Welcome to week two of my Shamrock Half Marathon Training Recap. Each week, I’ll share how my training went and what the week looked like. I’m doing 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 wrote about my training plan here, if you want to check that out.
Monday: 4.5 easy miles. I accidentally stopped my watch after the first .5 miles, and then had to restart and forgot about that, which is how I ended up with 4.5 miles instead of 4. Oops! Average pace of 10:13. Pure Barre class.
Tuesday: Track Day! My first track workout in forever. I ran 1 mile to the track, did 12x400s with 1 minute recovery after each (between 2:00-2:10 for each 400), and ran about 1 mile home. Total of 5 miles at average pace (including warm up, recovery and cool down) of 9:31. This hurt. A lot. But, it got done! Thanks to my Oiselle teammate Caitlin for joining me at the track!
jumps for joy after a rainy track workout!
Wednesday: rest day, Pure Barre class
Thursday: New Year’s Eve! I ran a 10k out in Virginia to get in my tempo run. Ran the first 1.5 miles easy to warm up, then pushed it through mile 5 and ran the last .5 easy to cool down. 6.2 miles with a 9:09 average pace. This race was fun and I just barely PRed the 10k! I also met blog reader Mary, who said hi to me on the course – hi, Mary!!!
blog reader Mary and I
Friday: New Year’s Day! I woke up early and race a free 5k in DC hosted by the Mayor’s office. I ran to the start of the race to get in my four miles. I ran with Christy and we had a lot of fun! 4 miles with a 10:06 average pace.
Saturday: Long run day. Nine chilly miles at an average 10:11 pace. I got to run with my PR twin, Becca (our half and marathon PRs are almost exactly the same) and that was awesome. The miles flew by!
Sunday: Man, these Sunday runs are kind of torture. I’ve never really run on Sunday before and I’m having trouble convincing myself to do it. But, I got out there for 4 easy miles, with a 10:23 average pace.
Total mileage for the week: 33.18 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle: 63.78 miles
How was your training this past week? Anybody else do a TOUGH track workout???
Wow I’m impressed with your mileage! Looks like your training is off to a great start. I am getting antsy to get out there again!
Thanks Christine, I have to confess I’ve never come close to running this consistently and I’m really just trying to make this plan a habit by not missing any runs early on. I’m sure I’ll have to miss one or two eventually but I’d really like to avoid it!
Hi Courtney! Thanks for mentioning me in your blog post! It made my New Year’s to meet you at the 10k! Thanks for the inspirational push through that last half mile or so. I didn’t PR after all but I felt great about that race as a whole and had so much fun 🙂 looking forward to reading more about your Shamrock training. I am doing a half marathon in Leesburg in April, so I am also gearing up for 13.1. I am also hoping to run the Richmond marathon (my first!) in November on your recommendation. I tried singing up for the newsletter but never got the confirmation email. Should I try again?? Thanks again so much!!!
Hi! I’m so glad you saw the post 🙂 I also mentioned you to Mar – she said for me to tell you hi! You ran so strong and should definitely be proud! Leesburg is tough – so hilly! I’m sure you will be very well prepared based on how you ran NYE! You will LOVE Richmond – PLEASE let me know if you have questions – it’s my favorite race! And check your spam / promotion folder for the confirmation email for the newsletter. If you still don’t see it, shoot me an email at eatprayrundc@gmail.com and I’ll sign you up! 🙂
Thank you, I will do that! I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to say hi to Mar at the race so tell her hi for me 🙂
Hi Mary!!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…2016 Goals & an Inspiring Word
Great week of training! I’m starting Hanson’s half marathon plan this week and am really looking forward to it. It’s a big change for me, as it’s more days/miles of running than I’m used to, but I think it’ll be good for me!
It’s nice to watch your progress since I’m just a couple of weeks behind you!
I’m exhausted just looking at this week! Was so great to see you NYE!! You are going to do amazing at Shamrock. Hmm, maybe I need to make a support my BRF road trip 😉
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…2016 Goals & an Inspiring Word
Yay for rocking the 12 x 400s! Nice that you had a friend to share the misery. 😉 Love how you’re incorporating races in your training. I need to do more of that!
So impressed with your training so far! Love seeing all your watch posts throughout the week 🙂
Jennifer @ Run Jenny Run recently posted…Year in Review â 2015 Goals
Great week of training! In my last training cycle I ran on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a little tough to get used to at first, but it’ll be routine before you know it! I’m not ready for the cold weather though, ugh!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…New Year’s Resolutions for 2016
Woot! You’ll be proud of me, I am feeling a lot more motivated and excited about running after this weekend, and I actually sat down and looked at some training plans! I think I’m going to use Hal Higdon’s Intermediate plan as an outline — I’ve had good luck with Hal in the past. Looking forward to sharing many more training runs with you!!
That’s a wonderful week! Way to go! Happy New Year to you and your family 🙂
Great way to start the new year! I have hard such great things about the Shamrock and it looks like you are crushing your training cycle!
Happy New Year and keep it up!
Jenn recently posted…weekly recap: 12.27 – 1.2
Way to start the new year off right!
Great training week Courtney! I’m looking forward to hammering out the details for my half marathon plan (my race is 3/20) and getting back into my routine. I think my plan will also include a recovery run on Sundays, which I’m not used to doing but think it will be good. I have my speed workout on the agenda for Wednesday and I think it’ll be tough since I’ve taken time off during the holidays. We should get together for a long run sometime!
Jen@bubblyrunner.com recently posted…New Years & Weekend Wrap-Up
Wow you got a ton of running in! Or that seems like a lot to me! 🙂 Glad you were so productive over the holidays. Very inspiring.
You are killing it! I am still in awe that you can crank out the miles AND barre. My tush would be shaking so bad. Haha.
Alaina @ The Simple Peach recently posted…Walt Disney World Marathon Goals
omg – i give my teachers a warning every time i’m in class, like “I ran xx miles today so when I keel over, it’s okay just keep going.” 🙂
I need a really tough track workout soon! In fact, I just need any run soon, lol. I’m kind of freaking out about Shamrock. It was supposed to be my goal race, but I’m thinking twice about that now considering I haven’t even started training! Let’s run soon!!
Wow, that’s a lot of mileage.
How awesome is it that you have a PR twin! Training was decent last week but snow came and I’m not ready for it!
Ah, the days of tough workouts…what are those again? Great week!
Aw, I know. Boo. BUT your comeback is going to be EPIC.
GIRL! 12 400s is so tough!! You NAILED it!! Running on Sundays is always tough for me, too; I try to avoid it, as much as possible. There have been times when I’ve had to do it, because of a trip or event, but I don’t like it. We do what we have to do, though, right? You’re going to be so prepared for this race; it’ll be worth it, Courtney. Way to go!
Thanks Tara. I know you are probably sick of me saying this, but your last training cycle was SUPER motivating for me and I try and channel you during tough workouts. Happy Monday!
Looks like you are off to a great start! I have not done a track workout in a while. I feel like everytime I try to I get injured. Need to work on that I guess. Have a great week
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Tofu Veggie Lettuce Wraps
I will be back at the track tomorrow. Already nervous!
Wow, you’ve done a lot of running already! I was thinking about hitting the track this week, but after seeing the weather forecast i think I’ll try the treadmill.
Coco recently posted…Hitting The Healthy Reset Button
That’s a lot of miles already….here I am trying to rest that foot, and I should be starting training for Big Sur. This is going to be interesting.
Ok so basically you’re like that person on my Fitbit friends list that gets crazy steps and I can never beat haha…great mileage!
I need to start running again. This sudden onset of winter is messing with me. And my treadmill is not hear yet…
Great job on your training. Maybe once I speed up a bit we can actually do a run together LOL.
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…TOTR: Goals for 2016
Oh please!! We are pretty much the same pace!! Yes let’s run for sure!
Your mileage!!! Go lady go! I definitely need to get on your level!
You’re kicking off the new year and training with a bang! Keep it up lady!
I have my first track workout tomorrow. Ugh. I know it leads to good things, but it’s tough to remember that in the moment! Great job on your excellent week!
Elizabeth recently posted…Books of 2015
Fantastic week!! I’m impressed! You’re going to rock the Shamrock half!
sounds like a strong start! I am actually heading to the track to do 400s after alooooooong time with no workouts lol I’m just going to try to run hard but not have a time goal. no clue what shape I am in lol