Another week down of Marine Corps Marathon training and only a few more to go. As the weeks progress during my current training cycle, it seems I get stronger and simultaneously weaker. My midweek runs are amazing. My long runs aren’t nearly as awesome. Week 13 was tough and I’m fairly certain it’s because I wasn’t diligent with my stretching and strengthening. My daughter had been up in the middle of the night for a few days in a row (for many hours at a time). I was exhausted and it was a chore just to get through my runs, let alone add in anything additional like strengthening and stretching. Unfortunately it came back to bite me later on in the week. Check it out:
Marine Corps Marathon Training: Week 13
Monday — yoga for runners
I started off the week with some yoga for runners, per usual. It felt nice to stretch. And for those of you wondering which yoga I do, I usually opt for any of the videos available on the Runner’s World website. They’re short, challenging, and easy to follow for those of us that would like to be yogis but are not.
Tuesday — 5.04 miles
Tuesday was a rough run. I met my friend for some early morning miles but, as I mentioned earlier, I had been up for a few hours in the middle of the night with my threenager daughter. Five miles felt like the world’s longest slog of running ever.
Wednesday — 7.1 miles
On Wednesday I took it to the track and had a BLAST! I love track days. I ran 6x800m with rest between each. And I tell you — it was fun. I was in dire need of changing things up and this definitely did it for me. I left the track feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Thursday — 9 miles
It’s rare when I finish a bottle of water on a run shorter than 14 miles. I not only finished one bottle on my 9-miler this week, I finished two! I was shocked. It was very hot and humid on Thursday, though, and I’m glad I had the foresight to be well-hydrated or who knows how I would have turned out at the end of the run.
Saturday — 18 miles
In stark contrast to the weather on Thursday was the weather on Saturday. It was cool, breezy, and just perfect for running. Julie and I meandered through our route. We even saw some awesome wildlife on our way!
I felt great for the first 14 miles or so. My fueling was on point. My hydration was perfect. The weather was gorgeous. But by the time 14 rolled around, my right foot was starting to hurt and ache. Ordinarily I would have let it get me down, but I just went with it.
If I needed to walk, I walked. If I could run, I ran. I had to finish the run since I was on an out-and-back so it wasn’t a matter of “if,” more a matter of “when.” But I listened to my body and made it through relatively unscathed. I am a little concerned about my foot, however, so I may push to see my chiropractor earlier than my next scheduled appointment. Marine Corps Marathon is already next month. Ain’t nobody got time for this. Am I right?
Looking ahead to week 14, I’ve got a lower mileage week because I’ll be running the Northern Ohio Half Marathon on Sunday. I’m looking forward to it. It’s my half marathon PR race from 2015. I won’t be racing this year but it’ll be fun to get back out on that course. Plus it will be nice to run a supported course and not have to carry every single thing with me for a training run. I’ll stick with stretching and strengthening and hopefully things will improve. But I really gotta figure out what’s up with this foot…
xo
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What’s your post – long run routine?
Have you revisited your PR course not to try for another PR?
Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs for Tuesdays on the Run, and HoHo Runs and MissSippi Piddlin’ for the Weekly Wrap. Also linking up with Nicole, Annmarie, Jen, and Michelle for Wild Workout Wednesday, and myself, Susie, Debbie, and Lora Marie for the Running Coaches’ Corner linkup.
