Dallas Marathon Training: Week 14 Complete

Last week's workouts:
Sun 10/21: 25 min yoga (Yoga for Runners podcast)
Mon 10/22: 3 mi easy + power yoga upper body strength training
Tues 10/23: 1 hr run (not sure if I'll tackle mile repeats or take it easy again)- I did a tempo run with the 4:30 group, 10 min warmup; 15 min @ 10min/mi; 5 min recovery; 20 min @ 10 min/mile
Wed 10/24: 3 mi easy 20 min yoga podcast, Hip Opening Flow
Thurs 10/25: 60 min run 3.1 mi run, 35 min
Fri 10/26: Off
Sat 10/27: 20 mi easy 20.54mi, 4:07:45, avg pace 12:03

When I say "easy," I am referring to the pace. Trust me, there is nothing easy about 20 miles! The 4:30 group was awesome, both the pace leaders were out (one with an injury, one was running the Marine Corps Marathon) and everyone stepped up to the plate and worked as a team to get in our 20 miles. I still can't believe I did it! I could have cried afterwards, but I was just too tired.

I am still very nervous about the actual race. Twenty miles was tough, my legs were sooooo sore and I was mentally drained. I can't imagine still having to run another 6 miles after that.

I am planning on finishing the season with the 4:30 group. I think I am just not in 4:10 shape and it was an ambitious goal for my first marathon. So many people have told me to not even have a goal time, to just focus on finishing, so that is going to be my only goal.

This week's plan:
Sun 10/28: YMCA Fired Up! 5K, 34:33 (a new PR... for slowest 5K time!)
Mon 10/29: Yoga
Tues 10/30: 1:10 mile repeats
Wed 10/31: Rest
Thurs 11/1: 1:00 easy run
Fri 11/2: 40 min easy run OR bike + upper body strength training
Sat 11/3: Yoga
Sun 11/4: Dallas Running Club Half Marathon

I'm a little nervous for the half marathon, my legs have not been in good racing shape, but I will try my best!

Dallas Marathon Training: Week 13 Complete

Last Saturday, after having taken a couple of weeks off, I joined back up with my training group to run 17 miles. It was not pretty. I wore compression sleeves and these helped my leg pain a lot, but my stamina was nowhere near where it had been. Throw in some crazy humidity and I had to run/walk the last 3 miles. It was very discouraging and one of my pace leaders (Alan) suggested that I think about dropping down to the half marathon.

Even worse, I was super sore for several days afterwards. So I focused on preparing for my next long run. Instead of running mile repeats with my group on Tuesday night, I ran an easy 5.5 miles with a few other injured runners. I went to the State Fair on Wednesday and wore my compression socks under my pants. (So stylish!)

Then on Thursday, I got my first sports massage. Holy cow, this massage was like none other I've ever had. The masseuse is also a personal trainer and works with a lot of pro athletes, so she knew what she was doing. She worked so much tension out of my legs and glutes. I took an Epsom salt bath afterwards and the next day still felt like I'd had a hardcore lower-body strength workout. (Full disclosure, I had bruises from where she'd gotten really deep into those muscles!)

Friday morning, Michael and I got up early to go for a run and for the first time in, well, months, I did not feel like I was limping while I ran. My legs were sore, but I still felt good and a few easy miles shook those muscles out.

Saturday morning, I ran with the 4:30 pace group instead of my usual 4:10 group. I missed my teammates but this group was really nice and good to run with. The slower pace was just what I needed and I was able to finish the whole 18 miles. It was an amazing confidence boost!

I feel like I have missed a lot of key workouts (hill repeats and mile repeats) so I have adjusted my marathon goal to "just finish." I think for my first marathon, especially with all the problems I have had, this will have to do.

This week's plan:

Sun 10/21: 25 min yoga (Yoga for Runners podcast)
Mon 10/22: 3 mi easy + power yoga
Tues 10/23: 1 hr run (not sure if I'll tackle mile repeats or take it easy again)
Wed 10/24: 3 mi easy
Thurs 10/25: 60 min run
Fri 10/26: Off
Sat 10/27: 20 mi easy

I am also signed up for a 5K on Sunday 10/28, eep! Not sure how I'll feel about that after having done 20 mi the day before.

Spinach and Tortellini Soup

This weekend the weather turned chilly and I was in the mood for soup. My good friend Jen posted a picture on Facebook of a delicious looking soup simmering on her stove, so I immediately requested the recipe! It turned out delicious and we have been enjoying the leftovers for lunches this week.

Ingredients:
Pam & 1 tbs olive oil (I just used olive oil)
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 gloves garlic, minced
2 15-oz cans crushed or diced tomatoes (I did diced with Italian seasoning)
2 15-oz cans tomato sauce (keep the cans b/c you will need 2 15-oz cans of water)
1 10- or 12-oz box frozen spinach
1 12-oz bag frozen cheese tortellini (The only cheese tortellini I saw in the freezer case was 19-oz so ours was heavy on the tortellini!)
black pepper (to taste, I'd say at least a heaping tbs)
salt to taste
1 tsp dried oregano (or to taste)
1 tsp dried basil (or to taste)

Cook the onion and garlic on medium/low to let the onions sweat until soft and tender.

Add the cans of tomato sauce, tomatoes, water, basil, oregano and pepper. Turn up heat until it simmers. I let it simmer for a bit but I was in no hurry. If you are, continue on!

Add the frozen spinach (still frozen) and stir occasionally to help it break up. Once the spinach is mixed in, add the tortellini (still frozen). Cook on medium/high until the tortellini is tender (about 10 minutes). Add salt to taste. Voila!

Makes 8, 2-cup servings.