Half Marathon PR Quest – Week 8

Remember I was trying to decide whether to go for the PR in the Brooklyn Half, or in the Covered Bridges Half in Vermont? Well, I spoke to my coach this week and asked him his thoughts. Here’s the short version:

I’m going for it in Brooklyn!

Basically, my coach thinks that I’m ready to run my goal pace, based on my training results from the last few weeks. He did say that we should set an A goal, B goal and C goal and base my decision on how I’m feeling on the day and what the weather is like, since it’s definitely been heating up.

I’m excited! He suggested I take a look at the course map again this week and start to visualize my race strategy. We’ll be going over pacing before the race, but I’m feeling good about it.

Of course, if I try and don’t make it, or if I’m not feeling it on the day and decide to back off, I still have the Vermont race a couple of weeks later where I can attempt it again.

So this was my week of training:

Monday: Strength training

Tuesday: Off

Wednesday: Lactate threshold run. After a warm up, I ran 5 x 5 minute repeats at a pace about 30 – 40 seconds below my half marathon goal pace, followed by a cool down.

Thursday: Off

Friday: 40 minute recovery run

Saturday: Long run – nearly 11 miles in 90 minutes. Not my fastest long run, but I was pretty happy that I picked up my pace for the last 4 miles.  I also did a yoga class at A Healthy U conference, which was great – I modified  a little because my shoulder is still painful from my fall last week, but it was a good way to shake out the long run.

Sunday: 40 minute easy run. This was a hot run! It was mid-morning, already 70 degrees and sunny. I stopped at every water fountain! I was a sweaty mess by the end, but it felt great to be running in a tank and shorts. 🙂

I’ve been using the Clif Shot Bloks in the margarita flavor as my long run fuel. I figure I will use about half a pack about 45 minutes into the half marathon. I’ve decided it’s the texture of sports chews in general that I’m not a fan of, but these are easier to get through than gummi bears and have been fine during training, so I’m going to stick with them.

So wish me luck, guys! Brooklyn is THIS SATURDAY!! 🙂

Miles for week: 26.6

 

Don’t forget you can still donate to the amazing charity I’m running for:

David’s House offers support & somewhere to stay for families of children receiving treatment at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. It was founded by the family of David Cyr, a little boy who passed away at age 5, after battling cancer for 3 1/2 years. David lived close to the hospital. When he realized that other families couldn’t go home to sleep & shower & eat – that they had to sleep in chairs, in hospital rooms – he wanted his parents to invite them to come stay at his house. After his death, his family founded David’s House to realize his dream. Families can sleep, shower, relax, prepare meals & have one less thing to worry & think about while their little ones are being treated nearby. I’m proud to be running 13.1 miles for this charity.