Marathon Training Week 8

Plan: Hal Higdon Marathon 3
Weeks til marathon: ​16

Week 8 involved a lot of getting-back-into-the-swing-of-things. But I think it went pretty well.

What the plan said:
Monday: rest
Tuesday: 7 m run
Wednesday: Bike 40 min
Thursday: 40 min tempo run
Friday: rest
Saturday: 13 miles
Sunday: cross 70 min

Weather this week: rainy. Cold and rainy. I don't mind running in rainy, in fact I had a nice run Wednesday morning in the drizzle. But biking in the rain? Nope.

There's just not enough reward. Here's the difference:
Running in the cold goes like this: dress warmly, warm up, feel warm, start having fun, still warm, still running, feel good all day for getting in run.

Biking in the cold: can't wear warm pants, constant wind, wind goes through gloves, hands are numb, never warm up because wind, not having fun because not running, 30 minutes feels like eternity, so cold, hands hurt in warm shower, doesn't even feel like you worked out.

So on Wednesday I did something I really didn't think I would ever do- I bought a trainer. Like a bicycle trainer. For my hybrid commuter bicycle. Like that thing that turns your bike into an indoor bike for serious cyclists and triathletes. I bought one. And it is amazing. I can now do my two bike workouts per week in the comfort of my own home. Always warm and always right in front of my computer watching whatever You Tube movie or Netflix series I want. Safe from everything that's outside.

What I actually did this week:
Monday: 5.2 miles
Tuesday:
Wednesday: 7.3 miles + 20 minutes bike
Thursday: 30 minutes bike
Friday: 11 miles
Saturday: 65 minutes bike

I am disappointed I didn't get in the 13 miles and my only excuse was I started late and didn't have time. I didn't get in the 40 minute tempo run either. But I got in the miles so I am okay with it.

This week:
Monday: rest
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: bike 40 minutes
Thursday: 5 miles
Friday: rest
Saturday: 15 miles
Sunday: cross 75 minutes

May sub Tuesday's 5 miles with that missing tempo run. Also may not do 15 miles on Saturday... maybe 13-14. Still cautious and don't want to overdo it.

I was supposed to be doing a 5k next Sunday (Griffith Park 5k) but I have some sort of secret plans the night before now, so I am hoping to register for a 5k on Saturday the 23rd instead. I don't feel like I've been doing nearly enough to where I would be racing already, but I don't what to get thrown off the plan altogether.

I also have dropped the ball on strength-training and stretching so it's time to put some of that back into my life!