Marathon Update: Over 1/2 way!!

MARATHON TRAINING UPDATE:

THE STORY OF BIG BEN

Welcome to my blog and long overdue update on my training for the 2012 London Marathon. I am currently in Week 9 with 9 weeks remaining till race day. YIKES!!  3 Weeks ago I got to visit London and went on a city sightseeing tour to see London in all of its glory. I had been there 2 other times before but didn't see the entire city and all the key landmarks in those visits. During my tour, it was amazing to see the amount of runners who I assume were 'in training'. It was quite cold that day, but that didn't stop my mom and I from sitting in the top of a open double decker bus and snapping pictures of all the great landmarks. One landmark that I absolutely love is Big Ben. Named for the bell inside rather than the actual clock, Big Ben represents endurance and strength. During WWII, Big Ben stood tall and didn't falter. I think this is even more rewarding to hear this story as I work towards completing my second Marathon. I imagine that I will be near tears the next time I see Big Ben as it is near the end of the marathon where emotions run high.

Let me catch everyone up to date with my progress since my last blog. Bear with me...its been awhile.

Week 3 Activity Log (1/2-1/8)

Monday--2.5 miles (Outside)
Tuesday--3 miles (Treadmill) + strength training (Upper Body/Abs)
Wednesday--Rest
Thursday--Kickboxing Class followed by 3 slow Miles (Treadmill)
Friday--1.77 miles (track)

Saturday--6.34 mile group run
Sunday-- Rest

Week 3 Total Mileage...16.61 miles

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Week 4 Activity Log  (1/9-1/15)

Monday-- HIIT class (1 mile during) + 2 miles treadmill
Tuesday-- 5 miles (outside)

Wednesday--HIIT class + 3 miles
Thursday--Spin Class + 1 mile
Friday--Rest

Saturday--10 Mile Group Run
Sunday-- 2 miles

Week 4 Total Mileage...24 miles

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Week 5 Activity Log (1/16-1/22)

Monday--5 miles (Outside)
Tuesday--Fitness Kickboxing

Wednesday--3 miles
Thursday--5 K (3.1 miles)
Friday--Rest

Saturday--12 Mile Group Run
Sunday-- Rest (walking around London, haha)

Week 5 Total Mileage...23.1 miles

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Week 6 Activity Log (1/23-1/29)

Monday--3 miles (Outside, 10:25 pace)
Tuesday--Rest

Wednesday--Extreme Shed and Shred DVD
Thursday--6 Miles (9:46 pace. Outside)
Friday--Rest

Saturday--10 Mile Group Run
Sunday-- 5 Miles (with a set of 20 x pushups, situps, squats at every 1.5 mile interval)

Week 6 Total Mileage...24 miles

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Week 7 Activity Log (1/30-2/5)

Monday--Rest
Tuesday--4 Miles (Outside, 9:45 pace)

Wednesday--Insanity Fit Test (cardio day since I couldn't get in a run)
Thursday--7 Miles (Outside, 10:24 pace)
Friday--Rest

Saturday--14 Mile Group Run (23 deg, 10:05 pace)
Sunday-- 4 miles in fresh snow. lol. (11:19 pace). Yoga--30 min.

Week 7 Total Mileage...29 miles

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Week 8 Activity Log (2/6-2/12)

Monday--Rest
Tuesday--4 Miles (Treadmill due to weather--icey roads)
Wednesday--7 Miles (Treadmill due to weather)
Thursday--Rest
Friday--4 Miles (Treadmill due to weather)

Saturday--Rest.
Sunday-- 15 Miles (Cold, 11:19 pace).

Week 8 Total Mileage...30 Miles

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Week 9 Activity Log (2/13-2/19)

Monday--Rest

Tuesday--4 Miles outside. (9:43 pace, interval workout with strides/jogging)
Wednesday--HIIT Class (0.5 miles during warmup) + 3.5 Mile Run (10:35 pace)
Thursday--7 Miles (Outside, 9:56 pace).
Friday--[REST]

Saturday--[13.1 MILES]
Sunday-- [Cross training]

Week 9 Total Mileage (Planned)...28.1 miles

Week 9 Mileage Completed so far...15 miles

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Notes on training:  Feeling great up to this point. Still not getting lots of sleep with a 3 month old but I can't complain. Breastfeeding is going good and no issues with nursing supply with the increased mileage as of today. I am keeping a close eye on this since I have dropped 4 pounds in the last 16 or so days. I am trying to stick to 1 pound per week but according to sources I can safely lose up to 6 pounds per month. Week 9 is a cut-back week so that should help with things. It is a fine line with training and nursing and I have been working hard at eating well (and tracking calorie intake along with carb/protein levels). I use Lose It for all my tracking and currently maintain a 60-65% carb intake, 15-20% protein intake, and 15-20% fat intake). That is consistent with a typical runner's diet and my body responds pretty well when carbohydrate levels are above 60%.

Since last update I switched training programs and went to the Novice 2 plan for Hal Hidgon's marathon training. Here is what that looks like:

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	Rest	3 m run	5 m pace	3 m run	Rest	8	Cross
2	Rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	9	Cross
3	Rest	3 m run	5 m pace	3 m run	Rest	6	Cross
4	Rest	3 m run	6 m pace	3 m run	Rest	11	Cross
5	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	12	Cross
6	Rest	3 m run	6 m pace	3 m run	Rest	9	Cross
7	Rest	4 m run	7 m pace	4 m run	Rest	14	Cross
8	Rest	4 m run	7 m run	4 m run	Rest	15	Cross
9	Rest	4 m run	7 m pace	4 m run	Rest	Rest	Half Marathon
10	Rest	4 m run	8 m pace	4 m run	Rest	17	Cross
11	Rest	5 m run	8 m run	5 m run	Rest	18	Cross
12	Rest	5 m run	8 m pace	5 m run	Rest	13	Cross
13	Rest	5 m run	5 m pace	5 m run	Rest	19	Cross
14	Rest	5 m run	8 m run	5 m run	Rest	12	Cross
15	Rest	5 m run	5 m pace	5 m run	Rest	20	Cross
16	Rest	5 m run	4 m pace	5 m run	Rest	12	Cross
17	Rest	4 m run	3 m run	4 m run	Rest	8	Cross
18	Rest	3 m run	2 m run	Rest	Rest	2 m run	Marathon

That is about it for now. I will hopefully post more later this week. Please leave me some feedback on what you think. I just added a few cool widgets so you can keep track of my upcoming events, mileage to date, and weekly runs.

Quote of the day:

"The journey makes the victory that much sweeter. Wear the blood, sweat, and tears with pride. For they are a sign of where you've been and triumphs you've overcome along the way."