Highlight of the Week: The arrival of fall temperatures making my outdoor workouts more delightful.
Monday | September 8, 2014: 4 m run (w/Kelly) + teaching strength class
Loc: Grayslake, Temp: 55°/54°, Time: 39:54, Pace: 9:58 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: surprisingly good
Strength: Back to School 1200 rep workout, Difficulty: medium (mostly observing), Felt: stressed for the class
Tuesday | September 9, 2014: 7 m run (w/Kelly & Yvonne)
Loc: Grayslake, Temp: 63°/63°, Time: 1:08:00, Pace: 9:43 avg, Difficulty: hard, Felt: okay, but worn down
Wednesday | September 10, 2014: rest
Thursday | September 11, 2014: 8 m run + 2 m run (to try new shoes)
Loc: Millennium Trail, Temp: 52°/52°, Time: 1:21:27, Pace: 10:11 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great/might be last run in those shoes
Loc: hood, Temp: 52°, Time: 19:04, Pace: 9:31 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: okay
Friday | September 12, 2014: teaching strength class + 6 m run (w/Jen)
Strength: Modified Back to School 1200 rep workout, Difficulty: easy, Felt: fine
Loc: Nippersink FP/town, Temp: 46°/51°, Time: 1:16:10, Pace: 12:41, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Saturday | September 13, 2014: 3 m run (w/new shoes)
Loc: Millenniuam Trail, Temp: 55°/56°, Time: 29:42, Pace: 9:54 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: out of breath
Sunday | September 14, 2014: 15.2 m run (w/Bobbi, Dawn & Kelly) + 12 m ride
Loc: Gurnee, Temp: 46°/48°, Time: 2:48:03, Pace: 11:03 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great (hungry at the end)
Loc: Millennium Trail, Temp: 56°/59°, Time: 53:53, Pace: 13.4 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Notes:
- It was fun to try out my new lighter shoes this week. They felt fine for a 2 mile (and later on, 3 mile) run. I could feel the bottoms of my feet more toward the end, which I thought I would. I was surprised to feel the impact of each stride more up my legs. Makes sense though – they have less of a shock absorber than my heavier shoes!
- Speaking of shoes, I also got out a new pair of Cumuluses to use for my long run on Sunday. They felt great! From time to time in August, I felt stiffness in my left knee. I figured it was from my softball sliding injury on July 31, then later running that knee in to a table on August 23 (as well as the fact that I supinate more on that foot and it twists my whole leg)… but when it didn’t go away after awhile, I started to wonder. Ha ha, looking at the wear on my shoes… I think I just need to add some new pairs in to the rotations!
- Today marks three weeks until my first marathon of the year, and three months until my last! Next week will be my last 20-22 mile. I like to do a two week taper. Do you prefer a two or three (or something else) week taper for the marathon?
But how did you like the new shoes? Did you feel faster and lighter than your more cushioned kicks? The more minimal shoes take an adjustment period- but once I start mixing them in with my heavier shoes I notice a hue difference and feel spring ire and faster!
3 weeks to go!?!? That’s coming up so Fast 🙂
I’m a fan of a 10 day taper. No need to drastically cut back on mileage IMO. But different strokes for different folks….
I didn’t feel lighter and faster, which I thought maybe I would, so that was a bit of a let down. But I would probably feel lighter… if I was lighter. Ha ha.
Yay! Crazy soon!
I got so confused, I subscribe to your email and clicked and got taken to last week’s log! I had to figure out I clicked the link at the bottom xD
How far apart are your marathons? What is your taper like?
LOL! Sorry about that! 🙂
These marathons are two months and one week apart. Pretty big gap! The closest I have done two together is 5 weeks apart. I try to run 20-22 for the LR two weeks before the marathon, then maybe 12 the week before. Then whatever I feel like during the week 🙂
So jealous of those temps I think it’ll be a another week or two til I get them. I find the lighter shoes harder on the feet but I haven’t taken the time to break mine in fully.
I like the two week taper I think I’d be too ansy otherwise!!!
I like a one or two week taper. Any more than that and I feel like I am losing fitness.
My knees are the first to let me know when I need to get a new pair of shoes. Hope you can get some good ones mixed into your rotation! I’ve only done a 3 week taper, but I’m trying a 2 week taper for the marathon I’m running this weekend. I’m interested to see how my body responds!