Another Week Down

Another week of training in the books and most importantly it was another week of pain free running completed. While I'm pleased, of course, to be back running and training pain free, I can't help but worry how well prepared I will be for Boston come April 16. I'm not looking to set any records this time around, in fact I'm treating it more as my "Victory Lap" for all of my hard work over the past year, but still I don't want to be crawling to the finish line. I'm running 14 miles as my long run comfortably right now, but that's only just over half-way to 26.2. I'm going to up my long run to 16 miles this coming week and see how that  feels. It's funny, I'm feeling a lot more comfortable right now going into my half-ironman than I  am going into the marathon.

Running is more than being in shape – it’s a mental game. I’ve told so many people these words over the last several years since I began running, and I’ve needed to remind myself of them this week. I am tough, I work hard and am doing the best I can given my situation. I'm trying to focus on my training only, not get caught up with what everyone else is doing and let the chips fall as they may. Erin, this is Boston. Don’t think it, just run it. You got this.

My Week:
Monday: (AM): 7.46 mile easy run @8:23 pace. (Lunch): 35 minutes core work

Tuesday: (AM): 8 miles at run group. 3.5 of those were a fartlek workout/avg pace 7:03, includes recoveries.
(Lunch): 2,200 yd swim, focus on strength

Wednesday: (AM): Bike/Run. 45 min Spinveral Workout on Bike, followed by a 3.05 mile run/8:11 pace
(Lunch): 2,250 yd swim, focus on speed

Thursday: (AM) 8.15 mile easy run @8:22 pace.
(Lunch): McMillan Core + planks, plank jacks, push ups and double crunches

Friday: (Lunch) 2,400 yd swim, combo of speed and strength

Saturday: Long Run - 14.77 rainy miles @8:07 pace. Hit the gym after my run intending to swim, but the pool was closed due to lightning, so I joined Dan for 45 minutes of strength & core work. We hit it HARD; I woke up sore on Sunday!

Sunday: Today's workout was tough. I did another brick workout - 65 minutes of a high intensity, quality workout (Spinveral's Extreme Threshold Training Workout) on the bike followed by an 8 mile run @7:55 avg pace. The Spinveral Workout thoroughly kicked my butt, leaving my legs feeling like jello and making for a tough run. I started my run out just over an 8 min mile, and dropped the pace throughout the run, making my last mile the fastest.

Total Run Miles: 49.43 miles
Total Swim Yardage: 3 swims/6,850 yds
Total Biking Time: 2 interval workouts/110 min
Core Workouts: 3 core workouts

I'm happy with how the week went. I had hoped to get in one more swim, but the weather forced cancellation of Saturday's planned swim, and the Southwestern pool was closed on Sunday for Spring Break, leaving me without anywhere to swim. Oh well.

A big shout out to my Louisville Cardinals for stepping it up and claiming the Big East Title. L, YES!

Big East Champions!