Marathon Training: Week 6

If you're following along, here is the sixth week of training according to the 4 Months to a 4-Hour Marathon book.  The paces below are specifically for the 4-hour goal.  If anyone would like the paces for 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, or 5:00, I can start posting them alongside my plan if you let me know.

I am also posting on DailyMile, but everything (and more!) will be posted here as well.  This "Marathon Training" series is an experiment for me both in fitness and in blogging, as I am going to go into more detail than in previous training cycles, documented on my Training page.

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Last Week in Review:

Here is the original schedule from last week and my comments/modifications.

1) Mix-up:
I had a tiny mix-up on this step-back week, and was supposed to jog on Thursday, which got swapped to Saturday. 

2) I need rest!
I swapped a shorter day for the long run because I REALLY need to sleep in. I've been waking up at 5:30 M-F and 6:00 on Saturdays for the past month, which is wearing me down. So that leaves me with 30 min of jogging that I will probably swap for cross-training or rest on Saturday morning.  I'm worn out, admittedly.  That long run, even as a step-back from last week's 13, took a lot out of me.  My left ankle is sore, but at least my right knee is better.

3) Lessons from the book:
I re-read the book again recently (the aforementioned one), and it did emphasize the importance of rest and keeping the long runs slow.  I don't know what to believe, but since I'm still not in love with running still, I will do what I can to get to the finish line.

4) Side-effects:
As I mention, I'm tired.  This is going to turn into a confessional, but I've been pretty dejected (and that could be an understatement) for almost three months now, so I constantly feel as though a huge tumor of stress.  Due to my inability to relax, I bought shower bombs (see Lush.com for their luxury bath products), lotions, sprays, a nice loofah, and whatever else I could to help.  With that not working, I have put on some weight (I think) and when I tried to buckle down, it just got worse.  As a side note, normally when I notice that I've put on a few, I can reverse it in a week by just being mindful of things like candy.  Not the case this time.  I also tried lunchtime walks and spending time in the pool.  I don't think I'm eating any more or worse than at other times in the past, but with this training going on, I can only conclude that this is evidence that stress = weight.

Week of Aug 15 (Week 5)

Monday - jog 40 minutes

Tuesday - cross-train 30 minutes  I forgot to note what I do on these days; on this day, I did Jacob's ladder

Wednesday - 6 x 400 m (.25 mi), 2:00-2:10 pace (about 7.3-7.5 mph)

Thursday - cross-train 30 minutes or rest  So I messed this up... I was supposed to JOG for 30 minutes or rest... did cross-training (cycling) instead, which counts for Friday, and I am NOT running on Saturday

Friday - cycle or swim 30 min -- basically did this on Thursday

Saturday - 8 mi 10:40-11:20 pace (about 5.2-5.5 mph) -- did this on Friday (10:06 pace) so I could sleep in a little due to fatigue lately

This Week:

This week made a sudden jump from last week!  Saturday's 15-miler looks daunting, and they took off 10 seconds off the maximum pace (11:20 to 11:10, not like I was running that kind of pace, anyway, but still!). And 14 repeats on Wednesday is the most I've ever done.  Let's just hope I start feeling better so this won't be so tough.

Week of Aug 22 (Week 6)

Monday - jog 40 minutes

Tuesday - cross-train 30 minutes
Wednesday - 14 x 400 m (.25 mi), 2:00-2:10 pace (about 7.3-7.5 mph)
Thursday - jog 30 minutes

Friday - cross-train 30 minutes or rest

Saturday - 15 mi 10:40-11:10 pace (about 5.2-5.6 mph)

If you've trained for a marathon, when do you start being freaked out/daunted by the long run distances?  Or for shorter runs, what paces freak you out?


For me, I get freaked out when scheduled long runs are 13 mi and above.  I get nervous about pace when I'm expected to hold faster than a 9:00/mi unless it's a 5k.

To be continued...