Last week was a bit of a blur. To be honest, the cold weather broke me but luckily my work schedule was more flexible so I could run later in the day. This was the first real week of winter we’ve had.
| Monday: | Easy run |
| Tuesday: | 11.55 mile run with Liz |
| Wednesday: | 6X1 mile repeats (6:31 pace) |
| Thursday: | Easy Run |
| Friday: | OFF |
| Saturday: | Easy Run |
| Sunday: | Icicle 10 miler (1:05.33) |
| Total: | 73 miles |
On Tuesday, I stepped outside and was immediately freezing. Luckily I had the day off from work and Liz, and I ran later in the day. It was 7 degrees with the windchill. I’ve run in that weather before, but this was a shock to the system.
Workout Wednesday: 6×1 Hill mile repeats (average 6:31 pace)
This was my fastest I’ve been able to do this workout. After feeling sluggish the last few days, it was the workout I needed.
The rest of my runs were easy and uneventful. On Friday, my body was exhausted, and I needed a rest day. My quads felt fatigued this week. They haven’t been injury sore but just tired, so I’ve been foam rolling a lot more. That is not normally an issue for me.
The Icicle 10 Miler yesterday was a shock to me. I ran the Icicle 10 miler last year in a time of 1:07.36. I tapered and it was my first strong race after my stress fracture. This year I ran it two minutes faster on a harder day. It was raining and my mileage this week was anything but a taper.
My goal was to have a quality training week and with mileage and workouts then to run the race on tired legs and see how I ran. The course is hilly and it ends with a steep incline. 
In summary, I ran the first half in 33:17 and the second half in 32:14. I had a good race and it was even 6 seconds (I originally said 3, but I realized it was 6 seconds) faster than my Broad Street race in May. It definitely showed me I’m getting into peak fitness.
Next week:
I’ll be tapering and going on vacation out to San Diego. My husband and I booked a vacation out there a while ago and then realized the Carlsbad half marathon is the same weekend. Our primary reasoning for going out is a vacation, but the half will be a lot of fun!
I’m excited to how I’ve progressed since the Philadelphia half marathon (1:25.00). Not only was I was not feeling the best that day, but I’ve also made significant fitness gains in the last two months.
Questions for you:
Is it cold in your region?
Have you been to San Diego or LA? Any recommendations on what to do or where to go?
Congrats on a great training week! Super jealous of your San Diego vacation! Enjoy!
You can always come with me! 😉
Congratulations on yet another great race… Yeah, winter has finally hit Ireland. It was 2.5 Celsius this morning for my run. It’s been really mild until now, so it’s a bit of a shock to the system 🙁
I agree, I’ve run in the cold weather temperature before but the sudden drop has definitely been a shock to my system too!
The cold weather has been a shock because it’s been interspersed with lots of warm days (yesterday I ran in shorts! not so much today). You had a great week. San Diego is lovely – I actually much prefer it to LA. Have a great trip!
Congrats on an awesome week! Enjoy your vacation!
I’m excited to see how you run at Carlsbad. San Diego is beautiful and you’ve been training and racing so well lately, it should be a fun race!
Yes! I lived in San Diego for a while. The Deli Llama, Snooze, all of Balboa park and the San Diego zoo, Coronado island, those were my favorite places to eat/visit/run. Have a blast!!
Thank you Mary for your recommendations. If you have any restaurants you recommend, I would love to hear that too!
Sounds like another really great week of quality training! It will be so nice to get away to San Diego for some warmer weather and a change of scenery!
Wow, great job in logging all those miles. And improving your time! That’s so great!
It has been pretty cold here in Utah– in the 20s and 30s. The most annoying thing, though, is that they don’t plow the high school tracks in the area, and it hasn’t gotten warm enough to melt off the first big snow yet. So I’ve been having to scramble to find places to do my speed work.
Nice job on the 10 miler! I’m looking forward to seeing how the half marathon goes for you! Good luck!
wow BIG mileage week. I tend to cry if I go over 50 miles.
Still unseasonably warm in the south of the UK, just been out for a lunchbreak 5 miler in shorts and t shirt. (although forecast says we may see snow this week)
What a great week! And so awesome that you get to do a half while on vacation! I miss San Diego, enjoy!
Thank you! Do you have any recommendations of where to go or what to do?
Its not really been cold here. Just a few cold snap every once and awhile.
Great job on the 10 miler! And I’m so jealous of your trip to San Diego!
Congrats on a great race and I hope you have fun in San Diego and with the half marathon. Some of our friends in the Navy moved to San Diego last year and we really miss them. They like it there though, even though it’s way more expensive to live than Charleston. Hope both of you have a wonderful time!
You’re so fast! Congrats on a great race! I hope you have fun in San Diego – I bet the warm weather will feel like such a nice treat. I feel like that first week of truly winter weather always leaves me and my running feeling sluggish, so hopefully the warm weather will give you an even better week of running!
Congrats on your progress!!! San Diego is one of my favorite cities! Have fun!!
Your running now is how I would like to be in 2 months. I should scroll back and copycat your training! What’s the biggest change you’ve made that you think really made a difference in your fitness levels?
Honestly it’s just been consistently running. I’ve just continued to log miles and race more. I was injured for quite some time that I needed the last 7 months to rebuild the fitness I lost!
Makes sense. You race a lot more than I do so maybe I need to start signing up for more stuff!
The fact that you ran faster than Broad Street on such a hilly course is so impressive! I’m glad we managed to get out there Tuesday. It was rough but so worth it!
You continue to inspire me! Incredible training week! Your blog is the second I’ve read about having a strong race during a harder week of training..Must be something to this?? I’ve never been to either but my mom did move out to San Diego a few years ago. I just haven’t had the funds to fly out to see her. Tell her I said hello! ha!! 😉 happy Monday.
Thank you Jess and your support is always awesome. If I see your mom I’ll definitely say hello 😜
Up until the start of December I lived in NH where it is freezing and dark this time of year. Now I’m one of the Tampa moms complaining that it’s “so cold!” at the bus stop on a 50 degree morning.
That’s exactly how I feel Kristen. I went to college in Upstate nY and moved to NJ…I cannot imagine running up there in this weather, I’ve become such a baby.
It is cold in Ottawa, but not terribly cold yet. Hopefully not at all this winter.
I’m with you, I hope we have a mild winter.
Good job on your week of running,
As for San Diego, the weather should be nice , Maybe sea world, or if u have time drive up to Anaheim, there a lot to do up there. Ocean beach in San Diego is great too. Hit the beach after the half..
You’ll guys will have fun
Have a safe trip and flight.
Great training week!! It is really cold here. I went for a run this weekend and it was only 30 outside! Enjoy your trip to the warmth!!! Good luck in your race!
Thank you so much Ally, I appreciate it!
Cannot wait to see what you can do in California! Have a fantastic and WARM vacation 🙂
Oh I feel you on the single-digit weather! I live in Iowa and it’s bad right now so I’ve been having some nice quality time with the treadmill recently haha. Congrats on a great race!
After moving away from Upstate NY I cannot imagine going back to the cold weather. I’ve become such a baby!
I live in WI, and I think the air temp on my drive into work was -12. To me, that is just the kind of stupid cold weather where nobody should have to leave their house. I’m a total baby when it comes to running in the cold, so I’ll just be stuck on the treadmill until the first sign of spring.
Congrats on your awesome race time! Happy to have come across your blog…I’ll definitely check in again!
Thank you so much Charlene.
I used to live in Upstate, NY so I feel your pain of the cold weather. I would rather run on the treadmill in any cold conditions!
Man, Tuesday was brutal. I planned to run that morning and immediately changed my mind! Have a blast in San Diego–run fast and check out those diners! 🙂