half marathon training

The Final Countdown

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 10 Comments

ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL RACE DAY!

I guess I should be excited, or reflective, or something, but at this point, I’m just ready for the day to be here.

I leave this morning for a work trip, so I’m gone most of the week before flying back and hopping right into race weekend! Not ideal, but it is what it is. The good news is it makes taper easy (this week I won’t have much time for running … but I will be on my feet most of the time), and it keeps my mind off the impending race weekend!

Anyway, here’s how this week went. I got in my first stroller run in a while and a few short/long runs (less than double digits but more than my typical 3-5 mi), but with work being busy before my trip, I didn’t have time for much else.

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Two Weeks Until Race Weekend

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Where have the past three months gone? Somehow, I’m only two weeks away from Cleveland Marathon Race Weekend! That’s right, I can see the weekend in my 10-day forecast – but refuse to truly look at it because we all know how quickly the weather can change.

In looking back over the past few months of training, I know it wasn’t my best training cycle. I started off with an injury and didn’t start training until later than usual. Because of this, I didn’t do any speed workouts either, as in the beginning I was focused on just getting some slow miles in and testing out my hip … now I have no excuse except for the fact that I just didn’t get any speed in the beginning so I created a modified training plan that didn’t include any speed workouts. I’m about to travel for work, which is less than ideal for a few days before my race, because I’ll be wearing heels for the first time in a year (perhaps since the last work trip), staying up late, on my feet a lot, not drinking nearly enough water, and not getting much sleep.

So my goals in two weeks for race weekend are mainly TO HAVE FUN and FINISH STRONG. I plan on doing the 5K on Saturday and half marathon on Sunday to complete the “Challenge Series.” I will work at the Marathon Expo Friday afternoon and attend the pre-race banquet Friday night. I know it will be a fun weekend, and I just need to remember to enjoy every minute!

And now, here is what this week looked like for training. It was pretty good – a longer run, a few shorter runs, and even some cross training.

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No Complaints

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 11 Comments

For once, I have no complaints about my week! I feel like every single week I have some excuse – something interfering with my training. During this training cycle I’ve had injuries, a week in Germany, sick kids, no water, crazy weather, and more. But this week – somehow, there were no interruptions in my training. Was it perfect? No – I haven’t done any speed work. But I got in a weekend long run, a mid-week longish run, some walks, some core work and some light weights. 

It was a busy week on our end – outside of work, we had a soccer game and family dinner on Sunday, ballet on Monday, soccer practice and book club on Tuesday, piano lessons and ice skating on Wednesday, baseball and soccer and swimming and a school event on Thursday, soccer and a father/daughter dance on Friday, soccer, birthday party and a school retreat on Saturday … let’s just say, we had a lot going on. So I’m glad that despite being tired, I was able to get up early and get it done! It will continue to be crazy through the end of May, so fingers crossed I can keep this up for another few weeks.

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It’s Always Something

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 12 Comments

Welp, there’s always something it seems getting in the way of my half marathon training. This week, after FW was finally feeling better (yay!) we lost hot water!

What does hot water have to do with my running? Okay, not a lot. But not being able to rely on having a shower in my house actually made my workouts change somewhat. The idea of not being able to shower after a run, AND having to be in the office, made me think twice about my workouts. We were without hot water Sunday through Wednesday evening due to a problem with our water heater, but thankfully it got resolved (with a new heater ugh!) so I could shower back to normal Thursday morning.

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Tired and Ready

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

I have one more long run left until the Cleveland half marathon, and to be honest? I’m ready. I’ve been feeling tired lately, and fitting in my long runs has been harder this training cycle than usual.

I have typically liked doing my long runs on Saturdays, but FW has track meets Saturdays now. B is also training for the half marathon, and he does his long runs on Sundays, so I need to be home to watch the kids. I’ve been fitting all of them in so far on weekdays, which means a lot of EARLY mornings (meaning waking up at 3:30 a.m. this week), but also not the ideal conditions. Almost all of my runs have been done before sunrise, with 30-40 degree temps. Race day, I imagine will be sunny and a lot warmer, and I’m in no way prepared for that!

That’s a long way of saying, I’m looking forward to taking a few days off and not waking up before 4 a.m. Here’s to hoping for an uneventful, injury-free rest of training!

Here’s what this week looked like:

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Technically Springtime

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

While it is technically spring, this week’s weather was once again wonky. Most of my runs are in the morning, and they were in the 30s or even upper 20s one day! But Sunday was nearly 80 degrees. Oh well, just another week in half marathon training for a spring race right? (I can’t believe the Cleveland half marathon is less than a month away!!) Here’s what this week’s training looked like:

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One Month Until Race Day

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

We’re ONE MONTH until Cleveland half marathon race day! Ahh! The weeks are going by so fast, and it hardly feels like we’re less than 30 days away from the race weekend.

That is probably partially because earlier this week it felt – and looked – like winter. Sunday and Monday I ran outside in 30 degree temps. Tuesday I woke up to rain/ice overnight that had turned into snow so I hit up the treadmill. It hardly feels like it should be almost May and halfway through spring!

Here’s what the week looked like for training:

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Double Digits

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

And just like that, I’m back at double digits this week! I can’t remember the last time I ran 10 miles at once, but it’s been some time, and it feels good to be back. With a little over a month until Cleveland half marathon trace day, I’m just hoping to keep it up, and stay healthy and uninjured. Is that so hard? (Don’t answer that, it is!)

This week threw some wrenches into plans, but also included some positives. GM was exposed to COVID at daycare, and had to stay home while the class was closed for the week (he tested negative thankfully). On a positive note, FW was on spring break, which meant I could sleep a little later because there was no early school bus to catch. Even just sleeping in 40 more minutes has made such a difference. It gives me hope for summertime!

Here’s what the week looked like – all outdoor runs!

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Cleveland Half Marathon Training + Giveaway

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

Finally – a good week of half marathon training! After a few off weeks (being sick, etc.) I finally got in a few short runs and my long run, making this week’s Cleveland half marathon training a relative success. Which is good, because we’re just a little over a month from race day!

Here’s what the week entailed:

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Feeling Back!

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

Running is just like life is – some weeks are GREAT and others are not. But this week, I felt back! After a week of not feeling well, I felt like I really this week’s Cleveland half marathon training. I got in a few treadmill runs, a speed run, and even some outdoor runs. I even got in a 7 miler before work one day!

The only thing not great was my energy levels this week. The time change and some busy (but fun) days at my job didn’t help. But with the weather being great nearly all week, it was hard to complain!Here’s what the week looked like:

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