’re still getting in great mileage. Love your determination, lady!
Thanks as always for your support and encouragement!
Keep at it! You have a great attitude and it’s awesome that you were able to recover mentally from runs that didn’t go well and feel awesome by the end of the week.
Thanks Elizabeth! You support and encouragement means a lot to me.
I’m still trying to figure out how to balance running 5 days a week with cross-training. I’m not sure I could ever do Hansons, but I love reading about other people’s training using it. Keep at it! All of this training through the summer makes for faster fall times.
Thank you. It isn’t easy and I have my days when I struggle too. I am looking into joining another gym to do cross training and/or strength training classes. We’ll see how that goes.
This time of year the weather has a big impact on my running — I’m not used to the heat or humidity yet. Way to keep at it!
Thanks! No matter what there is always something to complain about the weather (raining, too hot, too cold, too humid). 😉😀
well done on your training. sometimes we also need hard or struggling runs to actually complete the cycle. seems like you still went out and did it and at the end of the week it paid off!
heat I can deal with… humidity is something else. not looking forward. already struggled a bit last week with humidity…
Thanks for your support. Yeah, humidity sucks.
Glad you finished out your week on a high note! I had a couple of tough runs too…it can definitely get frustrating, but we can’t give up!
Thanks! Not easy but we need to remember that we must go on.
Sounds like you are doing pretty good with this training method …even with some tough runs, you still pushed through! Can’t wait to meet you in a few weeks!
Thank you! I am excited to meet you too in Utah.