Two weeks until my 34th marathon, 23rd state, and first marathon of 2020!
In terms of a goal for Atlanta, I think I’ll aim for something around 4 hours. I won’t be racing Atlanta (as I did Indianapolis, my last marathon.) I’ve done plenty of miles (hit 70 last week!) but the workouts and the focus has not been on a PR, but rather just to finish 26.2 with a smile.
I know that Atlanta is a really hilly course and I definitely have not done the hill work necessary for a strong race on a course like that. I also plan to run a lot of marathons this year, so each one can’t be a PR attempt! Some of them have to be a bit more casual, and I’m hoping that Atlanta will be one of those.
So, let’s review how training went this past week!
Even though it was the start of the taper, I still had pretty high overall mileage:
Monday: 8 miles on the treadmill after work, 9:00 min/mile.
Tuesday: I ran to meet the morning run clubbers, did 6 miles with them, and then ran home for 9 miles total. I had some really slow miles in the beginning as I was nervous about slipping; 9:30 min/mile average for the 9 miles. Discover Strength after work.
Wednesday: Workout Wednesday with a run commute!
My workout was a fun one, not too intense: 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 minute intervals with 2 minute recovery in between each set, progressively faster as the intervals got shorter. I liked it! 9.4 miles total at a 9:20 min/mile average.
The trails were actually pretty clear around Lake of the Isles!
I didn’t need to carry much with me as I left my work outfit and whatnot at the office the day before. But I did wear this Ultimate Direction utility belt that has a lot of handy pockets. It’s meant for trail runners, but it works well for run commuters!
I ran to work and then Dustin picked me up afterwards to grab dinner at Smack Shack (love the lobster roll!) before heading to the Brandi Carlile concert at the new Fillmore theater. Great show!
Thursday: A later night due to the concert meant no early morning run for me. I ran after work on the treadmill, 6 miles easy. Thursday was one of the coldest days we’ve had this year in Minneapolis. Definitely treadmill weather!
Friday: I was supposed to run a total of 8 miles on Friday, so I split it up: 4 miles on the treadmill before work:
Then 4.75 miles with the lunch run group at work. It was only 4 degrees when we ran; I kind of thought the guys would cancel, but they didn’t! Guess they are hardier than I expected.
It actually didn’t feel that bad. I tried out this new Oiselle A.T. gaiter, which worked well.
Friday night, we picked up our friend’s poodle, Sölden. She’s the sweetest! We were dog-sitting her for the weekend.
Saturday: 15.5 mile long run with some marathon pace miles in there. The temperature was much milder, around 20 degrees. And it climbed above 30 later in the day!
This run still left me pretty tired though, and I took an hour power lap after refueling with some food.
Yet another dog was added to the pack for the weekend, with our friend’s golden retriever coming over as well. Four dogs in our house is A LOT of dogs, but it was really fun.
(Disregard the clothing racks in the background; we are in the middle of a guest bedroom remodel, so I am down a closet and don’t have a great place for some of my clothes!)
All four dogs played together well. Walking all four was a challenge though!
Saturday night we had tickets to the opening of a Jasper Johns exhibit at the Walker Art Museum.
We grabbed dinner at Esker Grove beforehand.
And then checked out the exhibit:
It was a lovely night- a bit of a belated Valentine’s date with this guy!
Sunday: I’m part of the Minnesota Oiselle Volee; I haven’t made it to many of their events lately, but they had a group run on Sunday that was meeting just 1.3 miles from my house. I ran to where they met and did another 5 with the group for 6.3 miles.
Summary: 63 miles, 1 strength training session.
63 miles is still high for the taper, but keep in mind that most were all very easy paced. This upcoming week will cut back quite a bit more, with just a 90-minute long run next Saturday. And then Atlanta the weekend after that- woohoo! So excited.
I’m linking up as usual with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner as part of their Weekly Rundown. Check it out!
I love your goals for the race. Even though you haven’t run a lot of hills during training, I think your training has been great! You always find a way to fit in your runs, even if that means longer treadmill runs.
So many dogs – I love it! I’m sure that made for a fun weekend 🙂 It looks like the Art Museum event was a lot of fun too!
Thanks Kim! You’re so positive, it’s amazing!
Your Atlanta training is going really well. I love your goal – to finish with a smile. I have 3 friends running Atlanta. One of them has already completed her 50 states (and has run over 100 marathons), it will be the 23rd state for another (just like you!), and the third is trying to qualify for Boston. They picked Atlanta because of the Olympic Trials. Have you ever watched them? They are amazing. So inspiring. I had to smile at this line: “The temperature was much milder, around 20 degrees.” 🙂
That’s why we picked Atlanta as well 🙂 we have a few friends in the trials plus it will be so fun to watch the winners!!!
Wow, I can’t believe the race is so close (and I bet you can’t, either!).
Love the photos of your “new” pack. I’ve always said I’m only going to have as many dogs as I can walk at one time — which is why 2 is pretty much it for me, LOL!
Haha, the pack and I had a lot of fun! Dogs bring so much joy. I couldn’t walk more than 2 at a time, my husband was with me when it was four, I just held them for the pic 🙂
All the dogs!! 🙂 I couldn’t imagine walking 4 dogs. As a new dog walker over at our local Humane Society, I’m overwhelmed with just one! Very fun that you are dog sitting. Great week of workouts too! You sound very prepared for whatever may come at the marathon!
I love dog-sitting! How great that you are a dog walker at the Humane Society! That’s so wonderful!
I’m excited to hear how Atlanta goes! I’ve been to the Walker Institute…many, many years ago when I was in high school (at my first HS, in NE Iowa). Our school bused us there every year for a field trip…don’t forget I’m an art geek LOL We also had dog-sitting duty Friday night with our grand-doggy, Lola.
How fun! The Walker is a lovely museum, it’s probably been updated though since you were here. Time for a visit if you love art!
That looks like doggie heaven to me!
You are going to have so much fun in Atlanta! So many people I know in real life and on Insta are going to be there. It’ll be busy!
Haha, it was doggie heaven! I loved it.
I love your goal for this race! It’s so hard to train for a marathon in the winter and I think finishing with a smile on your face is the perfect goal. That’s always my goal–I mean, what’s the point of doing this if we can’t enjoy it, right?
What is that lake that you are standing on in your title photo?
TOTALLY true. Training for a March marathon is no joke. I just want to have fun and enjoy the race!
Sounds like you have a great plan and realistic smart goals in place for Atlanta! Wow those winter temps yikes.. All the dogs oh my! Thanks for linking up today
Thanks Deborah!
You’ve done so well in your training and I am so excited for you. I am nervous about the hilly course since I have not trained on hills either.
I’ve heard that even the locals say its a hilly one, so I’m scared!
Great week of training! Sounds like it is pretty cold there so its great you were still able to get most of your runs done outside. 4 dogs is A LOT!
haha, yes 4 dogs a bit much! But only for the weekend.
So exciting that the race is so close! Maybe it won’t be a PR, but I think it will be a very good race. If they’re giving medals for coldest training cycle, you’d be at the lead of that pack.
haha, I like that medal idea! Thanks Becket!
So excited for you! Just two weeks!
I love all the dogs – they are so cute and I’m glad they played well together. Dogs are my weakness.
That gallery opening looked incredibly fun. So glad you guys got a nice date night.
Thanks Jenn! Appreciate you stopping by and commenting!
It sounds like you are well prepared for your Atlanta goal!
I love that last picture – it looks like all the dogs are waiting for you to take them out for a run.
Ha, running with four dogs would be a challenge!
Atlanta is always a fun place to run, but yes, unexpectedly hilly! I did the Peachtree race and there were definitely inclines! I’m headed to Flying Pig this year, so i really need to practice on Florida hills…aka bridges.
Flying Pig is a hilly one! Good luck!
a lot of miles and a house full of dogs! throw in a couple of nights out with your man and I’d call it a successful week! I love that you don’t have to race every single marathon you do. They don’t all have to be PR’s right? my husband is finally learning this too!
the amount of snow and how cold it is there is amazing to me!
Thanks Renee!
Wow, it sounds lke you are ready and have a good plan. All those dogs are so cute! It’s great that they get along, but I’m sure there was a lot of energy in your house! LOL at your weather. I whimped out on a 20F run, and you thought it was mild!
So much energy!!!
I can’t even imagine trying to wrangle four dogs on a walk! That sounds like a strength workout in itself!
You’ve had a great training cycle so you should have no problem just enjoying the race and even picking it up if the desire hits. It was a coooold rainy day when I ran it in 2008 and I’m sending you positive thoughts that you’ll have much more agreeable weather!
Cold and rainy sounds rough…hope it’s not that!
I love how attentive the dogs look!
That gaiter is adorable
We’re getting Jasper Johns in fall, but I don’t think it’s that exhibit — can’t wait.
Congrats on a solid week, you’re going to kick Atlanta’s ass.