Marathon Training - Week 4

I have a confession to make. I have fell victim to the current obsession that is the 50 Shades of Grey Trilogy. It's not something I'm proud to admit, but it's why I haven't posted recently. My thoughts on the book.....not too much of a fan. I have to say, I'm really over the "and they all lived happily ever after" endings on movies and books. Things don't really happen like that.

The "scenes" though, well damn. Some are INTENSE.

I digress. This Monday started out week 4 of my marathon training. Where has the past month gone?? This past weekend was a bust. My allergies were kicking my ass (why is it 65 degrees in DC in December?) so much that Sunday morning I woke up and had to use my daughter's asthma inhaler because of the wheezing....Like a turd, I tried to run Sunday afternoon. Fail. I was set out to do 6 miles, called it quits at after 5 because I just wasn't in it.

Given my crappy weekend fitness-wise, I woke up on Monday morning ready to show my body's whose boss. My training plan called for cross-training, but since I put zero effort in this weekend and it's still early in my training I decided to try those 6 miles again.

I was weary heading outside because of my performance the day before but how can I run inside when the weather is like this?? I hit the streets of DC and decided to try a new path. I just kept going and going straight until I was forced to turn left, since I have gotten lost running in the city before. Before I knew it I was 3 miles in.....and realizing the neighborhood around me was not the best. Oops!! Needless to say I hit the gas and got the hell out of dodge. Still, a great run.

Tuesday was 3 miles, which I hurried up to get done on the treadmill and hit the weights. I am determined to keep up with my strength training during marathon training. (You can check out my Daily Mile page to see the circuits I've been doing) While I'm no expert at weights, I usually pick 3 or 4 moves that I know how to do with proper form, do them for 12-15 reps, and repeat the circuit 3 or 4 times. I usually take a break in the middle and at the end to stretch.

Today, Wednesday, called for another 6 miler. I really should have gone outside to do it but I just had to get it in and get it done because I had an appointment to donate blood today. They were 6 gloriously sweaty miles at an 8:10 pace.....although the nurse did have a few choice words for me about an intense workout before donating blood because she thought I'd be dehydrated. Although this wasn't the case because I am always a crazy water drinker, now I know.

Tomorrow calls for 3 easy miles, then I plan to hit the weights hard!! I love doing that the day before a scheduled rest day because I can tell myself it's ok to rest since I'm sore:-)

If all goes to plan, and it will, I will end up with 35 miles logged this week. Pretty excited about getting those numbers back up there!