Hello! I’m back with my weekly recap of training for the Vienna marathon. Last week was a cutback by default, as we were snowboarding in the French Alps. You can read all about that trip in this post! I ran the Monday before we left and then only twice while there (both short/easy.) I think it will be okay for the marathon- it’s just a week! But I was ready to get back to it this week. Here’s how things went!
(If you missed it, I also shared a post about things I like/dislike about living in London- six month edition! Catch up HERE.)
Monday: 7 miles with Ruth; our rover (dog-sitter) for the snowboarding trip is so lovely but she’s not comfortable letting Ruth off -lead at the Heath (which is totally fine!) but it does mean she gets a little less exercise when we are gone. So after 5 nights away, she was bouncing off the walls and ready to run with me. 7 miles helped burn off some of that extra energy!
After work, I started over with Caroline Girvan’s Iron Strength program. I don’t know if I will do the whole program again start to finish within marathon training; I might be a bit more random with it, but we’ll see. Day 1 was lower body. I do like the simple moves and it feels effective for me.
Tuesday: 8 miles with 3 moderate miles in the middle. I wore my head torch and ended up seeing multiple foxes in Regent’s Park- they are probably always there but I could spot them easier when my head lamp reflected in their eyes!
Once the sun came up, it was a pretty end to my run.
Wednesday: 5 mile run before work
Thursday: 9 mile run with speed intervals (2-3-4-5 minutes on with short recoveries, repeated twice), then a wfh day as I hired a gardener to clean up our garden for spring and I needed to be home to coordinate. Now to buy some outdoor furniture to use that space more as the weather gets nicer!
Day 2 Iron Strength: Chest & Back after work
Friday: 5 mile run with Ruth & Dustin before work.
Saturday: 16 mile long run with some marathon effort from miles 11-14. It was about 50F/10C which meant shorts and a tank for me!
I ran to Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens, did a loop there, and then back to Regent’s Park for the marathon effort miles, then the 2 miles uphill to get home.
After the run, we went to the Heath to let the dogs run around for awhile before grabbing a quick lunch- I spotted this sign in our neighborhood on the walk. Neat!
Then I walked to a hair appointment. By the time my hair was done & I walked home, it was time to head to an early-ish booking at Lahpet in the Shoreditch neighborhood. Lappet is a Burmese restaurant- I think it was the first time I had Burmese food!
After dinner, we checked out this unique cocktail bar in a former suit tailor’s store room- it’s called “Discount Suit Company” and was really cool. Fun Saturday night in London!
Sunday: I’m about to head out for another run with Ruth & Dustin plus hopefully some more strength if there’s time; then we have fun outing planned in London with the pups, see more on their Instagram later today!
Summary: 58 miles of running, 2 strength sessions, daily core on Peloton
It was a big week back at it, but after minimal running last week, it felt good!
Well, that’s a wrap! I’m linking up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner; check out their blogs to connect with other fitness bloggers for workout ideas and inspiration!
Wow great mileage this week! And the Burmese food looks good. I’ve only had it once before!
How fun you’ve had Burmese before! Our dishes were very good.
I bet your legs felt really fresh after a cutback week! Nice miles for you. I’m seriously jealous of your temperate weather.
Off to check out your post from the Alps!
Thanks Wendy!
What great photos this week! Looks like fab running weather. Nice job on a solid week of training
Thanks Deb!
Nice job jumping back in with your training! I’m sure Ruth was happy for the runs too.
You wore your “head torch” ? — I guess you are speaking English now. 😉
Haha I’m trying my best to speak British!
That is a big week, but it probably felt great. I had to laugh at you in a tank top/shorts (I’d probably be in shorts, but with a long-sleeve top)…it was in the mid-40F’s here late yesterday afternoon. I was out for a walk, and passed a few college students, and one was in a tank and shorts! That would way too cold for me to have so much skin exposed, LOL.
I run HOT, especially when I’m working hard. But 50 was a lovely temp for a long run.
Ooh! I’ll have to go back and read your snowboarding post- I’ll bet it was amazing.
Yeah, you can’t really go wrong starting the Iron Series again. Those workouts really are effective- although there are a few I’d be tempted to skip the second time through (ahem, shoulders.)
Great week of running- and I’m sure the pups are thrilled to have you back home!
Thanks Jenny! So glad you recommended the Iron Series to me! I don’t mind the shoulders, but the glutes can get repetitive..
Amazing mileage this week!! You’re totally going to rock that marathon. And how lovely to run in the early morning hours and see that sunrise.
Big fan of the sunrise runs!
Great job getting right back to it. Poor Ruth! Bandit doesn’t get his walks when we’re gone, but he’s older (like Matilda), so he’s sort of okay with it.
Lovely sunrises this week!
Our rover walked them, but no runs or zoomies off lead! Matilda was just fine, similar to Bandit, but Ruth is still a puppy and has all the vizsla energy!
That is a big week of mileage.
FOMO on wearing shorts and tank to run. It is freezing here!!
It was a bigger week, but marathons are long 🙂
You had a great week of training after your cutback week while snowboarding. I bet Ruth was happy to run again! Thanks for sharing pics from around the city – so pretty!
Thanks Debbie!
Nice job! I miss marathon training so much! Your pictures are lovely. You should be well prepared for Vienna!
I am going to have to check out Caroline Girvan’s Iron Strength program. I really need some run specific training.
I don’t know if her strength is run specific, but I feel like its a nice complement!
Huge week for you! Nice job! I’ve never had Burmese food either but it looks yummy! When I petsit my friend’s cat, I am so uncomfortable letting her all the way out. My friend swears she won’t leave the yard, but…. cats, amIrite? So I get your sitter’s hesitation!
Totally! I would hate for her to let the pups off leash and something would happen, so I completely understand her hesitancy. Just meant Ruth was a little less tired than normal and sometimes a tired pup is a well behaved pup if you know what I mean 🙂
You made up with some solid mileage this week after your little break last week! Well done! I don’t think I’ve tried Burmese food either – looks delicious!
It was good! But I am not a picky eater and enjoy trying new things!
I had to Google Burmese food just to get an idea of what it’s like! Very solid week of activity! I think having a “rest” week will play in your favor. How nice to have a tank/shorts run!
Thanks Marcia!
Lovely pics again! I just bought Hunter Davies’ “The Heath” and it might be a book you enjoy, too, given you go up there so much. It’ll be a readalong with my best friend as she lives nearby, too.
I’ll have to check out that book! We don’t have to go far to take the pups to the Heath, its less than a 5 minute walk from our doorstep! I don’t love everything about our flat, but I love the proximity to the Heath!