Chicago Marathon Training Week 14 – 8/31-9/6

September 8, 2015

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day weekend. I stayed in the DC area with a quick trip to Baltimore for the Charles Street 12 Miler

Monday 8/31– 2 mile walk 

Tuesday 9/1– 2 mile walk 

Wednesday 9/2 – 2 mile walk 

Thursday 9/3 – 2 mile walk 

Friday 9/4 – 3 mile elliptical 

Saturday 9/5– 2 mile run @13:01 min/mile + Charles Street 12 Miler @12:28 min/mile

Sunday 9/6 – 60 minutes restorative yoga 

Total: 25 miles (8 walk | 3 elliptical | 14 run) 

Groan..another week in which my plans went a bust.  I really really really need to get my runs in the morning, but ever since I returned from vacation it has been a struggle-fest to wake up early on weekdays.  On Friday I went to the gym for 3 easy miles on the elliptical.

Run

Run #1: 2 miles @13:01 min/mile (13:20, 12:40)

This week’s schedule called for a 14 mile long run.  I decided to run an easy 2 miles before the Charles Street 12 Miler.   I arrived super early for packet pickup and it was still dark by the time I checked in everything.  Because I was unfamiliar with the area I decided to run laps around a lit parking lot behind the Shops at Kenilworth.  It was boring, but I felt safe and knew the start was around the corner.

Run #2: 12 miles @12:28 min/mile (12:29, 11:53, 12:35, 12:15, 12:04, 12:22, 12:31, 12:19, 12:41, 12:43, 13:14, 12:27)

Oh boy..this race was no joke! I re-read a bunch of race recaps and was reminded this was a net downhill race.  I forgot (from my college years) that Charles Street is full of rolling hills.  I’ll have a full recap to come, but looking at my splits…you can tell the course kicked my butt!

It was a humid morning and I am glad I brought my water bottle with me for the race.  Lesson learned from the previous week. I hope hope hope Chicago will be 40-50 degrees on race day…wishful thinking haha.

On Sunday my legs felt super sore! It has been awhile since they felt that way (note to self: Jennifer you need to resume hill training).   My friend Laurel and I went Yoga District for a restorative yoga class, it was definitely relaxing.

Fun (Food Edition)

The weekend was full of friends and food.  After the Charles Street 12 Miler, I quickly returned to DC because I had a house guest for the weekend (my friend Laurel was visiting me from New York).  Laurel arrived around lunchtime and we went to Cafe St. Ex for some deliciousness.  I had a fried green tomato eggs benedict. 

The next day Laurel, Cliff and I met some of my good friends / former b-school class mates / former co-workers (my current company recruited quite a few of us from school) at Scion for brunch.  This particular group can always make me laugh and it was so fun to catch up with everyone.  

That evening Laurel, Cliff and I met my friends Jenn and Brett for dinner at Beau Thai (haha….get it?) in the Shaw neighborhood of DC.  There were so many items on the menu that I wanted to try, but I went with my usual, chicken pad see ew.  Afterwards we checked out Chaplins’ for a post dinner drink. 

On Monday, I visited my friend Ali and checked out her new house.  We went to Meridian Pint for brunch and I had a Thai chicken noodle salad – it was perfect and I must recreate this one day.

Sadly the long weekend had to come to an end.  I spent the afternoon/evening with Cliff watching Narcos a new Netflix drama about Colombia’s Pablo Escobar (we are three episodes in and enjoying them so far).  I will end this post with my last Labor Day weekend meal – chicken pot pie!

How was your Labor Day weekend?

Have you heard of Narcos?

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34 Comments
      1. Run Jenny Run

        Haha, I know right!? Will there ever be a day when I say “I love the hills” 🙂 Thanks!

    1. Mmmm all of that food looks so good. You always pick great restaurants and make delicious looking selections from the menu!

      I hope Chicago is in the 50-60s. I don’t know if I could survive waiting in the corrals if it’s in the 40s! I’ll need to bring a battery operated heated blanket, if such a thing exists!

      Your splits for the Charles Street 12 Miler look really consistent even though there were lots of rolling hills. I think you did great!
      Kristina recently posted…In My Next LifeMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Kristina! Then I hope Chicago is in the 50s hehe 🙂 I need to stop by Walmart soon to pick up throwaways. The Chicken Pot Pie was actually a TJ find! It was sooooo good. Skinnytaste has a version I would like to make one day.

    1. Fried green tomato eggs benedict looks amazing! Nice job on the 12-miler. My legs were sore for several days after a duathlon I did this weekend (which only involved 4 miles of running, but I haven’t been running so I guess that is to be expected). Glad you enjoyed your labor day!
      Kelli recently posted…Woman Crush Wednesday – Nicole DavisonMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        I love fried green tomatoes! At that particular place they also have a delicious FGT BLT 🙂 Hope your legs are feeling better after the Du.

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Nathasha…..Sunday’s run will be more hills. Hopefully it will toughen me up for flat Chicago 🙂 I can’t believe I took this long to try Beau Thai (first time was maybe 1.5 months ago). Seems MP and Shaw have slightly different menus.

    1. Congrats on the tough 12 miler! It’s so deceptive when you hear about races being net down hills. I have to remember that too. That yoga class probably felt great after all those hills. I’ve got to find a way to incorporate yoga back into my routine. And that food all looks so delicious!
      Chaitali recently posted…Wine and Dine Half Marathon Training – week 9My Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Chaitali. Of course during the race, I’m thinking never again….but then afterwards…its sign me up! As for yoga, I’ve neglected it this training cycle and my legs seem to fatigue much quicker. Like you, hope to make it more of a regular occurrence again.

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Haha love it! Hope you enjoyed Chaplins, so many “new” places to explore in DC. Hope you like Narcos… we just finished the season finale last night.

    1. Jenny, your race sounds kind of like mine over the weekend – ha! I love your “note to self” about hill training; I can relate!! 😉 Um, Jonathan and I are now obsessed with Narcos; we’ve only watched the first episode and I can’t wait to see more. I’ve missed your food pictures; that salad looks AMAZING! I’m so glad you had fun and a nice Labor Day weekend!
      Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Tuesday Intro – The Unraveling of Mercy LouisMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Haha thanks, Tara! Something that happens all the time. One day I would like to run the Blue Ridge Half in VA (first half is basically uphill)…but need to conquer em 🙂 We just finished the season finale last night – I liked how they used English subtitles. I read (maybe NYT or Huffpost) article about it and they pointed to the same thing and how silly it would be if the cartel was speaking English.

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Jenn! I’m envisioning a different type of summer for next year. Which would include more pool (lap) time 🙂

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Sharon. It was a tummy satisfying weekend haha 🙂 I remember hills when I ran NYCM and Brooklyn NYRR Half – good luck with the hill training!

    1. All of the eats look delicious! I think that’s the best part about a holiday weekend – eating more treats than usual 😉

      I know what you mean about it taking a bit to get back into the swing of things after a vacation. But i have no doubt you’ll soon be up early cranking out the miles again!
      Sun recently posted…Lake Country 5k Race RecapMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Exactly – funny thing I lost weight that weekend 🙂 Which means… my caloric intake may be too low. This week is much better – thanks for the encouragement!

      1. Run Jenny Run

        When I was running I thought…I forgot these existed! You were better than me.. I would take the shuttle to the FAC 🙂

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Deborah! Look fwd to seeing you during fall race season. I’m also looking fwd to more CPY this fall/winter. Lets def plan to go to a class together this season!

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Same! This week has been so much nicer. So sad that it is dark out…I suppose I prefer cooler weather vs. light 🙂 Baltimore is probably a nice stopping point for you from Philly. I always say to myself “only 2 more hours” once we hit Baltimore en route to Philly.

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