Madison Marathon Training: Week 7 Recap

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This recap of week 7 of training is LOOOOONG overdue.  Shit is still hitting the fan over here folks...I have to keep the faith that it will all settle down soon.

So! Week 7!  Week 7 was my first 50 mile week of this session.  I had one goal - power through so that I could take Saturday of the week off as I was going to be in New York City!  My MIL took me, my SIL, my cousin-in-law and my aunt-in-law to NYC for ~36 hours last weekend to see their family friend star as the lead male role in Wicked.  Which meant they were picking me up at 5:15 AM and we were catching a 7 AM flight.  I knew I would not be running any miles that day so it was all about squeezing them in during the week.

For the most part, this strategy worked.  I did not do a full tempo run and I seriously think that something went wacky with my Garmin during the 3 tempo miles that I did do because it recorded my first mile in the low 5s which is not at all possible.  My biggest accomplishment was logging 14 miles on a Friday morning.  WHAT the WHAT?!

It is becoming more and more apparent to me why I do not train for fall marathons.  Back to school is so stressful for me and my kids.  I try not to let it be but it is what it is.  I am also still trying to figure out the part-time gig with my once-full-time job and beginning my business which is actually leading me to work way more hours that I ever did.  ANNOYING.

One day at a time.  Breathe.

Sunday Aug 26

Plan says:  Easy 6 miles

What I did:  6 miles, 51:13 (8:31 avg pace)

Monday Aug 27

Plan says:  1.5 mile warm up, 400-800-1200-1600-1200-800-400 m at 5k/10K pace with 400m jog recovery in between, 1.5 mile cool down

What I did:  I did this work out.  Despite the fact that I was excited to do it, it totally sucked.  I'm not sure if I was tired, or if the humidity bothered me but man.  I was very disappointed.  My pace that I am aiming for with this is 6:05/mile.

1.5 up 13:17 (8:51 avg pace)

0.25 miles, 1:34 (6:20 pace) / 0.25  miles 2:21 (9:29 avg pace)

0.50 miles, 3:10 (6:21 pace) / 0.25  miles 2:39 (10:37 avg pace)

0.75 miles, 4:37 (6:10 pace) / 0.25  miles 2:26 (9:45 avg pace)

1.0 mile, 6:08 / 0.25 miles 2:43 (10:52 avg pace)

0.75 miles, 4:44 (6:19 pace) / 0.25  miles 2:25 (9:42 avg pace)

0.50 miles, 3:06 (6:12 pace) / 0.25  miles 2:31 (10:04 avg pace)

0.25 miles, 1:25 (5:40 pace) / 0.25  miles 2:23 (9:32 avg pace)

1.5 down 12:51 (8:37 avg pace)

Tuesday Aug 28

Plan says: easy 7

What I did:  7 miles, 57:19 (8:11 avg pace)

Wednesday Aug 29

Plan says:  1.5 up, 7 tempo, 1.5 down

What I did:  I did this after the kids were in bed and grossly underestimated how soon it would get dark. 

1.5 miles 12:52 (8:37 avg)

3 tempo 18:40 (6:12 avg)

1.5 miles 12:28 (8:18 avg)

Thursday Aug 30

Plan says: easy 8 miles

What I did: 8.01 miles, 1:06:32 (8:19 avg pace)

Friday Aug 31

Plan says: long 14 miles

What I did: 14.25 miles, 1:58:14 (8:18 avg pace)

Saturday Sept 1

Plan says: Off

What I did:  Walk around NYC!!  Enjoyed my rest day!

Plan Total: 54 miles

What I did: 50.04 miles!

August was overall a good month for me.  I logged 208.19 miles for the month - my second 200+ mile month this year!  I only had one of those in 2017 so I was excited to have another in 2018.