November 10-16 Training

Mon: AM – 8.5 miles easy with 6x30s pick-ups (6:53); PM – 4.2 miles easy (7:19)

Tue: AM – 12.4 miles with 10M moderate progression run (62:20 – 6:14 pace). Goal was to start at 6:30 and progress down to 6:10 pace. Felt comfortable and controlled. Splits were 6:24, 6:25, 6:21, 6:14, 6:14, 6:11, 6:10, 6:07, 6:09, and 6:09. PM – 4 miles easy (7:29)

Wed: AM – 7 miles easy (7:26); PM – 4.8 miles easy (7:07)

Thu: AM – 8.6 miles with 8x200m w/ 200m rec. Felt good despite the freezing temps (real-feel of 32 deg). Goal was to hit the 200s in 32-33s. Splits were 32, 31, 32, 32, 32, 32, 32, and 32. PM – 4.6 miles easy (7:42)

Fri: AM – 5 miles easy (7:39); PM – 4.2 miles easy (7:23)

Sat: AM – 16.1 miles long run with 10x1/2 mile steady, 1/2 mile hard on rolling terrain. Really tough (physically and mentally) workout. Ran a 4mile warm-up and then 10 miles alternating a 1/2 mile at a steady pace with a 1/2 mile hard. The intent of the workout was to simulate the changing of pace for a rolling course like CIM. What made this workout tough is the steady pace running after running hard for a half mile….a hilly course also made the workout more challenging. I had to keep reminding myself not to slack on the steady portions, which is easy and normal to do when running fartleks or intervals. My average pace for the steady and hard portion of the workout were 6:19 and 5:37 pace, respectively. Splits were 3:06/2:52, 3:13/2:51, 3:12/2:48, 3:14/2:50, 3:18/2:54, 3:06/2:43, 3:05/2:50, 3:08/2:49, 3:07/2:46, and 3:08/2:40. PM – 4.6 miles easy (7:09)

Sun: 8.5 miles easy (7:05)

Weekly Total: 92.3 miles on 13 runs/7 days
Another great week of training.  This was the 11th week of 90+ miles during this marathon training cycle.  I have one more hard week of training and then I'll start tapering/peaking for CIM.  

November 3-9 Training

Mon: AM – 10 miles with 12x1:00 on/off fartlek. Leg turnover felt good. Ran about 5:08-5:15 pace on the flats/downhills and around 5:30ish on the hills. PM – 4.25 miles easy (7:20)

Tue:  AM – 10.1 miles easy (7:03); PM – 4.3 miles easy (7:21)

Wed:  AM – 5 miles easy (7:19). Last run in El Paso, TX.  PM – Skipped Run. After traveling all day and not seeing my family for the last 5 weeks, I decided to skip the run and spend time with the family.  

Thu: AM – 13.6 miles with 3M tempo (16:41), 2.5M tempo (13:39), and 2M tempo (10:55) w/ 3:00 rec in between. Weather was crap – cold and rainy. The goal was to run the tempos at 5:35, sub-5:30, and 5:20 respectively. The 3M tempo felt good and manageable. Splits were 5:33, 5:36, 5:32.  The 2.5M tempo (5:28, 5:27, 2:44) was comfortably hard. Running 5-7 seconds faster per mile took a little more effort.  For the last 2M tempo (5:21, 5:34), I knew running 80sec laps weren’t going to be easy.  After I hit the 1^st mile in 5:21, every lap got slower and slower by 1-3 seconds.  I was done at lap 2 of the 2^nd mile, so I just tried to hang on to finish the workout. My legs were numb and head freezing (should have left the my beanie on) halfway through the last tempo.  PM – 4.4 miles easy (7:16)

Fri:  AM – 6.5 miles easy (7:28); PM – 5 miles easy (7:13)

Sat: AM – 21 miles long run with the first 15 miles easy on rolling hills and the next 5 miles alternating 1/2 miles at faster than MP effort with 1/2 easy and a mile cool-down.  Long run went pretty well. First 15 miles were in 1:43:02 (6:52) and the 5 x 1/2 miles in 2:53, 2:52, 2:53, 2:50, and 2:48.  Didn’t take in any fuel or carbs, just water at around 17.5 miles. 

Sun: AM – 5 miles easy (7:23); PM – 4.1 miles easy (7:38)

Weekly Total: 93.2 miles on 12 runs/7 days

Good week of training. I'm glad that I struggled towards the end of Thursday's workout, because it made me feel like I'm working/training hard.  As my coach said, I can't knock out every workout out of the park.  

October 27 - November 02 Training

Mon: AM - 8.3 miles with 6x30sec pick-ups (7:09); PM - 4.2 miles easy (7:32)

Tue: AM - 10 miles progression run (6:30). Started out at normal easy pace then worked my way down to 6:00ish pace around 7 miles and then hung there for the last few miles. Splits: 7:28, 7:03, 6:51, 6:48, 6:35, 6:16, 6:09, 5:59, 5:56, 5:55.  .4 miles easy cool-down;  PM -  5.3 miles easy (7:18). Ran at 4300+ ft in Alamogordo, NM where I'll be for the next 5 days.  

Wed: AM - 8 miles easy (7:18); PM - 4 miles easy (7:28)

Thu: 8.7 miles with 10x200m (.12M) w/ 200m rec. Averaged about 34-35 for the 200s.  Didn't worry too much about hitting the times but rather focused more on running fast but controlled.  PM - 4.2 miles easy (7:27)

Fri: 9 miles easy (7:17)

Sat: 18.1 miles long run including 5x2 miles with 3:00 rec jog. Plan was to start around 6:10 pace and then progress a little faster on the last 2-3 reps if I was feeling good.  Splits were: 12:10 (6:04, 6:06), 12:08 (6:03, 6:05), 12:05 (6:04, 6:01), 12:01 (6:01, 6:00), 11:54 (5:58, 5:56).   Happy with the workout considering it was at 4300 ft elevation. 

Sun: AM - 5.5 miles easy (7:22). Last run in Alamogordo, NM; PM 4.4 miles easy (7:17)

Weekly Total: 90.2 miles on 12 runs/7 days
Good week of higher volume intensity.  This was the 5th and final week at moderate altitude training.  I averaged just under 93 miles/week while in El Paso & Alamogordo, NM.  Pretty darn good because I was worried at first that I won't be able to train as much while away for work.  

Sacramento Mountains in Alamogordo, NM.