Madison Marathon Training: Week 9 Recap

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In my week 8 recap, I said I was waiting for a glimmer of hope in this training cycle and week 9 delivered!

One of my favorite parts of training for marathons (despite also hating this part), is it is so so hard...until it's not.  It is just so hard. (Note the drop of one "so").  I love the part when you can literally feel your body get into shape.  Recently I read The Miracle Morning, and while I do not recommend this book, one thing I wrote in my journal from it was "Everything is difficult before it is easy."  Things are still not "easy" but the light is beginning to peak through the cracks!

I am officially halfway through this training cycle and I celebrated with my highest mileage week EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It's true.  I had to go back and look at previous training cycles but before this point, my highest mileage week was 56.37 miles during the week of May 12, 2018.  The new weekly mileage PR is 57.04...and looking at the weeks ahead, will get broken again during the coming 9 weeks.

Here is the daily detail:

Sunday Sept 9

Plan says:  Easy 8 miles

What I did:  8.1 miles, 1:10:14 (8:40 avg pace).  I got up early and got this done before our families came over to celebrate my daughter's 8th birthday.  

Monday Sept 10

Plan says:  1.5 mile warm up, 6x800 meter repeats with 400m recovery, 1.5 mile cool down

What I did:  I finally had a decent speed work session!!!  One thing that has been challenging for me this cycle is that what normally is one of my strengths has been just sucking wind.  My speed workouts have tanked and so it was nice to have a good one.  I did this during the hot afternoon.

1.5 mile warm up, 12:25 (8:17 avg pace)

1. 0.5 miles, 2:56 (5:54 avg) / 0.25 miles, 2:19 (9:19 avg pace)
2. 0.5 miles, 2:58 (5:58 avg) / 0.25 miles, 2:28 (9:54 avg pace)
3. 0.5 miles, 3:01 (6:03 avg) / 0.25 miles, 2:24 (9:36 avg pace)
4. 0.5 miles, 2:58 (5:58 avg) / 0.25 miles, 2:26 (9:45 avg pace)
5. 0.5 miles, 3:01 (6:03 avg) / 0.25 miles, 2:33 (10:13 avg pace)
6. 0.5 miles, 3:05 (6:10 avg) / 0.25 miles, 2:25 (9:41 avg pace)

1.5 mile cool down, 12:55 (8:37 avg pace)

Tuesday Sept 11

Plan says: easy 7 miles

What I did:  Tuesday is normally my rest day, but the past several weeks (and this week) I had to rearrange due to our weekend plans.

7.1 miles, 59:03 (8:19 avg pace)

Wednesday Sept 12

Plan says:  1.5 mile warm up, 8 miles tempo (goal: 6:52), 1.5 mile cool down

What I did:  I didn't get up early, and it was almost 90 degrees on my way home from work so I opted to flip Wednesday and Thursday around. 

8.01 miles, 1:06:19 (8:17 avg pace)

Thursday Sept 13

Plan says: easy 8 miles

What I did: The early morning alarm went off.  I could no longer avoid it.  Tempo time!  Two high fives for a successful tempo run.

1.5 miles, 13:48 (9:12 avg pace)
8 miles, 54:30 (6:48 avg pace)
1.5 miles, 12:55 (8:38 avg pace)

Friday Sept 14

Plan says: long 15 miles

What I did: I was a little concerned about doing two of my three big workouts back to back this week, but just as speed workouts have been my downfall this cycle, long runs seem to be no big deal.  Who am I becoming?! Next thing you know I will say I want to do an ultra.

15.31 miles, 2:04:06 (8:06 avg pace)
I was pleased with the progression of this run:
8:46 / 8:33 / 8:38 / 8:35 / 8:23 / 8:18 / 8:20 / 8:08 / 8:01 / 7:51 / 7:54 / 7:42 / 7:23 / 7:45 / 7:25 / 7:24

Saturday Sept 15

Plan says: OFF

What I did:  Seems odd to take a rest day on a Saturday (my second time doing this during this training cycle), but we were in New Buffalo, MI for a friend's wedding all weekend and I knew getting a run in would likely not happen.  I was glad to have a true rest day, hanging out on the beaches of Lake Michigan.  We did climb up a large sand dune, but other than that, it was truly a rest day - and even included a NAP.   WHAT THE WHAT?!

Plan Total: 57 miles

What I did: 57.04 miles