Peaking out the Mileage

Yes, it's just about that time...

My training mileage for the Marine Corps Marathon (October 27th) is peaking. Similar to climbing a rather large (but not necessarily ominous) mountain, my training for this big race is approaching its "peak." The long runs have kept increasing in length. The weekly mileage has reached new heights (no pun intended), as has the monthly mileage.

Thankfully, once this summit is reached, the taper will happen. My training will be scaled back, all in prep for the big day. But, I'm not quite there yet (stay tuned...that'll be happening in a couple of weeks).


But, first things first, let's get this party started...

Welcome to the Weekly Run Down! I love hosting this link-up with Deborah (from Confessions of a Mother Runner). If you write a fitness-based blog, you're invited to join the party. The link-up opens at 1:00 (EST) on Sundays and remains open through noon on Monday. We love reading about everyone's weekly fitness endeavors, training highlights (or low lights) and race recaps. We ask that you link back to both hosts, and we encourage you to read/comment on the other linked blogs as well...please don't link-drop & dash ;-)

Here's the run down on this past week:

Monday - another #nevermissaMonday
As has been the routine, there's always a Monday run. For myself, it's a great jump-start to the new week. I try to keep the run fairly easy, but do add in a few surges. In recent weeks, I have also been playing with a "tempo finale" of sorts, where I run the final mile (give or take) at a faster pace (but not an all-out effort). This particular Monday, I ran four total miles...the first three with 1/4 mile surges and the final one at tempo pace. Oorah!

Tuesday - A chilly ride
The sunrise was breath-taking (or it could have been the chilly 5-mile ride with Gustavas, my bike). The colors were so incredible, there was no need for any filters to capture the beauty. Even though the sun is rising later an later, I never regret experiencing it firsthand.

Wednesday - another #5at5
Up and out the door for another early morning 5-miler with my friend, Barb. Cool temps (mid-50's), humid air and damp streets (from another overnight rainfall), all under a beautiful star-lit sky. Not a bad way to start the day. Also, six miles of biking in the evening. Another oorah!

Thursday - can you say Intervals?
When it's the early morning, and it's just you and the unsuspecting sidewalk...intervals. They'll wake you up! There's a 2-block expanse of sidewalk on the college campus (about a half mile from my driveway) with no intersecting streets (as a bonus, it's also well-lit with no pedestrian traffic this time of day). This week, I did 10 sets of sprints...sprinting halfway, then an easy-paced recovery for the remainder of the distance. Back and forth. Mostly progressive splits (getting faster each time). Three total miles (with warm-up and cool down). Energized for the day (this is my coffee LOL). Oorah again!

Friday - impromptu change of plans...
When the 2-mile morning power walk turns into a 1/2-mile walk and a 1/2 mile sprint back home (thanks to the sudden pop-up downpour), I had to summon other options. Once back home (and dried  off), I grabbed the hand weights and did a short upper-body strength session. Change can be good, right?

Saturday - 17-mile #longrunSaturday
Again, cool temps (52F), but these were accompanied with a 15mph NE wind. I met up with Barb for the first seven miles, which went relatively easy. I circled back home to refuel and grab a drink (water and Gatorade), and then headed back out for seven solo miles, which were a lot more challenging. I originally planned on 18 (cumulative) miles, but decided (about midway through the second set of miles) to cut the run short at 17 miles instead. With a 5-mile run on tap for Sunday, I felt it best to scale back Saturday's run (especially when it started to feel not so great). After the second pit stop at home (more water/Gatorade), I finished the final three miles with more ease than the previous three miles had been before my break. My body felt tired (near the 11-mile mark) and the wind was brutal. Had the temps been a bit warmer (or the wind a bit lighter), I think the run would have felt easier. Suffice it to say this was a good "character-building" run. These long runs can't all be joyful. There would be nothing to learn or gain if they were easy. I did go for a 6-mile bike ride in the afternoon, and that did wonders for my tired legs. Huge oorah!

Sunday - Mollie Tibbits Memorial Run
The usual Sunday shakeout happened via a tribute run for the late Mollie Tibbits (whose hometown is 20 miles from us). I ran 5 miles, which is double from what I usually do on Sundays. The route was was quite hilly, the air was damp, the temps were cool and there was non-stop mist in the air. But, this run wasn't about me or my comfort.

         

In summary...mileage has just about peaked out. September (currently) is sitting at 131 (with a few #nevermissaMonday miles still happening before month's end). As this post goes live, this week saw 34 miles of running (including the Mollie run).  Walking had 9 miles (probably more happening on Sunday as well). There were 17 biking miles (with 15-16 possibly happening Sunday afternoon, weather permitting). Daily stretching/foam rolling/planking is a given at this point in my training. I've scaled back the strength work a bit with the increased mileage. Yes, the #ish is getting real LOL.

In case you missed out, here's what went down on the blog this week:
Making It Happen
Kickoff to Kinnick 5K - the race that went virtual  
Runfessions - Farewell to Summer

In other news:
Friday Fashion Flair - Friday was another dreary day (rain, rain go away!), so I thought some cheetah, chocolate (brown) and royal blue would brighten things a bit. I've been doing the Friday Fashion Flair posts for several years, now, and it's always fun (for me, at least LOL) to look through the past images for inspiration on blah days. Anyways, you're always welcome to join the party...post a pic, grab the hashtag (#FridayFashionFlair) and tag me (@runningonthefly).

National Daughters' Day and National Sons' Day

Did you celebrate either or both? Crazy how there's a "national" day for everything, right? None the less, I don't share a lot of my family stuff on here...but here's a glimpse of what we're most proud of. 

 HOLY YIKES! For those who didn't catch my Runfession post (link above), I shared this pic of a hornet's nest. Don't ask me how it's been there all summer and no one (especially myself...the detail gal) could have NOT seen it. We haven't even seen any hornets in the yard or near the house. It's the size of two basketballs. We've been told it's best to just leave it for now. After a hard freeze, the inhabitants will be history and the queen will not return to this dwelling next spring. Thank goodness!

So, that about sums it up. The weather was rather dreadful...cold, damp, and more rain than we needed. I'm just grateful I've been able to get in most of my workouts. My body is still feeling pretty good considering all the miles as of late. I'm pretty grateful for that as well.

How was your week? Fall weather, or does it still feel like summer? Training success? Any races coming up?  Ever 'hosted" a hornet's nest in your yard?

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