This weekend was a whirlwind, hence why I’m posting my weekly training recap a day late – whoops! I hope that you all had a great week. This was the last “peak” week of my training and it was definitely hard I know these weeks are necessary during training but man are they brutal! Here’s how my week went.
Monday 9/11
7.5 miles + PT exercises. I pretty much feel like all I do is ‘Eat, Sleep and Run’ lately.
Tuesday 9/12
Stationary bike (30 mins) + PT exercises. I love the stationary bike! I use the Fat Burn setting and it’s nothing but a sweatfest.
Wednesday 9/13
Boot camp. As usual, it was hard, but good!
Thursday 9/14
8.5 miles + PT exercises. It wasn’t the most enjoyable run but I got it done. I am very happy to be done with these longer runs during the week. I had at ART appointment in the afternoon which helped with my overall soreness.
Friday 9/15
Rest Day. I worked half a day and then caught the train to Philly in the afternoon. I hate packing and this is what my suitcase looked like on Friday morning…LOL
Saturday 9/16
Rock ‘n’ Roll 5K
Sunday 9/17
18.35 miles: 5 pre-race miles and then 13.35 miles for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon (race recap soon)
-I definitely ran long on the course – oops!
This is legit the most fake smile ever – I’ll explain more in my recap
Total Weekly Miles – 37.4
Total Training Cycle Miles – 434.4
Grade – B+
What a difference a week makes! I’m pretty sure my legs were tired from last week so maybe that’s why this week seemed hard. Putting over 21 miles on my legs this weekend was definitely taxing and I’m a little tired today (to put it nicely).
Oh and that awesome 20 miler from last week? Let’s just say I’m focusing on that instead of my long run from yesterday. The pre-race miles were actually pretty good but the race was difficult. I cannot run in the humidity – I’m not saying that to be negative, it’s just the truth. My heart rate spikes all the way up and I just overall feel like crap. I ended up running the race 30 seconds slower per mile slower than my goal race. I could not get my breathing under control for most of the race. Let’s just say when I had to stop for a walk break at the 5K mark, I knew I was in trouble. A cramp in my quad at mile 12 definitely didn’t help either! Let’s just say it wasn’t the confidence boosting run I needed going into the taper.
Anyways, I know that one bad run doesn’t define a training cycle so I’m holding onto that while I begin the taper. I’ll be doing the Rock ‘n’ Roll Montreal 5K and Half Marathon this weekend and hoping that run goes better!
Are you someone that enjoys the taper?
I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for their Weekly Wrap.
I’m also linking up with the Jess’s (Jess Runs Atlanta and Jess @ The Right Fits) and Courtney for their Training Recap Link Ups!
This Week’s Posts
All About the Chicago Marathon
Congrats on your two races! As you said, one bad run doesn’t define your entire training. Humidity is so frustrating! I know the taper is needed, but I tend to get a little antsy. Especially the week before the race
Thanks so much Cyndi! The humidity just frustrates the hell out of me!
Congrats on your races, that looks like a real smile in the last photo! 🙂
Thanks so much Stephanie!
Sorry the race this weekend was so hard 🙁 The humidity is really a huge factor. I’m the same way with packing! My husband likes to start packing early and I’m always more of a last minute packer. I think I secretly hope he’ll just do it for me 🙂
LOL I just always feel like packing is such a hassle. I do have a packing list that i follow which makes things way easier, but I still wait until the last minute.
I was looking forward to tapering but now I have 6 more weeks of marathon training wahhhhh lol. Enjoy your taper! I know the feeling of being constantly tired during marathon training. Now I’m really looking forward to the middle of October when I’ll enter my taper!
Yes, you will have definitely earned that taper!
Nice job gettng through a tough peak week with a smile on your face (even if it was fake!).
Thanks so much Debbie!
When I’m humid and struggling like that with sky high high heart rate, I remind myself I’m going to be all rested up and it’s NOT going to be hot on race day. Way to rock that peak week. I’d say you’re ready. I freaking love to taper!
I will have to keep telling myself that!
Oh, I hate packing too! Sorry the Half wasn’t awesome but your training as a whole has been good so you’re right to focus on that.
Glad I’m not the only one, lol. I’m definitely doing as you said and trying to focus on my training as a whole.
Humidity definitely slows me down. I did 2 miles last Thursday, and I could feel how humid it was. I couldn’t get into the run, and I was grateful it was only 2 miles.
It’s definitely hard. I really admire runners that can run well in any weather. That’s certainly not me lol
Um. Your legs are tired because you have been kicking ass at training! They SHOULD be tired – embrace it and enjoy your taper. 😉
Hahaha good point 🙂 I’m looking forward to going into Chicago with fresh legs.
Its so much harder to run in the humidity! Hopefully you will have nice weather for your race. Congrats on making it to the taper!
Thanks Lisa! I’m definitely gonna enjoy the taper, it’s the best part of training in my opinion, lol
Congrats on your races! I’ve had fun looking through all of your pics on IG. Enjoy your taper! You’ve done an amazing job with all of your training.
I love taper! after all that hard work, it’s nice to take a little break.
Thanks Sara! It really was a great weekend and Philly is an awesome city!
We all have those runs. I think your 20 was the confidence booster. Forget about this one. No biggie. Welcome to taper town!!!!
Thanks Rachel! I just wish I would have better luck during races 🙁 I haven’t had one good race this year, but hopefully that ends soon, lol.
Damn straight (excuse the French), I LOVE me some taper! A lot of runners fear tapering, but I EMBRACE it 😉 Sorry the race was so tough…humidity is no one’s friend, but you stuck with it and were able to finish. You have a solid endurance base and that’s what pulled you through to the finish. Chin up…these tough races are what make us winners 😉
I guess all people name Kim love the taper 🙂 LoL. Thanks for the kind words. I had a small pity party for myself yesterday but now I’m over it and moving forward.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has difficulty running in humidity …I mean, I know everyone has some degree of difficulty with it, but like you, I have a REALLY hard time. My heart rate spikes as well and I can hear my heartbeat throbbing in my ears. It just freaks me out. While the Philly half may have been difficult, you got it done! Here’s hoping that Chicago will be nice and cool with zero humidity!
Yeah I have a really, really hard time with it. I almost feel like humidity is worse than the heat for some reason.
I think it’s unanimous on everyone hating the humidity, me included! It’s a little early to start watching the weather, but I’m hoping for a low humidity day for the marathon!
Me too! I think the weather was decent last year from what I heard from runners who ran it in 2016, so let’s hope for a repeat lol
I love your Philly RnR packing!! I packed in my head, but had nothing ready until 20 minutes before leaving for Philly.
Congratulations on an awesome Half marathon, and the additional miles! It was a humid day, so I bet part of that fake smile had to do with the struggle fest that Sunday was.
LoL, thanks Ana. Glad that I’m not the only one that waits late to pack, haha.
This past weekend was pretty brutal, so don’t let it get you too down. And it’s also not your goal race — better to have a crappy “training” race than tank at the goal race!
I am queen of fake smiles (if I see the photographer).
Good luck in Montreal this weekend! Hopefully being that much further north will help.
That’s true – I didn’t look at it that way – thanks for that perspective!
The weather this weekend for Montreal is blazing HOT, so I’m already not looking forward to the half..ugh!
Humidity definitely seems to be the theme for last week! Great job in pushing through. Hopefully you’ll have nicer weather in Montreal. Good luck! Thanks for linking.
Definitely! I feel like everyone had struggle runs over the weekend due to the weather.
Happy taper. One bad run def does not definite a training cycle, you got this!
Thanks Toni!
Running in the humidity is tough! Great job getting it done. Just focus on the positive. So true that it’s just one bad run and it doesn’t define your training. Wow! Another 5k and half next weekend? Hope those go well!
Thanks Sherry! You’re right – I’m definitely trying to focus on the positive!
Ugh, I hate running in humidity!! I always feel like I don’t feel it right away so it gives me a fake sense of security. You are CRUSHING your training though!!
That’s true. The first mile felt okay and then it just got worse as the run went on!
I’m sorry Sunday was a struggle. The humidity crushes me so I totally can relate. You’ve had such a great training cycle – enjoy your taper!
Thanks Michelle! Hopefully the weather for Chicago will be better.
The humidity was just brutal for Sunday’s race. I was drenched in sweat from the start of my pre-race miles. I am crossing my fingers that we’ll have much better weather in Chicago in a couple of weeks.
Me too! I really can’t imagine having to run 26.2 miles in that weather!
I am all about the taper! i know some don’t like it and get crazy wondering if everything was enough but I enjoy the break, I think helps me come back strong. Good luck Kim, you’ve done great this cycle, in general, don’t let a bad run ruin it! Humidity sucks the life out of you no matter what shape your in!
I LOVE the taper lol.
Humidty is rough! You are right, one bad run doesn’t ruin a training cycle… we all have them. I have been looking forward to the taper ever since my 18-miler…. and here we are! Welcome to taper-town!
Hell yes to the taper! I have been waiting for this for weeks, lol
Hope you enjoyed your first taper week. You’ve been doing so good this training cycle and I’m so excited for you for Chicago.
Thanks Clarinda. It’s been a weird week but next week will be better!
Congrats on your race. You are right one bad race doesn’t define our entire training effort.
Thank you