Quick Recap Of Training Leading Up To O2O Marathon

Week of 4/16-4/22:

Mon: 18 @ 6:30 (Boston DNF)
Tue: Off
Wed: Off
Thu: 5.0 @ 7:34
Fri: 5.0 @ 7:44
Sat: 5.0 @ 7:24
Sun: 5.0 @ 7:09

Total: 28 miles

Week of 7/23-7/29:

Mon: 8.0 @ 6:55 w/ strides
Tue: 6.2 @ 7:11
Wed: 11.3 @ 8:22 on trails w/ ~1,700+
Thu: 8.2 @ 6:56
Fri: am - 6.2 @ 7:19 w/ strides, pm - 4.0 @ 7:32
Sat: 17.4 @ 9:04 on trails w/ ~3,000+
Sun: off

Total: 61.3 miles

Week of 4/30-5/6:

Mon: am - 6.2 @ 7:20, pm - 5.0 @ 7:23
Tue: 11.0 @ 6:35 w/ 3x2 (2 min. easy) in (5:49, :49), (5:55, :52), (5:58, :53) - did this with a friend who has never done much tempo work (ultra guy)
Wed: 8.2 @ 7:05
Thu: 5.0 @ 6:21 - quick progression run from 7:06 /> 5:25
Fri: 5.0 @ 8:12 - trails in Flagstaff
Sat: 32.5 @ 13:29 - Attempted Grand Canyon R2R2R
Sun: off

Total: 72.9 miles

Nothing too crazy in the beginning of the week as I was trying to save my legs for the Grand Canyon.  I fully knew heading into it that I was in shape to be running 47 miles and that is pretty much how it played out that day.  To make matters worse I must have eaten something bad the night before as my stomach was seriously messed up the entire night before and morning of.  I just had no energy and we had already done a good amount of hiking heading (of what I ran pretty much all of last time) into Cottonwood Camp.  Pretty much made it 7 miles from the North Rim (right before the major climbing starts) and knew my legs didn't have two huge climbs left in them in 90+ degree heat, so a buddy and I decided to turn back.  No regrets since I've done it before, plus I felt really good on the climb out, so I know I made the right decision.  Still an epic day of running/hiking through the canyon.

Week of 5/7-5/13:

Mon: off
Tue: am - 6.2 @ 7:19, pm - 4.0 @ 7:29
Wed: 12.4 @ 6:27 w/  last 4 in 5:37, 5:41, 5:41, and 5:28
Thu: am - 14.0 @ 6:32 w/ progression from 7:09 /> 5:45
Fri: 8.5 @ 7:17
Sat: 11.0 @ 6:12 w/ 3x2 (2 min. easy) in (5:44, :39), (5:37, :37), (5:38, :24)
Sun: 21.5 @ 6:52

Total: 81.6 miles

Legs recovered pretty quick from the GC.  Was able to get in a good amount of fast running this week, but not hammering anything.  Just pretty much trying to keep all the fast stuff within 5-15 seconds of what I hope my marathon pace to be.  I've also decided to go with more quality over quantity during these weeks.

Week of 5/14-5/20:

Mon: am - 6.2 @ 7:45, pm - 4.0 @ 7:38
Tue: 10.0 @ 5:58 w/ 7 miles in 39:05 (5:44, :36, :34, :37, :37, :35, :22)
Wed: am - 8.2 @ 7:23, pm - 4.7 @ 7:38
Thu: 8.3 @ 6:28 w/ middle 4 in 22:22 (5:44, :40, :36, :20)
Fri: 14.2 @ 6:43
Sat: 6.2 @ 7:25
Sun: 20.8 @ 6:18 w/ 9 miles up, 2x5 (5 min. easy) in 29:01 (5:51, :51, :46, :47, :46) & 28:45 (5:44, :47, :44, :45, :45), and 1 mile down

Total: 82.6 miles

Everything seemed to click this week.  Nailed the 7 miler and felt like I could have easily gone for a few more miles.  Thursday's tempo was pretty spontaneous and felt great.  But yesterday's workout was the icing on the cake.  Paces felt too easy.  I was originally thinking of somewhere in the 2:33 range, but yesterday's workout makes me think otherwise.  This week leaves me feeling really good with where I am at heading into the final two weeks.

On a different note, I think I have decided to put my focus this summer on my half PR, as I have never specifically trained for anything shorter than a marathon.  Thinking about running AFC in August and hopefully finally getting that sub-70 monkey off my back.  I will then switch the focus from there over to Chicago with about 6 weeks of marathon specific workouts.  If anything, these last 5 weeks of running are going to put me in a good position heading into the summer.  Really looking forward to getting back at it after what can be considered a very sub par first half of the year.

Week of 5/21-5/27:

Mon: 6.2 @ 7:32
Tue: 10.0 @ 6:52 w/ strides
Wed: 11.0 @ 6:03 w/ 5x2k @ MP w/ 3:00 fast recoveries...7:12 (6:02 pace rec.), 7:13 (6:08 pace rec.), 7:12 (6:07 pace rec.), 7:10 (6:05 pace rec.), and 7:11
Thu: 7.0 @ 7:33
Fri: 10 @ 6:33 w/ 10x1/4 miles (35 sec. rec.) on the road in 76, 73, 71, 71, 72, 72, 74, 74, 71, 70
Sat: 6.0 @ 7:10 w/ strides
Sun: 11.2 @ 6:17 w/ last 3.2 in 18:18 (5:43 pace)

Total: 61.4 miles

Solid first week of tapering.  Wednesday's workout felt great.  Friday's 400s hurt.  I haven't run that fast in a while.  Just a couple more MP miles and I'm good to go for Sunday.  Sounds like they are giving out Motorola MotoActv GPS watches to the winners, so just a little added incentive to run faster.  Looking forward to getting out there and racing next weekend!

Week of 5/28-6/3:

Mon: 5.1 @ 7:17
Tue: 7.0 @ 6:30 w/ 2 @ 5:46
Wed: 5.0 @ 7:07
Thu: 5.0 @ 6:59 w/ 5x35 seconds hard
Fri: off
Sat: 3.2 @ 7:35 w/ strides
Sun: 26.2 @ 5:44

Total: 51.5 miles

See race report. :-)