Amazing workouts this weekend

The weekend started with a long run on Saturday morning. The 8.5 mile run was on the same loop I did last weekend on the desert trail.  

I am getting used to the new shoes I got maybe about a month ago.  Made an adjustment in them using my own footbeds inside. I write about these footbeds here shortly, but I have used them in the past and that's one of the reasons I have gone back to them. Sure I have tried and used others, but these are the best I have found out there. 

Back to the weekend of training. 

I worked on getting my heart rate in my Zone 4. I kept it there for the majority of the run. I got in a groove and just felt good out on the trail. Cooler weather was nice as I was able to get out about 15 minutes before the sun rise. Nutrition and hydration where both good. I was able to get in an extra half mile over my previous run out there in the same amount of time. 

I looked forward to a group cycling ride Sunday morning for my recovery. A slow, max speed of 16 MPH group ride. The 26 miles helped my legs recover well. A few hours after the ride, I joined members of my family for a "Leg Day" workout. Using dumbbells and other weights along with resistance bands. Doing wall sits, walking lunges, squats and lateral side steps. Last week's leg workout had me sore the next day. Today, I recovered from it pretty well. Not sore, but a little stiff. All good and felt great getting these workouts in. 

Working on resistance band workouts and looking forward to some shorter runs this week. 

Solid Weekend of Training

A great solid weekend of training.  I am getting more fit, getting my heart-rate in my Zone 3 for long periods of time and feeling more comfortable. It’s a little bit of a stretch to get it into my Zone 4 and keep it there, but I am working on it. 

My weekend workouts are my longer ones keeping my shorter cardio workouts and weight sessions during the week. 

Last weekend I was able to get a seven mile run in on Saturday. It was very hot and muggy early in the day, but got it done. Followed it up Sunday with a 34 mile road ride with some good climbing. A 3.5 mile hill climb to be in fact. Bouncing back from the workouts is getting easier. 

I worked this weekend on fueling a little better than last week. Hydration played a key roll in Sunday’s ride. 

To help me stay on top of my hydration game and keeping cool, I really relied on heavily the use of my Spruzza Mist system. The hill climb had me going around 8 MPH so a lot of the cooling air effect wasn't kicking in. The added misting I did, spraying both my chest, opening up my jersey in the front, and misting both sides of my head and ears really kept me from over heating. I knew early on in the ride, I was going to be using it a lot with the hot sun rising as fast as it was without cloud cover. 

It’s amazing what either a new pair of shoes can do or not running in “zero-drop” shoes.  I can’t tell because the shoes I have been running in the past year are really broken down, or the “zero-drop” shoes they were made my legs sore. After wearing and testing out a new set of kicks on Saturday’s seven mile run, I recovered very fast and didn’t feel it the next day. 

I should have done this a long time ago, but just kept putting it off. 

Training is going well and I am very happy where I am at this point in the game. 

Update Week One Marathon Training

I moved my long run from Sunday this past weekend to Saturday.  The day was suppose to be rainy all day so I was up for getting drenched.  I dropped my car off for an oil change and used the time to head out on an eight mile journey.  A little misty rain came down the first mile or so, but I quickly got into a groove and was loving the cool fresh air.  I did not really plan out a route, I just knew I was out for the eight miles.  I was trying to calculate in my head while watching my GPS so I would end up pretty close to my start point.  About four miles into my run, I was noticing ahead of me a few road closures. I knew the Phoenix Marathon was taking place that morning but had no idea what the course was.  I came across the race course twice, slowing down to watch and support those in the event.  Hit the eight miles very close to my start point and felt very strong.  My knee was great the whole run. The problem I had was the next day during the recovery.  It was a very bad day.  Knee was locking up and very sore making it difficult to walk around.  I had to keep icing it and still am three days later. The visit to the doctor Monday night kind of helped but the pain is still there.   I feel like I am a scientist trying to test the limits of my knee and see just how far it will go before it fails.   My schedule is tight this week and I hope I get my week day runs in.

Week one marathon training review

This week I finished my first week of running workouts, along with my other cardio and light weights I am doing to prepare for a marathon in June of this year.  Logged a total of 14 miles.  My long run was yesterday consisting of 8 miles.  I kind of mapped out in my head the course I would take and stuck to it.  The course had a gas station which I was glad I planned as I needed to use the restroom.  The weather was in the mid 60's so I just wore a tech shirt and pair of shorts. I have been working really hard to keep my heart rate down as it averaged 147bpm.