Eat Pray Run DC

Running hard, eating well and living a grace-filled life in Washington D.C.

Richmond Marathon Training Recap – 3 Weeks Left!

By: Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC34 Comments

Well, y’all, I am now looking at taper time. This weekend was full of big miles and gorgeous weather and spectating the Marine Corps Marathon and  this week was full of resting a tweaky knee and a new fitness class. We are getting really close to race day and I’m excited. I’m feeling strong, despite that tweaky knee I mentioned and am confident that I’ll give Richmond my best (whatever it may be that day…). With that, here’s this week’s Richmond Marathon training recap: 

Monday: barre class. This felt really tough but was great to stretch out my muscles and such. 

Tuesday: I woke up with a twinge of knee pain. Not enough to see a doc but enough that it was very much present if you know what I mean. It was also a rainy day so I decided to skip speed work in favor of a tempo run – I ran 5 miles at an average pace of 9:52. This was a solid run and I felt good about it. My knee didn’t love it, but again, nothing too awful.

Wednesday: I tried my first TRX class. I don’t really have a good explanation of what TRX is (other than saying “working out with the long straps attached to the wall”) so I thought I’d share this explanation with y’all: 

Born in the Navy SEALs, Suspension Training bodyweight exercise develops strength, balance, flexibility and core stability simultaneously.

It requires the use of the TRX Suspension Trainer, a highly portable performance training tool that leverages gravity and the user’s body weight to complete 100s of exercises.

Workout Using the Suspension Trainer 

The TRX Suspension Trainer is the original, best-in-class workout system that leverages gravity and your bodyweight to perform hundreds of exercises.

You’re in control of how much you want to challenge yourself on each exercise – because you can simply adjust your body position to add or decrease resistance.

The TRX Suspension Trainer:

  • Delivers a fast, effective total-body workout
  • Helps build a rock-solid core
  • Increases muscular endurance
  • Benefits people of all fitness levels (pro athletes to seniors)
  • Can be set-up anywhere (gym, home, hotel or outside)
  • By utilizing your own bodyweight, the TRX Suspension Trainer provides greater performance and functionality than large exercise machines costing thousands of dollars.

Used By Trainers, Athletes and the U.S. Military
Thousands of people at all fitness levels now train on the TRX: From everyday people who just want to feel and look their best to some of the world’s most elite athletes. The TRX is used routinely by all four branches of the military, and can be found in the locker rooms of:

  • Major League Baseball teams
  • National League Baseball teams
  • UFC fighters
  • Olympic-level cyclists, swimmers & runners

– See more at: https://www.trxtraining.com/train/what-is-suspension-training#sthash.aw6oYILE.dpuf

The TRX class was super challenging – I loved it! I definitely plan on going back. 🙂

Thursday and Friday I rested because I knew I had big miles coming up and my knee still hurt. 

Saturday: Oh, Saturday. Saturday was the anniversary of my very first twenty mile run. That run took me just under 4 hours — 3:59:xx. I was hoping to run Saturday’s 20 miles in about 3:30. I met my friend Meghan on the Mall and out we went. We ran a few miles past National Airport and then turned around and headed back home. The air was crisp, our feet were fast and we were getting it done. Once we stopped for a bathroom break, I realized we were running way faster than goal pace — we had run multiple miles in the 9:xx range. We vowed to slow down, but that didn’t really happen until late in the run. When my watch finally hit 20, I saw this: 

2014-10-26 18.30.11

 

It’s fair to say that that run was amazing. It was just one of those days where everything was right. I ended it happy. Tired, but happy. Hopefully, race day will go as well as 20 mile day! Oh, and here are the splits: 10:02, 9:50, 10:10, 10:04, 9:48, 9:40, 9:27, 9:46, 9:41, 9:04, 9:41, 9:46, 9:23, 10:09, 10:13, 9:37, 10:22, 10:26, 10:46, 10:45. Obviously tired at the finish, but given the too fast start, not bad!

Sunday: On Sunday, I’d planned to run with two different friends. I ended up just running with one, but ran further than I expected. I jumped into the Marine Corps Marathon and ran with my friend Kristen from miles 10.5 -16. I’d planned to jump in and run with Mar (y’all — go give her props, she’s a marathoner!!) at mile 21, but the police weren’t allowing anyone on the course at that point. So I headed to the finish to be ready for my girl. And she made it! So proud of ALL my friends who ran Sunday. I loved spectating – it plays to all my strengths: I’m loud and I love strangers. 🙂

2014-10-26 16.59.37

 

What a week! Hope you all had a great one.

Who ran long or raced this past weekend? 


Comments

    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      my knee hurt right when i started running (saturday and sunday) but once i settle in, it goes away. i’m going to continue taping and cross training and resting on my rest days!

      Reply

    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      thanks! running with friends during MCM was the best because i wouldn’t have run otherwise on sunday and i think my legs feel better today as a result!

      Reply

  7. Chaitali says

    Wow, great job on your Saturday run! It was a beautiful morning that day. I did my first 13.1 mile run on Saturday and it was a good feeling 🙂 It convinces me I’m ready for Richmond. We went to spectate at MCM too and it’s the first time I’ve gone to just watch a race. It was a great experience!
    Chaitali recently posted…Weekly reviewMy Profile

    Reply

    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      thanks – it was a wonderful day, weather wise! hopefully i’ll see you in richmond — you are definitely richmond ready!

      Reply

    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      thanks sue! i’m bummed i missed you but i hope you feel proud — everyone i’ve talked to had a really tough day in that heat yesterday. you are inspiring!

      Reply

  16. nevie says

    your 20 miler is unreal. i’m gonna have to start going back through all your training weeks and copying your cross-training, woman. you are a champion. i was bummed i didn’t see you anywhere on sunday but your texts have all been incredibly lovely and you were the constant voice of reason and responsibility in my head that kept me playing it safe and you are the reason i am able to walk today without extra twinges in my hip, between the PT suggestion and knowing “courtney would tsk tsk at me if i tried to run this into the ground” 😉 i can’t wait to hear you go back and claim richmond as its queen. <3
    nevie recently posted…Race Recap: Marine Corps Marathon 2014My Profile

    Reply

    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      thanks, friend! it was a really good run. i’m trying to channel the feelings of that run so i can emulate it on race day. i’m excited to give richmond a shot again. nervous of course, but i know that i’m better prepared than i was a year ago. 🙂

      Reply

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