NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 3 DAY 3- YOGA

So went for my final pilates intro session today and am booked in for 9:30 am next Wed.
That means Wednesdays should be a double session with that an yoga in the evening.
Everything is soooooo tight it is getting ridiculous.
Yoga today was good and even just going once a week, I can tell that I am getting stronger from it and things are getting a bit easier.
Will be interested to see how I go with the double sessions with Pilates.
3/3 this week so far, rest day tomorrow, so will be 4/4

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 3 DAY 2- INTERVALS

With a training session this morning and having done intervals then for the 5.8 kms, I decided to change this session up a bit (after I got on the treadmill). I did 200/800 intervals for 4 kms.
So in just over 34 mins did
200 @6.5 and 800 @6.5
200@5.5 and 800 @7.0
200@5.5 and 800 @7.5
200@5.5 and 800 @8.0

Wore the purple shoes again. The old faithfuls.

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 3 DAY 1- 5.8KMS

So with Monday being a late finish at the office, I pushed my session to the next morning (Tuesday 25/11). I and ummed and ahhed about putting it later in the week so I didn't have to do 2 sessions on the day but with the weather heating up and the max temp being only 22 on Tuesday, I dragged myself out of bed and off I went. There was even a few drops of drizzle. Garmin wasn't on for first 200m, so actually did 6 km, but this isn't a bad time.
I changed it up a bit and did 200/400 intervals which worked well. Got much faster on the 200 after 4 kms.
Purple Asics shoes.

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEk 2- WRAP UP

Not an amazing week by any standards but all sessions completed.
Monday the legs wouldn't turn over, so I had to do the distance walking- and had read the wrong week so did half a mile more than I should have.
Tuesday's intervals went well in the new shoes. 3.8 kms and done in good time.
Wednesday's massage session involved cupping and my legs were sore to the touch until today- Sunday.
Friday was just foul and my head wasn't in it, so I walked again.
Today's long run went well. Really slow at the start but sped up on the return journey (what a surprise) but not as fast as last week, but wearing different shoes may have made a difference to that.


The scales show weight back to where I started at 79.1 kgs, so the scales could have been lying last week. This weeks diet hasn't been so amazing but not the worst it could b.

Monday: 5.7 km walk
Tuesday: 3.8km intervals
Wednesday: Pilates intro (not a workout) and Yoga
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 5.0 km walk
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Long run - 7 km

TOTAL KMS- 21.5

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 2 DAY 7 - 7KMS

Long Run Day. Great weather and no wind. 7kms on the schedule. Wore the new shoes- Not sure whether it's because they aren't worn in or if they aren't right, so I will persist to see how we go. Time wasn't as amazing as last week- different shoes? However, not too bad. 

Shoes:Asics Exalt 

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 2 DAY 6 -REST DAY

6/6. Not hard as there were horrendous thunder storms and it was my birthday so a rest day well deserved. 

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 2 DAY 5- 5KMS

Not totally as planned today. Another walk. Came home from work in a bad space, but was determined to go 5/5 on Week 2 so put the trainers on and walked down to the jetty at Henley and back.
Had a few little jogs but my heart and mind weren't in it today.
May go to yoga tomorrow morning. That would be a bonus session for the week if I do.
We shall see.
Shoes: Asics Exalt

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 2 DAY 4- REST DAY

With a rest day today it was easy to go 4/4 in week 2. It's a bit hot, a bit steamy and drizzling.
Rest day gratefully taken as legs are a bit sore from the cupping at yesterday's massage.
3 miles tomorrow on the schedule.

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 2 DAY 3- YOGA

3 for 3 this week with tonight's yoga session at the gym. Getting a bit stronger.
Was really hot today- 35C, so glad the room was cool.
Also went to send pilates induction as well.
Last one next week before I can incorporate that in the schedule at least once a week.
Rest day tomorrow so should be able to make it 4/4
Noticed I did half a mile more than I should have on Monday. Never mind. As I walked that session, probably just as well.
Massage today as well and the therapist used cupping. Holy crap that pinches!!!.
But really good and something different.

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 2 DAY 2 - INTERVALS

First interval training today and 3.8kms in 29:40. 2/2/2/4/2/6/2/6/2/4/2/2/2 (2=200m)

6:6km/8.6km hour speed 

Average 7.6km/hour speed.

8:02 min km

Good effort and in new shoes! They actually felt light and went really well. 

Blue shoes. 

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 2 DAY 1 - 3.5 miles 5.7 km

A very busy day at work and a late arrival home I so didn't want to go out. Got dressed and threw on the shoes. Calves were tight even though I stretched. So ended up walking tonight.

It's kms in the legs and better than not going. Even now I am achy. Foam

Roller will help it. I just refuse to not go out and not stick to my plan. Intervals tomorrow.

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 1 WRAP UP

So this week started in earnest with a 3.6 km jog with Mum on Monday. IT inspired my enough to decide that Monday was the day to start training for the NYC Half. I went home and began to create a training schedule. I have worked in 2 rest days currently on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Chose those as I usually work until 6 pm on a Thursday, sometimes work on a Saturday and there is also a yoga class on the Saturday morning I could take if I wanted to do something extra.
I got out the Hal Higdon guide to marathoning and had a look at his half marathon plans. Was pleased to see no mid week runs are really much over 5.5 miles :) Joy. I forget this is a half, so to not see things like 20 milers took a while to sink in... but JOY!!!
I have put in 2 x 20 km and 2 x 18 km runs in to the plan. I am increasing my long runs by 1 km a week, and started this week at 6km.

I found the 2 x 5.0km I did this week took what seem liked forever and were slow and my calves were achy. So before the long run (of 6kms), I did the ill advised static stretching and voile- no achy calves and a faster pace.

I got on the scales and it shows over 2kg loss (???) with weight at 76.9 kgs.
I have started doing apple cider vinegar shots 2-3 times a day.
Still doing the probiotic fizzy drink.
Really trying to watch what goes in but did have a sneaky chocky donut on Sat.

Monday: 3.6 km jog
Tuesday: 5.0 km slow slow run
Wednesday: Pilates intro (not a workout) and Yoga
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 5.0 km slow slow run
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Long run and FASTEST of the week with a negative split on last 3 km- 6 km

So a good week all round. Taking each day as it comes and making my headspace right.
Roll on week 2.

Garmin Figures for Sunday Long Run 16/11 6 kms

Garmin Connect

NYC HALF TRAINING WEEK 1 DAY 7- LONG RUN 6 KMS

SUCCESS!!
Out and back course along Military Road to the sewerage works.
Never fails to surprise me how an out and back along the same footpath can be nearly 100m out distance wise and thus had to run past the house to get the final 100m!! And as it was on the footpath, no weaving around, so 100m on 3 km is quite a lot.
Did some stretching before going out today (to test it's worthiness) and had no issues whatsoever with sore calves and tiredness. I know a lot of people say static stretching is no good, but safe to say it makes a massive difference to how I perform and today vs my runs in the week are a testament to that.
The second half after the turnaround felt really good and I felt I upped the pace but don't think I did in reality. Not too out of breath either which was great.
Wore the purple shoes, and safe to say I ran faster in them. I ran the marathon in those and although they really are shot and need replacing, the 3 mid week runs were done in the black shoes and were slow and drudgy. The long run, in these and felt like I was cruising along.
Weekly Round up to come in a separate post.

NYC HALF TRAINING WEEK 1 DAY 6- REST DAY

So it's Day 6 and not hard to be compliant for a rest day when I have to work all day.
So that's 6/6 for this week.
I am pretty excited to have nearly completed my first week or training.
Looking forward to getting above turtle pace after next week.
Paying for my flights on Monday. I still can't believe I will be there in 4 months.
So excited.

Read about my Second Journey to Marathon Fit and my Journey to the NYC Marathon in 2013

Here is the link to my blog that I did for my second journey to marathon fitness and my journey to the start.... and finish of the NYC marathon.
Happy reading.

brionybullardmarathonfit.blogspot.com

NYC HALF TRAINING WEEK 1 DAY 5 - 3 miles/5 kms

So 5/5training scheduled training sessions complete for this week.
A very slow 5km today. Hopefully once intervals start next week, I will get beyond turtle pace.
Totally cloudy and overcast but a really nice temp to run. It's trying to rain, but managed to miss that.
A little faster than Tuesdays 5 km.
Foot caning on the lateral side almost like a cramp.
Black shoes.
#lifeofanoneliteathlete
#poweredbybeetroot
#dasherlife
#nychalf

NYC HALF TRAINING WEEK 1 DAY 4- REST DAY

So today's training was quite easy to complete. Worked all day, came home and watched tv. That's a rest day.
Watched Gus Worland's marathon man on A@E. Love it. Such a great tale of being challenged and believing you can achieve the goal.
5 km on the schedule for tomorrow. Hope it's not raining too much when I get back in from the office.

NYC HALF TRAINNG WEEK 1 DAY 3 - YOGA

And after 14 weeks of being away, I went back today to the yoga class at the gym. OMG, Arm strength is back to ZERO. I do like this class though and the teacher I feel is really good. Was sweating within about 10 minutes.
Earlier in the day, I had been to see Dr Peter Allcroft, a runner, ironman, and generally nice guy about my asthma. Took me 3 months to get in to see him. He said the Manitol challenge had been the definitive test and showed that I do get asthma. He said chances are, I won't get faster, that I am the way I am more than lily due to my VO2 MAX. Oh well.
Had also been to CORE physio and Pilates to get a program, may swell use my private health allocation.
Then finally, a torturous leg massage to start smoothing out the muscles.
Big day, and even though I thought about not going to yoga, I am glad I did.
I've set a training schedule I would like to see how well I can stick to it. After all, it's only a half, not a marathon.

THE STICK- TOOL OF TORTURE AND JOY

I am the Queen of Recovery and this forms part of that process- The Stick.
I bought this in New York at the marathon expo in 2013. Previous to that, I had used a foam roller exclusively. However, they really do go hand in hand, along with the spiky yellow ball of death.
Great for rolling out muscles and moving lactic acid.
Sigh, here we go again.
#dasherlife

LOOKING FOR SOME INSIGHT AND INSPIRATION- HAL HIGDON STYLE

This is one of the definitive pieces of literature on Marathon running.
I have used his program (albeit adjusted to me) previously when I trained for New York.
Good structure. Combined with a bit of Jeff Galloway and it works for me.
#dasherlife

POWERED BY BEETROOT

And it begins again. I actually juice beetroot rather than using commercially packaged stuff, but this is actually just juice with no salt like the shots, so works as a time saver option.
Hoping it helps the endurance again. Looking for a plant based miracle.
Only 18 weeks to go and I can shelve it again :)
#dasherlife

NYC HALF TRAINING BEGINS 10/11/14

And with an almighty thud, I am back from 10 glorious nights in NYC and straight back in to training for the NYC half in March which is 18 weeks away. Gotta get the right headset on with diet and schedule.
Got some new trainers coming in the post and am armed and dangerous with new tops and socks.

First run out- REALLY slow
Black trainers.
Starting weight 79.6 kgs (according to dodgy bathroom scales)
#dasherlife