Zenaida Arroyo

20
Jun
2016

2016 Chicago Marathon Training Week 2

categories: Chicago Endurance Sports, Chicago Marathon, Hansons Training, Marathon Training, Running, Weekly Recap

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 #2, June 13-19

Monday:

PLAN – 6 miles easy, 10:15-11:30 pace
ACTUAL – 6.02 miles @11:54 average pace

I struggled during today’s run. I felt tired and my legs did not want to run. I cursed myself for not doing the beginner’s plan instead of the advanced. Was so happy when I was done with my run.

Tuesday:

PLAN – 12x400s, 8:33-8:55 pace
ACTUAL – TRX and 12x400s, total 8 miles @11:07 average pace

This time I did make it to my TRX class. Afterwards I stayed at the gym for my speed workout. W/up and c/d @12:00. 400m done at various paces (8:34-9:05). Recovery @12:30. I remember when 8:34 did not feel hard but today it did. I did 45 minutes of TRX prior to running so maybe I was just too tired? Still I am proud of completing this because I wanted to stop after the 4th one. I don’t think I’ve ever done 12.

Wednesday:

PLAN – OFF
ACTUAL – OFF

I went to visit a friend who had her 2nd baby a few months ago. It was nice to eat, talk and hang out. Plus, her newborn is adorable and I got to babysit while she went to pick up her oldest (2 years old) from daycare. I helped her with the goodie bags and with stuffing the candy in the piñata for her daughter’s birthday party on Saturday. Isn’t it the cutest? I LOVE it!!

Thursday:

PLAN – 6 easy miles, 10:15-11:30 pace
ACTUAL – 6.02 miles @10:28 average pace

I took my time going out there today. I thought about skipping it since my legs were still sore from Tuesday’s run. Decided to just run slower and call it a day. I was angry. Angry for all of the judging and blame going on in this world. Angry for all of the horrible things happening in the world. Angry for all of the negativism posted on social media. I posted this on Instagram as a reminder to always be nice first.

Friday:

PLAN – 6 easy miles, 10:15-11:30 pace
ACTUAL – 6.02 miles @12:55 average pace

I ran this very slow. A big difference from Thursday’s run. I was not motivated. Plus, I wanted to take it easy because I knew I had 8 miles the next day.

Saturday:

PLAN – 8 easy miles, 10:15-11:30
ACTUAL – 8.02 @10:32 average pace

I woke up before my alarm went off and surprisingly did not feel as tired as I usually do before my Saturday run. I try to be in bed by 9pm on Friday night and wake up at 5am. It felt cooler in the morning and it made a big difference during my run. I felt great and that made me happy. The last two miles were my slowest (10:54 and 10:50) which were kind of disappointing but overall it was still a great run.

I got home, had a protein shake, showered and got ready to go to my cousin’s wedding. It was pretty cool! There was a total of 17 couples getting married at the same time. The mass was about half hour longer than a mass for one couple. The church was full and it was HOT as well.

The reception was at a restaurant/banquet hall and there were a few televisions to watch the Mexico v. Chile soccer game. I think most of us felt this way.

Sunday:

PLAN – 6 easy miles, 10:15-11:30
ACTUAL – 6:02 @13:02 average pace

A hot one today! I meet a friend who is training for her first marathon. I am very happy and excited for her. We ran 5 miles together and then she left and I ran an additional mile.

Week 2 went well. However, my run on Tuesday felt tough but I know that with time it will get easier. I am a morning person (usually up between 5-6 am) so I need to make sure I run early in the morning. I find myself drinking coffee and checking out social media and before I know it, it is later in the day and then I get too lazy/tired/hungry to go for a run.

Week 3 includes a speed workout and a tempo run. I HATE tempo runs. I know they’re beneficial during training but I still do not like them.

Total mileage for the week: 40.10 miles

Total mileage for this training cycle: 65.16 miles

Total mileage for the year: 548.22 miles

Here’s how training has gone so far:

Week 1

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway that ends on Wednesday. There will be two winners, each receiving a NUUN container (I have various flavors), a Momentum Motivate Wrap and a Momentum Foot Notes.

To enter, click on the image below where you will be directed to Gleam and enter several different ways such as leaving a blog post comment, following me on Instagram, commenting on any of my Instagram posts, or tweeting about the giveaway. I am on summer break so I’ve included an extra entry for you.

15
Jun
2016

Summer Training Giveaway

categories: Chicago Marathon, Giveaway, Running, Things I Am Loving

Disclaimer: None of these items are sponsored by the companies but are items I purchased with my own money.

Summer training is finally here! I am training for the Chicago Marathon and so far it is going OK. This will be my 5th Chicago Marathon. You can read more about why I am running the marathon HERE.

I have a cool giveaway for you! Lola is very supportive with my training and wants to make sure I have do well and have fun. She also makes sure I rest and nap when it is necessary.

So what is included in this AWESOME giveaway? There will be two winners, each receiving a NUUN container (I have various flavors), a Momentum Motivate Wrap and a Momentum Foot Notes.

To enter, click on the image below where you will be directed to Gleam and enter several different ways such as leaving a blog post comment, following me on Instagram, commenting on any of my Instagram posts, or tweeting about the giveaway. I am on summer break so I’ve included an extra entry for you.

This giveaway will run for seven days (until June 22nd at 11:59 pm). The winners will be selected on the eighth day. The giveaway is open to US residents only. The winners will be contacted via the email address associated with their Gleam account and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. All entries are verified, so please be sure to complete them or a new, random winner will be selected.

Best of luck to everyone who enters!

I am linking up with Erica and Smitha for this giveaway!

12
Jun
2016

2016 Chicago Marathon Training Week 1

categories: Chicago Endurance Sports, Chicago Marathon, Hansons Training, Marathon Training, Running, Weekly Recap

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. Sounds exhausting right? I know, I know.

Week #1, June 6-12

Monday:

PLAN – OFF
ACTUAL – OFF

It was the first day of summer break! I did errands and took it easy the rest of the day.

This is how I was feeling too.

Tuesday:

PLAN – OFF
ACTUAL – OFF

I woke at 4:30am to make it to TRX. Well, I got to the gym and there was a problem with the key so no one was able to go inside. I went home and went back to sleep.

Later that day I got a special delivery from Running Warehouse. It was my order with 4 pairs of Brooks PureFlow 4. For some reason the Launch were not working out for me so I went back to my other favorite shoes. They’re on sale and I am tempted to buy more pairs.

Wednesday:

PLAN – OFF
ACTUAL – OFF

I got a massage and it felt wonderful. The masseuse mentioned that I was tensed (mostly in the shoulders). I have appointments to get one every two weeks and I know they will help me during marathon training.

Thursday:

PLAN – 6 easy miles, 10:15-11:30 pace
ACTUAL – 6.02 miles @11:07 average pace

First official run of marathon training. Felt tired and I was glad it was an easy run. Later in the evening I attended a “Marathon Training Prep with Bart Yasso”.

Lola wants to make sure I stretch prior to my run.

Friday:

PLAN – 6 easy miles, 10:15-11:30 pace
ACTUAL – 6 miles @10:50 average pace

Got a late start to my run. By the time I was ready to head out, it was HOT so I went to the gym. I alternated a different song for paces 11:07, 10:43, and 10:21. I enjoy the variety and before I know it, I am done with my run.

Saturday:

PLAN – 8 easy miles, 10:15-11:30
ACTUAL – 7.02 @11:08 average pace

It was a HOT one with CES. I am a pacer for the 10:30 red group and run with two other pacers (1 blue and 1 red). The difference between those two colors is that the red group runs one more mile than blue. I am supposed to run with another pacer but she was asked to run with the blue group because it is a larger group than red. They were scheduled to run 6 miles and when they turned around at 3 miles, I kept running to run another 1/2 mile and then turn around to add that extra mile to my run. Well, I got so HOT and took many walking breaks. I could not find the rhythm I had going during the first 3 miles and was so happy when I was done with my run.

Sunday:

PLAN – 6 easy miles, 10:15-11:30
ACTUAL – 6:02 @11:13 average pace

The weather was so much better than yesterday. A big difference of about 30 degrees. I started off too fast and then slowed down on my way back. Also, the headwind bothered more than I wanted it to.

Later that evening I finished reading “After You”. I’ve already read the book and saw the movie for “Me Before You”. Great book and movie!

Week 1 went well. All of my run were easy so that helped. Next week I start on my speed workout which consists of 12 x 400s. Should be interesting.

Total mileage for the week: 25.06 miles

Total mileage for this training cycle: 25.06 miles

Total mileage for the year: 508.12 miles

10
Jun
2016

An evening with Bart Yasso

categories: Chicago Marathon, Running

Yesterday I attended “Marathon Training Prep with Bart Yasso” hosted by Fleet Feet Chicago. I’ve met him a few times but yesterday was the first time I actually heard him talk about his running adventures and his job.

There was a fun run at 6pm followed by his presentation. I did not run. I was not planning to but left my house early and still got caught in downtown traffic. I arrived at the store at 6:45 and took a few minutes to look around. It is gorgeous. There was a fire a few months ago and so the whole store had to be remodeled and it was reopened in February.

This was my go to store before a new one opened up in the South Loop (closer to my house).

I remember they were asking for bibs to put on the wall and now I can see they did a good job with them. No, I did not donate mine.

Anyway, Bart and the runners came back. A few minutes later, he give us his marathon training tips.

Points he mentioned are:

Set a reasonable goal.
Follow a plan. You will make adjustments. Listen to your body. Ask yourself “Can I maintain this pace for 26.2 miles?”
Long run should be about 1 minute slower than marathon pace. You will also need to adjust based on weather (hot day in Chicago).
Marathon pace-Two mile warmup and then a few miles at marathon pace and then cool down. It teaches your body to run at that pace on marathon day.
Key workouts are: Long run for endurance; speed work for leg turnover and to get faster; recovery days is to back off and let your body recover. Make sure to easy, easy (he emphasized easy) on those recovery days.
Cross training. “I love cross training. I find the cross training that helps my running is running in deep water. Also the elliptical. I don’t hold on to it and I ‘run’ on it.”

Someone asked him about work commitments and what would you prioritize? He said that the long run is key. That’s the most important one. Next to that is the recovery run.

Also, why not run your long run at marathon pace if you feel like you can? He said that if you do that then you are basically racing every weekend and you will slow down on marathon day. He reminded us that “Running slower will make you faster.” <I’ve heard this various times but it is kind of hard to believe, right?

Later on he showed pictures of a few of his running adventures. Wow, I was in awe and just basically absorbed it all. He also talked about his job (he is Chief Running Officer) at Runner’s World. Bart has run marathons, ultramarathons (including Badwater and Comrades), Ironmans and has cycled twice across the country.

He ended the evening talking about his experience with the Comrades Marathon. He pointed to a runner that heard him talk about it last year and was so intrigued by it that later that evening she signed up for it. The Comrades Marathon is the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race and is approximately 56 miles and takes places in South Africa. The time limit is 12 hours. He said he finished the race with 20 minutes to spare. The finish line is inside a stadium and the gates are locked at that 12 hour mark. So, if you get to the stadium after 12 hours, you will not be allowed to go in and finish and you will not get a medal. Wow!!!

Afterwards, you had a chance to purchase his book signed by the man himself. I did not and now I regret it.

It was a GREAT evening listening to Bart Yasso. I almost did not go but I am so glad I did. I love hearing about others’ running experiences and you can never have too many marathon tips. I am excited and looking forward to my training and running the Chicago Marathon. Bart will be there as well.

05
Jun
2016

Why I am running the Chicago Marathon

categories: Chicago Marathon, Running

Marathon training is here!! I took a few days off after running the Buffalo Half Marathon. Plus this week was my last week of school and I still had to pack up all of my stuff.

I will be pacing again the 10:30 group with CES on Saturday morning. Yesterday was our first run and it went well. Last year was my first time running with the group and since then I’ve been a pacer for the Winter and Spring.

So, why am I running again the Chicago Marathon this year?

I LOVE this race! It is a beautiful course. You run through 29 different neighborhoods in the city. Pretty cool right?
So many volunteers and spectators. The streets are lined with people cheering and rooting for you. They are the ones that will motivate you to keep on running when you feel like you cannot run anymore.
The course is FLAT. Yep, definitely flat except for one small hill before the finish line. <<So cruel!!
I got guaranteed entry thanks to CARA’s Marathon Incentive Program. I do wish they would offer a discount for those in the program.
This will be my 5th time running it. I’ve run it in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2015.
It is the first marathon I’ve run. You never forget your first one right? This year will be 10 years since that very first marathon. I remember how I almost dropped out at mile 15 because my feet were hurting so much (rookie mistake..new shoes). But I also remember that great feeling I felt after crossing the finish line.

Are you currently training for a marathon?

Which marathon was your first one and when?