Boston Marathon Training - Week 2 Recap

So while last week was technically week 1 of training for me, I hopped into a 12 week plan at week 2, so let's call it week 2 training! I am following Hal Higdon's 12 Week Boston Bound plan. I'll have to do some modifying to accommodate my particular needs. While I feel quite confident I should have no trouble handing the mileage/workouts of this plan, I do think some of the time-based workouts are written for runners who run WAY faster than me, so I will be taking that into account for the weekend long runs.

Here's how the week of training went:

Monday 1/29 - 5 miles

At this point I had no idea I was running Boston until later this evening, so I was planning on a basic, easy run.  Not much to write home about - the big news was signing up for Boston after my run!

Tuesday 1/30 - 4 x 800s

Eeek! I knew I was in the race, and time to get serious about training.  Today called for 4 x 800 (Yasso 800s).  I was super nervous to get back into a harder workout, because I have been so fatigued lately.  I also had to head indoors because we had gotten some snow, and the last thing I need is to slip on black ice running repeats. I managed to run each 800 in just under 4:14, which is where I wanted to be without falling of treadmill, so yay me

Wednesday 1/31 - 5 miles

Another easy run. Planned called for 4, but I bumped it up to 5 miles. I probably pushed a tad too fast, but I am struggling with what was "easy" two months ago vrs now.  Was happy the snow cleared off the main roads enough I was able to get outside!

Thursday 2/1 - 7 miles

My plan called for 7 tempo miles, but next week had Thursday's run as easy miles, so I decided to swap the two out.  This was the first post-op long run, and I was using it as a trial to see if I would be able to handle the weekend's mileage.  Thankfully this went without issue, and I was SO relieved.

Friday 2/2
Rest day - whomp whomp

Saturday 2/3 - 7 miles

Today was supposed to be marathon paced miles.  I definitely did not hit marathon pace on these miles, but I am trying to cut myself a little slack between the painfully cold weather that morning (which is definitely bothering my nasal passages post op!) and my legs just getting back into the swing of things.

Sunday 2/4 - 14 miles

Long run day.  Okay I'm not gonna lie,  I was flipping out I wouldn't be able to do this.  I know it is somewhat irrational, considering only a month ago I ran 13.1 miles and a marathon two days in a row, but this is the first long run I've tried since then, and running hasn't really been smooth sailing since then.  While it was definitely one of the slowest long runs I've done in a while, and it was much more of a struggle at the end then this distance typically is, I was VERY happy to be able to get the miles done.

Total mileage: 42 miles. Happy with the mileage, but wish my relative speed from the fall would return. 

Are you training for anything? I'm a bit off topic for this week, but I'm linking up with the lovely ladies on Tuesdays on The Run

BOSTON BOUND + February Goals

Usually, I start setting my goals for my next running season as soon as I have recovered from the previous big race. However, after killing it at Dopey (if I do say so myself! recap coming soon - I promise), I sort of put things on hold for a bit.   In less then 6 months, I had finished a half Ironman, marathon, and 48.6 mile running challenge - that is a lot for me, definitely the most I've ever done so close together.  I also had surgery scheduled two days after I returned from Disney, and while I was optimistic it wouldn't keep me down for too long, I didn't know what to expect.  So, no real goals in January.

This turned out to be a smart move, because surgery turned out to be much harder than I expected.  My doctor cleared me to run as soon as the plastic splints came out "based on how I would feel", but what he didn't tell me is how terrible I would continue to fee.

I was able to return to running 9 days post-op, but the first two weeks of running were pretty difficult a huge suckfest. I was running about a minute per mile slower then usual, my legs felt incredibly heavy, and I was getting very fatigued after a mile or two.  By the time I got through my usual 5-6 mile route, I felt as terrible as I do at the end of a marathon, in some ways more terrible. I suppose I was probably pushing a bit too much post-op, but I'm stubborn like that. I was starting to feel very defeated and that was no way a spring marathon would be in the cards for me.

THEN THIS HAPPENED.

Yes, that's right, I AM RUNNING BOSTON! A very kind runner - I call her my fairy godmother - offered me a once-in-a-lifetime chance at an invitational entry.   I am so beyond excited and grateful for this opportunity - something I never saw happening for me.  I had signed up on Tuesday evening, and I got my official letter of acceptance last night. I jumped into week 2 of of Hal Higdon's 12 week Boston plan yesterday, which is a bit short of a time frame, but considering all that I did this past fall/winter, I think I will be okay.  So with that - let's look at this month's goals.

February Goals

Get my legs back on track.  This is one is going to be the hardest to measure because it is most subjective.  Just because I signed up for Boston, doesn't mean all my post Dopey/post op fatigued leg issues magically went away.  But, I am starting to see some upward progress finally, especially since I started upping my iron supplements (iron deficiency is an ongoing issue for me).  Hopefully with continued healing from surgery and smart training, I will start to feel like myself sooner than later.

Make sure to get in one quality workout a week.  800 repeats, hill repeats, tempo runs - I hate all the hard workouts. But if you want to run faster, you gotta run faster right? My plan has these written in, so I just gotta stick with them, and not make excuses for myself.

Start strength training.  I had some restrictions on this one post-op from the doctor, but I expect to be cleared on my 3 week checkout on Monday.  Once that is over with, no more excuses.  I gotta fit it in, starting with twice a week.

Swim once a week.  Again, this is pending clearance from doctor on Monday, but I don't expect this one to be an issue, either.  Swimming is my weakest sport in triathlon, and if I don't keep up with it over the winter, I may drown next tri season.

Drop 2-3 lbs.  I don't have a ton of weight to lose, but I would feel better (and likely run better!) if I get closer to my race weight.  Time to start chipping away at it.

What are your goals for the new month? Tell me!