Today my Chicago Marathon training officially begins! October seems so far away right now but I have a lot of miles to run between now and then.
After training for my last half with the Own It plan from Train Like a Mother (affiliate link) I decided to use the marathon version for this race. I know that it is a difficult plan and it will really challenge me to do my best.
My first day of training calls for an easy 4-5 miles. I’ll have 2 easy runs each week, 2 types of speed workout, some cross training and a long run. Not to mention keeping up with strength training and perhaps a little yoga to top it off. Thank goodness I’ll have a rest day every Sunday!
And here is a look back at my last week of maintenance running. It was my last week to run just for the run. Run easy, and run however short or long I wanted.
Weekly Training Log
Monday: 3.1 miles (9:30 pace)
I tried the app Rock My Run today for the first time. Basically, the app gives you playlists with a certain BPM which helps to keep a designated pace during a run. It worked for me. Lately my ‘easy’ runs have been around a 9:40-9:50. Today it was easy to keep at the 9:30 pace and I wasn’t continuously looking at my watch either. I haven’t been running with music at all lately so it was quite a change for me but I liked it enough to keep trying it.
Tuesday: 3 miles (9:35 pace) + 20 minutes strength
A super humid run in the morning with an out and back route. I realized after I was about a mile out that I forgot to eat my usual handful of granola before walking out the door. I used to run without eating all the time but for the past several months I have eaten a little bit before running and it seems to give me a lot more energy. I didn’t have time for strength when I got back home but I did squeeze it in during nap time in the afternoon.
Wednesday: 3.1 miles (9:20 pace) + 15 minutes NTC Ab Burner Core Work
Wednesday is usually my rest day but I can’t NOT run on National Running Day. To celebrate I ran my normal route backwards for the first time. It really was like running a new route. Why have I never done this before?
Thursday: 35 minutes Spin Bike + 25 minutes Jillian Michaels Circuit Strength
I woke up to heavy rain, hail and lightning. I was instantly up and ready to go. I wish I could have that kind of an alarm every morning. Because of the weather I was glad that I had planned an indoor workout for the day anyway. I pulled out my Jillian Michaels circuit for a 25 minute strength workout and then jumped on the spin bike for 35 minutes. I love this circuit workout and I need to do it every week. It makes me feel strong.
Friday: 3 miles (9:35 pace)
Lack of sleep the night before made getting out the door for this run difficult. But I finally made it and I’m so glad I did. Instead of my feet dragging, like I thought they would, my legs felt light and it ended up being a great run. You just never know how a run is going to go until you are out there on the pavement!
Saturday: 3.2 miles (9:30 pace)
We had 3 inches (!!!) of rain the night before so I thoroughly enjoyed this nice and cool 3 miles. I decided to keep this a short run so that I am ready to go when training rolls around. My Saturdays will be full of long runs for the next several months.
Sunday: Rest Day
My week of easy running was very even as well! My runs were all about 3 miles and only ranged in pace between 9:20 and 9:35. I’m happy that my ‘easy’ pace this week was close to a 9:30, that’s right where I want it to be at this point.
One of my main goals for 2014 is to Run This Year in kilometers. That’s 2,014 kilometers or 1,251.44 miles.
Weekly Running Miles: 15.4
Weekly Average Pace: 9:30
June Running Miles: 15.4
2014 Running Miles: 521.26
2014 Running Kilometers: 838.89
Is anyone else running Chicago in October? How was your week in workouts?
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Yay for new training! I’m running Chicago, too, and just finished my first three weeks. I’m using a Brain Training plan and had to jump in four weeks late, so their plan has me going into week eight. It’s 4 run days, 2 cross-training days. I’m so excited for Chicago! Good luck with your training!
Hi Kate! Wow, I can’t believe you’ve been training for 3 weeks already. It sounds like a great plan though. I’m learning to love my cross training days. Best of luck to you as you train for Chicago…it’s very exciting!
Good luck with your Chicago Marathon training!! I’ve heard so many great things about that race and it’s up there on the popularity meter with the NYC marathon. I bet you’re going to do GREAT!
Thanks, Marnie! I’m pretty excited…I just love that city and to run a marathon there has been a dream of mine.
That’s awesome that your running the Chicago Marathon! I’m running the NYC marathon in November and my training begins next week. I hope your training and hard work really pay off!
~Bre
Thank you, Bre! The NYC marathon would be fantastic — how exciting! Best of luck to you as you train for NY!!
Nice goal to proceed, I am wondering how many years since you started running?
Hi Chantal,
I’ve been running off and on since I was about 12 or so. I only started entering local races in 2006. So it’s been more consistent in the past 8 years or so.