I cannot believe we are three weeks out from the marathon and I have finished peak week number 1 (out of 2). I had a great week and focused on quality and recovering. I continued to take my baths, foam roll and keep my legs feeling as good as they could after running that amount of miles.
| Monday: | 12.72 miles (8:22 pace) |
| Tuesday: | 12.71 miles (8:08 pace) last 2 miles <7:30 |
| Wednesday: | 13.21 miles (8:37) recovery, easy |
| Thursday | 15.7 miles mid week long run |
| Friday: | 13.1 miles untimed but perfect half |
| PM: Core work | |
| Saturday: | 13.5 miles untimed |
| Sunday | 20.5 miles (last 7 at sub 8 min) overall pace 8:02. |
| Total: | 102 miles |
Training thoughts:
Wow my first 100 mile week. My first and possibly only 100 mile week. As I type that out, I am honestly in shock with it myself. This was a perfect training week as far as mileage goes. I felt great when I should and I felt tired and sluggish when I should. I recovered well and did exactly what I was supposed to. It was honestly my best week of the cycle.
I wanted to get my faster runs done in the beginning of the week because I knew it would be a lot easier. As far as any niggles or injuries I had none. Someone asked about my knee the other day and I’m happy to report I have felt no pain or twinges in the last two week. (Knock on wood) I’m still injury free. It was a little hard for me this week going from running 6 days a week to 7 (something I haven’t done in a while) but I know that is what I needed to do in my two peak weeks.
My shift and focus for training has gone from speed week to just huge amounts of miles. Hoarding all the miles is what I’ve done best this week I suppose. Something I keep in mind with these huge mileage weeks is that in another week I’ll begin tapering and I honestly can’t wait. I know a lot of people hate taper or are grouchy during taper but I like nothing more than to relax and recover. I’ll be busy looking at houses and enjoying family time so it really will be nice not to worry a lot about high mileage. It all balances out between peak weeks and taper weeks.
My goal for New York is still to hopefully come in around 3:10. My primary goal remains finishing and finishing happy and injury free but I would be absolutely ecstatic with a 3:10 finishing time as well.
So that is that. My best and most productive week is done with. Knock on wood, I’m still injury free and I feel ready.
Questions for you:
What has been your best week of workouts ever?
What is your favorite workout ever?
You are amazing and I know you’ll rock NYCM!
I’m glad you’re not fighting lots of injuries! You’re going to be awesome!
Well done! Never done more than 80 miles, but looking at that breakdown, that looks possible, well done!
That’s so many miles! It’s crazy! Iam so excited to hear about the marathon! I want to be able to run way farther and not have any pain! I ALWAYS hurt somewhere! It’s why I’ve always said I’ve never really gotten into running, and even now it’s really what is probably holding me back the most!
You are just seriously amazing, congrats on an awesome week! I peak at half of that and consider it good volume 🙂
I’m a big fan of 800 repeats. Challenging without being over the top and over just fast enough!
And you did it all without doing doubles. That’s stout.
100 miles!!! You go girl! (you are my ideal haha)
Thanks Kristen!
Nice week of workouts 😀
I’m going to miss running triple-digit weeks once the ‘real’ winter gets here 🙁 I can never maintain those distances on a treamill without getting injured (three winters of trying, three injuries…) and running on several feet of snow in YakTrax does not make for safe 100+ mile weeks either. Sigh…it seems to be the amount of miles required for theraputic purposes in my case.
Best week of workouts for me…hmm, something from September-October 2010. I was on fire back then…sadly never to be repeated since my form has deteriorated so badly, I fear.
I still think you sell yourself short on a 3:10, but it’s a good idea to set sensible goals for your first marathon. I just have a sneaking suspicion you’ll be even faster than that 😉
My favorite workout ever is running. Always. Running in fall weather with crisp air, no wind, and sunny skies. AHH. I love it. I can’t wait to meet you!
I’m glad to see that everything is coming together so nicely. With your pace and distance training, you will be more than capable of the 3:10. Hope you get a beautiful day to make it complete!
Thank you Steve! NYC isn’t the easiest course and I know I’ll be proud for finishing!
100+ miles of running… in a WEEK. Holy crapola, that’s an accomplishment to say the least Hollie. I rode my bike for about 20 miles the other day and thought that was good for a week or so haha. You are most certainly prepared for the distance portion of the marathon, so it’s understandable you want to get some speed work in. It will only take you further and further and come race day? Well there will be nathin to stand in your way
jesus, I read this on facebook and was blown away. I can’t even physically imagine doing that much in one week but man you rocked it.and to be pain free, amazing.
WOW! You continue to amaze me, and make me feel exhausted!
You are crazy, and I mean that in a positive way! My best workout week was the week of my first marathon- and I ran around 60 km. It’s only 100 km less of what you just ran. WOW!
A 100 mile week is so beyond anything I can fathom at this point, that just… wow. And no pressure or anything… but I’m actually really looking forward to seeing how well you do in NYC.
that is amazing! Did you test it out like a marathon i.e. take whichever gels/chews at exactly the miles you intend for the marathon?
What is your immediate recovery regimen? Do you foam roll before or after your ice bath? Ideally I like having a protein shake immediately after a LR (anything over 15mi) but having a cold shake makes the ice baths even colder so I do it this way 1) ice bath with hot coffee 2) protein shake and 3) foam roll if I’m not too lazy :S
I have done a few runs with exactly what I’m going to do/wear. I take gels actually. I like cliff gels the best. I plan my runs so that they should be finishing right around a meal time (breakfast or lunch) so I normally eat when I get back. I’m usually pretty hungry.
I normally take a bath later in the day whether it’s an ice bath or epsolm bath…normally I spend an hour mindlessly on the internet after eating LOL. I foam roll right before I go to bed! I hope that helps and feel free to ask me anything.
You are a beast!!! So inspired by you!
Awe thanks Kristy! I truly cannot wait to meet soon!
That is incredible! Like I already said, I really can’t wait to read your marathon recap. I’m sure you are going to do amazing. My best week of workouts has always been my highest milage weeks (right around 30 miles, just under) and they always come right before an injury. Hopefully in a another couple weeks I will get there again and this time move past that point injury free. I know I have it in me just trying to figure it all out.
Wooo, go Hollie! Congrats on your first 100 mile week. That is simply amazing, and I KNOW you will do so well at NYC!!
Great job on the 100 mile week… don’t think I will even get that high this month, lol. You are gonna rock out NYC and I can’t wait to read about your marathon when you do it. I mean we all know anything can happen at the race but I think it will be good for you, I mean you’re definitely giving 100% and doing all you can to make sure it goes as you want.
It’s good that your taper is coming as you job hunt, try to find a place to live, etc. So at least you can relax when running bc I know how stressful moving is.
OH DAMN GIRL, look at you! I think hitting 100 miles is absolutely amazing and I really support you “hoarding all the miles.” I can’t say I’ve ever heard that phrase before, but I kinda love it Many congrats Hollie, I can’t wait to watch you kill it in the NYCM!
Dang girl, Get it! 100+ mile week? That is so cool!
My favorite workouts are always longer runs where I surprise myself with either the distance or my time. That is the best feeling to me 🙂
Wow! 102 miles. PROPS! You are so impressive and such an inspiration!!
Sincerely, Cailee
Even with the focus on packing in the miles, you added some nice speed in there, too. I completely agree, a perfect week if I’ve ever read about one!
Wow, what a strong week–nice work! Your training speaks volumes. Not only are you logging ALL THE MILES, but you’re also being smart about it and feeling great too. It sounds like a perfectly executed training week to me. 🙂 In the past, I’ve found it difficult to taper, but last week, I actually welcomed it; very strange shift, lol.
I’m more proud of you than I can say…awesome week (obviously) and I’m glad to see things going so well. I know that you have a weird few weeks coming up with traveling and such but I know you will make it work.
I think my highest mileage week is like 65, and that has probably been the only time I have been over 60. 100…yeah that probably wont ever happen, and I’m ok with that….I’ll live vicariously through you…and sleep for you since reading this made me tired with all those miles.