2017 Eugene Marathon Training – Week 17
After two tough workouts, I decided I should respect the marathon and take it easy for the rest of the week. I’m looking forward to running the Boston Marathon on Monday and then focusing on the Eugene Marathon in three weeks!
Training Schedule
Week 17: April 9th – April 15th
Sunday: Long run. 24 miles easy
Monday: Recovery run. 6 miles
Tuesday: Medium run. 9 miles
Wednesday: Interval run. 10 miles. 4 x 1 mile @ 10K pace
Thursday: Easy run. 6 miles
Friday: Tempo run. 14 miles w/8 x (0.25 mi. @ half marathon pace, 1 mile @ marathon pace + 5%
Saturday: Easy run. 6 miles
Mileage Total: ~75 Miles
Adaptations. I moved the tempo run up to Wednesday. I was so tired that I took a rest day on Thursday and then ran easy for the rest of the week… I went back and looked at my log for the week before the 2015 New York City Marathon, when I was training for the 2015 California International Marathon. I took three easy days before it and still had a rough race. I need to respect the marathon distance and rest!
Goal. Finish a 22 miler in 8:45 pace. Outcome: Fail! I knocked off a couple of miles and still struggled to finish.
Workout Details
Long Run. 24 miles easy [Log Details].
Going into this long run, I thought it might help me answer a few lingering questions in advance of the Eugene Marathon.
- Would I feel better if I eat more before the race?
- Can I take in more calories during the race?
- Could I wear a lighter shoe like the Brooks Pure Flow?
- Can I manage my piriformis pain over the course of a marathon?
I felt great during the first few miles. I started out listening to music but switched to podcasts. The miles ticked off and I finally took a Crank Sport e-Gel at 1 hour mark. Emboldened, I thought maybe I could turn this run into a progression.
I pushed the pace a little on the Mount Vernon Trail and ran some 8:30 pace miles. At the “Intersection of Doom,” a little more than 2 hours, I took my second gel. My feet and calves were sore but I asked myself, “What feels good?” I took stock and realized my hips, quads, and hamstrings actually felt good. By then, the temperature had climbed quite a bit and I really wanted water. I wanted to linger at the water fountain at the junction with the W&OD but went another 100 yards or so and then rested. I wanted to stop. Then, I asked myself, “Do you want to walk 3 miles home?” I made a bargain that I could walk 2 miles from home but I didn’t.
I finished the run covered in salt. I was disappointed with the run but got a couple of answers for the questions above:
- No, eating more before the race isn’t going to make me feel better. But, perhaps I could take more calories in as fluid.
- No, I shouldn’t wear the Brooks Pure Flow 6 for the marathon. I need a little more cushion for my lower legs and room for my toes.
- Yes, I can probably manage the piriformis pain.
Overall paces=8:57.
Tempo Run. 14 miles w/8 x (0.25 mile @ marathon pace – 5%, 1 mile @ marathon pace + 5%) [Log Details].
This was essentially the same workout I ran on March 2nd. I felt great during the warm-up and started the repetitions feeling like this would be a fantastic workout. That idea was quashed early when I got side stitches while running on the Custis Trail. I focused on running the quarters fast and taking the miles comfortably hard. By the sixth set, I started to feel tired. I was spent during the cool-down, so I took a long walk break before jogging home.
My plan was to “train through” the Boston Marathon but after this run, I decided to respect the marathon and cancel my other workout for the week.
Split paces=7:42/8:25 (set 1), 7:24/8:30 (set 2), 7:18/8:14 (set 3), 7:07/8:21 (set 4), 7:26/8:21 (set 5), 7:27/8:15 (set 6), 7:35/8:51 (set 7). Mean=7:26/8:23.
Health
Injuries. I had my weekly chiropractic appointment on Tuesday morning. Mid-week, I felt cramps in my foot and left calf. Figuring I was dehydrated, I took some salt pills and drank a lot of water.
Weight. My weight dropped a little this week. Initially, I think it was due to dehydration but with the rest day and easy running at the end of the week, I tried to eat a little less since I wasn’t running as much.
Allergies. I was sneezing all week. I didn’t take anything but probably should have.
Sleep. I went to bed early Sunday evening – around 6pm! I got a decent amount of sleep for the rest of the week but clearly not enough. On Thursday morning, I was so exhausted I took a rest day.
Weather
Sunday’s long run started in the 50s but the temperature rose to high 60s by the end. The weather was also warm for my tempo run on Wednesday at 66 degrees. The weather was cooler at the end of the week, though.
Racing Schedule
Next race: 2017 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 17th!
I’m excited about the race on Monday but, I’ll also feel relieved when it’s over so I can focus on my goal marathon – Eugene. (My Complete Racing Schedule.)
What’s the shortest taper you’ve done before a marathon?
