Still Feeling It

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

Man, I am still feeling a little worn out since my half marathon more than a week ago. I’m surprised it has taken me so long to recover — my feet are tired/sore still and my legs aren’t quite back at 100%. That said, I kept my running to a little less mileage this week. 

But first, IT’S JUNE (yikes!), so here’s a quick look at May’s highlights:

  • Total mileage: 125.48 miles — not too high, not too low. Lower than my past few months, but still not my lowest month this year (Jan. and Feb. were a little lower)
  • Core work — I kept up my core work a few times a week nearly every week, minus when I was on my business trip and tapering for my race. But I’m back at it now!
  • Races — I did the Cleveland Marathon 5K and half marathon (their Challenge Series), and it went well. I ran faster than I did last year, but didn’t PR by a long shot.

So, I’d say May was a solid month. Not my best, not my worst, but overall pretty good. Here’s how the past week turned out: Continue reading →

Recovery Week

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Does anyone else get all the post-race feels? I’m feeling up and down this week, now that my half marathon is done. 

In case you missed it, last Sunday, I ran the Cleveland half marathon. I came in at 2:06ish, which isn’t a PR or anything, but still faster than I was last year. My 5K time on Saturday was also faster, which I’m considering a win.

But now that the race is over, I’m feeling up and down. Happy that I can just run whatever I want in the mornings vs. stick to a training plan, and even sleep in a little again … but sad because I’m not sure what’s next!

This week I took it easy. I was feeling a little sore in my quads on Monday/Tuesday, and my feet were sore overall most of the week, but I felt pretty good otherwise. Here’s how the week turned out: Continue reading →

Cleveland Marathon Weekend 2023: Challenge Series Recap

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 9 Comments

Wow, what a week! I can’t believe that the Cleveland Marathon weekend has come and gone. Just a few days ago I was in Orlando for work, and then I made it home just in time for all the Cleveland Marathon festivities to begin.

The week included a few runs, but nothing crazy. I was out of town on business and on my feet all day, so I got in 15000+ steps all day each day. But I did sneak in a few runs at the hotel gym, including:

Sunday: 3.3 miles before my flight out

Monday: 4.4 miles hotel gym

Tuesday: 4.5 miles hotel gym

Wednesday/Thursday/Friday: off – no workouts!

The weekend included:

THE RACE EXPO

Friday afternoon: I LOVE kicking everything off with the Cleveland Marathon Race Expo. As you may remember, I’m a race ambassador, and get free entry. With that, I volunteer at the expo every year, and this year I was again at registration with some of my fellow ambassadors. It’s so fun to talk with people, get them checked in, answer their questions about the race, and feel the excitement with all the runners in one place.

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VIP RACE BANQUET

Friday evening: I continued the festivities with the Cleveland Marathon banquet. I feel so fortunate to be invited to this event and to be with those that plan and produce this great event each year. And, of course I love catching up with my other ambassadors. Not only did we get a photo of all us dressed up, but BERNIE KOSAR was in the shot.

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5K

Saturday morning: We started the day with the Cleveland Marathon 5k. I met up with my fellow ambassadors at the starting line and to wish everyone a good race. The weather was less than ideal– it was 50s and rainy the full time. But I was so glad it was that weather for the 5k and that the weather was still looking okay for the half marathon.

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HALF MARATHON

Sunday morning: Half marathon time! My goals this year quickly got pushed to the back burner and I was just hoping to have fun during the race. I was getting over being sick and my breath was still not all there. My feet were sore from wearing heels most of the week and being on my feet for several days. I was still tired after a few days of long work hours and staying out late with coworkers. But the race conditions were PERFECT and I ended up finishing a few minutes faster than last year, at around 2:06 (last year was 2:11). 

In case you’ve been following along Cleveland Marathon social media, you saw CourseGate 2023- they changed the course this year to focus on running mostly through just Cleveland, with only one outside suburb included (for the Marathon). There were tons of complaints about the course, but here was my take– I loved the new course! I didn’t mind all the turns, for me, it kept the run interesting and moving. I could look ahead until the next turn and just keep moving until we approached the turn. The crowd support was stellar – there were people out all over downtown since the course looped around several areas. Then when we got to Tremont, we passed the house from A Christmas Story (have you seen that movie?) and there tons of people out to support the runners. WAs it a perfect, painless run? Of course not. I got a cramp around mile 9 that didn’t go away. My big toe was hurting for most of the run, and I had a headache at the start that never went away (Blaming it on the lack of sleep). Did I break 2 hours, as I would’ve a few years ago? Nope. Was it super flat? No, and the Scranton hill nearly killed me. But I had fun, saw my fellow ambassadors and the weather was near perfect – a little warmer than I would’ve liked but still not bad!).

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Overall, I’m really happy with how the race went. I had SO MUCH fun running the race again! But I’m looking forward to NOT waking up at 3-4 a.m. for the next few weeks!

THANK YOU Cleveland Marathon for a great weekend. For letting me be an ambassador AGAIN. For letting me run around my city once again. I’m so grateful to be part of this great race!

Questions for you:

  • What’s your goal half marathon time?
  • What’s your ideal racing weather?

I am linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

One Week from Race Day and I’m Off My Game

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 14 Comments

I am one week from race day, and unfortunately, this was not a good training week.

Why? Because I got sick!

I am hoping it’s just a quick, short head cold, but my breathing has not been good all week. My running has been off. My sleep has been off. So, instead of trying to stick to the training plan, and waking up at 3 am to run 11 miles, I decided to just try to keep up my fitness and still get my sleep.  So, no speed workout this week, no extra long run, and not as many core workouts. 

I have a work trip this week where I’ll be flying and out of town today, so hopefully I kick this crud soon – at least in time for the race next weekend!  

Here’s how the week turned out:

Continue reading →

It’s Suddenly May

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

I forgot to change our calendar for most of this week and when I did I couldn’t believe how fast April flew by. Where did it go?

I had a pretty good month, with high mileage, no injuries (!) and several long runs to keep me ready for Cleveland Marathon later this month. 

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This week, it started to feel like spring – and by that I mean we had showers nearly every day. What a WET week! It rained pretty much every morning. And it was COLD rain – 30s and 40s – and also HARD rain. It was on and off rain, sleet and wet snow nearly every morning/day this week. It impeded my running, unfortunately. I was hoping to get in a long (10ish mile) run on Tuesday or Wednesday this week, but it was so gross out that I couldn’t make myself get outside and run in it for 2 hours. I luckily still got outside most mornings, with only one day stuck inside on the treadmill. Since I did a 12 mile run last week and hadn’t taken a day off in a while, here were my goals for this week:

  • Speed training: 45 minute tempo run
  • Long run: 10-11 miles 
  • Core work: 3-5 days (8-10 min videos)
  • A 5 mile run
  • 2-3 other runs of 30-50 minutes

Here’s how the week turned out:

Continue reading →

Longest Long Run Time

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

I realized this week that I am somehow off my training plan … I am loosely following Hal Higdon’s intermediate half marathon training plan. Loosely is the right word, because each week I try to match the long run, one of the speed runs, and then fit in some other runs. I haven’t been able to get in any races (he has a few on the plan) and I only do one day of speed work.  That said, somehow I got a little off with the plan and found myself at a 12 mile long run this week. But, my race isn’t until May 22, and my longest long run — 12 miles —  is supposed to be the week before that. I realized this one morning this week, but decided I still wanted to get in 12 miles this week, one morning, before work. So that put me at this for my goal runs this week:  

  • Speed training: 9x400m speed run
  • Long run: 12 miles 
  • Core work: 3-5 days (8-10 min videos)
  • A 5 mile run
  • 2-3 other runs of 30-50 minutes

Here’s how the week turned out:

Continue reading →

A High Week

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

This week, we were back to our routine and normal schedule. Though it was hard waking up early again, I somehow got in a record-high week, 35 miles total. I cannot remember the last time I got in this many miles in one week – definitely not in 2023!

Here is what was on the schedule for this week: 

  • Speed training: 40 min tempo run
  • Long run: 11 miles 
  • Core work: 3-5 days (8-10 min videos)
  • 3 other runs, 30-50 minutes each

Here’s how the week turned out:

Continue reading →

Weekly Run Down: Mini Vacation

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

This week, my workouts and running schedule were a little off, and my mileage was less than the past few weeks. But for good reason — we got in a mini family vacation! My son was off school, and we decided to take off Thursday and Friday to drive to Cincinnati to do a few days of exploring, see some baseball, and other kid-friendly activities. With that, I knew I’d have to get in my long run early (I didn’t want to “waste” two hours of the time off with the kiddos to go away on a run) in the week, and be flexible with my other days. Here is what was on the schedule for this week: 

  • Speed training: 8×400 m run
  • Long run: 10 miles 
  • Core work: 3-5 days (8-10 min videos)
  • 2-3 other runs, 30-50 minutes each

Here’s how the week turned out:

Continue reading →

Finally Feels Like Spring

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 10 Comments

We did it – we finally had a full week of springtime weather! No snow, no ice, and despite some rain, some gorgeous days.

Of course, I loved this and took advantage of it as I could. After dinner walks with the kids, early morning runs (without winter clothes!), and lunchtime strolls all made an appearance this week.

My training goals for this week were:

  • Speed training: 40 min tempo run
  • Long run: 9-10 miles 
  • Core work most days (8-10 min videos)
  • 2-3 other runs, 30-50 minutes each

Here’s how the week turned out:

Continue reading →

Mid-Week Long Runs

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 10 Comments

I’m onto week 5 of half marathon training, and on the schedule this week was a 9 mile run. So, I decided to do it Tuesday morning before work. I’m starting to really enjoy my mid-week long runs – it’s great to get them over with, great to have the full weekend to get things done and go to kid activities, and I don’t mind the feeling of accomplishment as I start my Tuesday after an early run!

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  First, here’s how March went:

I finished March with 134 total miles, which is my most mileage in a month since August. It definitely helps that the weather is (for the most part) getting nicer and I’m starting longer runs with training again. 

I did my 8-10 minute core workout 4-5x each week, which was my goal. I’m so glad I’m keeping it up!

And now this week. My training goals for this week were:

  • Speed training: 7×400 m
  • Long run: 9 miles 
  • Core work most days (8-10 min videos)
  • 2-3 other runs, 30-50 minutes each

Here’s how the week turned out:

Continue reading →