I haven’t blogged about my training in a long time. Back in 2016, 2017 I shared alllll of my training, but as I got busier, I shared less.
I’m currently training for the Chicago Marathon, which will be my 20th marathon and 10 year anniversary of my first marathon. To hype myself up and share the journey I have been posting weekly training recap videos on my Instagram each week, but I wanted to share a week one to eight summary here too.
The thing about marathon training is…it never gets easier. I have crossed 19 marathon finish lines and I still don’t take them for granted. Getting through a marathon training cycle injury free is a battle in itself and I have had a couple injuries over the last couple of years that make me a bit apprehensive to train again. This is the first training cycle in three years where I feel like I am somewhat like my old self. And it’s always in the back of my mind that it can change instantly. I have been grateful for each week, pulled back where I needed, and taken my recovery seriously.
Even if I am so grateful to be training, it doesn’t mean a 3 hour run on a Sunday doesn’t feel daunting. It’s part of why I love the marathon so much. You have to work for every single finish line. It doesn’t matter if you’ve done this once before or fifty times before, you earn that finish line. I can’t wait to earn my 20th.
We’re 5 weeks out from race day and I still have more work to put in, but I’m ready. Let’s go.
Week one:
Monday – 3 miles easy AM + strength PM
Tuesday – 40 minutes easy AM + teaching
Wednesday – rest (but teaching) – 15 miles walking
Thursday – rest
Friday – 7 miles (3 mi tempo)
Saturday – 10.61 miles (bonus before + CRC long run)
Sunday – mellow yoga class AM + 50 minutes easy run PM
Week two:
Monday – rest day
Tuesday – 35 minutes easy AM + teaching PM
Wednesday – 3 miles (a few hills) AM + teaching PM
Thursday – 20 minutes easy with Nimble run club
Friday – tempo run with Kyle
Saturday – 14.10 miles / 23km?
Sunday – rest day
Week three:
Monday – rest day
Tuesday – taught strength PM
Wednesday – 4 miles easy AM + taught HIIT PM
Thursday – strength: legs + 40 mins easy
Friday – rest day
Saturday – 45 min run AM + 2 hour hike
Sunday – rest day
Week four:
Monday – 11 miles
Tuesday – taught strength
Wednesday – 5.15 miles (with 40 sec pick ups) AM + taught HIIT PM
Thursday – 30 min easy run club
Friday – rest day
Saturday – 3 mile shakeout
Sunday – City2Surf!! 14km race + warm up
Week five:
Monday – rest day (massage)
Tuesday – taught strength + 30 minutes easy
Wednesday – 6.51 miles + taught HIIT
Thursday – strength training
Friday – yoga class + 1 hour easy
Saturday – 4.83 miles (parkrun – 100m reps)
Sunday – 2 hour & 30 minute long run
Week six:
Monday – reformer pilates
Tuesday – rest + taught strength
Wednesday – 40 minutes easy + taught HIIT
Thursday – 1 hour easy
Friday – reformer pilates AM + 7.50 miles (3 x 1mi)
Saturday – hike + 6 miles easy
Sunday – 18 mile long run
Week seven:
Monday – rest day (massage)
Tuesday – 40 mins easy + taught strength
Wednesday – taught HIIT + 40 mins easy
Thursday – breath work
Friday – vinyasa yoga class + 8.22 miles (4 at tempo)
Saturday – 7 miles easy + strength session
Sunday – 18 miles (12mi progression)
Week eight:
Monday – reformer pilates
Tuesday – 40 mins easy + taught strength
Wednesday – 40 mins easy + taught HIIT
Thursday – rest
Friday – rest
Saturday – 17.11 miles easy
Sunday – rest
