Weekly Workouts: Kiawah Half/Charleston Marathon Training Weeks 15 and 16 (11/16-11/29)

Refocusing...

These past two weeks have been really rough. After thinking I was done with being sick, I got sicker, and eventually ended up with an upper respiratory infection that set off my asthma (just in time to ruin my PR attempt at the Turkey Day Run - more on that in another post).

This time my asthma showed up as a cough that wouldn't stop. I wasn't having full-blown asthma attacks (yay for small favors), but was just coughing all the time. After my abysmal run on Thanksgiving, I figured it was time to visit the doctor (again). I'm still not completely better, but hopefully I'm finally on the end of this month-long string of illnesses. 

Week 15 workout summary (11/16-11/22):

• Monday: OFF
• Tuesday:  4.18 miles (8:05 pace)
• Wednesday: Track Wednesday - 7.02 miles: 1600 @ 7:17, 1200 recovery jog, 1200 @ 7:14, 800 recovery jog, 800 @ 6:51, 400 recovery jog, 400 @ 6:13 plus warm up and cooldown (8:36 overall pace)
• Thursday: OFF
• Friday: 8.01 miles (8:48 pace)
• Saturday: OFF
• Sunday: 16.01 miles (9:22 pace)

Total miles:  Run - 35.22 miles / Total runs: 4 / Total core workouts: 0 / Total strength/conditioning workouts: 0 / Total crosstraining: 0

Week 16 workout summary (11/23-11/29):

• Monday: OFF
• Tuesday: 5.05 miles (8:42 pace)
• Wednesday: OFF
• Thursday: Turkey Day Run 5K
• Friday: OFF
• Saturday:  8.01 miles (8:51 pace)
• Sunday: 10.20 miles (9:20 pace)

Total miles:  Run -  26.36 miles / Total runs: 4 / Total core workouts: 0 / Total strength/conditioning workouts: 0 / Total crosstraining: 0

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All of this sickness (plus a ton of work-related stress) has kept me from doing any strength or core workouts. I've just been too physically tired and mentally drained to do anything other than running and I know that's not good. And Thanksgiving week just did me in. I missed a key distance for marathon training and only ran 10 miles on my Sunday run instead of the scheduled 18. 

Because of all of that, I've decided to back off and not run a full marathon right now. I'm just going to focus on getting faster at the shorter distances on a more manageable training schedule that allows me to keep strength training frequently and keep up with other hobbies. I've got enough stress in my life right now, so when one of the big things that relieves stress (running) becomes another source of stress, it's time to let it go.

I thought right now was a good time to train for a marathon, but between getting sick and having other things I want and need to focus on - like holding a DSLR camera in my hands again and painting and projects with my son - it's just not. Marathon training is time-consuming and the next time I do it, I want to do it the right way and run a good race (unlike my first marathon). 

So this is my updated racing schedule for the next few months:

• 12/12 - Kiawah Half Marathon (PR attempt, weather and health permitting)
• 12/19 - Nexton Cocoa Cup 5K (fun race with D and B in the stroller)
• 1/9 - Disney Half Marathon (fun race with a friend)
• 1/16 - Charleston Half Marathon (PR attempt, again with weather and health permitting)

After that, I'll probably just focus on some 5Ks and 10Ks (plus my relay in March where I'm running 10 miles total over two relay legs), and continue to maintain some long runs in the 10-14 mile range. Next fall I may decide to try to train for a marathon again, and it might be better then anyway because I'll have so much more mileage under my running belt instead of trying to ramp up to the appropriate mileage without as much of a base. 

The good news is, in spite of being sick, my training paces are actually a bit faster, so clearly the training plan is working. I just need to get better and get the rest of my stress under control. And hopefully with a slightly easier training schedule, I'll be back on the right path.