First and foremost, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who voiced their opinion on my post on the Boston qualifications. You can definitely tell that there are some strong opinions from a very passionate running community. If the BAA folks want to chat…feel free to give me a call! I can already feel the online repercussion no matter what race directors decide and I think they need a good Twitter strategy in place (I can help with that!).
But let’s talk about some happy news, shall we? BOSTON TRAINING! Thanks to the help of my friend Aron, I feel like I’ve got a strong plan that will help me prepare for Boston and a special little challenge that I’ll explain more about in another post.
The Plan
16 weeks. Peaking at 63 miles. Three 20 mile runs.
Mondays : Rest
Tuesday: Easy
Wednesday: Intervals
Thursday: Steady mileage that increases
Friday: Tempo runs
Saturday: Easy
Sunday: Long run
What’s New
Intervals: Confession time: I have never done actual “track” work during training. Any sort of “speed” work I have done has been on the dreadmill and I need to change this. I’m hoping I can work out some sort of WFH days to ensure I can get to the track. Let’s cross my fingers the boss is reading this 😉
Hills: In preparation for the rolling hills of Boston, a new element to my training will be hill work. Whether this means upping the incline during the tail-end of dreadmill workouts or trying to find more courses with hills, I will dominate those hills, dammit.
Rest Days: Slashed! I usually would take two rest days and a day for cross training, but this time, we’re upping the ante! Don’t get me wrong ,with my past injuries I am really going to have to listen to my body and if it’s not feeling it or my knee or hip start to act up, you better believe this girl is taking a rest day. No shame.
Yoga/Core/Strength: This may be the toughest part for me. It’s hard enough to find time to fit in the runs with my chaotic schedule, so how am I supposed to fit these three elements in as well? Sorry Chicken Face, there may be less couch cuddling after work. You can watch Myth Busters and I’ll be getting down with downward dog (whoa, did that sound wrong? Eeew, you know what I mean).
Goals
There is something a bit intimidating about putting your goals down on “paper,” but there is also a sense of accountability and empowerment that comes along with it. So here goes:
Goal #1: Kick some serious ass
Goal #2: Finish in 3:20 – 3:25 (GULP! I said it!)
I can’t say anymore. It’s there. It will haunt me. It will tease me. It will be my life for the next 16 weeks.
What’s next? I should be finishing my Christmas shopping (I’m late, I know), but instead I’ve lost my voice and my nose is doing the running for me (hardy-har-har). I’ll opt for lying under this electric blanked with what might be my sixth cup of green tea for the day.
Happy running and Merry Christmas!
Wow! That is some serious running! Makes me want to get working on my marathon training plan. Fun stuff!! 🙂 I hope you get feeling better soon!
good girl, I KNOW you have it in you 🙂 can’t wait to train and see you kill it in Boston!
yay for writing down a big scary goal! go get it speedster!
Yes! My goal is 3:20 also…hopefully we will be in the same wave! And i’m sick too 🙁 Feel better!
As a complete non-runner (only run when someone is chasing you) – I have this question: why does your training plan only (not, only, but you know what I mean) call for three 20 mile runs, when a full marathon is a few miles more? Isn’t it important to know that your body will hold up for the entire race?
Congrats on the plan – you are going to be great, I just know it!
Feel better soon!
Awesome plan. Awesome goals. Boston will be awesome. You will be awesome at Boston. I can’t believe training starts on Monday!
I have no doubt that you will finish in your goal time! I read somewhere that the average runner’s pace will slow down 30 sec/mile for 5 F above 60 F. So you kind of already met your goal after the heat in Chicago, right? Why not 3:15?? JK You’re awesome.
One other thought – have you ever tried Bikram yoga? 90 min in the heat makes it feel like just as much of a cardio workout to me anyway as running does. So I don’t feel bad about missing a day of running to go to yoga. Plus you get all the core, strength and stretching benefits.
I love the simplicity of your plan! I’m sure that you will be able to smash your goals in Boston 🙂 Be sure to force yourself to stick with yoga once a week, it will be your saving grace after hill workouts! I’ve never run Boston myself, but I’m from the area and have cheered on many friends, so please let me know if you need any insight into the course!! Best of luck!!
Sounds like a great plan! You are really fast, I think you will reach your goal time!
It’s always fun when you make the decision & start the planning & training! I’m sure you’ll reach your goal! Merry Christmas (eve)!
Your going to kick ass gf! cant wait to watch you train!