Monday 9/20 6 miles 8:57/mile
Wednesday 9/22 4 miles 8:42/mile
Thursday 9/23 4 miles 9:33/mile
Sunday 9/26 7 miles 9:18/mile
Wednesday 9/22 4 miles 8:42/mile
Thursday 9/23 4 miles 9:33/mile
Sunday 9/26 7 miles 9:18/mile
(21 miles)
I was very pleased with this after running only twice the previous week (8 miles). I think that making sure I can run at least 4, or preferrably 5 times every week will be the key to remaining injury-free. Looking back at my training prior to the Great Wall Marathon, my body clearly wasn't ready to handle that kind of mileage. Here's what I did (per week) for the 8 weeks leading up to the marathon:
9 miles
17 miles
25 miles
20 miles
19 miles
30 miles
15 miles
14 miles
Ideally, I should have been running 30+ per week at a minimum to train for that kind of race. In fact, over the past 52 weeks, I've only had 8 weeks where I've logged at least 20 miles. This surprised me because I've often referred to myself as someone who regularly runs 20 miles/week.
It's so easy to become busy and miss a workout...I'll tell myself, "That's OK, I'll make up for it next week." Most of us are always busy, though, and there are always excuses. It's so easy for those weeks of only running twice, or three times to pile up and in the end the level of training just isn't there on a consistent basis.
In training for my next marathon, it's going to be important not to have any excuses for missed workouts - weather, sickness, or just being too busy. I need to make time even if I have to get up at 4am to run before work and it's 15 degrees outside. I've set a goal and I know what it will take to reach it. What remains to be seen is whether I can maintain this motivation even when it starts to become really difficult.
