How was your weekend? Are you feeling the Olympics fever? I’m doing my best to watch as many events as possible. Somehow I missed most of the Olympics in 2012 so I’m not letting that happen this year!
I’ve just wrapped up my first week of training for the Philly Marathon and I’m off to a pretty strong start that I hope to maintain these next several weeks! As usual, I’ll be sharing my weekly training recap on Mondays and giving a report card for each week. Hopefully, you enjoy following me along as I train for my very first marathon!
I’m joining in the Weekly Wrap with Holly and Tricia where women share their health and fitness activities, successes and challenges!
P.S. – don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a free subscription to PlateJoy where you can get customized, healthy meal plans online!
[bctt tweet=”Can’t believe my first week of marathon training went so well! Check out my recap! #weeklywrap” username=”Janelle_RWNR”]
Weekly Wrap: Visit from the Sis
This past weekend, my sister came to visit to finally see my new house and help with some of my decorating woes. We were extremely busy on Saturday and Sunday, but we still had some fun along the way. We checked out some kitties (we’re thinking about getting 1 or 2 cats), had great ice cream, and ate some delicious brunches – I wish I took pictures!
I’m still working on my home office and it’s been a challenge because it’s a completely blank slate! I have no idea what type of style I want to have and I’ve never been good at decorating…I just don’t have that eye. Thankfully, my sister does! We went to a bunch of stores to get inspiration so I think I’m getting a little closer to being able to buy what I need! I can’t wait to get it all organized and show you how it looks!
It’s great to be able to have family come and visit on a more regular basis since moving into a house. This is what I was hoping for as Bret and I took this step together.
Hanging out in ManayunkWorkouts for the Week:
Kristy has provided me with my first 3 weeks of the marathon training plan. I’m starting off with running 3 days a week: Easy Run on Tuesdays, Hill/Speed on Thursdays, and Long Run on Saturdays.
Monday 8/1: Because we had an event on Thursday to celebrate winning the softball championship, I moved my runs to Monday and Wednesday. The temperature and humidity were perfect, so this went without a hitch! In addition to my warmup of lunges and leg swings, I did 30 squats, 10 pushups, and a 1-minute plank.
Tuesday 8/2: I went rock climbing with my friend from work, Andrea. It was really tough! I’ve gone rock climbing before, but when she was belaying for me, I was only able to make it to the top of 1 out of 3 courses. I have to admit I was disappointed…but I did get a great workout and did something difference. I also did 10 pushups and a 1-minute plank before bed.
Wednesday 8/3: This was the run that I was dreading. I had to do a 1-mile warmup followed by 5 hill repeats, finishing with 5 miles total. The hill (or mountain!) was about 1/4 mile. The hill is at the end of a road so I knew it’d be perfect for training…but it was so scary every time I ran up the hill! Thankfully, I made it through!
Thursday 8/4: No running, but I did have a nice walk in the neighborhood with Bret for at least 45 minutes. My glutes were on fire from the previous day’s hilly workout!
Friday 8/5: I kept things easy as my calves also started to feel sore. I did 30 squats, 30 clamshells on each side and 10 ups. I wanted to conserve my energy for Saturday’s long run!
Saturday 8/6: Time for the long run…9 miles! Kristy wants my long runs to take place on a hilly course and that’s easy where I live! The goal was an 11-minute pace but there was no way that was happening. This had to be the most humid run I’ve had all summer, absolutely miserable. I was also running solo with no music for over 7 miles – I needed to charge my Aftershokz headphones! Thankfully, I made it through.
Sunday 8/7: I took it easy, as my hamstrings were really tight! I did some walking in IKEA since I’m shopping for my home office. I also knocked out 10 pushups, about 10 squats, and a 1-minute plank before bed.
I ran up this hill 5. freaking. times!Week 1 Report Card:
I am extremely pleased with my first week of marathon training! While the long run was physically and mentally challenging, I didn’t give up. I know that this is only the beginning of my training and I’ll get back in the groove soon and continue to get stronger.
Even better, I did a ton of cross-training during the week! It’s hard to keep up every single day, but I did do my planks, squats, and lunges three times a week and even added pushups to the mix! I’m foam rolling when I should and I’m making sure I write everything down in my Believe Training Journal. So I think it’s easy to give myself an A+ for Week 1!
This coming weekend, I’m running an 11-mile long run, so I am a little intimidated but excited too! I may also be going to the track for the first time in many years…fingers crossed that I don’t hate it!
I’m also linking up with Patty, Marcia, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run and Annmarie, Nicole, Jen, and Michelle for Wild Workout Wednesday!
How was your week? What’s your favorite Olympics event?
I love the swimming, gymnastics, and track and field like many people but also really like seeing other events. I got really into the beach volleyball and the road cycling races this past weekend! It’s so intense!
I enjoy all of those too – I just wish they weren’t on so late, I keep falling asleep before all of the good events! I actually watched rugby for the first time and even found myself entertained by boxing, go figure! I really admire all of the athletes.
I love women’s gymnastics!
You and your sister really look alike.
And I recommend 2 cats — if you get a bonded pair, they keep each other company and it’s soooooo cute when they cuddle up. Although Simba & Giz were littermates, and they did cuddle a lot, but Simba was also a terrible bully and Giz is actually happy being a solo cat (if only the dogs would disappear, of course!).
Saturday was pretty miserable here, too (but thankfully not sunny).
I think 2 cats would be so cute, that alone makes it really tempting! Plus I hate seeing cats getting split up. We really need to think about it!
Looks like a fun time with your sister! Great job on the runs this week. Hill training can be a little daunting.
Thanks a lot, Deborah!
You and your sister look so much alike! Congrats on a good first week of training! I’m working with a coach too and it’s working really well for me.
Thanks, Jennifer, and good luck on your training too! So funny – my sister claims we don’t look alike at all.
OMG I LOVEEEEEEE the diving and the gymnastics!! Those are events I would definitely cancel plans to watch! haha!
I’m really loving the diving this time around. The men were incredible last night! And I always dreamed of being a gymnast as a kid, lol…blame the Magnificent 7!
What a great picture of you and your sister! Are you twins?? You could sure pass as them! You really had a great week of training in the books for you. I don’t have much of a decorating sense either so I could use all the help I could get! Thanks Janelle for participating in our WW link up, women like you are exactly what this is all about!
Thanks a lot, Tricia! Nope, I’m the baby of the family! It’s always a pleasure to be part of the Weekly Wrap, congrats on your 1 year anniversary!
Great job making it through week 1! Thats great that your sister was able to help you decorate. I don’t have an eye for that stuff either.
Thanks, Lisa! One down, 15 weeks to go?? LOL
Congratulations on your A+ week. It would be awesome to have a home office and get to decorate it exactly as you want. I just don’t have that extra space. I know you enjoyed your sister’s visit! I live in a hilly neighborhood but have never officially done hill repeats. Great job on pushing through those. Thankfully, the marathon I’m training for is flat. Right now, I look for ways to avoid the hills. I’m hoping in a few weeks, this humidity and heat will be a thing of the past! Thanks for linking, Janelle. Good luck with week #2!
Thanks, HoHo! Apparently around mile 9 is when I’ll have to deal with the hills on my marathon course…at this rate, they may seem like a piece of cake by then, at least I hope! It’s great having the new house and all of this potential to decorate. I just struggle with having the vision, so my sister helps a lot with that.
Can I tell you how excited I am for you to run your first marathon?
You and your sister are so cute! I love me some sister time…
I so appreciate it!! And yes, we both had some sister QT this past weekend! 🙂 There’s nothing like it.
Nice job this week!! The first week of marathon training is always so motivational and fun.
I’d love to see what you end up doing with your home office!
Thanks a lot, Ali!
You are your sister look so much alike!! That hill looks tough!! I am excited for the Philly Marathon!
Thanks, Lauren! Yeah, the hill was super tough but in a strange way I started to enjoy those repeats, haha! Philly Marathon is going to be an amazing experience!
Whoa. Are you guys twins?! If not, you totally could be. I’m sure you’ve heard that your whole life. Haha. Nice job training!!
Haha, no we have a 4 year age difference. It’s funny because she insists we don’t look a thing alike. Thanks!
WOot!! You’re off and running en route to that 26.2 finish line 😉 I’m SOOOO excited for you!! My fav Olympics event, hands-down, is the balance beam for women’s gymnastics. My heart (almost) stops and/or skips a beat or two watching all the twists and leaps.
Thanks a lot, Kimberly! Yes, the balance beam is always so scary and exciting for me to watch too! I’ve been loving the women’s team this year!
Yessss, the Olympics! I love the summer Olympics. Women’s gymnastics is my favorite. I’m jealous of your hilly runs. I miss hills so much (I know, I’m crazy). But they really do make you a better runner.
LOL I won’t call you crazy but….LOL! I know the hills are good for me but I’d just like a break from them once in a while!
Great first week! And how great that your sister was able to come visit and help with some decorating ideas. You’ll have to post pictures of your office when you finish – I’m still trying to figure out what to do with mine!
Thanks, Michelle! She enjoys helping with the design and decorating, so it’s win-win! I still have a LOT to do – the first visit was for inspiration, I didn’t really buy anything yet! But when it’s done I’ll definitely share how it looks! 🙂
Yay for a successful first week and great job on those hill repeats, they are never easy!
Thanks, Annmarie!
Looks like you had such a great week. It’s good to start off on such a great note.
Thanks, Jen! I’m glad it went well!
Yey for sister visits and way to go on your first week!
Thanks, girl!
Yay for sister visits! Congrats on your first week of training – it feels great when that first week goes so well! Running is my favorite Olympic event, but swimming is a close second. It just mesmerizes me how quickly they can swim, especially in the long events like the 200m!
Thanks, Laura – I’m really looking forward to track and field. Even though I enjoy it, it seems like all we’ve been watching is swimming, lol!
Hooray for an A+! I love 3 day a week programs, and this sounds like a well thought out plan!