Chicago Marathon Training Week 9

Monday, September 1, 2014

Welcome to your new life was the theme of the week for us. School is in session and I faced my longest run in 7 months. Last week was really good for several reasons: 

• My nutrition plan worked. I ate my regular food the night before the run (a Brazilian meal of rice, black beans, farofa (ground cassava), maionese (potato and carrot salad with mayo), salad and Brazilian chocolate for dessert. I had friends over the night before which was lovely. Knowing that I was running the next morning made me enjoy the chocolate way more. I tried my best not to overeat during the week. Running long miles can make me feel "entitled" which is not good. In order for a food to make to my stomach, it needs to make sense nutritionally for the kind of work I am requiring of my body. Empty calories do not fuel long runs well, you know?
• I went back to Clif Shots. My stomach was very comfortable during the whole run. It's amazing what a small change of fueling will do to my body. 
• I added electrolytes to my run. I know, it's hard to believe that I wasn't doing this consistently but I froze an electrolyte drink the night before and it was a life saver in the middle of my run. Very refreshing and my body worked much better with this extra boost. What I need to do is to start using Gatorate exclusively because that's all they'll have in the course in Chicago. 
• I haven't been running with my running group consistently but thank God I've been able to find friends who can at least start my long runs with me. Their friendship and support means the world to me and I'm thankful. I am sure I'll fit at least a few runs with my running group between now and Chicago. 
• At the end of my run I challenged myself to greet the people who were exercising around me and actually smile at them. It made a world of difference and one of the ladies I see often said she needed my encouragement. Smiling helps me and I can say it helps others. 
• Recovery rocked this week. I rested the day of my run and the day after as well. Thank God for Zeke. It would be nearly impossible to run marathons without his support and encouragement. I asked my experienced running buddies what advice they had to give me as far as running long in the summer and they all told me to be sure to rest well.
• I went back to my Doctor for a physical last week. She's ran a half marathon before and she's such an encourager of my fitness and health goals. I think that getting your doctor on board as far as your fitness and health goals is very important. She's the only person who actually knows what my labs look like and what I need to do in order to remain healthy. I encourage everyone to get a physical.

The Chicago Marathon is 40 days away which means that for the next 3 weeks I'll climb to my highest mileage (20), tapper and then it will be marathon time. I am thankful to God for this season of training. Running Chicago has been a dream and I am just finding out what it takes - like running in the heat of the summer, training while some are taking off or just returning to Winter marathon mode. Running the marathon will be a big celebration. I can't begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to seeing the city and enjoying the race with thousands of people. I am mostly thankful to God for making this dream come true.

The Houston Marathon is 138 days away. I'll return from Chicago and the mileage for Houston will start increasing. I looked at my training plan and the mileage I get back to seems dreamy compared to what I am doing now. We'll have less miles, cooler weather and tons of friends in the same plan. I told one of my running buddies last week that I better NOT complain about training in the winter. This summer has been intense but I get we'll get a break in the Fall. 

I appreciate your prayers and encouragement as I keep making progress towards this finish line. I pray that you are having a great day and that you are making progress towards your own goals and dreams.

Previously in this Series:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5 
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11
KW said...

I want that Brazilian meal, too. Yummy!

Unknown said...

Isaiah 40:31King James Version (KJV)

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

I want feijão preto. Please give me your recipe for black beans. I hear you make good black beans. if not possible, I'll have to go to a brazilian restaurant soon.