I’m halfway through my lower mileage of resting and recovering period. What does that mean?
I’ve scrapped a lot of easy miles and am just doing important miles. IE: I’m running less easy and even less junk miles. I won’t lie that mentally I wonder if I’m ready for a marathon…but then I realized “derp the marathon is in October and it’s April”, nothing I do really matters right now…except staying injury free. The marathon is in 23 weeks and I plan to start beginning to train at 20 weeks out.
A question I get rather frequently is if I struggle with trusting myself, trusting my training and believing in myself. I have always been “labeled” as a very care free runner. I am very care free and I’m not afraid to take multiple rest days. That has all come from injuries and realizing I would rather take a day off versus 2 months.
That being said I do struggle. I do often question myself. The days I take a rest day, I wonder if I really need one. I think part of running is truly believing in yourself. Another piece is still realizing that each race and run is not going to make or break you.
I say this as I’m running the NJ half marathon today (or ran since it started at 6:45). I know I’m not ready to outdo my PR from earlier in the month. I do know that I still did PR at Atlantic City. If I ran a 1:30 today, my PR still stands…this race does not make or break me. Bombing this race (or any other race) does not take away from my PR’s or when I begin training for my full marathon.
Training this week:
| Monday: | OFF (fly home) | |
| Tuesday: | 13 miles easy untimed | P90X ab ripper and arm workout |
| Wednesday: | OFF | |
| Thursday: | 12 miles tempo | Nike Core crunch |
| Friday: | OFF | Nike Core crunch |
| Saturday: | Shakeout Easy run with Laura and Heather | |
| Sunday: | NJ Half Marathon |
As you can see, something I have been doing is a bit more strength work. I have made it a goal to be relatively conistent with more strength and core work. I think it shows a little bit because I’ve been running as strong as last year on less miles. Despite not making it a regular habit to post about, I do strive to do 15 minute core sessions (whether it’s P90X or Nike Training Club) 3-4 times a week.
So yeah that is all I have for training updates this week.
Questions for you:
How early out do you begin training for a marathon (or any race)?
Do you struggle with trusting yourself?
I have been taking it really easy – way normally than I normally would – but giving myself a pass because it’s the end of the semester and I have a marathon in two weeks (which is crazy)! Good luck on your half today and I can’t wait to see how you do on your full marathon in the fall!
First off, CONGRATS on the NJ Half!! I just finished the Nike Women’s one today!! My first ever and I feel on top of the world right now!!! I think I’m already addicted haha! I totally get what you mean about not trusting yourself…during my training, I kept thinking “Am I really going to be able to do this?” like “Am I really cut out for this?” and it wasn’t until I was running that I thought “Yeah, I’m gonna kill it!” So much of running is mental strength and endurance as well, you know? You’re going to do GREAT on your marathon, I just know it!!
I ran the Nike Womens last year. I’m glad you had a great time and enjoyed it. It sounds like you really had a lot of fun!
Always a struggle trusting myself & my training, but I see it all as a learning experience! Sounds like you’ve got a great game plan for Oct. I just signed up for a full then, too, but training doesn’t officially start ’til June. Gonna try a new program – less junk miles, too, so hoping to ward off injury. Excited to follow along with yours! Also – wanted to let you know I nominated you for a Liebster Award 🙂 Details here – http://kineticfix.com/2014/04/26/liebster-award-sharing-the-blog-love/
My husband and sister just did the NJ Half Marathon – first time for them both. 🙂
Ummm I’d say that based on your “no training” that you still killed your race 🙂 I struggle with trusting my running self because I haven’t really trained for things enough. I was so sure I was going to suck yesterday because my training was subpar but I ended up PRing. I just don’t understand running haha Swimming is different story.
I’m so amped to follow your training for another marathon!!
I like to do 12 weeks for marathon training, as long as I have a base built, and am not coming back from an injury. 16 is too many for me personally, so I won’t start training until late summer.
It’s so important to trust your training and trust the process; both are easier said than done–for me, anyway. I really need to start making strength training a priority again too.
For my one and only marathon I started training 16 weeks out. For half mary’s I start training about 13 weeks out and 5K’s about 5 to 8 week’s out depending. Annnnnd I’m always trying to trust myself. That’s a constant work in progress
I really like your carefree attitude. I think it serves well in keeping an audience anyway. It’s much more fun (for me) to read about someone who is super successful but also not completely obsessed.
I’ve run 5 marathon and never more than a 14 week training cycle. I am VERY carefree and have followed the “run less run faster” program in the past… except I only ran 2-3 days a week instead of the full 3. But LOTS of cross training. 😉
I just ran Boston and am contemplating a Fall marathon. I’m inspired by your training and I’m considering adding more run days! It will be fun to experiment and see the benefits/draw backs if any.
I need to incorporate more core/strength. I always find it difficult to do this while in marathon training mode when running comes first. It’s tough to figure out a plan that’s effective but manageable! Will be following your training for the fall marathon 🙂