Man oh man, it’s hard to believe I’m already on week 6! This was a pretty textbook good training week–I completed every workout as planned and felt strong and solid as I inch up towards 50 miles. Monday morning I was up bright and early for hill repeats, which were at 5k effort up and jogging down. I really like these workouts because they force you to measure pace by effort vs. by the numbers–although I feel like my favorite hill is a little too “easy” for these workouts? Hard to tell! Either way, I’m huffing and puffing by the top 🙂
Monday night we had our official kickoff for my charity team for Boston! ICYMI, I’m running Boston for the Bowdoin Street Health Center Healthy Champions program, which brings health and wellness programming to kids in the Bowdoin/Geneva neighborhood of Dorchester. (I would LOVE for you to learn more about this amazing program and consider supporting me here!) It was really fun to meet the other runners and to hear about the incredible work our fundraising will support. Plus, I snagged my official Boston jacket–can’t wait to rock this guy after the race!
Tuesday the weather had finally cleared up so I opted for an outdoor run–it was definitely slushy and there were lots of puddles, but it felt amazing to be comfortable outside. Wednesday I stuck to the the mill and did 3 easy miles–during which I checked the clock about every 30 seconds. UGH. I did get a nice little strength circuit in with some solid corework, so that was a plus. In the evening I got a much-needed massage–I carry a lot of tension in my upper body when I run, and it was painful but great to get it worked out. Thursday was a fun tempo (outdoors again, yay!) with MGP miles. I kept the pace in check on these and was really comfortable between a 7:40 and 7:45 pace–right on track for race day. Those mid-week 9 milers are tough but necessary! Friday was a rest day (and a cocktails with friends day–hurrah).
Saturday the weather was a little crazy–starting in the 60s and ending in the 30s during a 2 hour run! It was awesome to run with my pal Denise–she’s moving to Cali and I want to get in as many long runs as possible. Luckily she’ll be back for Boston–we ran Sugarloaf together and she’s the best marathon buddy. This morning I was moving slow after we went out to a fun concert, but J and I got out for some chilly but nice recovery miles together.
Onwards to another cold week–hopefully no more snow any time super soon!
Week 5: 45.9
- Monday: Hill workout! 10 x 60 second hill repeats for 6.5 miles total
- Tuesday: 7 easy miles
- Wednesday: 3 recovery dreadmill miles, mini band strength circuit
- Thursday: Tempo! 2 up, 6 MGP, 1 down for 9 total
- Friday: Rest day
- Saturday: 15 hilly easy-paced miles
- Sunday: 5 easy
Linking up with The Weekly Wrap (hosted by Hoho Runs and Taking the Long Way Home).
Shorter and Faster 
Nice week of training! Nothing beats a training week that ends with you feeling strong and accomplished! I can’t imagine a run that drops 30 degrees in 2 hours. Yikes!
Thank you! Yup, it was wild and windy near the end–I went from wearing a tank top to wearing a long sleeve and gloves.
I love how you put 15, easy and hilly in the same sentence! Looks like a great week
Ha! Such a good point. I guess “easy” pace, not an easy run!
Your charity team sounds amazing – what a great opportunity. SOunds like a good week of training! I check the clock way to often on the dreadmill too, ugh
Thanks! I had a bib for Boston either way so figured why not make it a little more meaningful by running for a great cause?
Those crazy temperature drops sounded like here this weekend too. It was 60s during the day and it dropped down to the teens that same night. So it was treadmill for me this weekend.
I definitely don’t blame you for that–probably a smart choice!
All I could think about this morning on my really cold long run was how hard it would be to be training for a full marathon right now. You are killing it!
Ugh, it’s so true! But worth it for Boston!
Is that an NP buff I spy? Nice hill workout! I wouldn’t say 15 hilly miles is every easy haha
It is an NP buff! I’m an intermittent member TBH, but I’ve had a ton of fun when I make it. I think I should have specified “easy” pace–the whole run was definitely not easy 😉
Wow week 6 already?! How exciting!
The crazy temps this week have made running very interesting to say the least! My long run yesterday was pretty brutal between the wind and 30 degree drop in temperature as I was running!
It was crazy out there–way to get it done!
“15 hilly easy miles” sounds a bit like an oxymoron LOL That’s a crazy extreme drop in temps!
What a great week of training! At this rate, you are going to kick Boston out of the park! Well done and best of luck this week.
Thanks so much–here’s hoping!!
It’s crazy how much the temperature dropped during your run. Those midweek 9 milers at pace are going to pay off on race day! Beautiful picture for that run too! Thanks for linking.
Nice job! Are you following a plan or did you make up your own? I’m jealous you have your jacket already!
Thank you! I’m using a custom plan from my coach Laura (www.thisrunnersrecipes.com)–she is fantastic 🙂 Couldn’t pass up the jacket with a discount at my favorite local running store–perks of being local!
Great week of training! Boston will be here before you know it. So excited for you- you are going to crush it! Especially with all the hilly miles you add into your training, that will help on those Newton hills! And you’re lucky you get to train on the actual course sometimes.
Aw thanks, Jess! It is really awesome to be able to train on the course. Sometimes we even get sick of it–but it’ll pay off when on race day it’s all muscle memory!
Sounds like a great week of training! Yay for outdoor runs! But crazy that it went from 60 to 30s. Hope it’s not too cold this week!
The weather has been so bizarre lately! I’m secretly thankful that I’m not training for a marathon right now because the weather would be making me nuts. I have taken on the role of marathon support crew for all of my friends who are training. I’m keeping them company on some of their runs because I know how lonely it can get when you have mega miles and run alone.
That’s so sweet of you to be there for your friends! I got to do that this fall since I didn’t run a fall full marathon–it’s a great way to stay in shape and still feel like a part of the marathon buzz.
Awesome job on your workouts, especially the marathon goal pace run! You are preparing so well for a strong race at Boston! Hopefully the weather cooperates more for you – I cannot believe how drastically the temperature dropped on your long run!
Thank you so much, Laura–it’s thanks in no small part to a well-written training plan 😉 We are looking at mid 30s-40 this weekend and I am STOKED.