Hello friends! Another week, another weekly recap of training for the Idaho marathon in just 9 weeks! Here’s how fitness went this past week:
Monday: I woke up to pouring rain and decided to wait to run; instead, I just started my workday early. Then when there was a break, I snuck out for an intentionally easy recovery run: 8 miles, 9:30 min/mile pace. I even wore my “recovery” shoes, my Hokas!
In-person Discover Strength session after work.
Tuesday: 6 easy miles with friends before work, 9:15 min/mile average
Wednesday: Workout Wednesday! This one was a doozy: 3 mile warm-up, 4x(4 min at marathon effort, 1 min hard), 8 minute jog, 4x(4 min at marathon effort, 1 min hard), i.e. no break between marathon pace and hard pace for the full 20 minutes, then recovery, then do it again!
My coach advised me to be more conservative on the marathon pace in order to have a more significant pick-up on the hard minute and I did a much better job pacing this week vs. last week’s similar workout.
11 miles total, 8:45 min/mile average. All before logging in for an 8 am meeting!
Virtual 1:1 with Discover Strength after work. Legs were cashed!
Minneapolis now has an Allbirds store (downtown in the North Loop), and you know how much I love Allbirds! Dustin and I stopped by for their sneak peek/soft opening. He bought a pair, but since I had just purchased the Oiselle Allbirds, I abstained- this time!
Thursday: Complete rest. After a big Wednesday, I appreciated the day off of running. I still walked plenty- that’s what you get for having two vizslas!
Friday: Easy 6 miles with my friend Vicki and Julie, 9:24 min/mile average.
I layered up the nuun gear for this run!
Virtual 1:1 with Discover Strength after work
Saturday: Solo long run! I started at 8 am and should have started earlier. Wowza, it got hot! The high in Minneapolis for the day was 88 degrees and by the time I finished my 18 miler, the sun was out in full force and I was melting.
I had not adjusted yet to this sort of weather. I definitely had to make it a sports bra day!
I had brought my handheld water bottle full of water, which I consumed pretty quickly, but the route I ran took me past a Super America gas station, so I brought a mask and a credit card to stop to get a Gatorade and refill it there. That still wasn’t enough though!
I managed to finish the 18, all alone- 9:10 min/mile average. Not my best run by any means, but I stuck with it.
Sunday: Sunday run with the fam! (i.e. Dustin and Ruth), 7 miles, 8:55 min/mile average. Legs were tired from 18 the day before.
Summary: 56 miles of running, 3 strength training sessions
I’ve been strength training with Discover Strength for just over 2 years now; what attracted me to their workout originally was the efficiency– it’s a full body workout in just 30 minutes and they really push you. It was also very convenient when I was working downtown as there was a studio just a hop/skip & a jump away from my office in the Skyway and I could easily squeeze in a session, which meant I was consistent about doing it!
During the pandemic, I was really consistent with 2-3 virtual sessions per week. I have been pretty happy with them and have even started venturing back into the studios for 1:1’s in person.
However, Discover Strength is heavy lifting, and I want to get back to lighter lifting /toning (barre.) So, I am making a switch, at least partially, where I hope to incorporate barre again 2 times a week and just 1 session with Discover Strength; I need a bit more balance (and am maybe a little burned out of Discover Strength- which is totally me, not them!) I also miss the total lack of any injuries when I was doing barre; there’s so much glute and core strength involved that I think its a great complement to running. So, you’ll see barre start to come back to this weekly recap next week, as I booked my “first class free” at The Bar Method for Monday! They just opened a studio right down the road from me. Masks are required.
My relationship with strength training is always evolving, but I think that’s a good thing. It’s valuable to switch things up!
And that’s a wrap; I hope you had a great week in fitness, be sure to visit all the other bloggers who link up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner Check it out!
Great job this week! I can’t believe the heat you had yesterday. It was still chilly here, but warmed up today. It sounds like a good plan to switch up your strength training!
88 degrees was crazy hot for May 1!
Sounds like a good choice with the strength training. I need to get back into something now I’ve sort of decided to do a marathon in 2022 … And that heat – goodness! Well done on getting your long one done in that!
I guess the best strength training is the one you can be consistent with, but I need some variety too!
You are a total badass for running 11 miles before an 8am meeting! Awesome job with all your runs this week. I think you made a good choice in reference to your strength training. The great thing about strength training is that there are so many ways to mix it up and yet still get what you need out of it.
Exactly! Nothing wrong with making some changes and adjustments as we go!
I think you’re smart to switch things up with strength training, especially if you’re feeling ready for something different. The important thing is that you’re doing it, and you’ve been consistent. A busy week for you! Keep up the great work 😉
Totally correct Kim! I’m happy that I’ve been consistent with strength training, but I do need a change right now. I’m glad studios are open and that I can safely get back to the barre as an option.
88?!?! Holy Moly. I’m just a wee bit envious, they promised us some warmer temps but they never really materialized. Although 60ish passes for warmer here these days, LOL!
88 is definitely a bit too much too soon! Good job getting that done!
I want to do a short ST sessh today, but I have a feeling it might not happen. I do like Barre but haven’t done it in a long time. Interesting that you have no injuries when you do it.
I love the heat, but wasn’t expecting it to get quite so warm Saturday! I normally would start earlier.
Wow, you really had a great week- that workout on Wednesday and then the long run- you had Florida temps! I think you need to factor in the heat before you say “not my best run.” It sounds like you did great. That gatorade must have tasted amazing!
Haha, yes, Florida temps for a Minnesota body that was not ready for it!
that Gatorade tasted SOOO good.
It is good to switch up your strength training. That helped me this past year as well. I believe it’s also good to cut back or change when upping your mileage. Sounds like you have it figured out!
Thanks Deborah!
Great job on your workouts last week! As you know, it’s always good to change up workouts occasionally. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve switched to lighter weights and more reps and it’s working for me.
That’s what I’m thinking too- good to change it up and try something new and I’m glad barre is an option for me.
Wow, you accomplished quite a workout before that 8:00 am meeting! It is going to take time to get used to the heat. They’re saying our temperatures will be above and below average this month, which makes it hard to acclimate. Interesting thoughts on DS vs. barre. I can’t stand barre, but I try to keep the Peloton Strength for Runners classes in my rotation. They are a combo of strength, mobility, and PT-type exercises.
I think of barre like PT type exercises, and it seems to have PT like results, ha! But I totally get that its not for everyone, I have plenty of friends who find it rather boring.
I feel you on the heavy strength. I was more than a little burned out at the end of my strength cycle. Thankfully, my coach moved to a more skill/strength cycle. She throws in a lot of fun stuff too. I’m enjoying it. She’ll reintroduce some heavier lifts again, now that I’ve recovered. It’s good to mix it up! Nice week for you. It has been wild, weather-wise. i was really nervous for my race this weekend–it was supposed to be in the 80s, but in true midwest fashion, it was 49 and windy at the beginning of the race… Read more »
I think that’s what’s happening to me; just a bit burned out and want a change.
Haha, true midwest fashion is the weather is never consistent! Glad it wasn’t too hot for you Wendy.
Oh wow 18 miles in 88 degrees is brutal. Especially with no time to acclimate. Way to push through. Changing up your strength training sounds like a great idea!
Thanks Marcia. Yes, the 88 degrees came out of nowhere!
Great week of training and good thinking on the shift in strength training. I think it will pay great dividends. Hope Christie is recovering ok – so bummed for her.
Thanks Eric, yeah, I feel so bad for Christie too. She will get it at the next one though!
Great job this weeks. You continue to amaze me with your workouts. And most of them right before work!! This weekend was also very warm in the 80s. Both days my mother and I went out on balcony to enjoy the day. There is also an Allbirds store in Chicago but on the north side. I want to go to check out the flat shoes since online they look cute and comfortable. I love those pants you have in the photo. I have similar ones but I am looking for more.
It will be a huge adjustment when it’s back to the office; it’s a lot easier to get in these miles right now when working from home.
The pants are from Lululemon- I think they are called the Keep Moving pant. They’re great!
Great job this week. I always smile at you “easy” runs and your pace since they all seem to get faster with the week’s progression! Wednesday’s workout sounds really tough – great that you felt it was better than last week!
crazy you went from layering up (love the nuun shirts btw) to mega heat!!
I think it’s good to evolve and change when it comes to training. I’d like to do barre but I really don’t think my arthritic toes would cooperate.
Well, I suppose my paces do increase, especially on Sundays when I run with my husband!
Thanks for the compliment on the nuun gear, and yes, the weather got warm very quickly!
Great work!
Listen, my running buddies are going to be so mad. I want to move us from 7AM to 6:30AM. It’s just so hot and the sun is brutal. I am even going to start my long runs at 5:30. I know this is probably still pretty late, but I am so scared of tripping in the dark.
Idaho is so close!
I would definitely be willing to move to 6:30 if I lived in Florida 🙂 Our run club starts a lot earlier in the summer (or used to, when it existed pre-Covid) but that doesn’t start until Memorial Day!
What an awesome week for you! Definitely sounds like a good choice to switch up your strength training. 88 degrees already?! Wowza
I know! 88 on May 1 was a shock to the system for a Minnesotan!
oof, that sounds like a hot long run for sure! Good job getting it done. We have a Pure Barre studio close by and I’m amazed at the commitment my friends have to going there. I’ve only done it once but I agree, it hits all of the muscles that help you run!
Yes, people are very committed to their barre classes. I hope to get back to it. I do think it really worked for me, maybe a bit more than heavy lifting (or maybe its more about a little bit of both!)
Awesome week! I think adding strength training will only help you. For me, its made such a tremendous difference, and I can tell in my runs. I know you are not ready for that hot weather, but this girl is loving it! But you know, Minnesota weather has a way to crush your heart when you least expect it! 🙂 So, I am loving the warm temperatures, although right now they are back to the upper 50s down here in Rochester.
Thanks Angie! I do strength train already 2-3 times a week, but I just want to switch it up from heavy lifting back to barre (or at least a bit more variety.)
Minnesota weather is all over the place!