Vancouver Marathon Training: Week 8
Training so far:
- Vancouver Marathon Training: Week 1
- Vancouver Marathon Training: Week 2
- Vancouver Marathon Training: Week 3
- Vancouver Marathon Training: Week 4
- Vancouver Marathon Training: Week 5
- Vancouver Marathon Training: Week 6
- Vancouver Marathon Training: Week 7
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Whoo! Big week over here for me. I broke 30 miles for the week (just barely but still!) and I’m also currently on week 9 of training which is halfway through my 18 week training cycle. The long run this week is a cutback to *only* 12 miles so I’m kind of excited about that.
Anyways, I’m getting ahead of myself. Time to recap last week!
Monday – 75-minute Yin Yoga Class
Did my usual Monday night yin yoga class and felt awesome afterwards! I would consider my yin yoga classes more of “active rest” bordering on full-on rest days because it is very, very gentle but I always feel so amazing after and I know it’s good for my body and my mind.
On Monday we focused on the spine and as my one yoga teacher always says “A happy spine = a happy life!”
Tuesday – 6.0 mile / 9.65 km run
I ran Tuesday morning instead of Tuesday night with the group because Chloe was getting spayed on Tuesday and I wanted to be at home with her that evening! I also ended up working late this day as I was busy wrapping up at work last week.
This run was kind of crappy and was very slow-going as the sidewalks were covered with ice and snow!
So after Chloe chewed my Garmin I was FREAKING out because I do not have the money for a new one right now but Tiffany suggested I try the Runkeeper app on my iPhone and it works awesome. I actually doubt I’ll be getting a new Garmin anytime soon because this app works so well for tracking my mileage, time and pace which is all I ever really used my Garmin for anyways!
6.0 miles / 1:03:16 / 10:33 pace
9.65 km / 6:33 pace
Wednesday – 5.61 mile / 9.0 km hill workout
We were at five hills this week! I ran down from my house to meet the group to add an extra mile on and then ran to the hill and up it five times. It was a good workout but I could definitely feel my legs tightening up by the last hill!
5.61 miles / 1:02:35 / 11:10 pace
9.0 km / 6:56 pace
Thursday – 90-minute hot yoga class
I did a Traditional Hot class this evening which is similar to Bikram but the series this instructor taught was a bit different than Bikram. We did a warrior/lunges series where we held our arms up for a good 5 minutes and my back and shoulders were super sore the next day! We also did a lot of planks and ab work. It was a good class and I really enjoyed it which surprised me as I’m usually not a huge fan of the more traditional hot kinds of classes.
Friday – 3 mile / 4.8 km run
Just a quick and easy recovery run on Friday morning. I had the day off so I finally dragged myself out the door about 9:00 AM. The sidewalks were snow covered and icy and my legs were tired. Not much to say about this run, it was one of those ones you just plow through.
I was hoping to fit in some strength training on Friday as well but Eric and I spent the day doing a ton of errands and some de-cluttering of our house. I also finally hung my medal rack that I got for Christmas, so happy with how it looks and can’t wait to add another marathon medal to it in a few months 
3.0 miles / 31:26 / 10:29 pace
4.8 km / 6:30 pace
Saturday – REST!
After drinking 3/4 of a bottle of wine on Friday night in four hours (maybe 3 – 4 glasses) I was SO hungover on Saturday. It was very strange. I basically alternated between laying in the bed and laying on the couch all day. I think I’ll be abstaining from any more than 1 glass of wine until after the marathon!
Sunday – 16-mile run / 25.75 km run
I did the first 6 miles by myself and then met up with my group for another 10! There was only two of us and our coach today because most of the group did a half-marathon (which I was not willing to pay $75 for!) so I spent most of the run zoned out to my music.
I felt overall really good during this run but by the end my feet and ankles were quite sore. I think I’m going to get a new pair of shoes this week to start wearing for my long runs to have a bit more cushion. I’ve only been using my current shoes for this training cycle but that’s close to 200 miles already and they definitely don’t feel super supportive during the long runs.
Within a few hours of coming home, ice bathing and laying around in recovery socks my legs felt 100% again. I’m glad that my legs have been recovering so quickly this cycle and I think that might have something to do with all the yoga.
Oh, and the above picture is of an eagle I saw right at the beginning of my run. I considered it a good omen
16.0 miles / 2:55:09 / 10:57 pace
25.75 km / 6:48 pace
Training Tally:
Miles/Km ran last week: 30.6 miles / 49.25 km
Training-to-date mileage: 192.85 miles / 310.25 km
Yoga: 165 minutes
Strength Training: 0 minutes
Cycling/Spinning : 0 minutes
Thoughts:
Good running week, not a very good cross-training week. I need to try and fit in more cross-training next week. I’m at that point in the training cycle where I’m doing so much running it’s hard to find the time, and the energy, for cross-training. This is what happened to me the last time I trained for a marathon and I basically did zero cross-training the last 8 weeks of my training cycle. I have to be careful not to let that happen again because I know cross-training is so good for me.
My new goal is to fit in three cross-training sessions of any duration a week. Whether that’s a 90-minute yoga class or a 20-minute strength training session. I think that three cross-training workouts + four runs is a do-able amount. I just need to remember to prioritize cross-training, it’s so easy to push it off otherwise!
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Question of the day: How did your last week of training go? Does anyone else have trouble squeezing in the cross-training as your mileage increases during a training cycle?
Great week. It is sometimes hard for me to do cross-training as well. I’ve been doing better with this the last few months. I’m starting to see that it’s really beneficial and am seeing results which makes it easier to force myself to do it!
Wow, 4 runs and 3 cross-training sessions sounds like alot to me! But I know you are great at fitting lots of things in! When I train w/ my group this summer, I will do 3 runs and 2 days of biking, and maybe a night of yoga if I can find room in my budget for it.
Anyways, this was a great week for you! I am glad that 16 miles went so well for you and that you felt so strong!!
Great training this week!! You will rock this marathon!
Cross training is always hard for me because of the time consideration. Then I remind myself that cross training can just be 20 minutes of yoga in my living room, I don’t need to do 60+ minutes of something else at the gym. Even a little cross training makes a huge difference for me!
Yea, in Ironman training my yoga and strength training really went totally out the window. as in none. When you start getting into 30+ mile weeks you have to make time adjustments somewhere. It’s totally normal.
You could also get the Nike GPS app – I love it! Seriously, check it out
And we could follow each other’s progress!!!
Another great week of training Amber! Crazy how fast your marathon is going to come up
For cross training, you could even squeeze in a 15-30 min home yoga session or strength training. Every little bit helps 
Good luck with the extra cross training! I know you can do it.
Also do you know where to get the medal racks? I remember Caitlyn @ HTP mentioned them a while ago, but I don’t remember what the website was called. My whole family has medals piling up to the wazoo, I think we could use some racks.
Way to go! That’s quite a week for you in terms of exercising and etc. Can’t believe it’s already half way through the training process for you. That seems to have gone fast…!
With all the strength training I’ve been doing lately my body welcomes the cross training in the form of Zumba, Just Dance or my crazy incline speed walking although I don’t think my body is used to it yet. I have had some tired muscles depsite the stretching, but I’m pushing through and allowing myself two rest days a week.
Wine hangovers are the worst. I’ve tried running through them before, taking the day off was a good idea. It’s not a good time.
I tend to fit in a few cross training sessions per week (prob 3), but would love to be able to make it to a yoga class every week. My weekends have been too busy and after work I’m usually running. I’ve tried to really stick with my guns though and get at least 20 min of strength training in 3 days per week because I want my arms and core to be strong in addition to my legs. And, that is another opportunity for me to work on strengthening my glutes of which one side is weaker than the other and affects my running.
A 16-miler, whoo hoo! Good job
Again, another strong week of training. Look at you getting over 30 miles!
I’ve actually been worse at getting my runs in…instead, replacing them with cross-training workouts. I’m hoping to get more mileage in this week AND keep up with the cross-training. As you already know, easier said than done!
That’s a busy week of training! When I was training for my marathon, I didn’t really do any cross training! Unless you can count walking or hiking. I think it is important, but it’s so hard to find the time. I mean running already takes up so much of it! I think what you said is a good reminder though, that you are going to do any amount, so even 20 minutes is good! I think sometimes I get in the weeds, trying to fit in a full hour and then I end up doing none!
wow! congrats on the training! that is so impressive!
i am so proud of u !!!!!!!!!!!!!!i am 17 yrs old and it takes me 9 min 36 sec just to run 1 mile!!! keep up the good work i know u can do it
I still need to hang the medal rack that I got for my birthday in July…