Calm Before the Storm: 5 Weeks Until Marathon
I don’t mean storm in a negative way, but WOAH my next 3 weeks of training look intense so it was nice to have a bit of a down week leading up to all that action!
M: 9 mi with friend J with 6 x 20 second strides at end. 9 mi total, pace 8:40/mi ave.
T: LAST HILL REPEATS!!! These hill workouts are so tough for me and I’m not sad to be done with them. Ha! 9 mi @ 9:27/mi ave, 12 x 1 min hill repeats up “The Crumbler” again at our one park with giant man-made hills. I did this later in the morning again (post kid drop off) so it was getting pretty warm, too.
W: 8.05 mi with J + A, 8:53/mi
R: Nice chill run, 9 mi @ 9:47/mi, hill strides at end
F: 8 mi while listening to the new Taylor Swift, 9:16/mi ave
S: 14 mi @ 8:48/mi ave (wore old Alphafly Originals that now have 207 miles on them. They have definitely lost some of their pop but still offer something . . .)
Total: 57 mi // Strength = 0!!! I am planning a light strength workout today. But not stressing too much about strength at this point as most plans recommend backing off around this point.
Some people doing marathon training talk about “peak week” but I think I have more like a “peak 3-week block”. The next 3 weeks I am schedule to run ~70 miles/week with a 20 miler every Saturday and a long speed workout (think ~13 mi total) every Tuesday. It is A LOT but it is temporary. I am not worried about having time to do it since it’s only 3 weeks, but I AM scared about provoking an injury. I feel so lucky to say that I have no real niggles or pain right now but I know things could crop up at any moment.
I know doing more strength training might have been smart prior to this point but . . . here we are. Wish me luck! I did order a fresh pair of Novablast (my daily trainers) as mine were all >300 miles/week, and I have fresh plated shoes for speed workouts that I will start using.
(This summer I will definitely work on the strength aspect!)
Reading
Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese: Well, I’m now up to page 542!! If I read 18 pages/day I can finish by the end of the month.
Come & Get It by Kiley Reid: FINISHED yesterday and I really really liked this book! It was juicy and slightly uncomfortable to read, but in a good way. Now trying to decide what to read next — I have a library copy of The Postcard but I also ordered The Sicilian Inheritance . . .very different options!
Books read so far in 2024: 14 // 7 fiction + 7 nonfiction (this is a bit low for me for 30% of the way into the year, we will see if things pick up!)
11 Comments
50+ miles or 70+ miles in the south Florida heat and humidity – I’m tired just thinking about that. My sun visor is raised to you!
Did you keep your Peloton app subscription? I did a 10 minute calves and glutes foam rolling class last week that was delicious. One of those “hurt so good” sessions – the kind that isn’t painful but finds all the tender spots and releases them.
I’ve been in a real reading slump this year. That cover image reminded me that I’ve had Such a Fun Age on my TBR list for awhile now – so I just popped over to put it on hold at the library.
Best of luck with your Very Full Week of Training!
thank you!!! I never got into foam rolling but maybe I should!!! At least I don’t usually need a sun visor – because it’s still mostly dark when I do 90% of my miles!!!!
Oof, that sounds full on! Hope the weather cooperates. I arrived in London today (writing from the world’s tiniest hotel room) and all the marathoners were making their way from the finish line. I felt sympathy watching them climb up and down the tube steps.
Hey, welcome to London! Where are you staying? Hope you’re loving it.
Crushing it!! Cannot fathom running 70 mile weeks but go you!! Fingers crossed for no injuries. I feel like you’re so well trained and have such a strong base, you’ll be just fine. I’m awaiting your marathon weekend like it’s a friend running in the Olympics!!! Hahaha… seriously cannot WAIT to follow you.
hopefully it won’t be too stressful, haha. We will be in the same time zone too!!
same same!! can’t wait to follow her during the race…. when I wake up in the middle of the night as you did 🙂
few years ago I would have thought 70 miles is crazy, but I now think it’s doable, really depends on the building up and other aspects of it. you’ll do great! less strength training during this period is totally okay, you won’t lose that much while won’t add much either as it takes 2- 3 weeks to adapt. Do do more stretching and mobility though as injury/niggle can pop up any time when we least want it.
So excited for you!!!!!!!!
I was curious what you’d think of Come and Get It! I just finished it too. I live in the town it’s set in and enjoyed that part of it but other than that it wasn’t a favorite. But I do still want to read Such a Fun Age!
I’m thinking our races are the same weekend! Mine is May 26. I would say you’ll be a little better trained for yours though- mine will definitely be a “winging it” type of experience.
You’ve got some big weeks coming up! For the zero strength training- what you’re doing right now is obviously working, so just keep with it. 70 miles is a lot, but you’ll listen to your body and know if you need to back off a little- but I think you can do it! The taper will feel extra-good!
yes!!! Same weekend – mine is Saturday, yours is Sunday!! Will be very exciting!