Last week I completed week 2 of London marathon training, logging 4 runs for the week, strength training, hot yoga, and travel to Arizona for the Rock N Roll 5k and Half Marathon.
The week started out pretty good. I did a 45 minute recovery run on the treadmill. Treadmill running is not my fav, but it is freezing in NYC, and running outside right now is just not an option.
Next was an interval run where I ran 5 mins on, and 1:30 off. I tried to increase my pace slightly for every 5 minute interval to test my endurance a bit.
I also did some strength training this day. Just a simple leg routine circuit that I tend to do often. I really need to switch it up. (workout is in the video at the bottom of this post)
Next up was hot yoga on Friday, which was really fantastic. I’m loving that I’ve added this back into my training regimen. I really feel fresh and re-energized afterward, and its a good prelude for my long runs on the weekend.
RnR Arizona Race Recap:
This was State #18 for me in my journey to run a half marathon in all 50 states. I have to say, I really enjoyed AZ. The weather is looney as heck though. You have to wear a winter coast in the am because it’s in the 40s, and then switch to tees and sandals because it’s 75 by noon! ….. The races were just OK for me. RnR always puts on great events so that wasn’t an issue. There was just basically zero crowd support out there. Most of the bands playing were ehhhh except these cool drummers on the mountain. The Gatorade mix was terrible. I don’t know what happened but it had a funky taste to it. ….. Post race amenities were great, chocolate milk…had a couple, Pringles, granola bars, post race massages, and I snagged enough SIS to last me through the next few weeks of training. ….. Would I recommend this race, yes. The Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale area is cool, and the people were so nice. We even stumbled on upon an Afrobeats rooftop party which was the first cluster of brown folks that I saw for the entire weekend.
Check out my Vlog of this weeks Training, and of my time in Arizona for the weekend.
I just wrapped up week one of my slow climb to 26.2 miles for the London marathon in April. I thought the week went pretty well. I followed my training program almost to a T…almost because I always have to tweak it a bit to my liking.
For this training cycle, I am following the Garmin intermediate training plan which is 3-4 runs per week based on time, not distance, which I prefer. You can easily edit the plan on Garmin’s website, adding or removing activities, changing your workout days, etc. so the plan fits your schedule and liking.
I like this plan because it sync directly to my watch, and my training is readily available right on my wrist.
This week I completed 3 runs, an easy run on Tuesday, an interval run on Wednesday, Hot Yoga on Friday, and a quasi-long run on Saturday. Since I’m getting back into the swing of things, I am just really focusing on completed the allotted training time, and not really focusing on my pace, just focusing on getting it done. I work on speed during my interval runs, and focus on finishing my runs on the other days.
My workouts for the week
Check out my video below of my training, and subscribe to my YouTube channel here http://bit.ly/2kSRcAw to get updates on all of my training.
A few weeks ago I traveled to Memphis for the St Jude Marathon weekend. Yes I was there to run, but I also travel to actually experience the locale, explore the culture, and of course, lots of good eating! ….. Check out my recap of Memphis where I saw the National Civil Rights Museum/Lorraine Motel, site of Dr. Kings Assignation, visited Graceland, Home of Elvis. Had awesome BBQ on Beale Street, and just had an overall great time. This was definitely one of my favorite races that I’ve done to date.
I never check bags anymore. Whether I’m traveling for 3 or 10 days, I just don’t see the need to. I’ve learned how to pack smartly and efficiently in a carry on & personal bag. If you don’t have an airline credit card, or status you are wasting ? on baggage fees. Check out my tips and tricks below on how to pack carry on only for a weekend running trip.
?Use a small bag: the smaller your bag, the less you can stuff in it! ?Pack only what you need: it’s only 2-3 days, how many outfit options do you need??!! ? Pack clothes in the same color family: this makes it easier to mix and match pieces, and you can wear things more than once! ? for longer trips. ?Organize in Pouches/small bags: group things like toiletries, tech, health, hair, etc. together, it makes things easier to find once you get to your destination. ?Bring a reusable water bottle: you can fill it up at a fountain once you pass security. This beats buying that $6 bottle of water at the airport. Also, hotels often have water in their lobbies that you can refill with. ?Invest in good luggage. You don’t have to spend $500 on a bag, but that $50 carry on will not last you. I’ve had my go to carry on since 2011, and it’s still going strong! If you plan to travel often, a good bag(s) is worth it.
What is your preference, checking a bag, or going carry on only? Let me know your thoughts, and any tips or tricks you may have.
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