Category: Running

2024 Chicago Marathon Training Week #6

Chicago Marathon Weekly Recap-1Happy Sunday everyone!  I am on Team TCS Teachers and training to run the Chicago Marathon on October 13.  This will be my 9th marathon and my 6th Chicago Marathon.

Here is how my week went:

Week #6, July 29-August 4

Monday: Walked 2.35 miles and 25 minutes on the Peloton.  

Tuesday: Ran 3.52 and walked 1.53 miles.  Today’s run was an easy run with some hill strides.  This is one of my favorite workouts! 

Wednesday: Walked 1.12 miles.  I didn’t run in the morning because I took my mom the hospital for a carpal tunnel release surgery.  We woke up at 4:30 am and were at the hospital by 5:30 am.  The surgery went well and we left the hospital around 11:30 am.  It was a busy morning.  In keeping up with my run/walk daily activity, I went walking close to 8pm.  It felt good to walk but it was very warm.

Thursday: Ran 6.35 and walked .78 miles.  Today was a 1.50 mile warmup, 3 miles @12:03 pace with a 3 minute recovery after each mile, and then a 1.50 mile cool down.  I almost skipped this workout because it was very humid.  I didn’t hit the 12:03 pace but managed to get negative splits (12:35, 12:13, 12:09).  I am pleased with how I did and am glad I didn’t skip this workout.

Friday: Walked 2.50 miles.  This was the perfect way to recover from Thursday’s run.

Saturday: Ran 2.65 and walked 1.14 miles.  It was an 35 minute easy run but there was nothing easy about it.

Sunday:  Ran 3.30 and walked 3.18 miles.  I really, really wanted to run 13 miles.  I woke up early, ate some pop tarts with my coffee, and went to the lakefront.  I was doing 15 minutes running and 1 minute walking.  I did OK for 3 miles and then stopped.  I was not having a good run.  I was doubting myself and wondering how the heck I was going to run 26.2 miles.  Thinking this way is dangerous.  Soon you start to believe it.  I gave in too soon.  I stopped my watch, turned around, and walked back to my car.  

Do I still want to continue training for the marathon?  I am not sure.  

TOTAL:
Running: 15.82
Walking: 12.61
Cycling: 5.43

Here’s how training has gone so far:

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5

2024 Chicago Marathon Training Week #5

Chicago Marathon Weekly Recap-1Happy Sunday everyone!  I am on Team TCS Teachers and training to run the Chicago Marathon on October 13.  This will be my 9th marathon and my 6th Chicago Marathon.

Here is how my week went:

Week #5, July 22-28

Monday: Walked 1.17 miles.It was a “quick” walk before finishing packing up and leaving Minnesota.  We were out the door by 8:30am.   

Tuesday: Walked 1.72 miles.  Today’s run was an easy run with some hill strides.  However, I didn’t run because I was tired from the day before (I drove the whole way from Minnesota)

Wednesday: Ran 4.69 and walked 1 miles.  Today was a 20 minute warmup, 3 sets of 1 x 1km, 2 minutes rest, 1 x 300m, 2 minutes rest and then a 20 minute cool down.  I love that I can program these workouts into my watch.  Total 4.69 miles @12:46 pace.  I did good but my coach told me that since I hadn’t run in 6 days, it would have been beneficial to do an easy run before jumping into a workout.  That makes sense. 

Thursday:  Walked 2.31 miles.  45 minutes of walking while listening to Matty. 

Friday: Ran 2.53 and walked .75 miles.  The plan was to do my long run of 11 miles.  I knew I would be up late today and wouldn’t want to get up early the next day.  I woke up tired and no desire to run 11 miles.

Saturday: Walked .70 miles.  I decided to rest up and walked instead of running.  I walked to T-Mobile to get a new phone.  I got the iPhone 15 Pro Max and I love it.

Sunday:  Ran 8.77 and walked 1.27 miles.  Today was the day to do my long run.  I was doing good but stopped close to 9 miles.  I felt tired, my legs were sore, and my right foot began to hurt.  

TOTAL:
Running: 15.99
Walking: 8.91
Cycling: 0.00

Here’s how training has gone so far:

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

2024 Chicago Marathon Training Week #4

Chicago Marathon Weekly Recap-1Happy Sunday everyone!  I am on Team TCS Teachers and training to run the Chicago Marathon on October 13.  This will be my 9th marathon and my 6th Chicago Marathon.

Here is how my week went:

Week #4, July 15-21

Monday: Walked 1.11 miles.  I had to wake up early to pick up my sister at the airport.  It was a busy morning and afternoon and I did my walk later in the evening.  

Tuesday: Ran 2.64 and walked 1.25 miles.  An easy run with some hill strides.  Total 2.64 @ 12:54 average pace.  A little slower than last week and that’s OK.

Wednesday: Ran 5.98 and walked .65 miles.  Another interesting and fun workout.  I did a 2 mile warmup, 5×2 minutes @12:03 with a 1 minute recovery after each one, and then 2 mile cool down.  I forgot to set the paces on my watch so I ran by feel.  Ran faster than expected and I was tired towards the end. 😀

Thursday:  Walked 1.76 miles.  I didn’t get a chance to get on the Peloton because we left for Minnesota that morning.  It was a long day of traveling but we made it!

Friday: Walked 1.11 miles.  The plan was to do my long run of 10 miles.  Between driving, staying up late, and not knowing the area, it wasn’t possible.

Saturday: Walked 1.61 miles.  I decided to rest up and walked instead of running.  We had a busy day on Saturday and went to bed after midnight.

I miss my cats!  I saw this cat at the event I went to on Saturday and wanted to bring her home.

Sunday:  Walked 1.64 miles.  Another walk today.  We leave for Chicago on Monday and will resume my running/training on Tuesday.

TOTAL:
Running: 8.62
Walking: 9.14
Cycling: 0.00

Here’s how training has gone so far:

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3

2024 Chicago Marathon Training Week #3

Chicago Marathon Weekly Recap-1Happy Sunday everyone!  I am on Team TCS Teachers and training to run the Chicago Marathon on October 13.  This will be my 9th marathon and my 6th Chicago Marathon.

Here is how my week went:

Week #3, July 8-14

Monday: Walked 1.73 miles and 25 minutes on the Peloton.  It was warm and a little humid when I went outside but I enjoyed my walk.  I used the Peloton app for the walk and love listening to Matty.

Tuesday: Ran 2.70 and walked 1.23 miles.  An easy run with some hill strides.  Total 2.70 @ 12:37 average pace.

Wednesday: Ran 4.81 and walked .34 miles.  An interesting and fun workout.  I did a 1.5 mile warmup, 4×2 minutes @12:03 with 2 minutes recovery after each one, 4 minutes walking, 4×90 seconds @10:13 with 2 minutes recovery after each one, and then 1 mile cool down.  Thank goodness for the option to program this in my Garmin!

Thursday:  Walked 1.73 miles and 25 minutes on the Peloton.  I am liking a lot the low impact ride classes.  They’re not too easy and not too difficult either.

Friday: Ran 5.0 and walked .71.  The plan today was to do my long run of 9 miles.  I had a busy day on Saturday and didn’t want to be tired and sore.  However, it didn’t go as I planned.  I made it to 5 miles.  But, at least I tried.

Saturday: Ran 9 and walked .24 miles.  I tried again to run 9 miles.  I did a couple things different from Friday’s run.  1) I went out earlier in the morning, 2) I wore socks with more cushion, and 3) I did run/walk of 10:1.  The run went so much better.  I cannot believe I ran 14 miles in two days.  I took two water bottles with me – one with plain water and another one with water and Tailwind.  I think for next time I am going to have water in both of the bottles and take Huma gels with me.  It was a warm morning and I was very thirsty by the time I got home.

Sunday:  Walked 2.32 miles.  I was still a bit sore from Saturday’s run and this walk helps to recover from my long run.

TOTAL:
Running: 21.52
Walking: 9.29
Cycling: 10.53

Here’s how training has gone so far:

Week 1
Week 2

2024 Chicago Marathon Training Week #2

Chicago Marathon Weekly Recap-1Happy Sunday everyone!  I am on Team TCS Teachers and training to run the Chicago Marathon on October 13.  This will be my 9th marathon and my 6th Chicago Marathon.

Here is how my week went:

Week #2, July 1-7

Monday: Ran 2.44 and walked .36 miles.  The weather was much better for running.  It was a 30 minute easy run.  Total was 2.44 @12:19 average pace.  

Tuesday: Walked 1.72 miles and 25 minutes on the Peloton.  A nice walk to clear my head.  I took an ABBA class and enjoyed it a lot.  Check out that playlist!

Wednesday: Ran 1.98 and walked 1.18 miles.  A good run with hill strides.  

Thursday:  Ran 4.07 and walked .73 miles.  I ran my 2nd race this year.  Pleased with how I did and felt good about doing this race.

Friday: Walked 1.71 miles and 25 minutes on the Peloton

Saturday: Ran 7 and walked .27 miles.  I did better last last week.  I ran the first 2 miles nonstop (12:34 and 12:29).  However, by the last 2 miles I was hurting.  My feet were bothering me and my body was beginning to hurt.  It’s been more than a year since I’ve run 7 miles.  I spent most of the day resting with my cats.

Sunday:  Walked 1.69 miles and 25 minutes on the Peloton.  I was still a bit sore from Saturday’s run but these two activities helped me feel better.

TOTAL:
Running: 15.49
Walking: 7.67
Cycling: 16.10

Here’s how training has gone so far:

•  Week 1