Another week of training crossed off and now just 12 to go! I mean, 12 weeks is still a long time, I know, but this just feels like it’s going faster than any other marathon training I’ve done. Maybe it’s because I’m putting less pressure on myself, or because I’m busy with a lot more than just running, or both. Maybe I should shut up with the “time is flying” cliche because it’s making me sicker by the second.
Here’s the rundown of the week!
Monday – 6 miles easy (no watch), 30 minutes gentle yoga/stretching. Still going very easy on my left hamstring and it’s been feeling back to “normal” which is good enough for me right now.
Tuesday – 8 miles total, 5 @ goal pace was the plan. I mostly stuck to it, although it was super muggy and the 5 were a bit slower than I wanted. Here are the splits:
I realized this week that my Garmin craps out and doesn’t track properly during the first mile on one particular route, which happens to be the one I run for 2-3 runs per week. It will tell me I’m running a 10-12 minute pace in this one area and then snap back at about the .7 mark. It’s annoying me because it’s throwing off my pace and mileage a little and I’m not sure by how much because I’m bad at math and also don’t care enough.
Later I did Yoga for Gratitude with Lesley Fightmaster. Seriously, this is why she’s my therapist!
Wednesday – 5 miles easy pace, 20ish minutes of yoga (for when I just can’t.)
Thursday – 7 miles total based on Meredith’s negative split workout – 3 negative, one recovery, 2 negative, 1 cooldown:
Same deal with the Garmin in the first mile. I was happy with the effort and splits and really noticed the difference with temps in the mid 60’s. It seems like one workout is “hot” and one is cooler every single week.
Friday – Total rest day, besides cleaning my house. It was time, I’d put it off for a long time, and I went wild with throwing stuff out, organizing, vacuuming and dusting.
Saturday – 16 miles, 9:14 overall pace. I think my pace turned out the same last week too which is always strange to me! I haven’t looked at the splits but now I’m curious to compare them to see if I’m actually doing the same run.
I ran with my Hydration Pack
No yoga Saturday since the rest of my day was spent cleaning, and then celebrating Diana’s birthday a little early (it’s Friday) with my family!
She’s turning 8 and right in line with all the cliches – HOW THE HECK IS THAT POSSIBLE? I sometimes cannot comprehend that I’m a MOM, let alone the mom of an 8, 6, and 4 year old. Goes fast, people, not sure what else to say!!
Sunday – No running, 35 minutes of yoga in the early morning. This felt SO good after waking up a little sore from my long run.
Summary – 42 miles, 5 days of running, 2 workouts, no injuries/pain, 5 days yoga.
Okay, get ready for giveaway time!
I was really excited to try out CLIF Organic Energy Food as soon as I heard about it – it’s EXACTLY what I look for in running fuel – just as I just spoke a bit about last Wednesday. I was sent both sweet flavors to try out and loved both of them – I really think you guys will too.
CLIF Organic Energy Food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of endurance athletes with organic, real-food ingredients in a convenient, resealable pouch (just the like baby food pouches I’ve been using!) I tried the two sweet flavors (they also have 2 savory options which I’d love to try as well) – Banana Beet with Ginger and Banana Mango with Coconut. Both were really delicious and SUPER easy on my digestion. These will now be coming with me on all my long runs.
I had one right before my 16 mile run on Saturday and then another at the 7-8 mile mark and they had the perfect amount of sweetness for me and caused no problems for my stomach. Each flavor contains only simple, organic, real-food ingredients that are paleo friendly! The Banana Beet with Ginger has organic banana puree, organic beet juice concentrate, citric acid, sea salt, and organic ginger. I think I’m in love 🙂
Enter my giveaway below and try it for yourself! The winner will receive 2 of each sweet flavor for a total of 8 pouches. Perfect for all of you who are marathon training! Visit the product website for more info.
How were last week’s runs and/or workouts?
Hi! I'm Michele. Paleo eater and recipe creator, runner, and mom of 3. Welcome to my blog, where we obsess over all of it and love every minute! (It's way fun over here, promise.) Stay a while to eat, run, and rant with me! 
I am hoping to do my favorite running workout tomorrow! It’s been nothing but easy running after my virus. Bleh. I need to do a serious closet/drawer cleaning here too! I know it will happen once I start setting my the school supplies, I just keep putting it off since it is such a task once I get started!
Just checked the weather and it looks like iffy weather just like last Tues! As long as there’s no imminent lightning though I’ll be out doing my goal pace run. I’m still cleaning. Once you start it just opens up everything else!
Diana’s face and body language looking at the cake is spectacular. Her face says “let me at it” and her body reads “not impressed.” I’m guessing because you are making her wait to eat it! Happy Birthday, girlfriend!
Haha, her body language is always a bit “shy” when the focus is all on her and she’s not actually doing anything. She loved the cake, exactly what she wanted 🙂
Ugh Garmin’s are really spotty where I live too which is odd to me. I live in Phoenix not the boonies somewhere. I’ve actually felt like it’s unreliable but somehow I’ve never been able to let mine go.
Mine just seems to get spotty in one particular area right by my house, so it’s hard to avoid! Since the other miles seem accurate I keep it on, figuring a small difference.
I went through a little cleaning spree of my place this weekend too. I’ve been putting it off for WAY too long, to the point where it was starting to make me feel a little anxious. 3 hours later and I think I can function again for a little while 😆 Hope your week is off to a great start, girl!
I wind up waiting until it’s making me SUPER anxious before diving in – I’m on the 4th day and still finishing up! Now if only it would stay clean…
I need some of your cleaning motivation, I’m the best at procrastinating that. My first mile is always the slowest but that’s weird what you said about the GPS not holding signal. Sometimes I think mine does the opposite and makes me paces faster than they are.
I am really bad with procrastinating when it comes to cleaning. I wait until it’s KILLING me and then finally dive in kicking and screaming. But then I can’t stop! I wish I could be a bit more moderate and “balanced” with how I clean! My Garmin has never made my pace faster but I know the Nike app has! I wanted to pretend it was accurate but obviously was not!
My Garmin can get weak signal and show off paces for about the first .10 mile of my run, and I think it’s because all of my routes start in wooded areas. Happy birthday to Diana!
Thank you! We have a lot of trees all around the area so I know that’s factoring in with the signal.
Those cliff flavors sound amazing! I’m a huge fan of the cliff gels for long runs 🙂 I might have to try these. Running has been quite lovely lately despite the heat, undergoing several oral surgeries leaves me feeling overwhelmed so running slowly has been like meditating:)
Definitely try them out, I’ll be buying more when mine run out!
Great job! It’s definitely getting cooler out, thank goodness. Sounds like you had some tough runs, but yoga helps all! I definitely have to get back in the habit of at least one yoga session a week. I can tell a huge difference when I practice!
I need my yoga fix today! My schedule is all thrown off but I really try to get in a little a day.
I love doing Meredith’s negative split workout–did it this week too but due to time didn’t fully do last cool down mile! I LOVE that workout:) Also ran with a friend on Sunday who is training for the Phoenix Marathon in November…but only part of her 14 mile run. In desperate need of good running fuel–i can’t do the GU so these clif energy packs look perfect!!!
I think you’ll like them a lot! Glad you’re also loving that workout – I think it’s perfect for a challenge but not overwhelming – and you wind up doing more than you feel like you are.
She is so adorable! I am impressed your kids are able to wait for you to snap photos of things.
Haha they’re used to pictures, and they also take a ton of their own too!
Wow how did you feel after the 16 miler? Do your legs get really sore or is it just a walk in the park for you ;)? How cool the Cliff has released such an awesome, all natural product! I know that if you approve it, it has got to be good!
It’s somewhere in between! Since I keep the pace easy I feel mostly normal afterwards but my legs do ache a little, especially if I have an active day ahead and don’t do some recovery yoga – which was the case on Saturday! I’ve noticed if I get some gentle yoga in soon after a long run I’m not sore the next day.
Isn’t it crazy when you look around one day and think “OMG – I’m an adult. And married.” I can’t imagine adding kids to that. Where does time go?! 🙂
Yup, it’s crazy, and doesn’t seem to ever sink in!
Happy late birthday to Diana! I still can’t believe I am a mom sometimes either. I definitely don’t feel adult enough to be a mom most of the time. It sounds like you had some good runs this past week. And yoga is always a good idea. Those pouches do sound they they would be perfect for refueling in a hurry.
Thank you! Her actual birthday is Friday so not late at all!
Don’t get me started on the OMG! moments. It seems like they are happening everyday lately. Maybe I need to face the facts I’m an adult now? 😉
I will never be an adult – seems like I feel either young or old and nothing in between!