Michelle's Marathon Training Logs: Weeks 7 - 10
Between my travel for work and the Christmas holiday, I have not had the time to upload my logs. Progress continues, though I did not get in the mileage I'd hoped. I did take my Garmin along and used it during my runs outside, so some cool Google Earth images are included below.
The marathon is only 6 weeks away, which is scary.
As usual, I spent my time in meetings, though those meetings were in Brussels, Belgium, London, England, and Sitges, Spain. The trip to Brussels and the trip home from Sitges were amazing -- I had wireless coverage, thus internet access, for flights. I did not sleep on either, but I was not bored! The carrier was Lufthansa -- I highly recommend it.
It has been 2-3 years since I've been to Europe and I'd forgotten what the time zone changes feel like to the body and mind. I thoroughly underestimated the jet lag and it took me about 4 days to feel somewhat normal.
The weather in all cities was as expected for this time of year. I planned for, and got, rain and cold weather in Brussels and London. I did do some research pre-trip to identify safe running routes in my destination cities and had high hopes for staying on plan. The route you see in Brussels is essentially up and down a small highway. There was a bike path somewhat protected from the traffic. NATO was the most exciting 'site' along the path. The day was rainy and gray, but I figured if the locals could get out there and play soccer, I could get in my long run. I did not go as far as I planned because, despite having a GPS, I started to worry about getting lost. I don't speak French or Flemmish, so finding my way back to the hotel would have been a trick. The route in Sitges is along the Mediterranea Sea and was simply amazing. I was tired, but running, and honestly amazed by my situation: in Spain (a first), running on a Sunday (not a first, but when considering my lifestyle throughout my entire life this is still notable), and staring at the Mediterranean Sea. The end of the route is a large, pinkish adobe church. While I'm not a religious person, this run was a religious experience. I had a chance to run with a group of collegues along the same route and that too was amazing. The were much faster than I was (at least 1 minute per mile), so I opted not to join them on subesquent days. In hindsight I regret that -- had I kept with it despite being the slow one in the bunch, I would have gotten in more miles and found out how fast I can really go...
Week 7
Target Miles: 26
Completed Miles: 19.41
Tuesday: 11/29/2005 @ 7:06a US/PT
Total Distance: 6.75 mi, Total Time: 1:09:03, Avg Pace: 10:17/mi, Total Calories: 705 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 157 bpm
Friday: 12/02/2005 @ 2:44p US/PT
Total Distance: 8.03 mi, Total Time: 1:18:24, Avg Pace: 9:45/mi, Total Calories: 809 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 160 bpm
Friday: 12/04/2005 @ 6:37a US/PT (I was actually in Brussels, Belgium, but did not adjust TZ on Garmin)
Total Distance: 4.63 mi, Total Time: 0:46:41, Avg Pace: 10:05/mi, Total Calories: 424cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
My recorded values for distance and time are less than actual. It took the Garmin quite a bit of time to find the satellite and I'd made it through about a quarter of my run before it was working properly. I also forgot to wear my chest strap, so no heart rate reading for this day.
Week 8
Target Miles: 20
Completed Miles: 8.83
Monday: 12/06/2005
Total Distance: 3 mi, Total Time: 30 min, Avg Pace: 10:00/mi, Total Calories: 300 cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
Indoor run on treadmill.
Sunday: 12/11/2005 @ 4:30a US/PT (In Sitges, Spain)
Total Distance: 5.83 mi, Total Time: 1:09:17, Avg Pace: 11:53/mi, Total Calories: 627 cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
My first run along the Mediterranean Sea. The times include the numerous stops I took to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of this gorgeous place. Seashell collecting included too!
Week 9
Target Miles: 27
Completed Miles: 11.83
Monday: 12/12/2005
Total Distance: 3 mi, Total Time: 30 min, Avg Pace: 10:00/mi, Total Calories: 300 cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
Indoor run on treadmill.
Tuesday: 12/13/2005
Total Distance: 3.91 mi, Total Time: 40:05 min, Avg Pace: 10:14/mi, Total Calories: 405 cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
These stats are unreliable -- I didn't have the Garmin ready to go when the group started and ended up fiddling with it for quite a while. This was the day I ran with the 'real' runners I work with. We started out, I looked down at my stats and saw a pace of about an 8 minute mile. They were chatting, laughing, etc. -- making it look so easy! Eventually I hung back to avoid slowing down the pack. They waited for me at each turn and we stuck together through the dark roads to and from the hotel. I enjoyed running with other people and would like to find a group near home that runs at a pace similar to mine.
Saturday: 12/17/2005 @ 8:11a US/PT
Total Distance: 7.60 mi, Total Time: 1:23:03 min, Avg Pace: 10:55/mi, Total Calories: 899 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 156 bpm
Up early with the reverse of jet lag. Easy run.
Sunday: 12/18/2005 @ 9:29a US/PT
Total Distance: 13.11 mi, Total Time: 2:22:55 min, Avg Pace: 10:54/mi, Total Calories: 1,458 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 154 bpm
I am really proud of this run. It was raining -- really raining. It was a long run for me and I'd gotten out of physical and mental shape. I wasn't certain I'd be able to make myself finish it, but felt like I needed to put my discipline to the test given the huge deviations from my training plan during the two previous weeks.
I did finish it and at near my planned marathon pace. My body felt fine, the rain was no big deal, though I found out after my return there had been tornado watches issued for the metro San Francisco area.
I stuck to my plan and was able to get back into it after a long break. I did not just quit. Lessons like this are without question the most satisfying part of running for me. I am learning so much about pacing myself, learning to persevere even when it gets boring, learing to work towards something over a long time rather than apply focused effort for a short time and, perhaps most surprisingly, learning to take it easy.
Week 10
Target Miles: 24
Completed Miles: 16.16
No good excuses for missing my mileage target this week besides time zone changes and general work stress. I did get my long run in (10 miles) yesterday, but technically that is the beginning of Week 11.
Friday: 12/23/2005
Total Distance: 7.85 mi, Total Time: 1:17:41 min, Avg Pace: 9:54/mi, Total Calories: 852 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 157 bpm
Saturday: 12/24/2005
Total Distance: 8.32 mi, Total Time: 1:23:38 min, Avg Pace: 10:03/mi, Total Calories: 878 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 159 bpm
The marathon is only 6 weeks away, which is scary.
As usual, I spent my time in meetings, though those meetings were in Brussels, Belgium, London, England, and Sitges, Spain. The trip to Brussels and the trip home from Sitges were amazing -- I had wireless coverage, thus internet access, for flights. I did not sleep on either, but I was not bored! The carrier was Lufthansa -- I highly recommend it.
It has been 2-3 years since I've been to Europe and I'd forgotten what the time zone changes feel like to the body and mind. I thoroughly underestimated the jet lag and it took me about 4 days to feel somewhat normal.
The weather in all cities was as expected for this time of year. I planned for, and got, rain and cold weather in Brussels and London. I did do some research pre-trip to identify safe running routes in my destination cities and had high hopes for staying on plan. The route you see in Brussels is essentially up and down a small highway. There was a bike path somewhat protected from the traffic. NATO was the most exciting 'site' along the path. The day was rainy and gray, but I figured if the locals could get out there and play soccer, I could get in my long run. I did not go as far as I planned because, despite having a GPS, I started to worry about getting lost. I don't speak French or Flemmish, so finding my way back to the hotel would have been a trick. The route in Sitges is along the Mediterranea Sea and was simply amazing. I was tired, but running, and honestly amazed by my situation: in Spain (a first), running on a Sunday (not a first, but when considering my lifestyle throughout my entire life this is still notable), and staring at the Mediterranean Sea. The end of the route is a large, pinkish adobe church. While I'm not a religious person, this run was a religious experience. I had a chance to run with a group of collegues along the same route and that too was amazing. The were much faster than I was (at least 1 minute per mile), so I opted not to join them on subesquent days. In hindsight I regret that -- had I kept with it despite being the slow one in the bunch, I would have gotten in more miles and found out how fast I can really go...
Week 7
Target Miles: 26
Completed Miles: 19.41
Tuesday: 11/29/2005 @ 7:06a US/PT
Total Distance: 6.75 mi, Total Time: 1:09:03, Avg Pace: 10:17/mi, Total Calories: 705 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 157 bpm
Friday: 12/02/2005 @ 2:44p US/PT
Total Distance: 8.03 mi, Total Time: 1:18:24, Avg Pace: 9:45/mi, Total Calories: 809 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 160 bpm
Friday: 12/04/2005 @ 6:37a US/PT (I was actually in Brussels, Belgium, but did not adjust TZ on Garmin)
Total Distance: 4.63 mi, Total Time: 0:46:41, Avg Pace: 10:05/mi, Total Calories: 424cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
My recorded values for distance and time are less than actual. It took the Garmin quite a bit of time to find the satellite and I'd made it through about a quarter of my run before it was working properly. I also forgot to wear my chest strap, so no heart rate reading for this day.
Week 8
Target Miles: 20
Completed Miles: 8.83
Monday: 12/06/2005
Total Distance: 3 mi, Total Time: 30 min, Avg Pace: 10:00/mi, Total Calories: 300 cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
Indoor run on treadmill.
Sunday: 12/11/2005 @ 4:30a US/PT (In Sitges, Spain)
Total Distance: 5.83 mi, Total Time: 1:09:17, Avg Pace: 11:53/mi, Total Calories: 627 cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
My first run along the Mediterranean Sea. The times include the numerous stops I took to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of this gorgeous place. Seashell collecting included too!
Week 9
Target Miles: 27
Completed Miles: 11.83
Monday: 12/12/2005
Total Distance: 3 mi, Total Time: 30 min, Avg Pace: 10:00/mi, Total Calories: 300 cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
Indoor run on treadmill.
Tuesday: 12/13/2005
Total Distance: 3.91 mi, Total Time: 40:05 min, Avg Pace: 10:14/mi, Total Calories: 405 cal, Avg Heart Rate: unknown
These stats are unreliable -- I didn't have the Garmin ready to go when the group started and ended up fiddling with it for quite a while. This was the day I ran with the 'real' runners I work with. We started out, I looked down at my stats and saw a pace of about an 8 minute mile. They were chatting, laughing, etc. -- making it look so easy! Eventually I hung back to avoid slowing down the pack. They waited for me at each turn and we stuck together through the dark roads to and from the hotel. I enjoyed running with other people and would like to find a group near home that runs at a pace similar to mine.
Saturday: 12/17/2005 @ 8:11a US/PT
Total Distance: 7.60 mi, Total Time: 1:23:03 min, Avg Pace: 10:55/mi, Total Calories: 899 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 156 bpm
Up early with the reverse of jet lag. Easy run.
Sunday: 12/18/2005 @ 9:29a US/PT
Total Distance: 13.11 mi, Total Time: 2:22:55 min, Avg Pace: 10:54/mi, Total Calories: 1,458 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 154 bpm
I am really proud of this run. It was raining -- really raining. It was a long run for me and I'd gotten out of physical and mental shape. I wasn't certain I'd be able to make myself finish it, but felt like I needed to put my discipline to the test given the huge deviations from my training plan during the two previous weeks.
I did finish it and at near my planned marathon pace. My body felt fine, the rain was no big deal, though I found out after my return there had been tornado watches issued for the metro San Francisco area.
I stuck to my plan and was able to get back into it after a long break. I did not just quit. Lessons like this are without question the most satisfying part of running for me. I am learning so much about pacing myself, learning to persevere even when it gets boring, learing to work towards something over a long time rather than apply focused effort for a short time and, perhaps most surprisingly, learning to take it easy.
Week 10
Target Miles: 24
Completed Miles: 16.16
No good excuses for missing my mileage target this week besides time zone changes and general work stress. I did get my long run in (10 miles) yesterday, but technically that is the beginning of Week 11.
Friday: 12/23/2005
Total Distance: 7.85 mi, Total Time: 1:17:41 min, Avg Pace: 9:54/mi, Total Calories: 852 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 157 bpm
Saturday: 12/24/2005
Total Distance: 8.32 mi, Total Time: 1:23:38 min, Avg Pace: 10:03/mi, Total Calories: 878 cal, Avg Heart Rate: 159 bpm
posted by Michelle at 6:24 AM
2 Comments:
welcome back.
that's pretty cool to have maps from accross the world for your runs!
All the best for the marathon. I've just started a blog to record the pain as I work towards mine...
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