Skip to main content

Halfway Point in Marathon Training

Hey guys! So marathon training has been... well, it's been. I needed to change my plan and nutrition after already starting training. However, I hurrahed to the first half of marathon training with a PR at the Presque Isle Half Marathon with a time of 1:41:39!





I started out on one training plan, which I held out for four weeks, before finally throwing in the towel and realized that my body would break before even toe-ing the start line if I kept with it. I was running too fast, too quickly, and too often. My hamstrings started hurting (which never happened before), and my plantar fascia was on fire after trying out new racing flats at a track run. 





I rolled out so often that I probably could have been a pancake. Granted, I should roll out more than I should, but hourly?.. seemed a bit much. Every moment of every day hurt no matter if I was sitting, standing, or lying down. I hated running. I didn't even want to train anymore. 

I ditched that plan and shifted over onto a plan that I've been looking at prior to marathon training. It's a plan with smarter, gradual increasing mileage, and less speed days than the previous one.







The first week of the new plan proved to be the answer to all my previous problems. With less speed work and more time focused on building mileage, the pains went away and I began re-enjoying running for the love of it. I've been working through paces better, tackling hills with much more confidence, and even getting tempos in way more consistently than previous weeks. Granted, I still am working on pacing, but I feel much better than I did in the previous plan. 




I know that the physical activity isn't enough. I have to fuel my body right too. I've purchased How Bad Do You Want It?, Racing Weight: How to Get Lean for Peak Performance, and The New Rules of Marathon and Half-Marathon Nutrition: A Cutting-Edge Plan to Fuel Your Body Beyond "The Wall"" all by Matt Fitzgerald to guide me nutritionally and psychologically through marathon training. 






These books have been very helpful in how to fuel my body properly to train as best as possible and recover quickly. The New Rules of Marathon and Half-Marathon Nutrition was incredibly insightful in how to nourish my body during training runs, during the taper weeks, the 24 hours before race day, race morning, and during the race. I super recommend his books, especially if you're new to running and trying to find a fueling strategy that works with your body like I am.


These first 8 weeks have been quite the learning experience. I've had to learn how to take care of my body properly, eat better, and mentally grow in the mindset ready for race day. 

I'm excited for where these next 7 take me! Cheers!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Monday Motivation: Good Week

But really, isn't every week? Life is what you make it despite the ups and downs we face. Leave whatever struggles and hardships this past week brought you. It's last week, we have to look ahead of us. Ever try looking backwards while running? You're not as focused on going forward. And isn't that why you're running in the first place? So make this week a good week that you can reflect on and be proud of. Welcome the challenges. Crush those goals. Be mindful. Enjoy the little moments. And damnit, smile all the way through.  Have a good week!

Monday Motivation: Tranforming in Training

IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF HALL OF FAME MARATHON TRAINING! okay, lets be real for a minute: I'm scared to death. So many worries about training, the thought of actual race day, the energy going to be spent, balancing life... woah baby. I'm exhausted. I feel like my life is an endless cycle of sleep, school, work. where the heck do I add in training? I'm not completely motivated. These last few weeks of sub-0 wind chills have had me staying indoors and being lazier than I wanted. I don't feel completely elated to start moving again I could sit on my butt and not train. I could envy everyone around me getting ready for coming races like Boston and PGH. Or... I could pick up my sorry bum and get going. Last training cycle, I learned SOOOO much, and I know I only have even more to learn about myself, my body, and running. It's when we go out of our comfort zones that we really transform as a person. I may not want to get out of bed some

HOF Marathon Training: 1 of 16

IT'S TIME! Hall of Fame Marathon Training is here! Hey guys! I'm so excited to be on a training schedule again. I want my redemption at HOF for Erie. If you followed me last summer, I trained for Erie up until 4 weeks out, only to result in an overuse injury. This is my time. I've rested, cross trained, and learned so much to better prepare myself for this training cycle.  This winter/spring race season has a couple races that I wont be racing for time, rather just to enjoy the energy and use them as test runs going towards marathon day. Some of these are the ever-favorites like Spring Thaw and Just A Short Run that are unique to the Pittsburgh area. These two races alone have brought me to meet many others in the running community that I am happy to call my friends.  Everything I will be doing now is aimed for April 29th LETS DO THIS So this week has been kinda crazy... as if my life isn't ever not-crazy. With marathon training and starting