Marathon Training ~ Week 10 ~ The Oregon Marathon ~ The Test Week!~

This week was a test to see where I am at physically.  I used the Uberthons Spring Half as my test.  But first let's start with Monday!

Monday I had a doctor's appointment after work.  Just a follow up from a few months ago, nothing is wrong.  I was determined to get a good workout in so I went to Olivia's RIPPED class at 6:15 pm, then ran a fartlek workout on the treadmill just before going to bed.

Tuesday I had a eye exam in Salem so I ended up just taking the day off running.  Some days are just like that.  I have learned to let a workout go when life gets busy.  Let face it, working full time has it's benefits but it takes up TIME!  Nobody has offered to pay for me to run yet!  LOL!

Wednesday I was itching for a run.  I knew I had a race Saturday so I didn't want to run fast.  I just decided an easy 7 miles would do it.

Thursday was my son's 18th birthday.  We had work/school then took him out for some birthday fun. No running happening that day.  I was getting a little worked up about having two days off already.  I reminded myself I'm going to race Saturday. Taking it easy this week is a good thing.  

Olivia, Kristi, Charlotte and myself.

Friday, I knew I had to get an easy run in too keep my arms and legs loose.  I ran an evening easy five miles and went to bed eager  to race the next morning.

I was excited for Saturday.  I had lots of friends riding and meeting up with me at the race that morning.  Some, running their first half, some their first 10k, some their first Uberthon's event!  This excited me a lot.

I was also thrilled with the weather.  We started the race at 7:30 am, with a beautiful 48 degrees at Heirloom Roses. I had checked the weather and I knew it would be about 55 degrees when I got done running.  This is warm for me when racing.  The sun was out, but it's also not too hot.  Nothing to stress over. 

I started the race with the 1:45 finish time pace group and with my friend Kristi.  My plan was to stay with them for a minimum of three miles, up to mile eight.  About mile three-and-a-half or four I just felt I was good and warmed up and should push the pace slightly.  I looked ahead and decided to start working on catching some of the runners ahead of me.  I went into my own head and left the group I was with.  

I was feeling good and had the thought, this may be too soon.  I decided it was worth it to try today.  I stayed pretty steady in my pace for the next several miles.  I slowed down a little for mile seven, the mile with "the hill."  I love Uberthons description of this course. "The course is flat and fast - except the hill."  And that is very accurate.  

Spring Half Splits

Mile eight came, by the St. Paul School!  It was time to start moving faster!  I upped my speed.  For the next six miles, every mile was either the same or faster into the finish line.  I never felt like quitting.  This is a common thought when I race hard.  I always talk myself out of quitting, but it is almost always a conversation I have with myself.  I ran smart and strong. I ended with a negative split.  This is my hope for every race, but most of the time I don't pull it off.  I had a goal for this "test" run.  I feel like I needed to run at least a 1:45 half to boost my confidence for my marathon goal (3:40).  I really wanted a PR.  Last year at the Spring Half I ran a 1:45:35.  To break 1:45 would be the best! 

 But deep down, I had a scarey goal.  For the last year or so I've dreamed of being able to run a 1:42 half.  This is the goal I don't like to talk about because it has always seemed impossible to me.  Well, something wonderful happened Saturday. I crossed that finish line at 1:42:02.  I didn't feel sick, I didn't feel dizzy.  I felt incredibly strong.  It was a moment I won't forget!  It's a moment in time I felt a dream is coming...and it is starting to stare me right in the face!  The question still remains, "how bad do I want it?"

I have to take this next six weeks very seriously!
~  I have five more pounds to take off before race day.  This isn't because I'm overweight or have some extreme "diet" idea.  It's to be at what I call "race weight."  It's not something everyone should worry about, but if you want to run faster, I encourage you to lose a few pounds.  It makes a difference.  I know the extra five pounds will help me be more efficient at that marathon! And that is important to me.

~I need to keep running tempo runs. 

~ I need my long run every weekend.  Running these faster this year has helped my training.  

~I need to get more speed work in.  I am not doing a particular type of speed work this season.  The last three marathons, I've used yasso 800s.  With my full time work schedule I haven't been as strict with this one. I have been doing a mix of 400s, mile repeats and fartleks.  Just doing something every week!

Nick, Myself, Olivia, Charlotte, Kristi, and Jerry 

~  I also need to continue to do HIIT and RIPPED workouts twice a week with Olivia at Fitness with Studio Fuego.  I know without a doubt, these classes have made my core stronger.  I can see it in my body and I can feel it when I run.  It's been the best change to my training this season.

Happy at the finish line! 1:42:02

I spent yesterday and today thinking about how thankful I am for the people in my life that have been so encouraging the over the last ten weeks.  My Saturday running group is the best!  We are all working through our own goals and it's been so good to have them to talk to about the good, the bad and everything inbetween! My girlfriends, Olivia, Kristi, and Tonya, who take time to encourage me through the good and the bad of life and training.  Kelly, who comments  on these blogs very week.  She's running Newport next weekend in hopes of her very own BQ!!!!  Uberthons, who believes in getting people moving and encourages eating right.  They have helped me become a better runner and because they believe in me, they help me to help others. 

I'm excited to move into the next six weeks of training!  

Want to join me at the next Uberthon's event? 
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Next week's workouts:

Run with me May 30th to June 5th...
Monday, 7:00 am easy longer Memorial Day run.
10:00 am Mixed HIIT class with Olivia at Fitness with Studio Fuego 
Tuesday, 2:30 pm run
Wednesday, evening run 5:00 or 6:00pm
Thursday, 2:30 or later tempo run
Thursday 7:15 pm HIIT class with Olivia at Fitness with Studio Fuego
Friday, off
Saturday, early long run, anyone interested? I need to be in Independence at 9:00 am. Wondering if anyone wants to meet and run there before, like at 5:30ish for a 20? If you want to run less, meet partway into the run.
Sunday, 7:30 am easy run.
*Subject to change so let me know if you can meet up on any of these days. I'll give you more information like where we can meet! Have a great week ‪#‎ZaoFit‬