2019 Boston Marathon – Week 1

Following a month of running very sporadically after the 2018 New York City Marathon, I completed my first week of training for the 2019 Boston Marathon!  I’m following the Advanced Plan in Hansons Marathon Method this training cycle.  I only had one “something of substance” workout.

Training Schedule
December 9th – December 15th

Sunday: Easy Run. 6 miles.
Monday: Easy Run. 6 miles.
Tuesday: Rest or Cross-Train
Wednesday: Easy Run. 6 miles.
Thursday: Easy Run. 6 miles.
Friday: Easy Run. 6 miles.
Saturday: Long Run. 8 miles.

Mileage Total: 38 Miles

Notes. The Advanced plan in Hansons Marathon Method started off fairly easy – all easy running.  For the six milers, I kept the effort around 9:00 pace.  For the long run, instead of the 8 miles in the schedule, I ran 12.

Workouts

Long Run. 12 miles [Log Details].

My first long run of the training cycle!  It had been a draining work week and I felt tired mentally but not physically.  A light rain was falling when I woke up but procrastination meant it was pouring when I started my run.  But it was relatively warm – 50 degrees.  I ran in my New York City Marathon Asics Storm Shelter Jacket, Saucony Bullet Capri, and some thin gloves.  By the end of the run, I just ran through puddles.  When I stopped, I was cold but when I kept running I felt pretty comfortable.  I ran easy to Clarendon and then downhill to Rosslyn.  It was a busy week and I mulled over all the set-up that I hadn’t done.

I took a long bathroom break at Bluemont Park to use the bathroom. I told the park ranger in the next stall how, “I ran the Boston Marathon earlier this year and it was about 10 degrees colder with 20 mile per hour winds.”  I wanted to finish around 9:00 pace but was a little slow.

Overall pace=9:08.

Health

Injuries. Since the 2018 New York City Marathon, I’ve had a weird tightness in my right heal.  It doesn’t hurt but I’m watching it.

Sleep.  I tried putting myself on a schedule of going to bed at 9:30pm and getting up at 5:30am.  It was unsuccessful.

Weather

The temperature hovered around freezing to start the week but gradually warmed. It rained during my long run. With that storm, 2018 was the rainiest year in Washington, D.C. history.

Nutrition & Hydration

Nutrition bars.  Coffee Bar.  I’ve had this bar before and I still think it tastes like compressed coffee grounds.  The bar I had contained 190 calories, 28 grams of carbohydrate, 4 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, and about 80 milligrams of caffeine.  The bar is organic and gluten free but for those who are allergic, it contains nuts.  Price: $16.99 for 8 bars.

Routes

Construction. “Work to Begin on the Lynn Street Esplanade and Custis Trail Improvement Project Next Week,” The WashCycle.  This project closed off or narrowed some of the sidewalks in Rosslyn near this popular trail in Arlington.

Racing Schedule

Runner rankings.  Potomac River Running’s Regional Runner Rankings – Fall 2018.  I made the age group rankings (45-49 years old).  The races that counted were – 2018 Navy-Air Force Half Marathon, 2018 Army Ten Miler, and Roosevelt Island Park Run 5K #101.

I also registered for the 2019 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler!

Next race: 2018 Fairfax Four Miler on December 31st.

(My Racing Schedule.)

Clothing & Gear

This summer, I updated my Guide to Running Clothes and my Guide to Running Gear.  Check them out to see what I look for when shopping for different items and my favorites in various categories.

Media & Motivation

Podcasts. “Episode 176 – Unicorns (Des Linden)“, Pace the Nation and “Episode 40 – Des Linden“, The Morning Shakeout.  Two podcasts I follow were at The Running Event and interviewed the 2018 Boston Marathon champion.  Both interviews let me thinking she still doesn’t realize what she accomplished.

“The Heart of Rock & Roll,” Huey Lewis and the News.  The Cleveland Marathon is my true goal race this training cycle and I’ve been searching for a city anthem.  I can‘t embrace “Cleveland Rocks“.

(My “Songs of the Week” on Spotify.)

[dropshadowbox align=”center” effect=”raised” width=”800px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”4″ border_color=”#f4d83f” rounded_corners=”false” outside_shadow=”false” ]Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding. – Jim Valvano[/dropshadowbox]