I am now less than 6 weeks away from the Philly Marathon. How in the world did that happen??
My mileage keeps creeping up higher and higher, and while it’s exciting, it’s super scary! Over the weekend, I completed my very first 17-mile run. Talk about a milestone! I’ll share with you how that run went on how the rest of my marathon training has been going. It was the second week of having some kind of workout every day of the week, but my body is handling it all pretty well (thank God)!
I’m linking up with Hoho Runs and Miss Sippi Piddlin for the Weekly Wrap! It’s a great way to see what your favorite health and fitness bloggers are up to each week!
[bctt tweet=”Join the #weeklywrap and catch up on what your favorite health and fitness bloggers are up to! #runchat” username=”Janelle_RWNR”]
Weekly Wrap: I’m Signed Up for My First Ragnar!!
Imagine being in a van with these fun ladies!I had to think about what my theme would be for the latest weekly wrap and then I remembered…I am officially signing up for my ultimate bucket list race, the Ragnar Relay! It’s taking place in Pennsylvania on June 2-3, 2017!
So what is the Ragnar Relay? It’s an overnight road race that is made up of 12 or 6 runners that usually run a total of about 200 miles. They take place all over the country with some really gorgeous scenery along the way. Each runner will have 3 (or 6) legs to complete of varying difficulty and elevation. The Pennsylvania race will be going through Lancaster and into the Poconos. I’m sure there will be lots of hills/mountains along the way. I can’t wait!
I’m participating with City Fit Girls. There was actually so much interest in signing up that CFG will have 2 teams! Ragnar has been a dream race of mine pretty much since I started running 5 years ago, so I am really excited to finally get to do this event with an amazing group of women. Since I don’t get to go out on their group runs very often, I hope this will turn out to be a great bonding experience. It’ll be impossible NOT to have a blast!
Of course, my main focus right now is marathon training, but I’ve been thinking a lot about which races I want to do in the spring…it’s not as far away as you’d think! Ragnar would be an awesome way to close out the spring racing season. I know I will have so many questions leading up to the event, so if you’re a pro, I’d love any advice that you can share!
Week 10 Workouts:
Monday 10/3: Lunchtime yoga. We spent most of our focus on hamstrings, which was appreciated after Sunday’s 10-mile run. When I got home for work, I went for an easy 4 miles. They were extra slow since my quads were feeling pretty fatigued. I crashed when I went to bed.
Tuesday 10/4: I woke up with my back and shoulders feeling pretty sore from some of the backbends in yoga class.
Wednesday 10/5: This was my marathon pace run. The plan was to warmup for a mile, then alternate 1-mile of 10:30 and 10:50 pace, concluding with a 1-mile cooldown. This run was really challenging. Once again I struggled to make my paces, and it probably didn’t help that I was running on a somewhat busy street and encountering tons of hills.
Thursday 10/6: Spinning class after work. It was a nice class, but I didn’t sweat as much as the previous week. The instructor gave me a few tips on my form and suggested that I turn up the resistance higher…so I eventually did get a really good sweat. I just have to make sure I don’t overdo it because my hamstrings were feeling a bit sore the next day!
Friday 10/7: 6 am yoga class. I was sooo tempted to stay in bed, but I knew that I would regret not going. It was a really nice practice.
Saturday 10/8: 17-mile long run!! Even though I’ve already run 15, I was so nervous about making this distance all by myself! While I had a bit of a late start because my cell phone wouldn’t charge, I had a really solid run! At one point I looked at my watch and saw that I was going a lot slower than my target pace and knew that I could pick it up and still be comfortable. I was really proud. The only low light was that I did see a few deer when running on Lincoln Drive trail and it freaked me out!
Sunday 10/9: For the first time in ages, Bret and I ran together. It was an easy
Week 10 Report Card:
I am EXTREMELY PLEASED with how this past week of training went. I ran a total of 30 miles…I can’t tell you the last time I had such high weekly mileage! While my marathon pace training run didn’t go as well as I hoped, I’m optimistic that I can keep working on it. The good thing is that this is my first marathon, so I can’t use my usual methods of finding ways to be hard on myself…I’ve never done this before! I’m optimistic and hopeful to have a good race, but again, I have no idea what challenges an additional 9 miles will bring. I just want to start and finish the marathon in one piece!
Week 10 gets an A+! I’m so proud of myself, but I have to basically duplicate this performance for Week 11 except my long run will be 18 miles. Fingers crossed for another strong week!
How was your week of working out? Have you done/would you ever do a Ragnar Relay race?
Congrats on signing up for your first Ragnar and completing your longest run ever! The deer would have freaked me out too!
Thanks a lot, Kimberly!
You should be so proud- 17 is tough! And hitting 30 miles overall will definitely help boost your aerobic fitness and get you ready for the full. I’m excited for you!
Thanks a lot, Laura, I really appreciate it! 🙂
Congrats on Ragnar. All those races sound like so much fun, but I know my body wouldn’t be able to do one. There’s one in Colorado too, in the mountains, so maybe, if I could piece myself back together…
I saw the one in Colorado, it looks amazing! Hopefully when you’re recovered you’ll be able to do it!
Great job getting in 17 miles! Now just remind yourself this week that it’s just 1 more mile & you can do anything for a mile.
Never done Ragnar.
Thanks a lot, Judy! You’re absolutely right about that! I’m glad I made it through 18 this past weekend 🙂
Congrats ! That is a huge milestone.
Those milestones are so important to build self confidence… each time the distance gets a little longer, confidence builds. You will have a great race !
And Ragnar ? I am jealous. I would love for that to come to France one day.
Yes, you deserve an A+ !!
Thanks so much, Karen! My confidence has definitely improved! The cooler weather helps a lot too! 🙂
yes yes yes…100 X YES, I want to do a Ragnar someday!!!!!
Congrats on a great week! Isn’t it crazy how that mileage sneaks up on you? 😉
It looks like such an amazing time!!
Those are some milestone numbers for sure! congrats on all you have accomplished so far.
Thanks so much, Deborah!
Congrats on hitting 17 miles!! And yay for signing up for Ragnar!
Thanks a lot, Michelle! 🙂
That’s exactly how I feel–optimistic that I’ll have a good race but at the same time very respectful of a distance I’ve never done and all the curveballs that could come my way. All we can do us our best!
You’re absolutely right!! We just have to see how it goes! 🙂
Great job!! Im so glad you had such a good week even with your mileage getting higher. Hope this upcoming week is just as good!
Thanks, Lisa! Fingers crossed that the 18 miler goes just as well 🙂
Nice week of training! Everyone tries to rope me into a Ragnar but I just don’t know if I want to. I get pretty cranky when I’m low on sleep.
Thanks, Wendy! Yeah, I know being crammed in a van will be an adventure, but I think it’ll be worth the discomfort! I’m excited!
I think 17 or 18 miles was the hardest long run for me. It feels very different than 15, but once you do it, 20 seems kind of easy.
The mileage is more, but you’ve built it up slowly. You’re ready! Don’t be scared! 🙂
20 will feel easy? Really?? LOL! I hope I can say that in a few weeks 😉
Awesome week lady! It’s so exciting to go a new distance that you’ve never gone before. I know you’re just going to have an amazing marathon. I’ve always wanted to do Ragnar (we have one here in Tennessee), but the timing hasn’t worked out and it’s been tough to find the right number of people to build a full team! I bet you’ll have a blast!
Thanks a lot, Lindsay! Finding a team for Ragnar seems like the biggest challenge, so I’m so relieved the City Fit Girls is putting one together. Eek, I hope the marathon is a success, I’m still nervous!
Ragnar has always sounded like so much fun! Best of luck to you on that and on the Philly marathon! Great job on your training! <3
Thanks so much, Farrah!
Congrats on a great week of training! I’m also up to 30+ mile training weeks and it’s terrifying! I just keep reminding myself that I’ve made it this far through training and there are only three more weeks before it’s time to taper. We can do this!!
Thanks, Michelle! Your training looks like it’s going great! Yes, so scary and exciting right now! We got this 🙂
I am so glad your long run went well! I run alone all the time and sometimes I get lonely, but I keep telling myself it’ll make me strong for the race. I have to learn to dig! I have not been hitting my paces with ease at all, but I still feel satisfied that I am doing the work. I think it is great your training is going so well 🙂
Ragnar will be a fun experience!
Thanks so much, Karen. Running long distances solo IS tough – my boyfriend briefly offered to run with me on the 18 miler for some of the distance but ended up not waking up LOL and I’m glad…it does help with the mental toughness! I’m sure you’re doing great with your training!
Woohoo on Ragnar! You’ll have to read my Ragnar “tips” posts. The biggest one is trust the process and enjoy the craziness!
Thanks, Coco! Oh when the time comes I’m sure I’ll be obsessing over everything! I’ll definitely review your tips!
Congratulations on your 17-miler and hitting 30 miles during the week! That is an enormous accomplishment that you should definitely celebrate! No sweat for your 18-miler next week. You’ve totally got this under control. =)
Hurray for Ragnar! I’ve never done one myself, but I think it sounds so bad-ass to tell people that you are running an ultramarathon relay. Everyone I know who has done Ragnar says it’s a must-do experience!!!
Aw, thanks for the encouraging words, I really appreciate it!
Ragnar just seems like one of those once in a lifetime experiences, so I’m super excited to be a part of it! I think it’ll be a nice conclusion to the spring racing season 🙂
You caught the Ragnar bug! Great job on the 17-miler! You’ll be great on your 18 as well!!
Thanks, Sonia! Years ago I was supposed to be on a Ragnar team and it all fell through, so I’ve loved reading about other people’s experiences! Can’t wait!
Oh Janelle, I’m so excited about your Ragnar! It is my at the top of my bucket list too!
Interesting with you Wed run of alt 1 pace then another. I’m following Hollys plan for me and I did my first ladder 400/600 600/400 you know trying to hit a certain pace is hard but maintaining it is ever harder so I have a different respect for those who can do it. I did like the change up. Great job on your 17 miler, I think doing it solo really helped you mentally. I did lol a bit about the deer, there usually isn’t a single run I do out at the campground when I don’t see deer. This morning I saw a baby that had to have just lost its spots.
Tricia, I’m hoping the deer stop scaring me as much! I was a little paranoid that I’d see them again yesterday but thankfully I was in the clear! It is really hard running and getting to that perfect pace…I know I need to find flat ground to do those runs because my neighborhood is just too hilly!
An awesome week, Janelle. It sounds like you accomplished your 17 mile run with ease. I always build that stuff up in my mind and it never turns out to be the scary monster I created. No pressure about your first marathon — it will be an automatic PR. How wonderful to have signed up for a Ragnar Relay. It too is on my bucket list. Thanks for linking!
Thanks a lot, HoHo! I’m very relieved that the marathon will be an automatic PR! I can’t get too hard on myself, grrr! And I really hope to have a blast doing Ragnar in June, so far away!