Thursday, September 5, 2013

Marathon Training Update: Week 13

Marathon Training
MY RUNNING GEAR: Marathon Training Shoes: Mizuno, Training Bra: Old Navy, Hats: Nike, Green Running Shorts: Nike, Black Running Shorts: Nike, Pink Top: Under Armour, Orange Top: Fila, Tie-Die Top: Nike

Throughout the past 13 weeks of training for the City of Trees Marathon, I have made some big, big changes. I think the one that I'm realizing most these days is my new level of fitness. My mom jokes that I'm a "machine," and while I'm no bionic woman, I sure am running faster. Much, much faster.

When my mom and I began training for this marathon back in June, we were running a 10-minute mile pace. I ran 10-minute miles no matter what distance I was doing, whether it was our short 3-milers in the beginning or the longer 8-12 milers on the weekend (here's our marathon training plan). That was simply as fast as I could and/or cared to go. A couple weeks into our training, I began running with one of my mom's friends, Teri, and boy did she push me. She's a rockstar and her pace is usually around an 8:30-minute mile, so the days when I would run my 4 miles with her, it would kill me. Literally. I struggled.

As the weeks have progressed, I've noticed that I'm getting faster. The distances have been getting longer, the runs getting earlier, and my times have been dropping and dropping. I can no longer go out for a 5 mile run and expect to go for 50-minutes (I don't run with GPS, so I would just go based on time before, estimating that each mile was taking 10-minutes). These days, my 5 mile runs take more like 40 minutes—or less. Just this morning, I ran 5 miles and my average pace was a 7:35-minute mile. That's almost 2½ minutes that I've shaved off my average mile time.

Now, I won't be so bold to say that I'm going to try to run a marathon at a 7:30/mile pace, because despite the fact that I can hold that for 5-8 miles, that definitely doesn't mean I want to attempt that for 26.2 miles. No thank you! When my mom and I do our long training runs on the weekend (22 this week—my longest run yet!), we usually still average 10-minute miles or just a fraction less. We are really consistent and don't intend on trying to break any records. We just want to run it together as mom and daughter.

Anyway, training is going great. We have 5-weeks left and some intense weekly mileage to look forward to, so all I can say is that this training is a lot of fun, I'm getting faster, I'm getting leaner, and I just really, really enjoy it. Will I do another? That's still up for debate... I have to finish this one first!

43 comments:

Cody Doll said...

That is so cool. You look amazing. I want to run a 5K but I am luck just to walk around a block. One day.

Shaina Longstreet said...

I have always wanted to be a runner...once I get some more of this weight off I should totally start. Thanks for the inspiration. You rock, you machine you! ;)

Meghan said...

I totally want to start jogging/running more. I may never want to do a marathon, but it seems to be a good way to relieve stress and have fun for a lot of people :) Love the workout gear too!

Pamela Baker said...

So amazing!! This is awesome! You look great!

Stephanie Samuel said...

So wonderful for you to do together!

Amanda @ Eloquent English said...

Glad to hear it is going so well!!!

Kelly said...

7:35 min/mi for 5 miles or more is absolutely awesome! Congrats! It's weird because I think my pace is actually getting slower with my training. I don't really understand it but if I'm not on a treadmill I usually go a good minute and a half slower than my usual pace, even on days I feel great. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that my ten mile race may be slower than the pace I'm used to, but it's depressing. I thought my pace would get better, not stay stagnant or get worse. Well, I've never gone 10 miles before so if I can achieve that on race day, that will be my accomplisment over pace.

Thanks for being such an inspiration, Aunie :-)

Big Apple, Little Bites

melody said...

This is AWESOME and very cool you are doing it with your Mom. :) My hubbie and I are doing our first 1/2 marathon with one of his friends only we are going to do a brisk walk. So for me, I am pretty excited about even walking that fast for the half. I am currently averaging a 4.5- 5 mile and hour and kinda pumped about that. :) Good luck on your marathon. You look amazing!!!

Emilie Bordeleau-Laroche said...

This is really awesome! I wish I wasn't so lazy to do this every day! You're looking great! I'm glad you enjoy running so much :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Thank you, Cody. Keep up your hard work. I had to start walking... seriously. We all start somewhere!

Annelise Rowe said...

You're awesome, Shaina. I believe in you... you better bet! Running has totally changed my body into something I never thought it could be. Just start small... you can do it :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Meghan!! I always wanted to run a marathon with my mom. I am so glad we are finally doing it. I honestly don't think I'll run any more after this... but you just never know.

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Pamela! Holding steady at the same weight and just chugging out the miles. It is oddly fun. Is that weird? :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Stephanie! I love doing it with my mom. I would NEVER do it if it weren't for her!

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Amanda. The idea of running tons of miles and totally beating my body against the road doesn't sound fun, but it's strangely addicting. Weird :)

Annelise Rowe said...

You're so awesome, Kelly. Kudos to you for being able to train on the treadmill. I don't know how you do it! That's SO hard. I can NEVER run as fast on a treadmill as I do in real life. It is hard for me to keep up even a decent pace on a treadmill. I think you're just awesome!

Annelise Rowe said...

That is so awesome! Good for you guys. And that's a great pace for walking... in fact, that's really fast! Nice work. It will be a big accomplishment for you :) Aaaand that you're doing it with your husband! Cool!

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Emilie! Ha... I don't know WHY I enjoy it so much. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it gives me tummy issues, and sometimes I REALLY don't want to run. But I do it anyway... and I have to say, it's awesome. I'm officially a weirdo.

Hannah Scott said...

I love that you and your mom run at the same pace when you run together! When my brothers and dad ran their first marathon (it was the first for all three), they said the best part was crossing the finish line all at the same time. I know that when I run with them in April, they'll be capable of a much faster pace than me, but the goal is still to cross the finish together....I can't wait!
It just occurred to me that your marathon is in like a month. What on earth are you going to do with yourself after that??
Oh yeah. Cook and decorate ;)

Cody Doll said...

Your welcome. Yeah. I just got get to the moving part haha.

Priya Pappu said...

Aunie- you're a rockstar! I'm trying to get myself back into consistent running (since it's been over a year since I stopped running for school). Sounds like you are killing it with training and I am very excited to see what you accomplish in your race!! Can you comment on how you fit in your training runs (especially the loooong ones that take so much time)? Do you run in the morning before work, or evening, or what? Just curious! Keep up the good work :)

perfectly priya

kcsaling said...

I love that you're running with your mom! And seriously, you both look A-MAZ-ING! Way to go!

Shannon Tatlock said...

Love that you and your Mom are going it together. That is awesome!!!

Sarah Nolan said...

Oh my heavens! You are an inspiration! I love that your mom and you have matching outfits! That's super adorable! Congrats on shaving time off your pace! It's such a great feeling to do that. 10 min/mile is what I run when I run 5 or more miles. Anything less than 5 miles I know I can pick my pace up and run 8:30, but never have I ever been in the 7's! Crazy awesome girlie!!
I ran my first half on Sunday and did awesome through mile 10, then it went down hill from there. I cramped up, had hip pain and now I am on crutches with a strained IT band. It was the slanted roadway that did it to me. My right leg which hit harder because the road was slanted to the right is the injured one. I will say, crossing that finish line was amazing, I didn't have any tummy issues (Thank heavens!), and I'm really happy I ran it with my best friend.
Good luck on your 22 mile run! You and your mom look like runners!!

Wannnabe green said...

I love reading your Training Updates they are so encouraging! I'm 7 weeks in my own training for my first half marathon and have my 8 mile long run tomorrow (longest run ever!!). Do you use any energy gels, chews, or drinks to fuel with during your runs?

Kelly Ann said...

Dang girl, congrats! Glad to hear you are doing so well!

xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes

Lindsay said...

Nice job!!! I'm currently averaging about a 10 min pace as well..9:30-9:45 if I'm lucky. I did a half in June but I'll be training for a full in Jan and I'm hoping my time improves the second time around!

Kateri Von Steal said...

Amazing!



Do you have any exercise tips to tighten my core... I'm always looking for something new. Especially something to do at home in the evenings.


Also: I ran... on a treadmill.. This morning.... Now, I'll blog about it so, if you want, you can read about it...But, I set a tiny goal, just to see if I could do it... and I did. I'm excited!

Torrie Meidell said...

You're describing me to a T---I've consistently run a 10-minute mile no matter how far I go, and that's exactly what I did at my marathon, too. Deep down, I know I could go faster, but maybe I'm just worried that I need to leave some gas in the tank "just in case?"
Anyway, thanks for providing me with running inspiration with these posts---I love them :)

Annelise Rowe said...

We are really excited for that, too. We have already talked about the possibility that if one of us is having a bad running day, the other will go ahead... but I don't think that will happen. We will be ready for it! Just like you guys will :)

And yeah, after it's over I'm going to give my legs a break. My mom and I have talked about trying to train again for half marathons, and I think I may begin speed-training for one, but we will see :) It would be cool to run a half at a 7-min/mile pace!

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Priya!! I ALWAYS have to run before work. I am such a routine kind of person that switching it up and thinking about evening runs doesn't even sound like fun to me. For the mid-week 5-8 mile runs, I usually start between 5:30-6:00 in the morning. As long as I'm getting ready by 7:00ish, I'm good :) On the weekends, my mom and I plan and just do the long ones early on Saturdays, like 7:00ish. We don't get to sleep in, but we beat the heat!

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Kristin!! We feel great, though training has been wearing on us! :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Shannon. It's so fun to run with your bestie... or mom... or in my case, both! :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Good job good job! Oh my gosh, crutches are the WORST and you'll be in my thoughts. Hope your IT band heals quickly. I'm proud of you for pushing through!! :) What an accomplishment!

And thank you! We are looking more like runners, though my mom has always been one :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Good for you!!! Yay for your longest run ever. That's such a cool feeling, huh? We typically bring a gatorade in a fanny pack to share along the run, and fill it up with water when it runs out. We run along a greenbelt in Boise so there are regular drinking fountains/restrooms. We pick our running paths wisely, I tell you what! We also really, really like the Gatorade energy chews. Those things are amazing! I buy a package of 6 and we split it halfway through the run. I used to use Jelly Bean Energy Beans, but they were difficult to carry and I always dropped beans as we ran. I love the Gatorade chews though! Good question!!!

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Kelly! I can't believe how fast training has gone!

Annelise Rowe said...

So good! Nice work to train for a full during the winter... that's hardcore!! I would freeze... are you in a warm part of the country? You're awesome!

Annelise Rowe said...

YOU ARE AWESOME!!! So proud of you :)

So, the core part. It always comes down to diet. I feel bad because I just don't have a very balanced diet. It's never the same for me. But a couple exercises could be core twists, planks (the best! do straight and side planks) and regular crunches. Oh, and leg lifts. Those are all my favorites!

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Torrie!! I used to do that, too. I would run and feel my mom speeding up and yell, "I can feel you!! Stop that!" in hopes of always leaving something for the end, only to find that I had SO MUCH LEFT at the end. Lately, I've just been going with what feels good. If I feel like speeding up, I will, and if I need to slow down, I do. It's been working!

Lindsay said...

hahaha! Yes, I'm in Arizona! It's much easier to train in the "winter" here, rather than our 100 + degree summers!

Annelise Rowe said...

Oh yes, now it makes sense. No wonder!!

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