Hello, hello! Last week, instead of a weekly recap, I shared my race review of the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Catch up on that post HERE.
I figured I’d quickly recap the week after that race as well as this week. Here’s how training went for the Charleston marathon the past two weeks!
Monday: Rest, fly home from Oklahoma
Tuesday: Rest from running, 45 minute strength on Peloton, 10 min core
Wednesday: Short & easy first run after Oklahoma, 4 miles with Christie, 9 min/mile, 10 min core on Peloton
My sister Erin and her family – and HER vizsla named Ollie arrived on Wednesday night!
Thursday: 1 mile jog to start line, 6.2 miles with my sister Erin at the Drumstick Dash- 10 min/mile average, 1 mile jog home after, 8.2 miles total
We had a smaller Thanksgiving at my sister Cresta’s house- just her family, my sister Erin and her family, and Dustin/me.
Friday: 4 miles solo followed by 4 miles with my sister Erin and her vizsla Ollie and our vizsla Ruth
Saturday: Long run with a visitor! My friend Isabelle is from Switzerland, and she had a friend visiting for Thanksgiving, Ramona (on the left.)
4 miles easy, 4×2 miles at 8-8:15, 3 min jog in between, cool-down to 15 miles, 8:55 min/mile average
Sunday: Second longish run of the weekend, 11 miles, 9 min/mile average
Summary: 47 miles- obviously a lot the week after a marathon, but I’m treating Oklahoma as a supported long run; I didn’t race it, but rather am training through it, as I move on to Charleston.
On to this past week!
Monday: 8 very easy solo miles, 9:45 min/mile. After a big weekend with two longer runs, I was very intentional about taking this run slower than normal. 25 minutes of Strength for Runners + 10 min core for runners on Peloton
Tuesday: 7 miles early with my friend Isabelle, 8:55 min/mile average. 30 min strength + 10 min core on Peloton
Wednesday: Lately only my friend Isabelle is willing to meet between 5-5:30 am, as my other normal running friends aren’t back in the office and don’t need to start that early. But for whatever reason, they all were willing to start at 5:30 this day! There were 5 of us, all rocking our Noxgear vests in the dark morning hours. (Only 3 at the end for the pic!)
I had a workout- 3 miles easy, 5x(4 minutes progression, 2 min jog) cool-down to 9 miles, 9:11 min/mile average. The trails were just slightly slick from an overnight rain that must have frozen, which made the workout a little more challenging. 20 min strength for runners + 10 minute core on Peloton.
Thursday: Lovely recovery run with my friend Vicki, 8 miles, 9:20 min/mile average. Vicki and I work for the same company and always have a lot to discuss. A very valuable friendship.
Still in shorts on December 2!
Truth be told, I’ve been dealing with some lower back pain/tightness for awhile now. I had been seeing a chiropractor, but I don’t think it was helping. He only did adjustments and I think my issue is much more muscular. My body is reminding me that I’m not invincible; I can’t just run and lift. I need to incorporate stretching/yoga, so that’s what I’m doing. I did two 20 minute beginner classes on Peloton. Man, am I tight but I think the yoga will really help. I also have an appointment next week with a different PT to see what they recommend. I’m fairly sure its the result of a lot of running (3 marathons in 5 months) and not enough stretching and self-care, so yoga is BACK.
Friday: I was up early to do another 20 minute yoga class on Peloton, before getting ready to catch a flight to Phoenix. We flew there for a surprise 80th birthday celebration for my mother-in-law. Dustin and his brother worked with their stepdad to plan this months ago; she was totally surprised when she arrived at the restaurant and we were all there waiting! It was so lovely. No running this day- just lots of food, drink, and celebration.
Saturday: I did a quick 10 minute yoga on Peloton before Dustin and I did a 6 mile run around Scottsdale; it was 65 degrees, but that sun is hot! Felt great. 8:40 min/mile average.
After shower and a breakfast, we hit the road to Sedona, which is about a 2.5 hour drive from Phoenix. We had a late lunch and then headed out to hike/jog to Devil’s Bridge.
I have to admit I have a bit of a fear of heights, particularly with sheer drop-offs on both sides…but I made it across. All for the ‘gram, ha!
Sunday: Up early for a long run in Sedona! We tried to find a flat road, but that’s difficult to do in Sedona! We ended up on Verde Valley Road, where I did 17 miles, 9 min/mile average. My splits were ALL over the place from 7:40 to 10:40, depending on whether I was climbing or going downhill!
The highlight of the run was when a squadron of javelinas (wild boars/pigs) ran across the road! Of course, I couldn’t get my phone out in time, but I swear I saw them.
Post-long run, we stopped at Berry Divine for an acai bowl. Yum!
I’ll share more about the rest of our time in Sedona, but for now, I’ll wrap up this long post!
Summary: 60 miles of running, a mix of strength/core/yoga on Peloton
I’m linking up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner as part of their Weekly Rundown. Check it out!
Those pictures from Sedona are STUNNING! What an amazing place to visit and run- you’re lucky.
I can see how all the running and lifting you’re doing would make you tight. Good thing you’re addressing it now, before it becomes a major issue. I hope the yoga helps!
It is beautiful in Sedona! You’d love it.
The yoga seems to be helping!
We’ve been to Sedona, but that was when the boys were little. They had a lot of fun with the vortexes. I’d love to go back, especially since I am loving the trails.
You and your sisters are so cute!
I’ll admit I don’t fully understand the vortexes but we hiked up to Cathedral Rock, which is one of vortexes.
You’d love the trail running! We did an 8ish mile trail run yesterday that was tough but gorgeous.
I love Sedona it’s such a nice place to visit. Hope your lower back is feeling better. I vote for a great massage in addition to the yoga
Yep! Booked a massage for the end of this week!
Ugh, I totally feel you on the back issue! Mine was in a mood after all the car time this weekend…and falling sleep (in an awkward position) for a longer-than-planned nap Friday evening did more harm than good. Anyways, great mileage these past two weeks!
Yes…I think some of my tightness is running and then sitting/driving. The yoga seems to be helping, thank goodness!
Excellent 2-week recap! What are your thoughts on the Peloton strength for runners courses? Are they as effective as other classes or studios, or are they more about convenience. Are there particularly good ones? I can get free Peloton app access through work, but am interested in peoples’ opinions about it before committing.
Hi Eric! So, as you’ve probably gathered, my relationship with weight training changes a lot more than running, but at the moment, I’m enjoying the digital Peloton classes; I don’t have the bike and don’t think I’d ever get the treadmill (I love my Landice, and don’t see myself doing running classes). The great thing about Peloton strength is there are sooo many options. I mostly do the core and strength for runners (Becs Gentry’s classes are a little easier but more PT-like, I do hers and Matt Wilpers.) I’ve also ventured into more of the other classes and like… Read more »
What stunning photos! Glad you were able to pull off the surprise. And that pic with your sister’s Ollie – trio of trouble right there?
I truly think our friends are what keep us balanced. Glad you’re able to rally some for the early runs, and others for the long talks.
Thanks for sharing the shorts weather!
Trio of trouble for sure! Though Ruth is the naughtiest!
So sweet that you were all able to surprise your MIL for her birthday! I’ve never been to Sedona but it looks beautiful there!
Love the photo of all the vizslas – so cute!
Sedona is gorgeous! I recommend a visit. Lots of great hiking and incredible views!
Wow, I’d love to go to Arizona and the pictures with the sun and shorts lifted my spirits (no sun, no shorts here!!). All the viszlas, too! My friend’s one, Ziggy, is in disgrace for EATING her finish token at parkrun the other week. I wasn’t there, but she had to put her hand down his throat to retrieve it and was mortified!
Oh my, Ziggy! Sounds like something Ruth would do. Glad she caught before he has ingested it entirely!
Running in Sedona is NOT easy, but I loved my visit there! We have never seen javelinas, though.
Love that you were able to surprise your MIL for her birthday! I’m sure she was so touched.
All the Vislas, LOL (we now have 2 Ollies in our extended family, btw).
Ollie is a common dog name apparently! My sister’s Ollie is very sweet and much better trained than Ruth!
My MIL said she has javalinas in her yard all the time (they live in Fountain Hills.) I thought they were very cool to see!
So much great stuff here!! You do really pile on the miles. That’s great your body has been so accommodating! (spoken as an old lady who is long past that training level now haha!). My daughter has been seeing a chiropractor lately. The adjustments don’t seem like much to me, but she claims it is helping her. It’s hard to figure out which approach is the best when it comes to pains sometimes (chiro, PT, sports massage, etc…). Hope that yoga keeps you on track!
Its definitely a challenge to find the right approach to any pain, particularly back pain! I think the yoga is really helping me, but every person (and their pain!) is so different.
60 miles!! Yowsers.
5am run! yikes on that too. I’m up but relaxing with my coffee. Though if I had company, that would make a big difference.
Awesome pics…such beautiful scenery. That’s on my bucket list.
Congrats on pulling off the surprise and balancing life with running.
Meeting friends makes a difference, but I do prefer relaxing with coffee for a LITTLE bit longer, but that’s what I have to do sometimes to fit it in! I relax with the coffee as much as I can afterwards 🙂
You’d love Sedona, Darlene!
Your time in Sedona sounds fun! I’m not sure I could have walked (much less run) across Devil’s Bridge, even for IG. LOL
Happy belated birthday to your M-i-L!
I was pretty nervous! I just don’t like those sheer drop-offs….
Such a beautiful trip!
Ollie is really the dog name of the hour. Luna’s bestie Ollie is coming over for a few days, and she just met Ollie the (sweetest) golden this morning. I love it.
We are going to be in Charleston in a few weeks! I think we are going to just miss you!
Thank you Jenn! We had a great time in Sedona.
Ollie is a great dog name! How cute that Luna’s besties are Ollie’s 🙂
Let me know if you have any recommendations for Charleston, I’m excited! Seems like there are a ton of great places to eat and explore.
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