So I’ve been training for my marathon hardcore lately. (68 days to go . . . ) I’m following the Hal Higdon marathon training plan. He has tons of them for every level from beginner to seniors. The one I’m following looks like this for the last 12 weeks of training.
Saturdays are my long run day, and according to my schedule this past Saturday was a 13 mile run! Did you get that?? 13 MILES!!!! I haven’t really posted about my long runs before, but I have been doing them all and last week was 12 miles, which for some reason wasn’t as scary as 13 miles. Weird, yes I know, but I think it’s because 13 miles is pretty much equivalent to a half marathon and that’s intimidating even though I’ve run 2 of them previously!
Oh and here’s a tip- See those during the week runs? The ones that don’t look too long at the top of the of the schedule. The ones that you might think it’s OK to skip if your tired after working, yeah DON’T!! I didn’t do them all last week and I really felt it on Saturday. Last weeks 12 mile run was no problem, this weeks 13 miles (only 1 extra mile) was getting hard towards the end
I intended to start my run at 2 pm right after I finished adding songs to my running playlist on my iPod. However that took longer then I intended and I actually didn’t start until 3 pm. A lot of times I run inside on the treadmill because I wait too long and it’s dark or it’s just easier because I can watch TV while running. Most importantly because it’s been so dang hot lately!! Saturday marked the first day of Fall and the weather must have gotten the memo because it cooled down to a nice 86 degrees here. I know that doesn’t sound that cool, but compared to the 100 degrees we’d been having I’ll take it!!
I took advantage and decided to hit the trail right down the street from our house. I also need to start doing the long runs outside because that’s where the marathon is going to take place and it’s totally different the running on the treadmill. I had good mile to go before actually getting on the trail and at one of the stop lights I happened upon this adorable little family heading home from the park. The little boy in the back was super cute and told me that his scooter was brand new and he had the option of getting it in blue or red. He obviously choose blue!
Good thing about the County I live in is that we have all these really great trails that cross back and forth across it. They are off the main roads and a lot of them have safe bridges across the busiest roads, this makes it really easy to run and focus on running instead of cars coming too close to you.
The scenery is pretty nice as well!
They also conveniently have these mile markers every half mile.
The trees also provide lots of much needed shade
I did veer off the trail a little bit in the middle of my adventures to stop by my friends house to say hello and they nicely provided me with some water. (Big shout out to Kim and Nick!! Thanks guys!). Yes, I know I should take water with me, but I don’t want to carry the extra weight and plus there are water fountains conveniently located along the trails.
Off the beaten trail
Took a little water break here at a friends house
Half way there and still standing . . .
2 hours in and at 8 miles . . . Only 5 more to go! Ahh
Once I got back to the beginning of the trail I started on I still needed about 4 miles so I ran around downtown, through all the neighborhoods around our street and down a separate short trail. I was beginning to think I was NEVER gonna get to 13.1 miles!! There was plenty of scenery along the way and also a few up hill slants that felt like mountains that close to the end!!
Downtown Oviedo!! That blue and yellow restaurant there on the left, The Townhouse,
is fabulous!! If you haven’t been there- GO NOW!!
See this hill, yeah it felt like a mountain at mile 10!!
Not wasting anytime lots of houses a long the way had already decorated for fall
That’s a statue that looks like a dog with it’s head buried in the sand! haha
The home stretch- Our street!!
My final time
Eventually I finally found my way home and finished my excruciating amazing trek around town. I finished in 3:27 which is right in the middle of the two previous half marathons I’ve run. The first one that I trained so hard for with complete dedication I finished in 2:34 and the second one which I didn’t work nearly at all for because I had it in my mind that I did it once the second time should be no problem- Wrong!! I finished that one in 3:45. In complete honesty I did not run every step of the 13.1 miles and I didn’t push myself to the do my hardest, because it’s just training and I don’t want to burn out before the actual marathon.
It’s not my goal to run every step of the 26.2 miles- I’ve never thought that I needed to be able to run the entire marathon with out walking. I always try to run as much as I can, but I’m ok with intervals. I think the intervals do more for me health wise also. Bonus to all this training is that I’ve lost about 12 lbs so far and I still have lots more running to do before December!
Finally made it home and all I wanted to do was lay on the couch and rest!
All Lucky wanted was my cheese stick!! haha
And finally after taking a shower I made a delicious Advocare chocolate protein shake with a Banana, some PB2 powder and a few dark chocolate chips!! So So good!!
I don’t follow any of the Advocare programs, but I got the shakes from a friend who wasn’t going to use them and I must admit they are probably the best protein shakes I’ve ever tried! There’s no powdery taste they’re so creamy and good!!
So really long description of my Saturday training to answer the original question: Marathon training- Fun or not? In all seriousness I really do enjoy all the running. It gives me time to think and clear my mind and I always feel much better after a great run! It’ll all be worth it when I cross that finish line in 2 months and can say I’m part of the 1% of people who can say they have completed a full marathon!
Until next week . . . . .
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I LOVED reading this. This was a great re-cap into your training. The dog statue had me laughing out loud. OMG.. You are going to do so awesome:) WTG!
go you! i can't imagine running that far!
we do smoothies a LOT and tip I just learned is that if you put half an avacado in your smoothie is makes is SO creamy and covers up that chalky protein texture. we are OBSESSED.