Marathon Training ~ Week 14 ~ The Oregon Marathon

The Oregon Marathon is less than three weeks away!  I didn't want to blog this week about training or the race!  I'm feeling too hot to run, too tired to run, and slightly run down.  It's now summer, and I'm scared it's going to be too hot July 16th!  I have run the course before and I do know there is a great deal of shade.  I also know that last five miles is "no shade." I'm trying not to think much about the weather.  It is what it is, but...I can't help it!

I guess it's good timing to say, "It's taper time."

I don't care for the taper, but I also love the taper! It's such mixed feelings for me.

I don't like that I need to slowly work my miles down.  I actually like to run!  I don't like the thought of running less.

I do like having extra time to do other things like "get more sleep."

This week my tapering isn't much.  I'm going to cut my long run a little short, but that's about it.  Week 15 will be more cuts!

Fully rested legs are going to be very important on July 16th!

Last week went really well! It was "peak week."  I meet up with Tonya on Monday for an easy six mile loop around town, then went to Olivia's RIPPED class!  Tuesday, I went out with the family for an early evening bike ride! I got in my ten mile tempo run at the correct pace.  A 20 miler with friends and a couple other easy runs!  I topped off my week with 52.4 miles!  My goal for the week was a minimum of 50, so I was pleased with this especially after only running five days this week instead of my normal six.  Like I said, earlier, I have been too hot and tired to run!  It's been a struggle!  I really miss being able to run before work on the weekdays!  I loved running before my day got started! 

I am in hopes of getting some rest over the next two-a-half weeks. I know the pain that comes with the marathon and It can be scary to think about it!  I pray I can make it mentally!  That's where I feel my biggest struggle is this week. 

With all that, this week has already started! Like I  said earlier, I didn't want to blog this week....finally, two days late, here it is! 

Happy Running friends! 

Run with me June 27th to July 3rd!
Monday, afternoon easy run and 6:15 pm RIPPED class with Olivia atFitness with Studio Fuego 
Tuesday, afternoon Tempo run
Thursday, easy afternoon run and 7:00 pm HIIT class with Olivia 
Friday, easy afternoon run
Saturday, long morning run
Sunday, easy morning recovery run.
Let me know if you would like to meet up for a run this week! ‪#‎ZaoFit‬

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Marathon Training ~ Week 13 ~ Running Coins and Peak Week, Chu-Ching!

The The Oregon Marathon is right around the corner, four short weeks out from yesterday!  Last week's training went well.  Monday, I got in a late night tempo run!  I almost didn't do it, but I am so glad I did!  I was really tired Monday evening! 

Wednesday was a great RIPPED class with Olivia and a nice easy run!

                                        

Saturday I was excited to meet up with a few friends for my 20 miler! The first half of the 20 miles was nice and flat.  The second half was HILLS and it made me very tired. It was a really good training run with great company!

Sunday (this morning) I meet up with Olivia with some morning hills for breakfast! Another great run in wonderful weather! Olivia is planning on running her first marathon in 2017!  She's going to kill it! 

As I go into this next week I'm expecting to be sore! Next week is peak week.  It's looking like nice weather for lots of good training runs!  Of course, I would like it to be 10 degrees cooler every day, but it could be a lot hotter so I won't complain! 

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For those of you who have done any running with me know I often will stop for just a sec, then catch up with the group!  At first my friends chuckled at me, some wonder how I see these small things on the ground, others think it's silly...possibly even stupid! I don't care what anyone thinks!  I am on a mission! I am collecting running money!

I started running as an adult the end of 2008.  My friend Darcy gave me a stack of Runner's World Magazines! In one of the Magazines I read an article about a guy in New York who had 1000's of coins, all found while out running!  After reading that, I often would look for coins!  I started finding them!  I started off putting the coins in a little jelly jar.  The little jelly jar, turned into two, then three jars!  I then transferred everything into this large vase.

 It sits on my night stand collecting dust, coins and an occasional "paper bill!!!!" 

I have rules for my money jar!  I have to be out running, walking or riding my bike to add the money to this jar!  If my running/biking friends find money and pick it up, it can be added! Coins from my purse do not count! If there is identification, I must return the money.  This happened once!  I would have $101.00 ($40.00 more) if it wasn't for that driver's license! 

When I first started collecting it was just for fun! I didn't know what I would ever do with the coins, but continued to save.  Over the last two years I have been on a mission to qualify for Boston.  These coins and bills have turned into my Boston jar!  When I qualify for Boston, I will uses this money to pay for my registration fee!  I can't think of a better thing to use this for!  

I decided to count this money for the first time ever today! I have $61.00!  That's about $10.00 a year savings! I know that sounds silly, but I love it!  To register for Boston, I will need to find $119.00 more dollars!  To cool thing is, I have $61.00 already!!!  I realize I will probably need to pull funds out of my bank account to get the full $180.00 but I'm going to continue to look for money as I run for the next four weeks and after! I still need to qualify, then wait a few months to even register! You never know what you will find out on the open road! 

This week I want to hit head on!  Peak week for me means...more miles, nailing every workout! Eating clean! Enjoying how far I have come! 

If you can join me for a run, I would love your company! 

Run with me June 20th to June 27th
Monday, afternoon easy run and RIPPED class at 6:15 pm (Fitness with Studio Fuego with Olivia)
Tuesday, afternoon 10 mile tempo
Wednesday, afternoon easy run
Thursday, afternoon easy run or some speed work and HIIT class at 7:00 pm with Olivia at Fitness with Studio Fuego
Friday, rest day
Saturday, 20 mile long run
Sunday, recovery run
Let me know if you can join me! :)

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Marathon Training ~ Week 12 ~ Some stuff I've learned from the Good and the Bad!

Week 12 is here! 5 weeks out! I'm getting excited about the The Oregon Marathon, but I don't feel I'm ready yet! 

Last week was a really hard training week.  I ran a very hot 20 miles on the 4th of June.  After that day, my legs felt tired and swollen for days!  I ran the next few days, but nothing fast.  I was worried I was overtrained, or in some sort of running slump.  I tried to keep positive!  I've had this happen before and typically, it doesn't last very long.  Yesterday (Saturday the 11th) I went out for my long run (14 miles) and I felt back to normal!  It was a great run.  It was a long 6 days for sure!  I did give myself and break and rested Thursday and Friday.  I do believe it payed off. I'm looking forward to this coming week!

Eventbrite is running an endurance event campaign (how cool is that?) I thought I would share them with you!  Eventbrite is a great place to advertise your event, sell tickets for your event and find great local races. Check them out ----->HERE!<-----

What I have learned from marathon running?

 I have ran nine marathons and have learned a lesson at each and every one of them!  The beauty of the marathon is you never know what you are going to get on race day, but when you hit your goal...it's the best feeling ever.  It will keep you coming back for more, even if it means trying many more times to hit the goal! Another thing I've learned from myself and watching friends train (or lack of training) is, there is no luck in distance running. You can only run as fast as you trained for, even on a good day.  There is something called "burn-out" or "hitting the wall!"  It happens, and it's a very very real thing!

I think my worst marathon would be Portland Marathon 2010.  This was my very first time running a full marathon.  I had NO idea what I was doing!  I did train, but not like I should have.  My back went out partway through training so my longest long run was 15 miles.  I did most of my training alone.  I didn't know too many runners back in 2010.  Nobody to ask questions or get advice from. I went out expecting to run a 4:30, and ran a really painful 5:25.  I was in so much pain by mile 18, I cried and walked along feeling very sorry for myself.  The weather was stormy and the last eight miles were "never-ending."

A few things I learned:

  1) I needed more base miles.

 2) I needed more long runs.

 3) I needed to run 20 mile long runs

 4) I needed more wisdom from people who had been running longer than me

 5) I was strong, even though I didn't run fast

 6) I had a deeper respect for "the marathon" 

7) I needed to eat better during training

I will never forget the pain of that race, and would never want to re-live that race.  I am glad I went through it!  It set me up to want more!  To do better! To dream big! To love running! It also was the beginning of many beautiful running friendships. With help, wisdom and lots of hard work, I have managed to shave off 91 minutes from that first marathon.

For my 10th marathon on July 16, 2016 I am training to shave off another 13 minutes in hopes of a BQ (Boston Qualifier).  This scares me and motivates me!

I hope that you can find some motivation in your running!  Motivation to dream bigger, to live healthier and to enjoy that people in your life.  Running is a gift and I am very thankful! 

This weeks Run with Me Schedule! 

June 13th to June 19th:
Monday, afternoon run
Tuesday, afternoon run
Wednesday, afternoon run and evening RIPPED class with Olivia at Fitness with Studio Fuego

Thursday, evening HIIT class with Olivia 
Friday, afternoon run
Saturday, morning run possibly 20 or 20 Sunday
Sunday, 20 miler long run?
Locals, can you meet up? Ask about more details! I would love to run with you!!! ‪#‎ZaoFit‬

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Marathon Training ~ Week 11 ~ The Oregon Marathon

Week 11, it's getting closer!  I have six weeks left! So this means, I actually only have four weeks to get in some serious workouts.  I don't think there is anything you can do the last two weeks to make your marathon go better but get lots of rest, watch your diet, and maintain the training you have put in.

Jerry, Olivia, and I on our training run Saturday

This week nothing exciting really happened.  Pretty normal, typical week.  My allergies have been a pain but bearable. It was a really hot weekend in Dallas, so my long run and Sunday's recover run were hard.  The good thing about that; Sunday's 20 was a really good "training" run.  I normally hate the heat.  I was able to take it as it was and just do it!  I did slow it down during the last half of the 20 miles. The heat did drain me.  I had a good attitude about the run.  Normally I will complain the whole time.  I will admit, I did do some complaining, but I didn't have a bad attitude.  I almost stopped at mile 17, but then I just talked myself into one more slow mile, then one more, than I was too close to 20 to stop! My friend Olivia joined my husband Jerry and I for the middle part of our run, then Jerry and I ended our 20 with some great food!  Ending with food is always a good time!

This week I plan on more cross training with Olivia, a good tempo run and some speed work.  My long run will be slightly shorter.  I have a Graduation to plan for and a wedding to go too! The ten day forecast shows cooler temps for this next week!  Seriously happy about that.

Over the weekend was Newport Marathon!  I know three people who ran the full and one that ran the half.  From what I've heard it was hot and it affected my friends.  I was sad to hear this.  Newport Marathon is where I've run my fastest two marathons.  I love the course.  I did miss not going this year, but I do believe it wouldn't of been the smart thing to run it.  I have several people tell me to "do it."  Nope, July 16th will come soon enough! The Oregon Marathon is waiting for me!  I can almost hear it calling my name!  

If your interested in running The Oregon Marathon "half" or "full" you can register or just check it out ---->HERE<----

Run with me schedule:

June 6th to June 12th
Monday, 6:15 pm RIPPED class with Olivia at Fitness with Studio Fuego
Tuesday, 7:15 pm run with Kim
Wednesday, 3:00 pm run
Thursday, 7:00 pm HIIT class with Olivia at Fitness with Studio Fuego and run
Friday, after run
Saturday, 7:00 am long run
Sunday, 7:30 am easy run
Subject to change depending on weather and things that come up. If you can meet up, let me know so we can plan where to meet! Happy running friends! ~Julie ‪#‎ZaoFit‬

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