I finished my 1st week of a 20 week NYC Marathon training program! And it went really well. I am so glad I signed up for the NYRR Virtual Trainer because I would have not run the type of mileage that was scheduled for me this week otherwise. I would have taken it a little easier as far as mileage goes and given myself a little more recovery time post half marathon. But, running 5-8 milers this week has given me a lot of confidence!!
Another couple of photos of the Mayors Half Marathon finish. Yes, I was a little tired after coming off of that last hill at the end! It was killer….
And I am a mouth breather…?
My schedule this week was:
- M-Regular Run (RR) 5 miles easy @ 46:43 (9:21 minute/mile)
- T- Off
- W- RR 5 miles start out slow finish faster @44:19 (8:52 minute/mile)
- Th- RR As you feel (AYF) 4 miles easy – not timed
- F- Off
- S- Long Run 8 miles @1:12:58 (9:07 minute/mile)
- S- Off
According to my e-coach, the long run should be a 5-6 effort out of 10 (being the hardest). So that is what I did today. Felt fairly easy. Years ago when I trained for a marathon, I ran my long run 1 to 2 minutes slower than marathon race pace (yeah, back when I could run 7 minute miles). I just feel like if I would do that now, I would barely be moving. I could probably walk faster. So, for now I am taking it nice and easy and making sure I can cover the distance. I will have to gauge this as the weeks go by and adjust accordingly.
While I was out running, I noticed the fireweed was blooming already!
Around this same time last year, I posted a similar picture of the Fireweed. I was surprised then and even more so now at how early it seems for this to be happening. It is an early and subtle clue that Summer is progressing. When the top shoots of the fireweed bloom, it is an indicator that Summer is essentially over! Yikes, it seems that it has just begun!
Well, as we move on into the summer, I do hope that my running continues to improve. I am also keeping my fingers crossed that my achilles holds up (see earlier posts on insertional achilles tendinopathy) As I have mentioned before, Dr Englebrecht of Arctic Chiropractor in the Mat Su is the reason I am running. I am so grateful to him! I do pretty much what he tells me – stretching every night whether I run or not and ice! I also use Arnicare gel afterwards. I am still struggling with his advice on diet – got to work on that! And I need to start adding strengthening exercises!
So on with week 2 of this 20 week program…..??
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