Chicago Marathon Training Week 8 – 7/20-7/26

July 27, 2015

I am glad to report that Week 8 Training > Week 7 of Training.  I am amazed how quickly summer is flying by.  Today I am linking up with Tara at Running n’ Reading for the Weekend Update.

Monday 7/20– 2 mile walk + 60 minutes personal training

Tuesday 7/21 – 2 mile walk + 60 minutes personal training

Wednesday 7/22 – 2 mile walk

Thursday 7/23 – 2 mile walk 

Friday 7/24 – 2 mile walk

Saturday 7/25– 12 mile run @12:00 min/mile + Crystal City Twilighter 5K @11:15 min/mile

Sunday 7/26 – 2 mile run @12:56 min/mile + 1,000 meters swimming 

Total: 27.1 miles (10 walk | 17.1 run)

Swim

Because I missed my swim workout two weeks ago, ya’ll know I made it a priority this week.  After a quick recovery run in Hains Point I met my friend Jenn and her boyfriend Brett at East Potomac Pool (thanks Jenn for saving the day …. I left my ID at my apartment…again).  It was my first time swimming there and it did not disappoint! It was clean, spacious and the lap lanes were not crowded.  Jenn and I shared a lane and I swam 1,000 meters! PS – It is an Olympic size pool, which means one length = 50 meters.  I think I prefer long course swimming. 

Bike

Another week of trade offs and scheduling issues (work work), swimming won out over biking.  One week I’ll have that perfect training week. Been so elusive this summer.

Run

After a week of no running I was stoked to get back outside.  Unfortunately my schedule got derailed a bit with work stuff so all my running got pushed back to the weekend! I even had plans to run with Brittney,  but had to cancel because I had to stay in the office later than anticipated. 

Run #1: 12 mile run @12:00 min/mile

My first run of the week was actually my long run. I worked until 12:00AM that day, so I woke up extremely sluggish.  I didn’t want to risk passing out in the middle of DC, so I chose to take my long run inside.  As some of you know, I have my no music rule for long runs, but for the treadmill I make an exception.  I watched 2.5 episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians, quality TV!

Run #2: 3.1 mile run @11:15 min/mile (11:15, 11:07, 11:25)

The second run of the week came 12 hours after I finished my  long run.  I participated in the Crystal City Twilighter 5K with Kathryn, Courtney,  Emily, Prianka, and Mar.  It was an early b-day celebration for Kathryn!  My legs were tired so I definitely was not going to race the 5K.  My goal was to keep it steady and consistent. 

Run #3: 2 mile run @12:56 min/mile (13:09, 12:43).  If this run occurred earlier in the week it would have been 3-5 miles.  Because of my compressed week, I turned #3 into a recovery run before I went swimming.  It was muggy running around Hains Point, but there were a number of cool breezes that came my direction. I was soo happy to jump into the pool afterwards.

Fun

After a sweat-filled Run #1, I bought a Very Berry Hibiscus iced tea from Starbucks.  Soooo refreshing!

I met my friend Emily for a Ted’s Bulletin.  If you follow me on Insta you all know I had a mini donut hole – so good (and I didn’t have the whole plate). 

I wrapped up some work and went to the Ronald McDonald House for a volunteer event.  My friend Seema organized this and it was so fun to cook dinner for the families staying at the house.  Here is more information about the Meal Program if you are interested.  I’ll write more about this soon!

On the way home I passed by a Franciscan Monastery – so nice.

The next day, Cliff and I went to see the movie Trainwreck starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader.  It was pretty funny and Lebron James was actually good cast member.

Image: Trainwreck

How was your weekend?

Watched any good movies lately?

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59 Comments
      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks, Stacey! Can’t wait to catch up on all your training adventures this weekend. My list is growing 🙂

    1. First off, that is so amazing that you volunteered at the Ronald McDonald house! We have one of those here in Charleston and I run by it all the time. My friend who works at MUSC has volunteered there like you did, preparing meals and things like that, and the families appreciate it. It means a lot to them not to have to worry about that when they have a child who is sick.

      Glad you got some more running in this week as well as swimming. It’s neat you did a race for someone’s birthday too. I think I should have a race birthday celebration for mine ;).
      Amy Lauren recently posted…Training for Fall Races (July 20-26)My Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        It was really an enjoyable volunteer experience. We even met some of the families working there and they were extremely grateful. I like the idea of a birthday run too! I know some people run X.X for their birthdays (ex. 2.8 for 28, 3.1 for 31)…. I didn’t hear of that until after my birthday. In 2016 my birthday falls during Shamrock weekend…but not sure if I will be able to run it. Hope you will get to do a birthday race!

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thank you, Sharon! I love DD holes – could eat a box (but I haven’t haha).

    1. Hi Jennifer,

      Thanks for commenting on my blog! That pool looks absolutely amazing.

      Wasn’t it so humid during the Twilighter 5k? I didn’t quite expect it to to be that bad but boy was I wrong….
      Bri recently posted…Twilighter 5K RecapMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Your welcome! Like meeting new local bloggers. It was so hot! I just the photo and I was a sweaty mess.

    1. We stayed at Ronald McDonald House when C was a baby. It was a blessing to have a facility like that available to us. I would definitely volunteer at one if we had one in our town. That’s awesome that you could do that. Swimming in a long course pool sounds scary, but after doing an open water swim, maybe I would like it better too. I bet you can get into a rhythm a little easier than in a 25 yard pool.
      Pam and Christine recently posted…Rock ‘n Roll Virginia Beach ….40 daysMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        I had no idea that was a volunteer opportunity until my friend stumbled upon it at work. It was very nice to speak to the families and provide them with meal. Long course is scary at first, but you will definitely get use to it. I wonder if you would prefer an indoor or outdoor LC first.

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Deborah! Haha glad 50% of the party enjoyed it. Once I get back from vacation I’ll email you about trying out OTF!

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Of course! It was super fun celebrating. Good idea to run a race for your birthday… I’ll have to start thinking of one for next March 😉

    1. What a great weekend, Jenny! I love that you were able to cook meals for the families at the Ronald McDonald House; we have one associated with our children’s hospital, and it’s such an amazing organization. When I saw your pic of the donut holes on IG, my mouth immediately started watering; they look so good! That pool seems like a really great place to swim. I know all about plans getting derailed; I’m trying to stay on schedule this week, but with my mind focused on our new house and getting moved/settled in, it’s tough to stay on track! Thanks so much for linking up; hope your day goes well!
      Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Training RecapMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Tara it has been so fun linking up with your blog and meeting so many people this year. You have done an incredible job and always have the most thoughtful responses! It was very rewarding to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, I had idea they had several options to give back. The donut hole was good…I prob could have polished off the entire plate! You have been great with your workouts and hope you are getting more settled in with your house.

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Hope you get to see it! Bummed I didn’t get to go to the Blogger Brunch. You were one of the first bloggers I started reading I haven’t met (that is local) hehe. One day!

      1. Run Jenny Run

        The pool is next to the golf course entrance so you can park in the shared lot. If it is full, I saw people park along side the road for it. I’ll prob go Sat/Sun at noon if you want to join! Not too many kids around b/c it is a trek.

    1. training while busy at work is so hard; i usually just let my workouts suffer, so kudos to you! but perhaps more kudos to the fact that you didn’t eat that whole plate of donut holes, because i definitely would have scarfed them all down myself!
      brittney @ corral b recently posted…chicago half training: week threeMy Profile

    1. Great job this week! It’s always my goal to improve something from the previous week, and you did a great job of that! I have to try to start swimming more..it would be so refreshing in this heat! I can’t wait to see Trainwreck. Looks hilarious:)

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Gretchen! Hope you got to see it – I think it will be one of those good movies that will re-run on TNT and TBS in 5-10 years haha.

    1. What a great week! (productive and sounds like you had fun) Way to get two runs in on Saturday! How was the twilight run? Haven’t done a twilight or night race yet. They sound awesome. The pool looks amazing. Congrats on getting all that swimming in this week, too! Mmm… Ted’s. 🙂 I haven’t seen Trainwreck yet, but it’s on my list. I’m so behind on movies…
      Nathasha recently posted…Marine Corps Marathon Training – Week 5 (Fight like a girl and Trevor Noah)My Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Nathasha! The Twilight run was alot of fun – much better weather in the evening but still super humid. Def had five guys afterwards haha. Hope you get to see Trainwreck!

    1. Great job and way to push through with all of that training! I also love watching, uh, quality TV while I’m on the treadmill. It’s a must for getting through those long runs indoors!

      Those doughnut holes look AMAZING. Excuse me while I wipe the drool off of my keyboard, LOL.
      Emily @ Out and About recently posted…BTN Big 10K race recapMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Lifetime Movies are are also great for treadmill runs 🙂 It took alot of will power not to order a plate full of them!

      1. Run Jenny Run

        It was wonderful! I am so bummed that I procrastinated on my swim workouts all summer – I really enjoy the pool that I go to. Hopefully its cooled down a bit in PGH – I’ve been enjoying the cooler weather in AK!

    1. I feel like everyone is blogging about Ted’s Bulletin recently! I really need to try it!

      1. Run Jenny Run

        I hope you do! Its so good. Maybe they end up expanding up north too.

    1. I am not a fan of Amy Schumer so I was going to skip Trainwreck but I keep hearing such good things about it. I might have to go see it this weekend…. hmm!

      I love that you watched the Kardashian’s during your treadmill run. They are a go-to for me as well during long mill runs 😉
      Kristina recently posted…Weekly RUNdown + Q&AMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks Kathryn! I am hoping I’ll come back from vacation refreshed and focused for the next two (less) months.

    1. That pool looks so amazing – mega refreshing and a great escape from the heat!

      Nice job pushing through the race on tired legs! Fun to do as an early birthday celebration for a friend!
      Sun recently posted…On The Upswing!My Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        It was fun! I’m surprised I haven’t thought of a birthday race before. I will def miss the outdoor pool when the summer comes to a close… but I guess warm baths make up for the cooler weather come winter.

    1. I’m such a coffee addict, that I’ve never tried the teas at Starbucks. It does look refreshing! The flowers at the monastery are beautiful! Kudos for volunteering at Ronald McDonald House!
      HoHo Runs recently posted…Good FriendsMy Profile

      1. Run Jenny Run

        I recently became a tea addict! It may flip once the season changes.

    1. My arms are tired from just hearing about your swimming adventures! It’s hard to believe we are two ish months from Chicago. Keep up the hustle!

      1. Run Jenny Run

        Thanks – you too! I can’t believe it will be here in less than two months. Do you know which corral you will be in?

    1. I just wanted to tell you if you need a place to link your weekly training or racing (or whatever) posts, I’m hosting the new Weekly Wrap. I’d love it for you to join in!
      HoHo Runs recently posted…Day in LifeMy Profile

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