And So.... It's Official! Week ONE: Marathon Training Complete

Week One - Grandma's Marathon

Training Complete

For this post I'm linking up with HoHo Runs and Tricia at mississippipiddlin for their Weekly Wrap.  What a perfect week for the link-up as it's the start of my marathon training! :)
 

This week started off with a bang in true Minnesotan Fashion:  Negative temperatures for my first day of marathon training.  Imagine my surprise ( insert sarcasm here ).  One very positive start however is that I got my official Grandma's Marathon Track Jacket.  It's says finisher, so I'm not going to jinx myself and wear it early - it proudly hangs in my closet awaiting June 18th!

I was very much anticipating the start of training.  Sunday night I hardly slept.  I knew that because of the weather I would be training with my girls at the indoor track so I literally had dreams all night about sprinting. 

This is the place I coined the "hamster-wheel"

Day One:  Monday went well and surprisingly I really enjoy sprints.  They are hard as hell and really work me out, but they also make the workout go by very fast.  I enjoyed it tremendously.   We did a 2 mile warm up and then 2 miles of sprints - 1/4 mile sprint with one lap cool down - and repeat.

THIS is the stretch of a runner. :)  Definately a work in progress! 

Day Two: Easy run day.  I completed just over 4 miles at a comfortable pace.  I welcomed the easy pace because my legs were fairly tight from the sprints the day before.  Unfortunately,  it was the track again because the temperatures were below zero.

I think I'm getting a bit soft when it comes to the temps outside.   :(  I hear that San Diego is nice this time of year!  Our indoor track is a great facility to have, but because I need to drive there, I don't get the mileage that I'd like to get in.  But, any miles are better than no miles.

I do love that I can wear shorts and tank tops! I feel so much more free when I can wear these clothes!   When it's freezing cold outside I'm so bundled up...some days I feel like a marshmallow.

Day Three:  Ladder Sprints!  Awesome and motivating day.  But, next time I want to train with Usain Bolt I'll eat my wheaties first!  Just kidding.   My friend Susan runs like a freaking Cheetah!  She led the ladder and all three of us took nearly a lap to even catch up! :)  Needless to say, I worked my ass off and it felt good.  Seriously, she is so damn fast!!!  I guess that means I'll only get better and faster!! 

Day Four:  I know now it was supposed to be a rest day.  Instead I went to lift at the gym and ended up doing three easy treadmill miles followed by one mile at 7:33/mile.  Whoops - I got a little carried away.  But, I also got some killer arm workouts in too!

The whole cross training/lifting thing is new to me!  I feel a little bit like a fish out of water, but I'm learning and I am getting stronger.   One month ago, I couldn't even do 1 pushup the "normal" way. Now I can do 3 sets of 15 on my knees and 10 "regular" pushups!  I'm starting to see a bit of definition in my arms and that makes me feel pretty good!

I ran into my neighbor there a week ago.  He is a veteran weight lifter so he really taught me some great exercises that I can do with all of the equipment and free weights!  Thanks Bill!

Day Five:  12 degrees.  Negative temps with windchill.  Hence the running ninja picture!  We just couldn't bare another day inside.  Besides, the hamster wheel for 11 miles would have driven us all mad so we braved the elements and got it done!  Like a BOSS!

Last day of training for the week called for 11 very chilly miles.  My alarm rang at 4:30 am and I met the girls at 4:45 am.  I had to be back for my husband to leave for work so we left a tad earlier than normal.  We had great pace at 8:45/mile and I completed the miles before breakfast!  Overall, I can't complain.

All told my mileage came to 27.93 miles.  A bit shy of the 35-40 goal, but I'm happy with week one!  

STATS:

27.93 Miles

5 workouts

4.2 hours

3044 calories