Last week was fine. It wasn’t a fantastic training week, but it wasn’t bad. It was…meh.
First, it was my first week of taper. I am not someone who really hates taper. The rest and relaxation is usually welcomed. This year it most certainly is. I wish I could say I feel “awesome” going into race week but I don’t. The more time and energy, I’ve invested in a marathon training cycle, the more I don’t know if the race distance is for me.
Baring nothing serious (knock on wood), I’ll still toe the line. I’m healthy but I don’t know if my heart is really into marathoning. I wanted to give myself the benefit of the doubt, but a week out from the race I just don’t know. I can’t put my finger on why I feel this way. It’s almost if I feel like a dull crayon. I can still write, but not as precisely as a sharp one. I can still run, but not as fast as previous half marathon cycles.
Anyway, my blog is just me and my thoughts. The closer I get to NYCM, the more I realize it’s here and not going anywhere. I’m excited about the experience, to do the expo, to see friends, but I’m not as excited to run 26.2 miles.
I’m hoping I’m not creeping up on a burnout but I also know after I run 26.2 miles on Sunday…I’m taking a 2 weeks ago or until I want to run.
Anyway:
| Monday: | Easy 20 minutes |
| Tuesday: | Easy 60 minutes |
| Wednesday: | 12X400 |
| Thursday: | OFF |
| Friday: | Easy 45 minutes |
| Saturday: | OFF |
| Sunday: | 12 mile run with 6 at |
| Total: |
Thoughts:
Wednesday: 12x400s:
It was hard to get out the door because of how windy it was. Once I did, I felt fine. I had to remind myself, NYCM is windy and there is no hiding from the wind on those bridges.
Sunday Long Run:
It felt weird “just” doing 12 miles. I ran 3 miles easy, 6 miles averaging 6:50 pace, then 3 miles easy. As I mentioned on Instagram, I didn’t feel great. Holding that pace for 6 miles while “not feeling great” is a good sign, but the marathon is a few more than 6 miles.
On to Next Week:
I am both excited and not excited to run NY…
I am excited…
Because I have put in hard work to be there. I know I will have an incredible and unforgettable experience.
I am not excited…
Because right now I feel like garbage. I know “blah blah blah…taper will make you feel better”, but it’s been mentally difficult to compare myself to the fitness I was in past falls. The past few years I’ve run at least a 1:25 at this point, and it’s been more mentally tough than usual. My goal has always been to start and finish healthy.
I’m also not excited to go up to the expo on Friday. I live over 90 minutes away from NY, so trains are the best option. I’m not savvy with trains and getting from the train station of NJ to Penn station.
Anyway, not quite the training log I wanted to write. I’ll probably write another more detailed post about my thoughts of the marathon, as the day looms closer. I know once the gun goes off, I’ll have an incredible time but getting there and feeling good seems both overwhelming and questionable right now.
This coming week, work is busy, and life is busy. It makes taper come at the perfect time. For instance, I am going to the expo on Friday, have to be back in NJ Friday night, and then staying in NYC Saturday to Sunday.
Posts from the Week:
Nike Pegasus Turbo 35 Shoe Review
Atlantic City Half Marathon (1:27.53)
Questions of the day:
What is your favorite race distance?
What was your best workout this week?
Will you be at NY, let me know!
I love your honesty, Hollie! I have only ran one marathon, and while I’ll never forget the experience, I just truly did not enjoy the training. I’ve tried to train for one twice since my first and only one 3 years ago, and both times I just felt pretty miserable after a month or so and stopped. I struggled for a while with the fact that I didn’t enjoy marathon training and am I even a “real runner” if I don’t run marathons since that’s the thing to do right now it seems, but ultimately I run because I enjoy it, so why do something I hate?
Good luck with the rest of your taper and figuring out transportation to NYC! And kudos to you for listening to your body (and heart!) and taking some time off after the race. I will be cheering for you from afar!
Thank you Megan and I agree. I feel like so many train for things that ultimately might not want to do…but what’s the point. Do you have any races coming up?
You have a lot going on besides running right now, and that can definitely take away some energy away from your training. <3 You've got this no matter what and as always your attitude about running is very inspiring.
Thank you Jessica and that means a lot. For me running, is just that…running. The bad definitely come with the good.
I am excited for you to run NYCM. I love marathon taper-minus worrying that I’ll get sick or injured before the race. I find the training exhausting so less running and more recovery feels great to me!
I’ve been where you are and I think it’s just not loving the distance combined with how this race kind of presented itself to you but you didn’t necessarily chose it as a super excited goal race. But, you’re being honest with yourself and it is what it is. Hopefully you go out, run well and have a great experience but, if not, you put yourself out there and did it. Maybe just be excited for what will happen…anything is possible before 26.2! Good luck lady. I hope you figure it out over the miles 🙂
Thank you Allie and I appreciate your support out of all of the random training cycles. As long as I have it figured out by 26.199 I’ll be okay 😂
Hey Hollie – you note that you hope you aren’t on the verge of a burnout – do you think you overtrained or more of a mental burnout? Super smart to take 2 weeks (or however long) after to rest and recovery. I just ran a half and the last 3 miles were rough, but i just kept telling myself ‘you get a week off, so push through’. I’ve been following your training and you are definitely prepared for the 26.2, hopefully the wind isn’t too bad on the bridges 😉 Good luck this week – both with the race and figuring out the trains (: P.S. do you have a running coach or do you formulate your own training plans?
Thanks Jessica. I don’t have a running coach, I just do my own thing.
I have a lot of outside stuff going on besides the marathon and I know that takes a toll.