August 14, 2018

Berlin Marathon Training Recap #2 (Weeks #6-9)

Summer has been flying by which means so has marathon training. Like I mentioned in my first Berlin Marathon training recap, my mileage has still been lower than my 2015 and 2016 training cycles. I've gotten all of my hotels booked and figured out all my travel for getting to Berlin for the race as well as a return flight home out of Munich. I think my mileage has moved up safely and steadily, but having a nice base for marathon training since Boston has helped too. Here's how the past few weeks of training have been going for the 2018 Berlin Marathon. 


berlin-marathon-training-2018-recap-2

Week 6
Week 6 was a lower mileage week than I wanted, but I was able to get in a solid 12 mile long run with 3 miles at marathon race pace which felt good. However on that long run I had some GI issues so I had to take a bathroom break and had some miles that were a struggle. Because of my schedule I ended up doing my long run on Thursday which felt weird. I have been really trying this cycle to make my easy miles at an easy pace, keeping it nice and slow. 

Post-long run acai bowls are always a good idea

Week 7
This week I hit over 40 miles for the first time during training.  I did another long run this week with my friend Lizzy who is training for her first full marathon so that made many of the miles on my 17 mile long run fly by! I also got in a solid tempo run on the treadmill this week along with a HIIT class. I actually have done at least one run a week on the treadmill if it's shorter because of thunderstorms or humidity and heat. I don't mind getting through a tempo run on the treadmill if I can watch Netflix on my phone!

Netflix and treadmill. 
Because of coaching I ended up doing over 9 slow miles the day after my long run which adds some extra training on tired legs for sure. 

Week 8
Week 8 included another over 9 mile run on Saturday, the day after my long run. It was nice to get in another Friday long run with Lizzy while I still was not working full-time yet. This week was really humid so my long run and Saturday run felt swampy and rough.

Drenched post-run feels
I was happy to also get in some true cross-training this week including some lifting as well as a jumping fitness class that uses small trampolines at Movement Lab. It's kind of like dancing and jumping to the beat of music on trampolines and is SO much fun!   

Week 9
Week 9 was just under 40 miles agin. I had to cut my speed workout short this week due to dehydration and feeling really overheated. I'd rather be safe than sorry. I also got in another tempo treadmill workout and some recovery miles while coaching my training group on Saturday. 
Post-drenched foot selfie, because my selfie of me looking like a wet dog no one needs to see! 
Friday I did my long run but because I had a race at night I decided to do it in 2 parts with a 25 minute drive in between. I ran 9 on the treadmill at ~9:14/mi which was mentally tough and then literally changed my shirt and drove to the Sneaks Come Out at Night 15K sponsored by Back on my Feet Baltimore. I started the race too fast throwing in some sub-8 miles and slowed down to just over 8 minutes/mile by the end because on my 3rd 5K loop (for the 15K runners did 3 loops), there was a torrential downpour and thunderstorm. The rain got into my eyes and messed up my contacts plus was just some driving rain. Luckily my mantra for rain that isn't cold is, "at least it's not like the 2018 Boston Marathon"! After the race and 18 total miles I was toast so I came home to a hot shower, cold beer, and pizza for dinner. 

Highs
For most of my long runs I have been using my Ultimate Directions Hydration Vesta (full review here). It has been a great hydration pack choice after I was getting frustrated with my waist hydration belt and my other options for carrying water which is a necessity during long runs in Baltimore in the summer.


 It is hard to do my own marathon training when I am coaching at Charm City Run, my local running store, especially because my group meets on Saturday mornings. It was nice to get in most of my long runs done before the weekend so that they didn't have to be interrupted or broken up. 

Lows
I have been slacking on doing my glute and hip exercises as well as foam-rolling more (story of every runner's life?) . I think instead of nebulously saying that I should do recovery work that I need to pick an actual day and make it part of my schedule. I am thinking maybe Mondays. I also need to keep drinking water because of this heat and humidity. Being dehydrated for runs already sets me up for a terrible run. 

You can follow along with my marathon training on social media with my hashtag #breathedeeplyandrunberlin . 

Are you training for any races or events? How do you deal with training during the summer? 

4 comments:

  1. I don't know why it's so hard to get into a routine with hip/glute exercises and foam rolling, but you're not kidding when you say it's tough to make those things a consistent part of your routine! Over the years I've gotten better at integrating them as part of my cooldown, but if I'm at all short on time they're the first things to go. Why does running have to involve so many extras to keep you healthy?? Sigh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's always the thing that gets left by the wayside. I agree that I just want to get my shoes on and run and all the prehab, warming up and cool down can feel so time consuming lolz.

      Delete
  2. I should be doing way more foam rolling than I do (which is none). Why is rehab so hard?

    Looks like you're doing fantastic with your training! That picture of you smirking at the camera is so cute!

    ReplyDelete