What Running is for Me + Week 10 Boston Marathon Training

I came across a quote this week that really made me think:

 

“Running isn’t a sport for pretty boys…It’s about the sweat in your hair and the blisters on your feet. It’s the frozen spit on your chin and the nausea in your gut. It’s about throbbing calves and cramps at midnight that are strong enough to wake the dead. It’s about getting out the door and running when the rest of the world is only dreaming about having the passion that you need to live each and every day with. It’s about being on a lonely road and running like a champion even when there’s not a single soul in sight to cheer you on. Running is all about having the desire to train and persevere until every fiber in your legs, mind, and heart is turned to steel. And when you’ve finally forged hard enough, you will have become the best runner you can be. And that’s all that you can ask for.”
― Paul Maurer, The Gift – A Runner’s Story

 

 

What is running for me?  For me, running is freedom.  Running is my way to discover the world.

 

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Why sleep when sunrise in Chicago awaits?

 

 

Running is about testing my limits.  Running is about discovering who I am, what my mental and physical abilities are.  Running has taught me I am strong, passionate, determined, and stubborn.  Running is relentless forward progress.

 

RunningTaughtMe

 

 

When the world and the people in it really suck, I can lose myself in a run; my favorite form of meditation is listening to my feet hit the pavement and my breath flow in and out.  Live in the moment, live in the run.

 

Running is therapy

 

 

Running is my lifestyle; like the title of Paul Maurer’s book, running is a gift, and it’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten.

 

What is running for you?

 

Happy Running,

Becca

 

 

 


Week 10 Boston Marathon Training

Planned:  55.0 miles Actual: 59.9.  This was a recovery week with lower mileage.  I really liked running to speed on Wednesday because I felt really warmed up.  I slacked on strength this week because of some appointments, so I need to get back in the swing of things this week.

 

Monday: EZ 9. Day’s total: 9.55, 8:01 pace

  • Met up with Kaitlyn in the middle of her run for a few miles and then continued on my own. Easy shakeout to start the morning.

 

IMG_6435

 

Tuesday: 8 w/6@tempo.  Day’s total: 7.09, 7:17 pace

  • AM: 2@MP, 4×400 (supposed to be 8 but only did 4 since I planned on speed Wednesday night too), 2@HMP.  Pace was 7:12, 7:24, then 1:34 for all 4 sets, then 6:39, and 6:36.  Felt great and ran in shorts!
Good morning Chicago!
Good morning Chicago!

 

Wednesday: November Project + 5×1 mi repeats.  Day’s total: 13.5 mi

  • AM: November Project.  Ran 3.21 mi doing the “Mag Mile” workout.
  • PM: 5x1mi repeats.  Warmed up to the store and then did the FF warmup (much better this way because I felt completely loose by the time the workout started). 5×1 mile repeats: 6:31, 6:14, 6:23, 6:24, 6:28. Not too bad, definitely felt it that last leg.

 

Thursday: Much needed Rest Day.  Day’s total: 0

  • AM: Buddha Burn yoga class
  • PM: Massage with Kelly

 

Friday: November Project + EZ 7. Day’s total: 11.18mi, 7:29 pace for the run home

  • At November Project we did burpees on one side, ran up the steps, around Bean, and down the other steps to do squat jumps. Rinse repeat for 25 minutes. Ab burnout at the end with a plank-off win!  Nice 7mi run home along the path.

 

I love these goobers
I love these goobers

 

Saturday:  15.0.  Day’s total: 15.23 mi, 7:19 pace

  • Practice pacing for a negative split.  Started slow around 7:40 and then picked it up to 7:15-7:20s.  Once we hit the path again after running up to Loyola, we dropped it to low 7:00s.  Much brunching happened after.

 

Sunday: EZ 7.  Day’s total: 5.34, 8:16 pace.

  • AM: Easy recovery run in the rain.  Knew I was over mileage already for the week, so I kept it short.
  • PM: Supposed to go to Bikram, but the day work out for me like that.

 

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