Full Marathon Training: Week 3

Feeling much more confident finishing out this week. Didn't have any bad runs this week. So thankful for that. Still feeling a little tightness in my IT band but I know it is from not stretching enough. I need to start waking up even earlier so I have enough time to stretch for a good 20 minutes after my runs before having to rush off to work. Also, need to start making bed a priority again. Too many late nights and early mornings. Thankfully exhaustion didn't hinder my runs this last week and hoping it doesn't catch up with me next. Glad I stuck to all 4 of my run days despite not wanting to wake up early many mornings. I know it will pay off in the end. Training is challenging but I know it will be well worth it in the end. Only 90 days to go! 3 months exactly!

Monday: 4 miles with Katie, followed by 5 set of 20 sec sprints with two minute recovery in between. 56:34. What a great way to star off a holiday! Ran Katy Trail before the sun came up. A wonderful rain shower kept us cool and soaking wet by the end. Ran 4 miles with 5-1 intervals, paced out at 11:42. Sprints were not as fast this week as last, even though I felt like I was going so much faster. The rain made the ground slippery so getting traction was a little harder than normal. I didn't really noticed till I was sprinting down a slight hill. Great run to start the morning and week 3 of running. 

Tuesday: Biggest Loser Cardio Max video. Being exhausted does not give a whole lot of energy to go into a cardio workout but I made myself do something. 

Wednesday: 3 mile straight run sandwiched by a mile walk. Totalling 5 miles, 1:05:38, 13:09 pace. 3 miles running paced out at 10:38 per miles. Little bit slower than my training plan called for but this was a huge success for me. I haven't run 3 miles straight in maybe over a month. Felt like cooler weather this morning. It was 70 when I ended my workout at 7am. 

Thursday: 4 miles run with Jill. 46:18. Paced out at 11:33/mile. Felt like we were running slow but we paced the same as the week before. 

Friday: Rest day before Saturdays long run. 

Saturday: 11 miles long run. 2:10:33. Paced out at 11:52. So thrilled with my run. First long run that I wasn't hurting by the end of it. I was very nervous going into it this run after only doing 7.6 of my 10 mile run last week. Also, I hadn't set myself up for success by staying up till 12 the night before. I woke up at 4:15am (yes, only 4 hours after going to bed) and ran 5 miles by myself. In case anyone was wondering, most sprinkling systems are set to water around 4:30/5am. Around 1.5 miles I ran past a HUGE spider and his web, had to take a picture. He looks small in the picture but he was HUGE and orange. That is NOT okay! First 5 miles were good! Last 6 miles I relocated to run with Katie, Jill, Jessica, Bethany and Michelle. We looked like a gang of runner about to take over the neighborhood at 6am! Love getting to run with them. I would not be able to do this without them! Getting started after a 30 minute break was a little challenging. Took a while to get back into the groove of things. My body was very confused as to why it was running again so soon. Running a course that I hadn't ever run before was fantastic. I didn't know what was next or dreading seeing the same ol' scenery. Used one hammer around mile 3 of the last 6 miles. Didn't use any on the first 5 miles. Ran 5-1's for all 11 miles. Last mile and a half I got a burst of energy. Mile 11 paced out at 9:51. It was the only mile under 11 minutes. Having a strong finish is very encouraging!

Only got in one cross training/ strength training day this week. Getting ready to start a super busy week with a busy weekend tacked on to it. Not too entirely sure when I will run my 12 miles long run next weekend but I will do it. Can't skip those long runs! They are far too important!