This week was hard. It was emotionally draining for a variety of reasons and I think that bled over into my runs. I got my runs in but a couple were a touch shorter than they should’ve been and I honestly just felt kind of blah most of the week. I’m happy that I seemed to be coming out of it on today’s run and I’m looking forward to a better week this upcoming week. Anyway, on the this week’s half marathon training recap. Each week during this training cycle (I’m training for the B&A Trail Half Marathon – a relatively small, rails to trail half in March), I will share how my training went and what the week looked like. I do this because: 1) I love reading about how other folks train and 2) it’s great for me to have a record of what I did each week. Also, honestly, it helps keep me accountable when I know I’ll be writing about it. I also post almost all of my runs on Instagram as well. I’ve started a weekly link up for Training Recaps – let’s support each other as we train this winter! Please do link up!
Monday: I again did my speed workout on Monday – this time because I knew I’d be up late watching the Alabama game and wouldn’t want to do a hard workout Tuesday morning. I did this one on the treadmill over lunch and nailed it. 1% incline, 5×1000 at 7.2 mph. It was tough. I also went to Pure Barre, after work before the game started.
Tuesday: I was SO sore from Monday’s workout. I did not run but went to FlyWheel for a spin class after work with work friends and had a really great stretch once I got home.
Wednesday: 5.7 easy miles with Jen from Bubbly Runner. It was a lovely pre-sunrise run!
Thursday: Tempo Thursday! I ran after work on the National Mall and I got freaked out when I saw rats. Yuck!
Friday: Easy 4.6 with Caitlin. It had been WAY too long since we’d run together so this was a much needed treat!
Saturday: 8.2 chilly, somewhat rainy miles. On a side note, I saw Hidden Figures on Saturday. If you haven’t seen it yet – GO. It was wonderful and so inspiring. Not to be missed.
Sunday: 4.6 really nice miles. I felt good and strong and am looking forward to a new week.
Total mileage for the week: 33.22 miles
Total mileage for the year: 66.72 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle: 190.27 miles
Have a lovely day and be sure to link up if you are training!

I bet you were sore after a speed workout and purebarre in the same day! That’s totally kick-butt stuff! I swear we get a good run when we’re feeling blah as a sign not to give up!
Jennifer @ Dashing in Style recently posted…Boston Trail Half Marathon Training: Week 5
Wow, Pure Barre after that tough speed workout?!? You’re a beast!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Half Marathon Training Log – Week 2
Nice job this week! I can’t wait to see Hidden Figures, going to see it next weekend!
That’s still a good week! Hopefully this one is better for you.
I’m going to have to try a pure barre class with you one of these days – when my cold is gone, of course! Have a good week – not that this one wasn’t good, but hope this one is better!
Looks like you had a great week of workouts, Courtney! You got a lot of miles in plus cross training at flywheel and barre (I’ve done a really short barre class and liked it, I think I need to try the whole thing). So sorry about the outcome of the game for you guys, Alabama is a great team and had a great season though… really was a good game to watch and the best two teams were in it.
Oh man. That game was crazy and so stressful. Thanks for the kind words! It was a great season and I’m proud of our team and happy for Clemson.
Stress definitely impacts our runs. even if we can use it to fuel us, sometimes it just distracts us. I definitely felt blah right after I lost my job. everyone told me to use my anger and hurt and channel it into my runs which I did, but I still felt sad and thought about my situation constantly on the run and as a result I was not 100% focused. I hope your great long run has you feeling focused again!
I’ve been feeling very emotionally drained and blah this week, as well. Isn’t it funny how that can impact running so much? I felt like this week was just a “check the box” type of week for me. Here’s to a better week for both of us!!
I was upset this week too. Now I’ve moved beyond that into denial. I wanted to see Hidden Figures but my friend chose La La Land. Now we both wish we’d seen Hidden Figures (LLL was cute, but not awesome.).
Oh you MUST go see it. It was stunning. Just a wonderful movie!!
One of my clients had just seen Hidden Figures this afternoon before our workout and she highly recommended it. She couldn’t stop talking about it, and I had to tell her not to spoil it for me.
Rats? Yuck!
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…No Ice, No Group Run, No Bueno
LOL – I hope you get to see it soon. It’s excellent. And yes, the rats were SO gross!
I had a pretty rough emotional week last week. It really drains me!! Hoping this week will be better. I agree with you on seeing rats – eeek!!
Lisa @ TechChick Adventures recently posted…Training Tuesday 1/17/17 – GCM edition!
Sorry you had a rough week. I’m glad things are turning around for you. It always feels amazing when you hit those paces in speedwork! Those rats would’ve really freaked me out too!
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I love seeing this training recap and linkup! Next week I’ll have to jump in on this! Good for you for getting those treadmill miles in too – the post-it note is such a good idea. I always seem to space out when I need to change pace/hills on a treadmill.
Good trainning recap! I also often run on the treadmill, especially when the weather is bad without running outside.
Vicky recently posted…How to Improve Your Running Speed in an Effective Way
Rats would totally freak me out! Eek! Way to go on another solid week.
Alaina @ The Simple Peach recently posted…Wild Places: A 2017 Promise
Your blog is so inspiring. I’d like to try running a half marathon, but I’m sure that if I jumped into the amount of milage you’re doing I’d get some serious shin splints. Do you have any recommendations for how to form a training program? How do you decide what you’re running each week?
I follow the Hanson plan. I recommend you definitely start slow and build up. I would not jump into the middle of a plan without doing a slow build up. There are lots of great free plans online that you can try and see if they work. Good luck!
Thank you! Good luck with your training