Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week Five

March 31, 2019March 30, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Happy almost April! April means it’s almost May which means it’s almost race month, amiright? Okay, I may be getting ahead of myself. But when I looked at my week’s training and saw that I was already at 8 miles (which is almost 9 which is almost 10…) I couldn’t believe I was already there. The Cleveland half marathon will be here before we all know it.

This week went pretty well in terms of training. I even got in a 3 mile stroller run on one of our warm days with FW. It was our first stroller run in FOREVER and it was hard! I am not used to pushing 30+ pounds.

Overall, here is how the week looked:

And a highlight? Besides the stroller run, my 8 miler on Friday morning (which I ran at 5:30 a.m. in the 40 degree rainy weather – ick!) was my longest run since LM was born! It wasn’t quite the pace I hope to be at for race day, but I’m slowly getting back into it.

Some questions for you:

For those of you that wear a Garmin or fitness watch – do you ever resist it so you can break / start new records? I reset mine after LM was born!
Do you do speed training outside or inside?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway. Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

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Today, I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week Four

March 24, 2019March 23, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 9 Comments

I can’t believe it’s less than 60 days to the Cleveland half marathon … that means I’m 25% through with my training! It hardly feels like the race is so soon – perhaps because it still felt like winter this week?

For my long run this week, it was in the 20s when I started … and “feels like” was 17! I’m used to that in December, but at the end of March.

Here is how the week looked:

I felt pretty good during my long run Saturday, but can’t imagine going any faster or further yet. We will see how next week goes. Hopefully I won’t have to break out my winter running socks again.

Some questions for you:

Is it spring near you yet?
Do you wear special socks in the winter?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway. Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

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Today, I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week Three

March 17, 2019March 17, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

I’ll start this post by confessing that while I didn’t follow this week’s training 100%, I did get in 5 runs, includimg a long run. So for week 3 of Cleveland half marathon training, it wasn’t bad.

The week called for off days on Thursday and Friday, and then a 5k race on Saturday. I didn’t have any races planned, so I opted to get in a long run Saturday instead (and still get out for a short run Thursday … it was 55 degrees when I came home from work — I had to!). So here’s what the week looked like:

I was so excited to have THREE outdoor runs, including 1 done in the evening! I somehow got home before B and the kids on Thursday, so I prepped some dinner and then got outside for a short run before we ate. I can’t imagine doing this on a regular basis, but it was fun!

I was also excited about my long run this weekend. I haven’t run this long since before LM was born and probably since I was last training for a half – so it’s been about 2 years!

Some questions for you:

What’s the longest run you’ve done recently?
Do you have favorite running socks?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway. Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

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Today, I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week Two

March 12, 2019March 11, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

And now, week two of Cleveland half marathon training is done.

This week, I was only sick a few days, which helped a TON. My eye infection healed, but then LM came down with a fever and likely HFM (along with teething), which is making sleep fun. I also was away for the weekend, which made the schedule change a bit – I did my long run on Friday and then got in an impromptu run on Saturday.

Saturday’s run included some great views – look at the frozen lake! It was also the first run I’ve had outside in forever so any views would’ve been great.

This week’s Tuesday Topic is are you a morning runner or an evening runner?

I’m DEFINITELY a morning runner. I can’t imagine running at night – running is how I start my day nearly every day of the week. It’s the only way I function some days! Plus, my days/nights are pretty crazy that if I ran at night, it would have to be after the kids are in bed and wouldn’t be until after 9 p.m. some nights (which would be too late for me). Here is how I make it happen:

I sleep in my running clothes when I can. Maybe it’s gross, but it makes it so much easier to get out and run! And when I don’t, I make sure my clothes are set out and ready to go.
I figure out my running route and plan before I go to bed. I don’t want to have to think in the morning.
I set multiple alarms. I don’t always wake up with one alarm.

Some questions for you:

Are you a morning or evening runner?
Do you run on vacation?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway.

Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

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Linking up with Tuesday Topics!

Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week One

March 5, 2019March 5, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

Week one of Cleveland half marathon training is done!

I’ll be honest, while I pretty much was able to follow the plan, it wasn’t my best week ever. I was still feeling under the weather and then Fri/Sat came down with an eye infection (yay!) so overall haven’t been myself lately. But the week is done and here it is:

That brings my February total to 85 miles.

The next week includes pretty similar training, but with a 30 min tempo run instead of the intervals and a 6-mile run instead of 5 miles. I’m not going to be home Saturday, so I’ll probably try to run my 6 on Friday. We’ll see how that plays out!

This week’s Tuesday Topic is running wish list. What’s on my wish list for training?

A healthy, injury-free training season. I’m so tired of being sick and would love to stay healthy this season!
Sleep! I’m seriously lacking in the sleep department with 2 kids under the age of 3, including a 9 month old who still doesn’t sleep through the night every night. And I notice that on the nights I get 7-8 hours, I run much better than the nights I’m getting 4 and waking up lots.
New shoes. I’ve got 500+ miles on my grey Saucony Ride 10s, but can’t seem to find a similar pair I like right now. I will keep looking, but for now am running in some Ride 9s.

Some questions for you:

What kind of shoes do you run in?
Do you follow a specific training program?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway.

Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

clé marathon discount

Linking up with Tuesday Topics!

Cleveland Half Marathon Training Starts Now!

February 26, 2019February 24, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

Well, the time has come – Cleveland half marathon training is here!

At the beginning of the year, it seemed like I had so much time to kill and that it wouldn’t be training time any time soon. But suddenly, it’s here.

Of course I’m getting over a cold, so I’m not at peak running level, but I’d rather feel this way now as opposed to race day. What’s my training look like? I am a big fan of Hal Higdon’s plans, so I’ll be once again using his training program. Here’s a slightly modified version of what I’ll be doing:

Each week, I’ll share my training – how it went, what I actually ran, etc. My goals are to do the full training program and run my best. I’d love to do another sub-2 hour half marathon but I’m not sure how training will go this year. I’m not in as good shape as I was last time I ran a half marathon, my lack of sleep is real (see: 2 kids under 3) and I have been having a hard time finding enough time to run every morning (again, 2 young kids). But enough excuses – it’s training season! And here we go!

Some questions for you:

What are you training for?
What training program do you use?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway.

Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

clé marathon discount

Linking up for the first time with Tuesday Topics!

Training Tuesday: Running Confessions

February 24, 2015February 23, 2015 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Welp, the week is finally here – it’s time to start my Cleveland Half Marathon Training!

As you may recall, I’m a Cleveland Marathon Ambassador – meaning I’ll be sharing fun news about the race, doing a giveaway AND sharing my training reports.

So, for my first report, I’ll share with you what I’ve been doing to get ready to train – the good and the bad. These are my confessions …

The good:

I finally got back into shape after our Asia trip. As I shared, I didn’t run for a few weeks in Dec/Jan and really got out of shape fast. I can tell you that I more than made up for it by running every day since we returned (see: the bad).
I bought new shoes! My purple sauconys have about 450+ miles on them, and I’m starting with a new pair for training.

Can’t wait to try out these new sneakers!

I have a training plan! Thanks to B (and Hal Higdon), I have a plan in place for my half-marathon training.

B made me a schedule 🙂

The bad:

I have not been running outside. I’m a baby when it comes to cold and ice; thus, I have run outside maybe 3 times since the New Year. I need to get back out there – treadmill runs just aren’t the same for me!

With weather like this, it’s hard to get myself outside.

I haven’t signed up for ANY other races. Typically by this time, I’ve signed up for a few local races or even run some (last year’s Chili Bowl) – but this ear I just can’t seem to get myself motivated! Maybe it’s because B stopped running with me?
I may not have given my body enough rest. See #1 above – I ran every day from January 16 through February 16. Some days it was only 1-2 miles, other days it was 7. I decided to try to take last week easy and do the elliptical most days, but I got tired and missed the treadmill and caved and ran 3 times. I did take my first complete rest day on Sunday, only going for a walk with B.

Weekly mileage from the week we got back thru last week before I decided to take a few days off from running … Yeah, that’s high (for me)

So those are my confessions. Some questions for you:

What do you do to keep yourself in check? Have you signed up for any races?
Clevelanders – or others with this frigid weather – have you been running outside? Please tell me how you do it.
What’s your favorite pair of running shoes?
How do you stay motivated on the treadmill?

Marathon Training: Week Eleven Recap

April 1, 2012April 1, 2012 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / Leave a comment

As I type this, it hits me that somehow, I have spent eleven weeks training for the Cleveland marathon. Eleven weeks. Holy cow!

This week’s training called for Tuesday: 4. Wednesday: 8. Thursday: 4. Saturday: 16, for a total of 32 miles. For the first time in a while, I not only stuck to the mileage, but also to the days I was supposed to train.

Tuesday: 4.29 – BRR! Last week I was running in shorts — this week I had to wear spandex, gloves and ear warmers! The sudden temperature change was unexpected and did NOT feel good! I opted to run in the morning, as I had my first DCA Advocate meeting that night and knew I did not want to have to run after our meeting. Good choice – after the meeting ended at 6:30ish, a few of us hung out and networked and had a few drinks at Flannery’s. I didn’t get home until after 10 – and was not in the mood to run at that time!

Wednesday: 8.02 – Not a bad run at all. Was dreading going out, especially after how bored I had been on the last long run but it ended up being perfect weather and a great route. B picked out a new route for me and it was a great night to explore the Detroit Shoreway, Battery Park, and Ohio City!

Thursday: 4 – Post-work run with B before hitting the movies for the Cleveland International Film Festival. More on that to come.

Saturday: 16.15– Another new long run record for B and me! This Saturday morning, B, Dave and I met up for a run around downtown, Battery Park, Ohio City, the Detroit Shoreway, and east Cleveland and the Clinic. The first eight miles I felt great! Wasn’t bored, enjoyed the route and didn’t feel the need to refuel. We stopped at mile 8 to get some Gu and water and then headed back out toward the Clinic. Around mile 10 my right foot started hurting – the arch (or lack of arch) was aching and then it slowly moved up to me knees. I slowed down a bit, but when we got to mile 14 I was feeling pretty sore, but much better mentally than the week prior. We finished strong and proud of our new record.

This is what a 16 mi run looks like


Weekly Total: 32. Another great week for miles and not too much pain either. Looking forward to next week’s down week (only 12 on Saturday!) and getting nervous for the bump in mileage to come (after that we go to 18 …. and then 20!).