Final weeks of marathon training

Here are the runs from my final weeks of marathon training. Another crazy long run and some short runs in between.

Saturday, December 2nd - 6.1 miles
A 6 miler as a long run was a nice change after 20 miles the week before.

Thursday, December 7th - 2.5 miles
Got in a weekday run.

Sunday, December 10th - 7.06 miles
An afternoon run?  It actually cooled off in Miami, so I got in my run at 1:15pm. Can't beat that.

Saturday, December 16th - 22.01 miles
And here it was, the last big run. This was it before the full, after this was taper time. I got out on the road at about 4am, and Andy followed me on a bike.

It was hard. Hard to get moving, hard to get into a groove, but eventually I did. Stopped half way for a pit stop.

The temp outside was good, thankfully, but I was tired of being on my feet. Everything hurt, but mostly my feet. And I was just overall tired. I was walking the last few miles with some IT band pain. I should have gotten in 23-24, but I wanted to be done already.

I got home and Mom made breakfast, which I was so looking forward to, and then I got into my ice bath.

Thursday, December 21st - 2.51 miles
The weather was nice, so I got in a quick run before work!

Sunday, December 31st - 2.62 miles
Tried out the new shoes I got for Christmas. Still too new to use for the full, but did 2.62, the week before attempting 26.2.

7 tips for a solo run

Running alone is not scary or crazy to do. As long as you keep a few things in mind, you can totally get out there and run solo.

I've been training alone for years. Thankfully, I've only had a couple of issues, and none of them severe. But here are a few tips to stay safe while getting in your run. Cause, it shouldn't scare you to get out there.

1. Run in a familiar area.

It's best to know where you are and all the little quirks of the area. I feel more confident knowing where I'm going and not having to wonder where the next turn will be. This doesn't mean you can't mix it up a bit, but I prefer to get out there knowing beforehand where I am and will be. Running in a completely new area is best saved for when you have a buddy with you.

2. Tell your person where you will be.

I'm not saying post it on FB, but I always let mom know where I'll be running, especially on super long runs. She's been able to bring me water when needed, and if I need help, she'll be able to come get me. So tell your parents, your spouse, your bestie that lives down the block. Let someone know where you'll be. And approximately when to expect you back.

3. Be aware of your surroundings.

Don't just be in la la land while you're out there. Notice what is going on. The cars around you, the other pedestrians, bicyclists, even debris on the road. This will keep you safe, and also keep you from tripping on something and messing up your knee.

4. Bring your phone.

I won't ever leave home without it. Plus it's my GPS, interval timer, and music. And if you run into any issues, you can call someone or even 911 if needed. Just make sure you have a full charge when you get out there for your run.

5. Wear all the brights.

I always say I look like I'm crazy on my runs. I wear all of the brights, sequins and reflectors. Anything that makes me visible. Remember, make yourself easy to see, cause cars aren't usually looking for people on their feet out there. I leave my black shirts at home on my runs. Those are only for the gym, OTF, or a race.

6. Ignore the honks/comments/leering looks.

You may want to go over and tell the creepy old guy looking you up and down that he is nasty and you could be his granddaughter (which I have done), but it's usually not worth it. Catcallers, creepers, and people honking at you won't care, and are looking for you to get pissed and get a response. Just ignore it, or my preferred action give the finger as you keep running by.

7. Trust your gut. 

Sometimes your intuition is telling you something. Listen to your instincts.

Hope these tips will help you get out there for a solo run one of these days. Sometimes just being there with your thoughts is good for your soul as well as your body.

10 weeks to go (marathon training)

Hell Week at Orangetheory started this week. I'm a sucker for a free t-shirt, like most of us, so I had to get in my 5 Hell Week workouts to get my shirt.

Monday, October 23rd - Clean Week: Core Function
Hell Week didn't start til Tuesday, so I headed to the gym with the girls at lunchtime, and knocked out this workout. It's becoming one of my faves.

Tuesday, October 24th - Rest day
Wasn't able to make it to OTF today.

Wednesday, October 25th - Orangetheory class: Hell Week "Don't Breathe"
Yup, don't breathe is right. Damn hell week is hard


Thursday, October 26th - Rest day
Might have gone out the previous night, so sleeping in was needed.

Friday, October 27th - Orangetheory class: Hell Week "28 Reps Later"

Saturday, October 28th - Orangetheory class: Hell Week "Thigh Day the 13th"


Sunday, October 29th - Rest day


A few more rest days than I would have liked, but Hell Week does have me sore.

13 weeks to go (marathon training)

Last week just felt a little off, not gonna lie. I blame the full moon. But I got in what I could.


Monday, October 2nd - REST DAY
A helluva headache left me sidetracked today. Bleh.

Tuesday, October 3rd - 21 Day Fix: Upper Fix

Head a little better than night, and I know mentally I needed a workout. Arms is what was on the schedule.


Wednesday, October 4th - REST DAY
This one was unintentional, but life got away from me, and I just didn't have time.


Thursday, October 5th - Run 30 minutes

Got in a mid-week run, even with a huge thunderstorm happening. This is when I'm thankful for the treadmill.


Friday, October 6th - 21 Day Fix: Lower Fix

I wanted to skip, but with 2 rest days already, I got in my lower body work.


Saturday, October 7th - Orangetheory class: Strength

Class was a tough one. Lots of inclines on the treadmill. The floor work was a lot of chest and upper body, but I loved it.


Sunday, October 8th - Run 5 miles

Yup, I was out late on Saturday night, and then Sunday morning was just messy. No excuses for me, I got on my treadmill and busted out my 5 miles. At least I had some Netflix to keep me entertained.


Another week in the books. Next week is another super killer long run, but I know I got it. Plus, thankfully I'll have company.

14 weeks to go... Farthest I've ever run

A little late on this week's post, but here we go. 14 weeks left til go time. I was a little nervous the whole week knowing that I had 15 coming up on Sunday.


Monday, September 25th - 21 Day Fix: Total Body Cardio Fix

Late night workout, it was super sweaty, but I got it done.


Tuesday, September 26th - 21 Day Fix: Upper Fix

Killed arm day before I went to get my vote on.


Wednesday, September 27th - 4.2 mile run

Had to run 4.2 miles for Jenn's 42nd birthday! And did it on my new treadmill.


Thursday, September 28th - REST DAY


Friday, September 29th - 21 Day Fix: Cardio Fix

Early morning cardio to get Friday started right.


Saturday, September 30th - Orangetheory class (power day)

Tried to take it easy on the tread. But once my heart rate got up on the sprint row, it was always up.


Sunday, October 1st - 15 miles

This is the farthest I've ever, ever run. Not gonna lie, I was super apprehensive about this run. I went on Map My Run the night before and plotted out a course around my house. I didn't want to go out to somewhere unfamiliar, since I knew I'd be out there for a while. I also taped up my IT band, and laid out my clothes. I was ready as I could be.

I got up on Sunday morning and headed out before the sun. I intentionally slowed the hell down. I knew I'd need to keep it slower to be able to keep it going that long. I kept telling myself it's just 5 miles (which was great last week) 3 times. I can do this.

I listened to my podcasts which kept me entertained, and just kept chugging along. I started fueling about every 2ish miles, and I got a water refill at about mile 6.5ish. My course was 2 out and backs with my house in the middle. I was done with the first one, and crossed my street to start the 2nd half. It was harder, but I think it was more mental than anything. My legs felt ok, but the sun was out at this point and the humidity was getting to me. I need to bring electrolytes with me next time, I think they will help.

I needed more water, and found a church with an outdoor water fountain, which was a god send. The water was even cold! Somehow, during that stop though, I managed to pause my RunKeeper, so that was off by about 2-3 miles. ARGH. I was so mad. Thankfully I had plotted my course and has my Fitbit running, so I went with the mileage on that.

When I finally got home, I foam rolled my legs. And then... I braved a mini ice bath. There wasn't too much ice, but I think I got the effect anyway. Thankfully the only thing that was sore was my calves, which were sore pre-run. But some compression sleeves made them feel better.

I was kinda impressed of how ok I felt after that 15 miler. Now an easy week this weekend, and then back to the crazy.

Marathon training (20 weeks out)

Another week, and more training. It was a big mile week, and this weekend called for 9. But before I got there, here's what the rest of the week had in store.

Monday - 3 Week Yoga Retreat: Flow on the Go

I'm following the Shaun Week month calendar that Shaun T posted on his website. This yoga flow was the perfect workout to stretch out my tired legs. Must get in more yoga.

Tuesday - REST
I has a bad night of sleep, but had every intention of working out after work. I was too tired when the time came, so rest day is what happened instead.

Wednesday - Orangetheory workout

I got up early to get to my 6am Orangetheory class. I feel like it always takes forever to get my heart rate up, but once it's there, I'm good.

Thursday - Leg workout

I didn't get in a morning workout, so I was able to get in a lunch workout with my fitsquad. It was just me and Ani, but we killed leg day.

Friday - 30 minute run

I need to get in a weekday run, and since my long run is on Sunday, Friday was my last chance this week. And I got in a speedy 30 minutes. I was really happy with this run.

Saturday - Orangetheory workout

A killer Saturday morning OTF class. Power day was no joke. My points were insane!

Sunday - 9 miles

And long run time. I got up with my normal 5am Sunday alarm and started to get dressed, when I heard thunder. I checked my weather app, and thunderstorms would be happening for about 2 hours. This was a total no go for a run. Rain is one thing, thunder and rain is another.

Since I needed to get in the miles, I'd have to run in the evening. I figured 6pm would be a good start, as it should be late enough not to have me running in the dark and not in full sun either. The feels like temps were over 100 at about noon, so I'd just have to wait out the day. I got out there at about 5:45pm. The sun was out and there wasn't really much cloud cover. It was humid and the sun was HOT, but I got started.

red faced & HOT

With the heat, I kept close to home and weaved in and out of a bunch of streets. My neighborhood always has a ginormous amount of gnats, and I may have eaten some. I could feel the heat getting bad around mile 3. I stopped at a 7-11 and McDonald's to refill my water bottle. I also did more walking than usual. I was very aware of the heat and keeping hydrated. I was thinking of cutting it by mile 5, but I kept going. It was so close to the end, I wanted to see how far I could go. I noticed what was killing me was the sun, so I tried to go down streets with a lot of tree cover and shade.. Thankfully, by the last mile, the sun was behind some clouds, so I was able to finish.

Another week in the books. Next week is a 4-5 miler, so it will be a nice break. Here's to hoping for no more early thunderstorms.

I'm training for a marathon! (21 weeks out)

Yes, yes, I'm training for a marathon. WHAT?!? I know I think I'm still in a little shock myself.

Kris and I had joked last year about doing the Walt Disney World full marathon in 2018. It would be the 25th anniversary, and it is the Mickey medal. It was a fleeting conversation, and we went onto normal half marathon life. Then, when signup approached, we talked about it again... And we decided to do it. We signed up and hoped for the best.

So here we are, training officially started when I got back from Chicago. I'm following the Jeff Galloway training plan from runDisney.com. But I had been getting in about 5-6 miles on off weekends anyways. So I feel like last week, with my 7 mile long run, I'm officially in it.

Now, I have two goals for this marathon: not to die and to get a picture with a character along the course.

But to get to that first goal, of not dying, I need to train. And here I am, to share the nitty gritty.

Truth be told, I'm always running in heat in Florida, but usually, I'm a little lighter in the miles in the summer. This year with Chicago in July and then marathon training I haven't had a choice. It's been hella hot this summer, and super humid, and I've had no choice but to pound the pavement and get in those miles.

This is how the week went down, I started with Shaun Week again on Beachbody On Demand. I really like the crazy and short workouts, and I feel like they help me get stronger and faster.

Monday - Shaun Week: Insane Basics

I totally love Shaun T and wanted to give his new program Shaun Week another try. I mean it's only a week, so it's doable right? OMG this workout is killer. But somehow he keeps me going. Somehow in the 3 weeks since I last did Shaun Week I forgot some of the moves he included. How is that possible?

Tuesday - 30 minute run; Shaun Week: Pure Cardio 2

And early wakeup to get in my 30 minute run and my Shaun Week workout. Got in my run and came home to start Pure Cardio 2 right away. This one is tough, but I got it done. Kinda shocked I was able to get it in after my run considering the moon was out when I started and the sun rose as I finished. This weekday run was a little easier than the last few weeks had been.

Wednesday - REST
I never schedule my rest days, cause I know life happens and they'll just happen when I can't get to a workout. That's what happened right here.

Thursday - Shaun Week: Insane Weights and 25 Abs

Insane Weights from Shaun Week is just what the name says it is. Insanity moves with weights. It's a challenge, but I got it done early. Then after work I was able to get in my 25 Abs workout too. Runners need a strong core right? My abs were burning.

Friday - Shaun Week: Ripsanity

This is my LEAST favorite Shaun T workout ever. The combos with the moves and weights are all so complicated. But I kept up, and used a good weight for myself and got it done. Yes, this left my chest and arms sore. Guess it's working.

Saturday - Orangetheory Fitness

I love going to my Orangetheory classes. It was an ESP workout (edurance, strength, and power), which is my fave. But there was a 23 minute running block. It was crazy long, and had pushes and inclines. I did it though, and then killer my floor work too. This one was hard, but I love it.

Sunday - 5 miles & Shaun Week : Dig Deep

Long run day. There were only 4 miles on my plan today, but my 5 mile loop around the house is just an easier route, cause it's a full circle. I felt good out there. My legs felt great, and I knew I had that little pep in my step to give me some speed. The last mile was kinda hard, cause of the humidity, but I pushed through, knowing I was so close to home. But... negative splits!

And in the afternoon, I knocked out Dig Deep. This one is short, but brutal. Since it was a shorter run, figured I could fit in these 25 minutes.

And there is my marathon training recap for this week. Only 21 weeks til go time.