My marathon Monday posts are back! My next goal race is the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., in October, but that's also going to be part of my training for the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World in January. So now you get to read all about my training for the next 5+ months!! Feel free to offer me encouragement and/or words of advice.
This past week I finally got my training back on track and actually logged over a marathon of miles. Training with the Fort Rucker Army Ten Mile team really helps. I didn't make the team but I will still be able to train with them! They are an awesome group of runners and Soldiers. Anyway, on to my training. . .
Monday was a rest day although it was anything but a sleep in day. One of my Soldiers and I had formation at 0500 for the trip to Fort Benning, GA, for a school for him. It was a long day with the 2 1/2 hour ride there, standing around waiting, and the 2 1/2 hour ride back (on a Bluebird bus, nonetheless), and then I still had a rehearsal to go to in the afternoon.
Tuesday was speed work day at the track with the team. We did a 1 mile warm up and then 4×800 m repeats with 2-3 minutes rest in between and then 4×400 m repeats with 200 m in between. Then we did 4×100 m strides and a 1/2 mile cool down. It was going to be 8×400 and a mile cool down, but with the 100% humidity, it was pretty miserable running. But it was still a really good workout! I got a total of 5.3 miles in.
Wednesday was an easy 5 mile run on my own. It was nice running one of my usual routes again. It was 75 degrees and 94% humidity, but I managed 5.1 miles in 49:47.
Thursday was a short run with the team to taper for Saturday's 10 mile run off. I ran 3 miles in 29:29 on part of the course that we'd be using on Saturday.
Friday was supposed to be a rest day, but we had a Battalion Run so I didn't get a day off, but it all worked out. We ran 3.3 miles in 29:15 (an 8:53 pace). It was a pretty nice little run, our first with our new Battalion Commander.
Saturday morning was our team 10 mile run off to determine the team. Like I said earlier, I didn't make the team, but that's ok. It's been awesome training and I will continue to train with them! I ran my hot, humid, hilly 10 miles in 1:48:17 – about 10 minutes slower than my goal. It was 75 degrees and 100% humidity when we started and I really should have carried my water with me. I didn't get any water until almost mile 5 and that really did me in. Our coach/team captain was at the turn around and had my water bottle and also gave me a bottle of Gatorade. I finished off the 20 oz of Gatorade during the second 5 miles and then finished off my 24 oz water bottle as well. I lost 4 1/2 pounds during the run, if that says anything. But I finished and it was really nice having everyone else there waiting for me and cheering me on (unlike last year's 10 mile run off when there were only 2 other runners left when I finished). The team dynamic this year is a lot better than last year and I really enjoy running with them.
Total miles for the week – 26.7, and I ran 5 days in a row!! It was a great week despite all the heat and humidity. That's what you get when you live in southern Alabama.
armytbonegirl 