It’s crunch time! Just six weeks to go before the Chicago Marathon. With my increased work hours in the past few weeks it’s been difficult to get my runs in, so they have been short and sweet. I somehow have it in my mind that if I can get three 5-mile runs done in a week, I will do okay (remember, I run/walk/run/walk/run and all I ever want to do is finish!) As much as I’m sorry to see the summer end, I am happy for this cool fall-like weather. I’ve knocked off about a minute/mile with the decrease in heat and humidity. I also added a strength training session last week, which was a nice change of pace. The past week wasn’t where it needed to be, but at least I got some work done:
Sunday, 8/20: 5.1 mile run, then off to the Cubs game for an exciting win against the Blue Jays!
Monday, 8/21: 12-hour work day; AKA rest day
Tuesday, 8/22: 12-hour work day; ditto
Wednesday, 8/23: Strength training
Thursday, 8/24: 5.1 mile run
Friday, 8/25: 2.2 mile walk
Saturday, 8/26: 5.1 mile run
My son told me this morning that he got bumped up to Wave 1 this year. Of course that means he’ll be waiting even longer for me at the finish! Chip off the old block that he is, he too has slacked on his training, but of course he is 30 years younger than me and has been running long distance since middle school! So we will see what the next six weeks holds for each of us. This will be his fourth consecutive Chicago Marathon and my fifth, then off to DC together for the Marine Corps Marathon two weeks later!
For the next six weeks I plan to incorporate running, biking, and strength training into my weekly routine. In previous years I have mostly run in preparation for my marathons, so I am hoping the addition of biking and strength training will help. It can’t hurt, right?
How was your week? Are you sad to see summer end? Any fall racing plans for you? How is your training going?
You got in some solid runs! Great job. I am sad to see summer leaving but I love fall, not winter though 🙂 I have a couple of 5k’s scheduled for September.
I usually do the Turkey Trot 5K but that is about it. I may look for a few more this fall. They’re so fun!
I love love that you 2 are running marathons together how fun!!
It’s such a fun thing to do together! I thought we were one and done in 2014 but he says it’s ‘our thing’!
I am VERY sad to see summer end….it’s my favorite season for running, even in the heat. Oh well, I will have a lot to look forward to next year 😉
I love summer, but fall is my absolute favorite season. Yes, that knee should be back in business for you long before then!
So awesome that both you and your son will be running Chicago! I still can’t believe it’s only 6 weeks away!!
I can’t believe it either. 40 days…yikes!
I think it is a great idea to add the bike and some strength training to your training… I could only do that if I were running 3 days a week.
I started the training with running 6 days a week and it just got to be too much.
XTraining with the bike and strength training will help you greatly! Strengthens core and other muscles that we neglect with pure running.
I don’t know why this didn’t occur to me until now!
I love that your son is also running Chicago and MCM!
I’m really not sorry to see summer end – ready for fall temps!
It’s fun that we do this together. I would love it if all of my kids would run one with us!
I do a lot of biking and strength training during my marathon training–and it’s been a recipe for success. I’ll be interested to see how it works for you!
My glutes are still killing me from Sunday’s strength training!
I do think cycling and strength training will improve your running. You are going to be fine – even if your son does beat you to the finish line.
Oh he will beat me by 2 hours, guaranteed!
Good luck with the rest of training! I can’t believe how quickly this training cycle has gone for all of us.
I just saw 40 days on the Chicago Marathon FB page and I was stunned! That sounds so much closer than saying 6 weeks!
How fun that you and your son will be running both Chicago and MCM. What a fun way to create lots of great memories together.
I agree! I’d love it if all of my boys were doing it!