Boston Marathon Training-Week 13

Week 13

Monday
40 minutes on spinning bike (hr-132, easy recovery bike ride)
60 minute upper body workout

15 minute ab workout

Tuesday

11.23 miles (w/6 x 1000m repeats at 5k pace)

6:55 overall pace, heart rate avg. 153

I found it difficult at times to maintain the 5k pace.  I definitely did not maintain the pace I needed to the whole time.  It was a good learning experience.

15 minute ab workout

Wednesday

15.99 miles

7:14 pace, heart rate avg. 151

This was a brutal run.  It was very windy and rainy and I had to get up pretty early to knock out this workout.

40 minute recovery bike ride (heart rate avg. 136)

Thursday

6.26 miles

7:39 pace, heart rate avg. 144

5 miles (treadmill, focused on form and maintaining a consistent pace)

7:32 pace heart rate avg. 142

60 minute upper body workout

Friday

12.26 miles

7:15 pace, heart rate avg. 144

15 minute ab workout

35 minute bike ride (heart rate avg. 145; brought some intensity near the end of the ride)

15 minute leg workout (strengthened the quads a big, but I wasn't feeling it too much today)

Saturday

6.06 miles

7:18 pace, heart rate avg. 143 

Nice run in Portage on the Celery Flats trail with Jordan.  This was an extremely windy workout, my guess is that it was gusting at 30+ mph at times.

Sunday

18.37 miles

6:48 pace, heart rate avg. 154

This run went way better than expected.  I was supposed to run 14 miles at Marathon pace.  I ran a 1.5 mile warm-up at roughly 7:20 pace, then 14.5 miles at 6:43 pace and finished with a 2.37 mile cool-down (which I ran pretty quick as well).  I am fairly confident that I could have maintained this pace for an entire Marathon.  I kind of felt like I was holding back a bit.  My goal was to run the 14 miles at 6:45 pace, which I beat my 2 seconds per mile.  Last time I did a pace run, I ran 12 miles at 6:53 pace and I struggled to keep that pace.  This shows that I am improving.  As of right now, I am leaning towards running a 6:45 pace for the Marathon, which would put me at just under 2:57 for the Marathon.  I still have lots of work to do.  36 days until the race!

Weekly total=75.17 miles (Most I've ever run in a week!)

Boston Marathon Training-Week 12

Week 12
Monday
50 minutes on spinning bike (hr-125, easy recovery bike ride)
60 minute upper body workout

15 minute ab workout

Tuesday

10.20 miles (w/6 x 600m repeats at 5k pace)

6:56 overall pace, heart rate avg. 150

15 minute ab workout

Wednesday

15.33 miles

7:19 pace, heart rate avg. 141

40 minute recovery bike ride (heart rate avg. 133)

Thursday

6.27 miles

7:24 pace, heart rate avg. 138

5.10 miles (treadmill, focused on form and maintaining a consistent pace)

7:30 pace heart rate avg. 138

60 minute upper body workout

15 minute ab workout

Friday

5.11 miles

7:35 pace, heart rate avg. 136

60 minute intense leg and ab workout

Saturday

8.29 miles 

6:19 pace, heart rate avg. 177
This workout went very well.  I ran the hills of Schuring and some hills on side streets nearby.  I was supposed to do a race between 10k and 15k today.  Since, I  couldn't find one, I tried my best to race at a pace similar to that of a race.

60 minute upper body workout
Sunday

20.41 miles

7:07 pace, heart rate avg. 148

Great run today.  I could have easily maintained this pace for a full marathon.  I had to hold back quite a bit, because I wanted to go faster.  I love running a good 20 miles; there's nothing I enjoy more.  This was a good indicator of where I am right now in my training.  I am definitely well on my way to a sub 3 hour Marathon.

Weekly total=70.41 miles

Thoughts on Running

Well, there is just 45 days until the race.  I have to admit I am very excited and anxious.  This training has been brutal.  Never have I focused so much time and energy into preparing for a race.  After training for Grand Rapids last fall, I wondered how I could possibly train harder. Well, it's safe to say I have obliterated that.  It has been quite a challenge at times.  While, past marathons my goal has just been to finish in a decent time, I am now preparing like an elite athlete would prepare.  My entire life revolves around my focus on this race.  Everything I do; from the food I eat, to my sleep, proper rest, hydration, constant stretching, lifting and of course running.  I also have to limit my time going out late.  It sucks sometimes, because there are things I would really love to do but I have to remain focused.

  It may be hard for some to understand my obsession.  However, this race means everything to me.  I have worked so hard and come so far to get to this point.  It's not just the fact that I have worked hard in training and running to qualify and get the chance to run Boston.  What Boston really means to me is what is symbolizes.  It symbolizes everything I've done.  All of the tough challenges I've faced in my life in growing up, relationships, and other difficult times.  It proves that you can get past the toughest of times and reach unthinkable goals.  I promised myself that if I qualified for Boston, I would put my all into training for it and I mean't it.

  I have to admit, each time I train for a marathon, I seemingly get a little more obsessed.  It's hard to explain why I love it so much.  Sometimes I even question myself and think how my life was like before my constant grind of training.  Even though from time to time, I'll admit a nice rest would be great, my overall quality of life has not been better than once I started running.  I am not a person that can really do something half heartedly, especially something I find very interesting.  I can't see myself just jogging or running to stay in shape.  There is something about it that forces me to be obsessive.  I love how it forces me to strive for my best.  I love to race.  I love challenging myself to surpass even my highest goals.

  I never thought I'd run a sub 1:23 Half Marathon, but I did.  I used to think there was a cap on my potential, not just in running but in life.  Running gives me confidence that I can do anything.  I will always believe (to a certain extent) that I can always get better and better.  I am confident in my training and preparation that through hard work I can reach my goals.  And, although many many people will never understand what I do and why I do it.  And, although I'll never be able to explain it myself, I'll still keep pushing myself to surpass my own expectations.  The old me would think I'm crazy too.  When I look back on the Jon I used to be and compare it to the Jon now, I laugh.  I have a way better mental focus, am much more independent, and I just enjoy life more.  I don't try to do things just to satisfy others, I do things for myself.  If somebody doesn't like me for me, I'm fine with it-I'm not going to change myself just to satisfy someone else. 

 Running to me is more than just a way to stay in shape, and anyone that runs knows what I mean.  I don't know if it's what you gain each day when you're out on the run; the constant thought process that goes on-it changes you.  I have a completely different outlook on life.  The biggest thing I think I get out of it, is  confidence.  I have not always been the most confident person in the world, but throughout my training and racing I have slowly but surely become more and more confident.  I am still working on translating that to confidence in my life outside of running but it is a work in progress.  

Thanks to everyone that supports me, I appreciate it:)