Welcome to Weekly Wrap.   This week I am recapping Berlin Marathon training week 15.  Another week of recovering from a hamstring and adductor strain.  Another week full of pool running and a slow return to running program.  Similar to these last two months post-injury, I rode the emotional rollercoaster. But it ended on a happy note. Linking up with Holly and Wendy for this Weekly Wrap.

In case you missed it, I injured my hamstring and adductor at the beginning of July and have been rehabbing it ever since.  Check out my other weekly wrap training posts to see how I’ve progressed: Injury week, week 1 post-injury, week 2, week 3, week 4, and week 5.  This week continued my return to run program and it was the best one yet.

Monday 8/20

Run:  Mountain Goat Monday!  Hanging out with Frank the Treadmill is becoming a routine.  3X thru: .25 mi at 8%, .25 mi at 7%, .5 mi at 6% all power hikes.  This was the longest treadmill set I had done in a while and it didn’t faze me one bit.  I even grabbed some 3 pound weights to carry!

Other: New post!  As I mentioned last week in the post about my return to running training program, I’ve been doing a lot of pool running.  I’ve been using the system Fluid Running.  Their workouts make me feel like I am gaining fitness instead of seeing it slip away.  I posted a full review of the Fluid Running H2Go system in this post here.  It’s been such a great help!

Tuesday 8/21

Run:  Test Run Number 6!  I ran 5 miles around the track as I coached the Sprint Tuesday group.  I felt fantastic!  The soft surface helped a lot.  Our group continues to grow and Tuesdays are my favorite day of the week.  Their energy is contagious.

Wednesday 8/22

Run:  Test Run Number 7!  This was my first back-to-back run in over TWO MONTHS! As such, I kept the pace nice and slow.  Just and easy 4 miles on the treadmill.  My legs felt tired.  Helga the Hammy or Addy the Adductor didn’t hurt, they just felt really heavy.

Other:  Followed up the treadmill hike with Robyn’s Total Body Tabata class.  I loved the format.  Athletes, you’ll be seeing this in your workout plans soon!

Thursday 8/23

Run:  Rest.  With two runs in a row, it would have been silly to workout my legs again.  (Which, the Becca from two months ago would have through to be an unfathomable statement).  Just an arm-heavy strength class at On Your Mark today.

Other:  It was the last day of teacher training at work!  FINALLY.  These past three weeks have felt like I’ve been in the classroom again.  Full days of teaching any new teacher how to use the company’s curriculum.  I was exhausted at end of each day, and trainings made fitting in cross training even harder.  While I am happy it’s over, this also means summer has almost ended.  Boo.

Friday 8/24

Run:  NP + Long Run.  I had taken today off of work in anticipation of my peak long run before Berlin.  While I did do a long run, it was not what I had originally envisioned.  After November Project I went to the pool.  Water jogging for 2:40 minutes followed by 3 mile run to practice running on tired legs.  I listened to the Fluid Running track workout two times through to mimic a fartlek run, and then switched to a podcast.  After, I hit the treadmill (thanks rain).  While my legs didn’t feel as dead as they would have after 2:40 on road, it was the best I could do.  I wore new Nike Vomero shoes and actually felt really good!

Saturday 8/25

AM:  Coached the EDGE group run.  I rode my bike as the athletes did 15.5 miles easy and then 3.5 miles at race pace.  PLOT TWIST!  Because the Chicago lakefront path is under major construction, we had the athletes run one mile loops.  Yes, you read that.  One mile loops.  For 15 miles.  Muahaha.  Can you say mental strength?

PM: After coaching, I met Lauren for a 1:20 pool run.  Throwback to my ultramarathon training days with doing back-to-back long runs. Today I just wasn’t mentally in the mood to do hard intervals. Instead we just ran for moving time.  I had shared a post on Instagram about how hundreds of athletes are dropping dairy from their diets for athletic performance gains (link here), and she and I discussed veganism and athleticism for a good chunk of time.  I encourage you to check out the Switch for Good campaign for more information.

Sunday 8/26

Run:  Strength + Recovery.  No running today because of the back-to-back long runs in the pool.  Instead, I just had a strength class at EDGE followed by a GLORIOUS ice bath and compression boot session. With trying to figure out all the cross training logistics, I have only been able to get in for quick recovery.  This felt wonderful!

Other:  The rest of today is going to be a PACKED!  Cubs game in the afternoon, Shakespeare in the Park in the evening, filling a quick Becca Bite order and coaching session in there too. Never ending busy life of an entrepreneur!

And that’s a wrap!  Berlin Marathon training week 15 done!  I RAN 10 miles this week, hiked 5.75 miles and ran in the pool for 4 hours this week.  I also racked up around 60 miles of biking between commuting and coaching.

For the first time since my July 9th injury, the fitness graph on my Training Peaks account actually went UP!  Prior to that, it had just been a sharp decline in fitness as I rested and recovered.  But this week, the line finally bottomed out and began to climb again!   HUZZAH!!

For me, this week has been a turning point.  I feel like I am making progress and getting stronger.  There’s a light at the end of the injury recovery.  Being injured still sucks. It will always suck.  But it eventually gets better.

How was your week?  When have you reached a turning point in your training? Let’s stay in touch!  Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more food/fitness related posts.  

Happy running,

Becca