Week 1 of Training for the Marine Corp Marathon 10/30/16

I wish I had done this when I ran Boston, but that is a story for another time. I'm training for my second marathon this year. Something I never thought I would hear myself say though I never thought I would hear myself say I'm running a marathon a year ago. Life is funny in a way as sometimes the things you least expect happen.

I'm working with the best and most motivational trainer there is in my opinion. Her name is Jennifer Ceolinski and she is not just a trainer to me but a special friend as well. I'm so excited to have her still training me and very happy for our friendship. I was getting ready for my 3rd Falmouth Road Race and I had taken a short break from regular running except for group track workouts she has been running in Foxboro. She gave me a plan and the day after my best race ever in Falmouth as I shattered my previous years time by nearly 45 minutes it was time to get back to work.

So my first day wasn't very hard it actually entailed one of my favorite activities, yoga. I take a great Yin class taught by a very cool person, Meredith Sills at Lifetime Fitness. Yin is a class that involves mat based poses that you stay in much longer so it takes patience and some poise and has a serious focus on breathing. A practice I'm still adjusting to, but I'll get there. Our class that evening focused on the back and arms which was exactly what I needed. I've been at it a few weeks and I enjoy it.

My second day I was back to running. I completed a 4.5 mile run as part of Lifetime Run's social run. I felt great after. Still a little fatigued from Falmouth, but I got through. Day three involved more running, but just a light paced 3 mile run that I did as part of a half marathon training Lifetime is offering. Day four was the final summer track workout of the seven weeks that Jenn has been having and it was rough. It was One mile, two 800's which is two full laps around the track with the goal of being faster every time. Three 400's with the same goal and four 200's and yes each one faster then the previous one as well.

So Friday was supposed to be a rest day, but I decided on taking a spin class because I had a rare Friday off and a friend was teaching it. The funny thing about spin is Jenn had me do spin when I was training for Boston and at first it was just awful. I kept asking myself why is she putting me through this and then thanks to Susan, my friend who teaches spin I figured out the problem. My bike wasn't set up right. Once I figured that out I got it and though I don't do it often enough its fun and a great workout and I enjoy it and it was great Friday.

Saturday was the long run. I looked at the plan and realized not only did I run more days then I should've I also had to run 10 miles. So I asked Jenn do you think I can get away with running 7 and she said no I want you to try for 10. Well I trust her methods and if she says I'm running 10 I'm running 10. So I did terrific for the first 7 miles and had a friend running with me and had a nice steady 13 minute pace and then I started to his a wall, but I kept at it. I completed 10 miles and realized why the 10 was important. Her plan says I'm running 12 for my long run this week. For me if I had only run 7 it would've been a big jump in mileage. She was right and I got the most out of it. I also learned I have a lot to do to get ready for this race. That's the way its always worked and why I trust her methods so much. One awesome week out of 10 in the books!