We are coming into the peak weeks now!
I can’t totally wrap my head around it. The photo above was taken by Adam at last year’s Philadelphia Marathon right before the finish line – right now I simply can’t IMAGINE being at that same point in the NYC Marathon! How do we run race after race and then STILL can’t imagine finishing the one we’re training for?
NYC Marathon training week 10 started out innocently and very similar to week 9 until Friday, since the Newport Liberty half was on Sunday and I shifted my rest days in preparation. After Friday, things went off the rails, which I’ll get into later on.
I always get a little nervous moving rest days around (dork) at this point in training, since this is when my body is the most vulnerable to pains and injuries.
I don’t want to repeat the knee problems I developed last year around week 12. I think that was a combination of being at 50 miles per week for a few weeks, doing a long run too close to a tempo and shifting rest days. I also threw in track work last year too far into my plan without building up to it, which was a mistake in hindsight.
Let’s look at my week now:
Monday – 7 miles, easy pace. No watch, nice weather, good run overall.
Yoga – Total Body Flow for Letting Go – Lesley Fightmaster, 27 minutes.
Tuesday – The plan was 9 miles total with 7 @ goal pace (7:55) – same as last week. This run was definitely faster than last week, entirely due to the cool weather. I took advantage and pushed it faster than goal pace for a few miles.
I felt good during this run, as a tempo “should” feel, but it seriously wiped me out for the next few days!
Yoga – Flexibility – Splits and Backbends – Lesley Fightmaster, 34 minutes.
Wednesday – 6 miles, easy pace. Wednesdays are recovery runs after the Tuesday workouts, and my whole body feels tired. I suppose it felt as it should.
Yoga – Vinyasa flow to Open Hips – Lesley Fightmaster, 32 minutes.
Thursday – 8 miles total on a hilly route. The route I use doesn’t have hills throughout, but rather it climbs during the first 2 miles with a few steep hills, then flattens out, then gets a bit hilly, then the last mile is straight downhill.
I like this route because it’s super challenging in the beginning and I like getting the hard part over and done with! The whole run was slow though, slower than usual (no watch, but I was back later than planned and it felt slow) and I still didn’t feel recovered from Tuesday.
Yoga – Yoga for Runners – Lesley Fightmaster, 25 minutes.
Friday – Normally this would be a rest day, if my long run was happening Saturday. Since my half was Sunday, I did an easy 5 miles and planned to completely rest Saturday.
No yoga.
Saturday – Rest day, plus 23 minutes Yoga for Runners – Injury Prevention – Fiji McAlpine. Because I’m hoping to prevent injury. And I also love what this class gives you in just 23 minutes!
I went to bed Saturday night feeling normal, only to wake up 2 hours later ill with stomach virus symptoms (ALL the good ones.) There was no denying that I was really sick, and, in my stupor was also REALLY pissed off that this was happening the night before my half marathon. I mean I was really unhappy. Being violently ill and violently pissed off is not a good combo.
Sunday – Because I enjoy being in denial when I can, I briefly considered still running the race at 6am, before actually getting up and realizing that I could barely walk across the room. So much for hope. I did not run the Newport Liberty half and instead stayed in all day resting and crossing my fingers that my kids wouldn’t catch what I had!
Summary – 35 miles total, 1 workout, 1 hilly run, 2 easy runs, 5 days of 20-30 minutes yoga, 1 stomach bug, 1 missed half marathon/long run. Ugh, still not over it!
Plans for this week (week 11)
First things first, and dang stomach bug aside, it’s finally my time to register for the Boston Marathon today!
I’m nervous, because now I’m really hoping it all works out and I get in. If I’d run 24 seconds faster I could’ve already been registered. And that’s just one reason us runners are driven mad by numbers. We love it though, we ask for it.
Originally, my plan for the week was to recover from the half and recent higher mileage with a “down” week (42 miles) to prepare for the 2 peak weeks before tapering. Even though I missed an important run, I’m going to stick to the schedule and just move forward – it’s a good thing I had a lighter week planned anyway I suppose.
Have you ever had to miss a race because you were sick?
How well do you deal with setbacks while training for a big race?
Are you able to visualize yourself finishing a race? I have so much trouble with this.
Ugh I am so sorry you got to sick and had to miss your race! At least those stomach bus usually come and go quickly, so hopefully it wont impact your training too much.I mean, there’s never a good time to be sick but at least it didnt happen before your goal race!
Thanks! I’m also hoping it won’t impact training. Still not back to normal but hoping just a day more and then I’m back!
Oh no, sorry to hear about the stomach bug, that is the worst. Not what you want, but you have approached it well and that will pay off. As for Boston, I can imagine its worrying a little, but even if you somehow dont make it in, you will have that as EXTRA motivation when you DO run it, which you will. But for now, have faith, and start getting excited for it!
I applied but I’m waiting for confirmation! Fingers still crossed 🙂
UGH so sorry to hear you were sick and SO SO IN AWE of how smart your still were in not pushing yourself too had and TRYING TO GET THERE!
I rock the visualization. Now if I could only really do the marathon..
There was no way I was getting there, if I’d tried, let’s just say I wouldn’t have made it very far! I need visualization tips from you 🙂
I hope you are feeling better this morning! And I really hope the kids don’t get it! You know I went through this, only it was 3 days before the race in May. I ran that race because I thought it was okay by then but will never run a race (especially a half!) so close after being sick again. I am glad you chose to rest and recover instead!
Thanks! Today was a much better day, still weak though. These bugs really do wipe us out even after we’re mostly better. It’s noticeable with training and racing, for sure.
That totally blows about the stomach bug. I know how much you hate those things. The good thing about it is that it’s usually over with quite quick whereas a cough/cold can drag on for weeks. Hope you’re feeling better today and maybe that rest day is exactly what your body needed to come back and kick ass!
Oh yes, you’re know they make me nuts! You’re right about the timing, the worst part is over quick enough usually, which was the case here. I’m hoping you’re right about the rest day 🙂
Oh man, sorry to hear about the big but you mad the right call stepping back. I may have had trouble doing that myself so kudos to you. As for the visualization, I think we freak ourselves out with all the what ifs which makes it difficult to see a positive outcome. So many things could go wrong, yet so many could go right.
Thanks Megan. I was sick enough that it would’ve been truly crazy, and dangerous, to try to run a race that way! And good point on visualization – the worries get in the way!
Soyou dind’t feel well–hoping tha tyou are fully recovered ASAP. I missed the Charlottesville half (which my mom came up for) right before we left Cville and got married, etc. I got a nasty bug right before and felt terrible leading up to it, woke up that morning, and knew it was not going to be happening. It was a bummer, but taking care of yourself is the priority!
Thanks! Missing races for any reason just sucks, I guess illness would be the main reason we’d have to. That and snow. I’ve had bad luck with a couple of races this past year!
You definitely took the right direction with not doing the race, although I know it was probably a difficult decision. I hope you’re feeling better soon. It still looks like you got in a GREAT week of training!
Thank you! And yes, there was no way I could’ve run so the decision was made for me unfortunately :/
I had that last week and it was a joy. My husband took me away on a business trip with him and it kicked in on the plane. It was hours of hell. Couldn’t wait to get home in bed and I was so sick I was thankful I was oblivious to who was around me or embarrassment would be to light a word. I was zonked out the next day. Stayed and unlike me was happy to do so. Hope you are feeling better, but you know u couldn’t have run and don’t stress it move on. You will have many, many more great marathons. A happy holiday to you and your family.
Ugh, on a plane might even be worse than the night before a race! Sounds completely awful. I definitely couldn’t have run, even today I’m still weak so not worth thinking about. Time to move on! And thank you, same to you 🙂
Awful timing for a stomach bug (but is there really a good time). So sorry! I’ve never been sick before a race but definitely tried to fake sick before a few cross country meets in high school. Times have changed. I too can’t imagine crossing the finish line now. I dread miles 22-25!
Never a good time, especially when marathon training, although I would’ve prefered the night after the race! And I agree, the thought of miles 22-25 makes me check out, it’s a blur!
I also have a lot of trouble visualizing myself at the finish. Even after 3 half marathons, I was at the fourth one wondering how I’d EVER make it. Part of the reason I’m so scared for the first marathon…
I’m totally the same, and not just with running! I wish my brain would process and learn these things!
Oye! I hope you’re feeling much better!! I’m so sorry you had to miss the half but I’m glad you were able to give your body the rest it needed. During peak weeks I tend to get super run down so I try my best to get as much sleep as possible. I’m running a race this weekend so a cut back in milage this week before two more peak weeks. I think focusing on the end goal (running the marathon healthy). Hope you have a fabulous Monday!
Thanks! Missing it really sucked, but I guess every training cycle has it’s bumps and its own “story” – just hoping not too much drama lies ahead! Good luck with your race and peak weeks 🙂
I felt so bad when I heard yesterday 🙁 Really sucks….but all you can do is push forward, get your strength back, and be more determined than ever….and kickass!
Thanks! I’m taking it easy this week, which was in my plan anyway, and hopefully that will help toughen me for the rest of my training 🙂
Oh no Michele! I hope the stomach thing gets better quick. My husband got a bad stomach flu two weeks ago, then I got it last week, which simultaneously wrecked my back temporarily, and so with all that crud I missed my 20 mile run on Saturday and still can’t run. So I feel so bad for you! But at least I’m taking time to recover rather than try to run through pain. And you’ve certainly been an inspiration to recover properly! I think that’s called progress for us both, right???
I have learned there is just no point to run through pain – unless it’s normal race pain, of course! I’m still feeling weak today so I know there’s no way yesterday could’ve happened! Sorry you had it too and missed a run! And I hope your back recovers quickly – crazy how these things interfere with our running and then just feel so disappointing! The price we pay for wanting to train this way, I guess?
Aww that really sucks about the bug, lady — hope you’re feeling better today! Having to miss out on stuff because of illness is never fun, but it’s better to take care of yourself than push too far and end up having a horrible experience. Good luck with Boston!
Doing better today, although still in no shape to run a half so I know yesterday never would’ve happened. And thanks! I registered and I’m waiting for confirmation.
Ugh I am so sorry you had to miss the half!!! Getting stomach bugs is the WORST. I hope you feel better today <3 And you got it out of the way so now you can be healthy until the real race 🙂
I agree – they completely suck all around, and especially when you have to miss something because of it! I’m just hoping all goes well for the marathon, thanks!
Aww, I’m sorry about your stomach bug. Oddly, I had entered a 10 k that very same day and woke up dizzy and with a fever. Just like you, I got up and wanted to race so badly, but could barely walk so I didn’t go. Obviously the right decision right? But I still feel bad about not running :'(
I suppose it was not the weekend for racing, at least for us! Hope you’re feeling better now – and definitely the right decision. No sense risking health for a race.
I’m sorry to hear about your stomach bug – that stinks so much, especially with the timing. Hopefully at least the extra rest day gives your body the extra boost it needs for these peak weeks. And fingers crossed for you for Boston!
Worst timing, although even worse would be the marathon itself of course! Maybe the extra rest day will do me good?
I’m sorry to hear you got sick and I hope you feel better soon and no one else catches it.
Thanks Megan – so far no one else, I think by tomorrow night we’ll be in the clear!
I’m so sorry! I would have been really upset too. And I can visualize myself still trying to get up and run it too! Good for you for taking time to get well.
Fingers crossed for Boston!!
Thanks! I applied and waiting for that confirmation!
Hi Michele. I was going to say a lot of the comments others said above but instead I’d love to know if you ‘tortured daddy’ and ‘made him’ make the meals?? That was hysterical… The entire letter was adorable and probably helped with your speedy recovery. Crossing my fingers for a Boston entry for you!
Haha I did wind up making dinner, but Adam played with the kids all day! Thanks!
Feel better soon!! That stinks that it happened right before the race, but better it happen now than before the marathon! I have definitely had to miss races because I was sick, and it’s not fun at all. Get better!!
Thanks! I was imagining it happening before the marathon and THAT would just be the worst. No way you can run through a stomach bug!
Ugh so sorry to hear that you got sick! Better now than the marathon right? Hopefully you are on the mend and back at it! good luck with Boston!
Definitely better now than before the marathon! Thanks!