1942 GMT - Not really a session today...just rest. Today was a rest day, and I needed it. I was chastised a bit by my personal trainer, Paul, for running yesterday. I should have rested yesterday too. Hamstrings are still a little sore, but I'm feeling better. Tomorrow is an interval session, but if my hamstrings are still bothering me, I will pass on the intervals and just do an easy run, if I do anything at all.
Part of me is freaking out at the prospect of taking extra rest days (which is why I ran yesterday)...how can I complete this marathon, if I'm resting when I should be training? However, it is early in my program. I need to remember to listen to my body. I won't achieve my goals for this race if I am injured. It is better to take an extra rest day now, than many more later on.
About Me
- plbennett70
- Training for the Chester Marathon on 09 October 2011. Going for a BQ!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
22 and 23 Jan - Sessions 12 and 13
2020 GMT - Plugging away at the training plan and I made through the first two weeks! In all not a bad weekend of training, but it was tough. Saturday was cold...below freezing...refreshing! And oh were my hamstrings sore from Friday! I made it through the easy 5 mile run without any problems though. My HR monitor was giving me fits for the first few minutes again. I'm wondering if I am already starting to see the effects of my training. When I reviewed the data from Saturday (Session 12) I think my overall average pace was at little quicker at that particular HR intensity. Exciting.
Sunday's run (Session 13) was much more difficult. My stomach problems returned over Saturday night so I didn't sleep well at all and was very tired. By morning I felt a little better but my stomach was still unsettled and I had bad heartburn. I had the alarm set for 0600 and when it went off I reset it for 0630. When it went off again, I almost didn't get up to run, but I knew if I didn't I wouldn't run at all. Besides, if I woke up feeling the same way on race day, I would still race. So I got up and out I went. It wasn't as cold as Saturday, but a little breezy. My hamstrings were still sore...even worse than Saturday! The first few minutes were pretty painful until I warmed up. Even though I wasn't feeling well I did ok on my first Long Slow Distance (LSD) of my training plan, sore hamstrings and all!. Target HR was 142 and my average during the run was right on. Had a problem with the HR monitor yet again. I have some electrode gel, and I think I'll use it next time. The problem seems to go away within the first few minutes, but it is still annoying.
Tomorrow is a rest day and I'm glad for that. My hamstrings need a break. hopefully I can get some good sleep the next two nights and my stomach bug goes away.
Saturday was Marshall's birthday and we had a very nice weekend. Marshall's part was fun, and I really enjoyed watching him open all his gifts, even though it took almost 2 hours. We had a very nice dinner out, and today we went to the zoo. Tonight before bed Marshall and I worked on his new Lego Airport.
Marathon Training Session 12
Marathon Training Session 13
Sunday's run (Session 13) was much more difficult. My stomach problems returned over Saturday night so I didn't sleep well at all and was very tired. By morning I felt a little better but my stomach was still unsettled and I had bad heartburn. I had the alarm set for 0600 and when it went off I reset it for 0630. When it went off again, I almost didn't get up to run, but I knew if I didn't I wouldn't run at all. Besides, if I woke up feeling the same way on race day, I would still race. So I got up and out I went. It wasn't as cold as Saturday, but a little breezy. My hamstrings were still sore...even worse than Saturday! The first few minutes were pretty painful until I warmed up. Even though I wasn't feeling well I did ok on my first Long Slow Distance (LSD) of my training plan, sore hamstrings and all!. Target HR was 142 and my average during the run was right on. Had a problem with the HR monitor yet again. I have some electrode gel, and I think I'll use it next time. The problem seems to go away within the first few minutes, but it is still annoying.
Tomorrow is a rest day and I'm glad for that. My hamstrings need a break. hopefully I can get some good sleep the next two nights and my stomach bug goes away.
Saturday was Marshall's birthday and we had a very nice weekend. Marshall's part was fun, and I really enjoyed watching him open all his gifts, even though it took almost 2 hours. We had a very nice dinner out, and today we went to the zoo. Tonight before bed Marshall and I worked on his new Lego Airport.
Marathon Training Session 12
Marathon Training Session 13
Friday, January 21, 2011
21 Jan - Session 11
No running today; SnC only, so no fancy maps and graphs to look at. Met with my personal trainer today and we went over some new exercises. After doing the same routine for over 3 years, it's nice to learn something new. The exercises are pretty challenging too. Most of them look easy, but they're really not when you try to do them. It will take some practice to get the proper form and execution down. It's good to have the body do something it's never done before. That's how you get better!
Tomorrow is Marshall's birthday, he'll be 5. Hard to believe! I'll be up early to get my run in before he wakes up.
Tomorrow is Marshall's birthday, he'll be 5. Hard to believe! I'll be up early to get my run in before he wakes up.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
20 Jan - Session 10
1915 GMT - So now I know why I haven't done any regimented training programs before...intervals are HARD! Today was the second time I've done intervals ever. Details are in the link to my Garmin training log. I ended up doing an extra one because I wasn't paying attention and only ran fast for 60 seconds on my second interval. Should have been 90 sec. I was pretty tired when I was done. Overall though it was a good run. Cold too...below freezing! I do like running in adverse weather conditions. I refuse to run on a treadmill unless absolutely necessary so I have plenty of cold weather gear. About the only adverse conditions I usually avoid are cold (below 7 deg C) rainy conditions and extreme heat. I don't live in the desert anymore so heat hasn't been a factor. I've never run in brutal cold conditions (below -7 deg C) so I would have to try it once to evaluate.
I'm pretty tired now too, probably both from the run today and still suffering the effects from yesterday. I also don't feel well. I'm thinking it's something I ate and hopefully will be better by morning. Tomorrow in a Strength and Conditioning (SnC) day. I have an appointment with my personal trainer and we're going to go through the routine to make sure I got it right. The routine includes many exercises I have just recently learned. I missed my SnC yesterday and I don't want to miss another day.
I have been measuring my resting HR each morning using my Garmin. I wear the HR monitor to bed, and after I wake up in the morning, I turn on the watch and record my HR. That seems to work well. Is that crazy...wearing the HR monitor to bed? Maybe, but I figure that's the most accurate. I read somewhere a while back that taking your pulse can affect your HR just from the slight pressure you apply with your fingers. True RHR is a little difficult to accurately measure...at least it was for me anyway. The first day I did it I turned on the watch immediately after the alarm went off. Mistake! HR was elevated. Now I wait a minute or to before taking a reading. Other things have affected it too...Zetta was crying on a couple of occasions. I think I got it figured out and shout have a good average in a couple more days. Probably will turn out be 51-52 bpm.
Edinburgh Marathon Training Session 10 Details
I'm pretty tired now too, probably both from the run today and still suffering the effects from yesterday. I also don't feel well. I'm thinking it's something I ate and hopefully will be better by morning. Tomorrow in a Strength and Conditioning (SnC) day. I have an appointment with my personal trainer and we're going to go through the routine to make sure I got it right. The routine includes many exercises I have just recently learned. I missed my SnC yesterday and I don't want to miss another day.
I have been measuring my resting HR each morning using my Garmin. I wear the HR monitor to bed, and after I wake up in the morning, I turn on the watch and record my HR. That seems to work well. Is that crazy...wearing the HR monitor to bed? Maybe, but I figure that's the most accurate. I read somewhere a while back that taking your pulse can affect your HR just from the slight pressure you apply with your fingers. True RHR is a little difficult to accurately measure...at least it was for me anyway. The first day I did it I turned on the watch immediately after the alarm went off. Mistake! HR was elevated. Now I wait a minute or to before taking a reading. Other things have affected it too...Zetta was crying on a couple of occasions. I think I got it figured out and shout have a good average in a couple more days. Probably will turn out be 51-52 bpm.
Edinburgh Marathon Training Session 10 Details
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Second Post: A Little History
I have run several half marathons...maybe 5 I think. I decided a couple months or so ago that it was time to enter a full marathon. I tried the London Marathon, but entries were already closed. After a quick search, I discovered the Edinburgh Marathon and entries were still open. Before I could change my mind, I entered. Then I booked tickets on easyJet for all 4 of us to spend the weekend up in Edinburgh. No turning back now!
I had been feeling like I have been stagnant in my training...if you could call my regimen "training" I figured if I wanted to reach the next level and achieve my goals for this marathon (more on that later) then I should perhaps get some help. I started working with a personal trainer at the health club where we belong just after Christmas. So far it has been great. He gave me a training plan taking me right up to the race and he assures me that if I follow it, I should do even better than my goals. Should that come to fruition, it would be beyond my wildest expectations.
Needless to say I am quite excited about the prospect of exceeding my expectations in this race. I am very serious about following the training plan to the best of my ability. I am keeping a journal, and I decided to start a blog. Maybe that will help keep me motivated. It will be challenging on many levels. Just sticking to it will probably be the biggest challenge. I have never done any training this structured before. A year ago I probably would have said forget it, I don't need anything like this. But I read Runner's World and know deep down what it takes to become a faster runner and prepare for a marathon. I have dedicated myself to completing this program, so I think I'm perhaps past that. The bigger challenge will be keeping with the program while I'm on travel, and I'm scheduled to be on travel quite a bit between now and the race. I was on travel today in fact and I got the run in, but I had to forgo the strength and conditioning (SnC) portion. I usually bring along my gear and I workout/run/PT while on travel, but completing some of the workouts in this plan will require planning and dedication. The most difficult part will be the SnC portions as my routine is built around some of the equipment in the health club. I'll have to come up with some alternatives most likely. All in all though I think I'm up to the task and I'm very much looking forward to the next 19 weeks. I am already in the best shape I have ever been in and it is exciting to think I'll only get better.
I'm not sure how it will work out, but will put links to my Garmin training log in here so you can view my data and follow my progress. Included are comments related to my run that day. Feedback is welcome! Let me know if the links don't work.
Marathon Training Session 1
Marathon Training Session 2
Marathon Training Session 3
Marathon Training Session 5
Marathon Training Session 6
Marathon Training Session 8
Marathon Training Session 9
I had been feeling like I have been stagnant in my training...if you could call my regimen "training" I figured if I wanted to reach the next level and achieve my goals for this marathon (more on that later) then I should perhaps get some help. I started working with a personal trainer at the health club where we belong just after Christmas. So far it has been great. He gave me a training plan taking me right up to the race and he assures me that if I follow it, I should do even better than my goals. Should that come to fruition, it would be beyond my wildest expectations.
Needless to say I am quite excited about the prospect of exceeding my expectations in this race. I am very serious about following the training plan to the best of my ability. I am keeping a journal, and I decided to start a blog. Maybe that will help keep me motivated. It will be challenging on many levels. Just sticking to it will probably be the biggest challenge. I have never done any training this structured before. A year ago I probably would have said forget it, I don't need anything like this. But I read Runner's World and know deep down what it takes to become a faster runner and prepare for a marathon. I have dedicated myself to completing this program, so I think I'm perhaps past that. The bigger challenge will be keeping with the program while I'm on travel, and I'm scheduled to be on travel quite a bit between now and the race. I was on travel today in fact and I got the run in, but I had to forgo the strength and conditioning (SnC) portion. I usually bring along my gear and I workout/run/PT while on travel, but completing some of the workouts in this plan will require planning and dedication. The most difficult part will be the SnC portions as my routine is built around some of the equipment in the health club. I'll have to come up with some alternatives most likely. All in all though I think I'm up to the task and I'm very much looking forward to the next 19 weeks. I am already in the best shape I have ever been in and it is exciting to think I'll only get better.
I'm not sure how it will work out, but will put links to my Garmin training log in here so you can view my data and follow my progress. Included are comments related to my run that day. Feedback is welcome! Let me know if the links don't work.
Marathon Training Session 1
Marathon Training Session 2
Marathon Training Session 3
Marathon Training Session 5
Marathon Training Session 6
Marathon Training Session 8
Marathon Training Session 9
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
First Post
Just a quick post...early morning tomorrow. I have started to train for my first marathon...the Edinburgh Marathon on 22 May 2011. I thought I'd record my progress and experiences for posterity in this blog. I'd love to have you follow along if you're interested. I'll write more later.
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