Monday, July 6, 2015

Time to Reassess my Goals {base-training: Week 5}

As last week was finishing up, feeling tired and burnt out, I came to the realization that I shouldn't be feeling this way during a base-building phase. It's been tough to meet my mileage goals the last couple of weeks. The marathon training plan I am starting in August has 3 different levels depending on base weekly mileage. 

The first level is for those who run less than 40 miles per week and starts off at 33 miles per week. The second level is for those who run 55 to 70 miles per week and starts off at 54 miles per week. The third level; I'm not even going to go there. It's for super-high weekly mileage runners (not me).

I run an average of 40 miles per week. Sometimes more, sometimes less.  I run more during weeks leading up to a marathon or when I'm travelling and don't have go to work. It's not tough to fit 40 miles with my current lifestyle and I can run more without injury on the weeks when my life schedule allows more miles.

Because I was in-between the first and second level plans, my goal for my base-training phase was to slowly build my mileage to 55 miles per week and start at the 2nd level which eventually builds to a peak of 70 miles per week. Yikes. Let's reassess this...

My goal is to run a marathon in less than 4 hours. I don't need to burn out on high mileage weeks to reach that goal. I need to make my runs count (make each run purposeful) and focus on fun (because this isn't my job. Reminder to self:  I'm doing it because I enjoy running). 

Coming to this realization and giving myself permission to step back my goals for base-building and deciding to follow the first level of my marathon training plan, has taken a significant (and self-imposed) weight off my shoulders. I think sub-conscious stress of not meeting weekly goals or worrying about finding time (lose sleep; quit my job ;) ) to {barely} meet goals was taxing me. As soon as I made this decision, I felt less tired and more excited about this coming week. On to the final 4 weeks of base-building!


Base-Training: Week Four Recap

Monday: 5 miles recovery run (bpm<143) Or not! I took a day off. :)
Tuesday: 4.4 miles + 45 min cycle class
Wednesday: 6.4 miles, 3 x (1000m, 200m) at 1/2marathon pace & 5k pace speedwork on track
Thursday: 7 miles + 4 x 20 second strides 4.5 miles (treadmill) + cycle class + 2.5 miles (treadmill) + TRX class
Sunday: 14 miles long run with 4 x 20 second strides  10.5 miles long run

Total Mileage: 39.5 miles

Base-Training: Week 5

Goal Mileage: 40 miles

Monday: Cycle class (AM); 3 mile recovery run (bpm<143) PM
Tuesday: 4.6 miles on treadmill + cycle class
Wednesday: 6-7 miles 10.3 miles, 10 x 1000m @ marathon pace,track speed work
Thursday: 6.5 miles with 5 6 x 20 second strides at end with Nani+ TRX class
Friday: 5 miles 4.2 miles
Saturday: 3.2 miles with Nani and 2 miles + 90 min yoga with LA Oiselle Flock
Sunday: 8 miles 7.2 miles (progression pace run) + 5.3 miles with Lab Rats

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