Sunday, November 15, 2015

Weekly Wrap-Week 15 Marathon Training


 
November 9-15, 2015
 
I am joining the Weekly Wrap hosted by  Holly from HoHo Runs and Tricia from MissSippiPiddlin. The Weekly Wrap is a blog link up where bloggers share their active lifestyle and other exciting things weekly. To find out more, click on the image below. Feel free to join in on the fun.

http://www.misssippipiddlin.com/weekly-wrap/
 
I am currently training for my second marathon at St. Jude Memphis this December. I just completed Week 15 of Hal Higdon's Novice 2 Marathon Training Plan. I will recap my training and other highlights from my week here in the Weekly Wrap.
 
Monday, November 9th
 
Monday was a scheduled rest day for running. Monday was also the first day of Round 2 of the Grow Your Blog Hop hosted by Kristy from Runaway Bridal Planner. I was so excited to read the four spotlight blogs for the day. Everyone's posts were so creative and interesting to read. I worked on my spotlight post Monday evening after school. Monday's posts were going to be hard to follow.
 
Tuesday, November 10th
 
I ran 5 miles this morning. It was cooler out, 53 degrees, and a light drizzle. It's finally feeling like fall.
 
 

 
 
Tuesday was also my spotlight day for the Grow Your Blog Hop. I decided to do a Q & A format where I answered questions from fellow bloggers and friends. If you missed my post your can read it here. I was overwhelmed by the traffic my blog got today. I'm so glad I signed up for the hop.
 
Wednesday, November 11th
 
We had the day off for Veteran's Day. I slept late and didn't begin my run until after 9:00. After my run, I met my grandfather for lunch at his favorite meat and three place. That afternoon I did a thorough house cleaning which took over 3 hours. I just sat down when Michael got home.
 
 
Special thank you to all the brave men and women who serve our country to protect our freedom. Thank you to the Veterans in my family: my mom, my dad, and my grandfather.
 
 
Thursday, November 12th
 
I ran another 5 miles this morning. The temps were back up in the 60's along with the humidity. I was looking forward to the cool down this weekend.
 
 
Friday, November 13th
 
Friday was another rest day for running. When I got home from school, I tried to catch up on visiting others pages from the Blog Hop. I had a lot of traffic on my spotlight day, 41 people commented on my post. I'm really enjoying connecting with other bloggers. I look forward to week two of the hop.
 
I don't watch the news often because it seems that with every day comes more and more negativity. There was no escaping the horror of the terrorist attacks on Paris on television Friday night. Prayers for Paris and prayers for all of us.
 

Saturday, November 14th
 
I got up early to complete my 20 mile long run. It was 40 degrees outside and sunny. Perfect running weather minus the gusts of wind that almost knocked me down a time or two. My mind was wandering a lot during this run, which inspired me to write "20 Thoughts During My 20 Miler" post. This was my first attempt at a jumping picture. I would hope I could jump higher if my legs weren't so tired from just running 20 miles. I am literally jumping for joy because my big long runs are behind me. It's TAPER time! Only 11 more runs left on my training plan before the St.Jude Memphis Marathon! 

 
I soaked in my Epsom salts and ate lunch before settling in to watch the Bama -vs- Mississippi State game. We dominated the Bulldogs! ROLL TIDE! I'm so sorry that our running back, #17 Drake broke his arm. It's so heartbreaking because he's a Senior and he will be out for the remainder of this season. He was out for most of last season with a broken leg. I can't believe there's only two games left this season.
 
Sunday, November 15th
 
I had a very lazy day. I slept late again. I'm embarrassed to say I lounged around in my PJ's all day. I finally finished visiting everyone's blogs who commented on my spotlight post and I worked on some new posts while Michael and I binged out on Netflix. I did straighten the house and do laundry while Michael went grocery shopping.
 
 
Have you ever participated in a Blog Hop? If so, how was your experience?
 
Do you look forward to cutting back mileage after several weeks of training? 




46 comments:

  1. It sounds like a great week! I love the pictures. I think you deserved a day in your PJs!

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    1. Thank you! I don't have those lazy days that often.

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  2. Sounds like a great week of training!! Great job on your 20 miler and yay for taper time! Enjoy it!

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  3. I used the Hal Higdon plan for my 2nd half marathon and found that it was really manageable fitting it into all my other commitments.

    I've not ran a marathon but found the taper for my half enjoyable. Not having to get up early for a long run on a Sunday felt like a reward for putting in all the hard work in the weeks before.

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    1. Hal Higdon's plans are wonderful! It is definitely a treat to be able to relax on the weekends and not worry about fitting in a long run.

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  4. Love cutback weeks. :)

    In my book, anyone who runs 20 miles deserves a lazy day. Heck, 6 wiped me out sat.

    Sunday was going to be lazy for me, but then I: baked the brownie base for a thanksgiving dessert, baked some healthy cookies, made lentil burgers, walked the dogs, did some yoga, a little decluttering & baked some individual apple crisps (another potential thanksgiving dessert).

    At least my husband grilled a steak for dinner.

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    1. Thank you, Judy! I don't do those lazy days that often. All that baking is making me hungry! Sounds yummy!

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  5. Congrats on making it to the taper! That always feels good to get that last long run in the books and focus on recovery!

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    1. Thank you, Kelli! Sometimes getting through the weeks of training can be harder than the race itself.

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  6. Debra, I did two rounds of the hop. My first spotlight day was also a Weekly Wrap day and I can't tell you how successful that was. This round my day is this Friday. You've done so well with your training and congrats for being at taper! Enjoy it. I was sick about Drake. I hate to see anyone get hurt. But Bama is looking good. Fingers crossed. I appreciate you linking with us.

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    1. I've enjoyed doing the Blog Hop. I look forward to your spotlight day. Bama is looking really good. I'm liking our chances to play in the SEC Championship if we can just get past a beat up Auburn team. They always play us hard.

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  7. Looks like your training plan is working really well for you. I looked at HH a few years back the paces and volume looked too much for me. Maybe I will have to try it again.

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    1. This is my second year using Hal Higdon's Novice Plan. It worked the first time, so I figured why not use it again. Although, I've tweaked my weekend long runs a lot more this time around to accommodate races I wanted to run. Some of Hal Higdon's Intermediate and Advanced plans look complicated only because I'm not real familiar with intervals or speed work. I need to incorporate some of that in my training. It would definitely help.

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  8. Enjoy the taper! You've done a great job with your training!

    I'm new to this blog hop thing. I'm going to participate in the holiday blog hop giveaway, but I'm still trying to figure it out!

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    1. Thank you, Wendy! I saw the holiday giveaway one, but I've never done giveaways. I'm testing the Meal Enders lozenges as part of the Sweat Pink campaign and I will be doing a giveaway in a few weeks. I've got to figure it out first. I'm thinking of trying Rafflecopter. I noticed a lot of people use it for giveaways.

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  9. I didn't lounge in my PJs but after a morning errand and fitness class, I was lazy as well. It was dark and gray and the day ended with rain. The cat was extremely cuddly too, so her snuggle sessions kept me on the couch a lot.

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    1. We didn't have rain this weekend for a change. I don't feel as guilty about being lazy if it's gloomy outside. I've got to enjoy snuggle sessions with my cat when I can because it doesn't happen that often.

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  10. That makes me happy to hear you have been enjoying the hop so much! They are a lot of work, but lasting networking relationships and new friendships do come from it, I hope you have found a few blogs already and hopefully a few more this week you'll look forward to following even after the hop:)
    We must have been thinking like minded, Sunday I was a little burnt out and I just relaxed, and I didn't even get dressed for the day, it was a PJ day, and I did watch way too much Netflix (I recently discovered it a few weeks ago, and now I just love it., LOL)
    Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Thank you, Kristy! I definitely plan to follow several of the bloggers post blog hop. I don't watch a lot of TV during the week. I guess I've been making up for it on Sunday's. Hope you have a good week too!

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  11. Way to go on your 20 miler! Always happy when taper time arrives! I haven't participated in a blog hop yet. It seems like it will take a lot of time which is something I need more of lol. Maybe next time..

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    1. It's nice to cut back in mileage that's for sure. I've enjoyed doing the blog hop, but it is a huge time commitment especially on the Spotlight day. I would recommend it though if you'd like to connect with other bloggers. I think Kristy usually hosts another one like this in the Spring.

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  12. I too have had a ball in the Hop! I love seening all the ideas of Spotlight day! I only had 10 miles on my schedule this week, funny how I was excited about the lower miles! I too was right with you come Sunday, lazy all day and I tell ya it felt great! Super job on the win over State. I should be a better support of a Mississippi team but honestly I would rather see anyone else beat State! Sorrynotsorry! Thanks for linking up with us. You are on the downhill slide to St. Jude. Have you raised all your money??

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    1. You know you're training for a marathon when you look forward to cutting back to 10 miles. I can't believe it's less than 3 weeks to St. Jude! I did meet my fundraising goal just a few days ago.

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  13. Great week indeed and glad you made it to taper mode!

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  14. woot woot!!!! Taper time!! So many runners dread taper, but I actually enjoy it (though, I do have a few moments of restlessness LOL). I LOVED the blog hop! I was one of the active hoppers for the first two weeks, but have been stalking all the peeps these last two weeks. Lots of great new blogs to enjoy, glad I found yours ;-)

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    1. I've enjoyed connecting with you too, Kimberly! I'm glad you joined the Weekly Wrap this week. I'm going to do my best to keep up with many of the bloggers after the hop. I'm excited about cutting back my mileage. I just gotta try not to worry too much about things beyond my control.

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  15. Thank you! I would recommend doing a blog hop. It's been a lot of fun connecting with other bloggers. I think Kristy hosts one in the spring too. It is a huge time commitment, but you can do it.

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  16. Congrats on reaching taper! Love the photo of your jump after your 20-miler. I also rarely watch the news because it's so sad, but Friday was just so, so sad to watch the news.

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  17. I have absolutely LOVED this blog hop!! So fun! And sounds like you had a great week of training. I think a day of rest was well-deserved!!

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  18. Hi Debra ,
    you had a busy week then you deserve a PJ day :)
    Enjoy your Marathon training

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  19. Hi Debra ,
    you had a busy week.
    Enjoy your training ,i will follow it :)

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    1. Thank you, Pascal! Less than three weeks to race day!

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  20. I am absolutely loving this hop and you all are giving me such inspiration to aspire to be more fit and active.

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    1. Thank you, Kristen! It's been a lot of fun connecting with everyone through the hop.

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  21. The blog hop has been so much fun!!!

    Looks like you had a good training week!

    I didn't clean or do laundry this weekend. although I totally should have!!....I would have loved to binge on Netflix...so jealous!!

    Tamieka@fitballingrunningmom

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    1. Thank you, Tamieka! It's been fun connecting with other bloggers during the hop.

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  22. I loved the blog hop! It was much fun meeting new bloggers with like interests but differences still! Great job on your training! I like epsom salts! My favorite fragrance so far is Jasmine. Sometimes I just like to smell them cause they smell so good!
    https://curlycaroline.wordpress.com/

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    1. I love all the Epsom salt fragrances too. My favorite is the Lavender. I don't know if they make much difference with recovery, but it's relaxing to soak.

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  23. Congrats on getting that final long run in! It always feels good to have that behind you and head into taper time. I love the training process, and I feel hard core when I'm going through peak training and my mileage is really ramped up. But then it also feels good to start cutting the mileage back before the race :)

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    1. It is nice to begin the taper. Although, I've got to try extra hard not to obsess over things beyond my control. I'm already stalking the weather forecast.

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  24. Great week of training! Sure you are happy to be in taper (well, mostly happy, it can be a mixed feeling sort of thing, lol).
    I've enjoyed meeting everyone via the blog hop as well!

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    1. Thank you! It is definitely a mix of emotions getting to the taper.

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