Who wants to talk about training?
I have been running again now for going seven weeks now and today marked the first time since my return that I hit double digits on a run. 10 miles. It was a muggy and humid 10 miles on the Monon with Marshall and the stroller. Lindsey had a long brick to do for Muncie this morning so I loaded up Marshall and hit the path.
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| Lindsey ready to hit the road for 50 with Jake. Muncie 70.3 is coming quickly. |
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| Marshall at the end of the muggy 10 mile run. Don’t be fooled. He was ready to be done and so was I. |
It has been a slow progressing build back to 10 miles but it is coming back.
Week 1:
- 4 runs
- 14 miles
- 1:51 of run time
Week 2
- 4 runs
- 18 miles
- 2:15 of run time
Week 3
- 4 runs
- 20 miles
- 2:28 of run time
Week 4
- 4 runs
- 21 miles
- 2:37 of run time
Week 5
- 5 runs
- 31 miles
- 3:41 of run time
Week 6
- 5 runs
- 30 miles
- 3:36 of run time
Week 7 (In progress so thus far)
- 4 runs
- 30 miles
- 3:31 of run time
The first couple weeks back all I focused on was getting used to running again. Nothing strenuous. Easy miles. To be honest, it was kind of touch and go for a while with my mind. I had some scar tissue that was flaring up on my hamstring but the more I ran and the more I foam rolled the better it felt.
Beginning in week 5, I started to add some small stress workouts into my running. It has been the Wednesday run. It began with a one mile fast finish near tempo and has grown each week by 1 mile.
So this week was a 3 mile warm up, 3 miles @ descending tempo (6:10, 6:02, 5:45), and a one mile cool down. Good lord…that one hurt on Wednesday. The 3 miles was long enough that it really began to tax me but still short enough that I could handle it. I have yet to decide for next week if I am going to take it up to 4 or  maintain for another week and then add…my guess is that I will add but we will see.
As it stands today, I am starting to feel really good about my running again. I have 3 or 4 more weeks of base building before Chicago training officially kicks off. I should be up to about 44 miles or so by the time Chicago kicks off and that will provide a nice starting point to ramp up the marathon training. I have yet to attempt a repeat of any sort…but I think that will come in a week or two. That is the last mental and physical check box for my return. I injured myself during a repeat workout so I need to do a repeat workout.
It has been a long road back from my hamstring injury in January but following that 10 miles today I feel good and I am ready to chase down that 2:45 marathon come October.