towpath marathon training, week 5

Monday

Rest

I had every intention to work out once I landed in Phoenix, but our plane got turned around to Albuquerque because of a summer monsoon in Phoenix.  So didn't have time to work out.

New Mexico Mountains.

However, this gave me plenty of time to make origami birds with lady sitting next to me on the plane.

Our entire row ended up getting a bird.

Tuesday

Bike - AM

I discovered this awesome restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale called The Chopshop. I got this chicken teriyaki bowl with "forbidden rice". Also some random lady came up to me here to tell me about all the "energies" she was feeling from me and gave her "alternative Life Coach" business card. When in Arizona..

Arizona sunsets are consistently amazing!

Wednesday

Speedwork

5.5 mi / 8:51 pace

Finally did speedwork on the treadmill.  The guy next to me told me good job afterwards, lol.

Wandered for food after my run.

Settled on pizza. Wasn't that great unfortunately.

Thursday

Tempo

6 mi / 8:52 pace

I look hesitant because I was about to run outside in July, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Also please note that awesome chafing near my neck thanks to my Camelbak during long runs)

It was worth it.

Seriously - running outside in a 80-something degree dry heat beats running in high humidity, high dew point at 70 degrees in the Midwest.

Should I have told TSA?

Friday

Lift @ Home

So my car was still in Kansas at this point and I was too ashamed to ask someone to pick me up so I could fill my empty fridge... so here's my Friday night dinner.

Sunset at Forest Park. This time we enjoyed E.T. on Art Hill!

Saturday

Rest

It was time to go back to Kansas City to grab my car. 

First stop: Arthur Bryant's BBQ.  This is one of those local places that Presidents go to when they are in town (pictures of Obama, Steven Spielberg, and other celebrities decorated the walls) 

I suppose this made up for my Friday night dinner.

Then we grabbed my car and headed over to Boulevard Brewing to grab a flight.

I don't usually drink the day before a long run but this one was worth it. 

We headed over to the WWI Memorial Museum but discovered it closed early due to water system issues.  Good view of the city though.

Then tapas for dinner. Definitely not vegetarian for marathon training this time around.

Smoked salmon is my life.

And then time to head home.

Sunday

15 mi / 9:40 pace

This was supposed to be 18 miles but 

1. I woke up at 6:15 

2. There was an excessive heat warning 

3. It was 74% humidity with a 67 degree dew point, so 15 was going to have to work.

Overall, I felt OK during this run, it was supposed to be at a faster pace (9:06) but I didn't want to push it in the heat.

It's so humid when this happens after you step out of the car..

Fro-Yo was a must.

Later in the day, I had some really weird mental lapses that made me glad I didn't run the last 3 of the run earlier in the day (I did feel a little guilty about it at first).  So..take it from this amateur, keep it easier in the summer during excessive heat scenarios. I read an article later in the day about how training in heat is better than training at altitude. While I have my doubts about this, I certainly hope it's true!

This next week, I intend to be out the door early enough for my long run where the humidity won't be at its worst. Also - focusing on catching up on sleep too!

towpath marathon training, week 4

Tons of food pictures and my first 20 miler of this training plan ahead..

Monday

Cross: Row

Tuesday

Speedwork

5.7 mi / 9:22 pace

Worst speedwork yet. Will utilize treadmill for all future speedwork workouts.

Personal Trainer

It was a giveaway day at work. This was pretty interesting - protein bars with crickets...this flavor wasn't actually that bad.

Wednesday

Cross: Cycle

Picked this up for post-long run. It was pretty tasty..however I was starving and in desperate need of any calories.

Thursday

Tempo

4 mi / 8:45-8:50 pace

Took this one to the treadmill and it wasn't too bad. Cut it short to keep my weekly mileage increasing by only 10%. TVs on treadmills are very helpful.

Personal Trainer

Crushed Red for Restaurant Week. Everything was amazing. Wild Spring Salmon Salad, Sriracha Chicken Pizza and some Urban Zest sauce with pizza crust/bread as an appetizer. Best meal of the week by far.

Friday

Rest

These were given away earlier in the week at work. They. Are. So. Good. It tasted like jerky- but much more meat/juicier, and hardly any ingredients. Not sure where they are sold at but I need to find more!

It was getting late during our drive to Kansas City and I needed carbs. So, thank you Olive Garden.

Our AirBNB was kinda cool.

Saturday

Long Run

20 mi / 9:14 pace

Before I realized I lost my car key.

We were in Kansas City for a concert but I knew I was going to get my long run in, no matter what..

Well to make this a short story. Great run - felt pretty good through most of the run.

However, got back with no car key. Thought I locked my car key in my car so went to the trouble to get a locksmith. Two hours later..  I realize I lost my key during the run. So now my car is in Kansas City until next week when I can get back there with my extra key. The dealership didn't have enough time at that point in the day to make an extra key.  

Post long run lunch.. 3 hours later. So much for eating a recovery meal within that 2 hour window.

Fitz and the Tantrums.

Meal number 2 of the day. Cinnamon rolls at 1a. I got an omelette that was supposed to have avocado.. 

Sunday

Rest

Needless to say, I did not eat enough on Saturday to properly recover from my run despite my attempt to eat higher calorie items. So Pizza Ranch happened. These were my starter plates.

So I've never been so happy to be back at my apartment. There were quite a few other things that happened in KC that made me think I was bringing bad luck with me everywhere I went. 

Here's hoping this next week and weekend is a bit better!

towpath marathon training, week 3

Monday

Cross - Cycle

It was a very sleepy July 4th for us.

Last Hellofresh meal was a good one!

Tuesday

Speedwork

5 mi / 8:54 pace

Lifting

I could not find this field that was recommended to me for doing speedwork so I settled with the hot and humid run throughout the neighborhood. I did not feel so hot in the middle; my stomach was churning.

I do NOT recommend this flavor. 

Wednesday

Cross - Rowing

It was fun to do the rowing machine for the first time!

Happy Hour Dranks.

Thursday

Personal Trainer

My personal trainer did a fitness assessment with me; got some pretty good feedback and baseline measurements down and we'll see how this goes over the next couple weeks!

Oh, and after we (as in my friend and I, not my trainer lol) met Jeni of Jeni's Ice Cream, nbd.

This may or may not have been my second day in a row at Jeni's. Worth it.

Friday

Tempo

5.1 mi / 9:10 pace

This was supposed to be 7 miles but I wussed out in the morning because of a little lightning; so I ran after work when it was 94 degrees. Mistake. Paired with the fact that I was running short on time, I decided to cut my run short.

Lunch was from a food truck.  Obviously I am not going completely vegetarian for training this time around.

Friday night was spent at Art Hill drinking some beers and watching Top Gun. It was pretty awesome to hear the entire crowd sing Danger Zone. Which should probably be my training theme song.

Saturday

Rest

We went to Elephant Rocks State Park.

Got lost in some rocks.

Then went to Tauk Hawk Mountain State Park - home of the highest peak in Missouri. 

And the largest waterfall too..but you can't really see it..

This was our second lunch. No shame.

Sunday

Long Run

17 mi / 9:37 pace

It was a hot and humid one.  Did not rock this one like last week's.  This turtle could attest to that fact.

Near the end I drank a bit too much from the water fountains and almost didn't get up to the 17 mile mark. Luckily I finished it. Came home and had a colorful meal.

Then discovered these guys at Trader Joes, and saw The Music Man at the Muny. Solid weekend; hopefully next week is just as solid training-wise!

towpath marathon training, week 2

This week I experimented with getting my workouts done after work.. it was nice to catch up on sleep but I think my runs need to be done before work!

Monday

Cross: Cycle

My friend posted pictures from her Cali road trip and I was inspired by this kale/black bean/egg combo that they had for breakfast.  Just missing some avocado!

Tuesday

Speedwork : 4.8 mi / 8:30 pace

Lifting

I have established that I need to find a flat trail or a track for speedwork. I feel like I'm losing out on the advantages of speedwork by running on the hills around my place.  Last marathon training, I did mostly all of my speedwork on the treadmill thanks to winter.

Wednesday

Cross: Cycle

Discovered this new Chipotle-style Mediterranean place downtown. So good. I think Mediterranean is my favorite kind of food.

Then walked back to work. It was our first non-humid day since I moved here!

Thursday

Cross: Cycle

My favorite Hellofresh meal to date. Pan-seared gnocchi, green beans, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and pesto.

I joined the YMCA here which came with a free consultation with a personal trainer.  He had a lot of interesting advice (consuming glycogen post-workout for better recovery, incorporating more whole grains into my diet).  I was supposed to get measurements as far as body fat, weight and whatnot but he established that wasn't needed based on my current fitness (remembering this proud moment for later in life). I signed up for a few sessions with him to get some more variety into my lifting, and honestly, to ensure that I'm using proper form when lifting as well.

Friday

Tempo: 7 mi / 8:54 pace

So, I have become the whitest of white girls since moving to St. Louis. I've got that elite Starbucks status now. But really Cold Brew is worth it. (This one is the Cold Brew with Vanilla Sweet Cream for some girl named Synthia)

I've also been using Nuun for my electrolyte drinks and I'm obsessed.

We went to a Minor League game in Illinois and it was a great night! Very Midwest.

I think these were my first July 4th fireworks in over two years!

Saturday

Rest

We had a float, and were sponsoring a balloon in the July 4th Parade.

I took on the challenge as Balloon Holder.

My Hot Air Ballooning class in college prepared me for this moment.

My friend made fruit pizza. Sugar cookie dough. So. Good.

Sunday

Long Run : 15 mi / 8:52 pace

This week's long run was SO much better than last week. I thought I had found a 2 hour window where it wouldn't be raining..but nope. Thunderstorms still popped up. It rained for about 3/4 of the run.

However, I ran past Grant's Farm which is the home of the Budweiser Clydesdales. They enjoyed the rain.

Indulged in my second Hellofresh meal of the week afterwards.  Not the biggest fan of this one..probably because I burned the quesadillas. Shocker..

It was really great to finish off this week of training on such a strong note! The mileage keeps getting higher for every week..but my endurance is getting back to where it needs to be!