50 Miler Training RUndown 5/20-5/26

Happy Humpday! Last week was my second taper week. I also adjusted my training plan a bit because I didn’t want to go too much above 60 miles in the week (since I generally use the 10% rule every-other-week to add additional mileage). I did 57 miles the week before I began to taper, so around 60 was a good sweet-spot for me. SO that meant that I really only had around 10 miles to cover before race day (bonus when you run a really long race ; ) ….).

Monday, 5/20: Rest day. First day of classes!

Tuesday, 5/21: 4 miles with 4 x 2:00 surges (1 minute off)

Wednesday, 5/22: 3 miles easy

Thursday, 5/23: 30 minute hike at 12% incline on the treadmill & stretching

Friday, 5/24: Rest Day. Picked up my bib!

Saturday, 5/25: 2 miles easy with 4 x :20 strides

Sunday, 5/26: RACE DAY! 52.1 miles

Total Mileage: 61.2 miles

Total Elevation: 5, 095’ up

It's TIME. 50 Miler Training Recap

The time is here! I can’t believe I’m going to be running 50 miles on Sunday?!? I’m really excited and no nerves (yet). My training honestly felt really strong and I’m mentally prepared thanks to my MS Run The US relay last year at this time. It’s supposed to be in the mid 70’s (so a bit warm) and possible thunderstorms later in the day (hopefully I’ll be finished before they start).

Flashback to many, many snowy runs!

I gained so much elevation, continued with strength training three times a week, and somehow ended up with a half marathon PR.

I also snagged a marathon PR

I ran outside as much as possible and climbed as much elevation/ hilly routes as I could possibly find (since there was limited trail access during most of my training).

I had some really mentally tough runs, including some double-digit runs where I was honestly so exhausted. BUT I pushed through them and find more strength within me than I knew I had.

I got to run along the pacific ocean during my training!

I also got to explore some trails before moving back to Maine and beginning the taper!

I ran 858.50 miles this training cycle and gained 42, 579’ in elevation over 25 weeks. I feel strong, prepared, and ready.

I’ve got all of my food ready for my crew. I know I’ve overpacked and they’ll have a lot of stuff that I may want, but I also don’t want to leave anything to chance! I’ve got a few pairs of socks to change and various shoes (I hope to change them each of my three loops since it will be pretty muddy out there). My plan is to also eat something every 30-35 minutes (whether a gel or real food, but I want to try to stick to as much real food as I can).

I picked up my bib today and saw the start/ finish line! So incredibly beautiful out there!

Ready for a day of challenges, running, exploring, meeting new runners, and celebrating all of my training!

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Plans for the long weekend?!?

Anyone else racing this weekend? GOOD LUCK!

50 Miler Training RUNdown 5/5-5/12

Happy Humpday! I’ve finally put together my shopping list for my 50 miler

The cats are well-adjusted I think. Every morning I wake up and find a new toy on my bed. Ha.

Last week was my first taper week and it was pretty low key. We traveled until Tuesday evening, so most of the week was spent either on the road or adjusting/unpacking.

Monday, 5/5: 30 minute progression run on a treadmill at the hotel in Buffalo!

Tuesday, 5/6: Rest Day

Wednesday, 5/7: 5 miles easy. Running at sea level feels so much easier!

Thursday, 5/8: 6.2 miles 10 minute warm-up/ 4 x 5 minutes hard (1 min Recovery)/ 10 minute cool-down & some strength

Friday, 5/9: Rest Day/ Yoga

Saturday, 5/10: 4.3 miles total including impromptu trail 5k and took 3rd female overall

Sunday, 5/11: 8 miles easy

Total Mileage: 27.3 miles

Eugene/ 50 Miler Training RUNdown Week 15: 4/1-4/7

HIGHEST MILEAGE WEEK EVER! (Unless you count MS Run The US…which in that case I’ll probably never get that high again ; ) …). I’m so proud of how my body handled the higher mileage and honestly, when I finished my long run on Saturday I didn’t feel like ‘drop dead exhausted’ - which tells me that the 50 miler is within my capacity! It has definitely been challenging trying to shoot for a goal marathon time AND a 50 miler, but I wouldn’t have decided to train for both if I didn’t think that shooting for a moderate marathon time wasn’t fairly within my reach. Some of my marathon effort workouts (especially in these last few high mileage weeks) haven’t gone week, but that’s kinda to be expected and I trust that when I make the switch back over to marathon-specific tapering (tomorrow!), I’ll be able to conjure up those goal speeds.

Monday, 4/1: 8 mi Hills 10:01 1, 201’ up & lotsa stretching.

Tuesday, 4/2: 5 mi EZ 659’ up 11:01 iN THE SNOW?!? & strength

Wednesday, 4/3: Rest Day/ Yoga!

Thursday, 4/4: 13.1 miles with 10 at goal marathon effort (8:54 today) 302’ up/ strength

Friday, 4/5: 6.18 mi 1, 036’ up AM / 7.02 mi PM EZ

Saturday, 4/6: 28 miles 10:21 931’ up / lotsa stretching & foam rolling

Sunday, 4/7: 4.11 mi EZ 12:14 449’ up to complete my MS Virtual Run! & some strength.

TOTAL MILEAGE: 72.41 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION: 4, 675’ up



Eugene Marathon/ 50 Miler Training RUNdown Week 6: 1/28-2/3

Happy Humpday! Another week almost halfway gone ; ) Last week was a recovery/rest week (I’m blending together a plan from this book and this one for both my marathon goals (sub 3:40!) and to complete my first 50 miler)- the recovery week is built into the Ultra Training and I’m all for it to help my muscles recover after the last few weeks of high mileage/ long back-to-back runs and then it will also help sustain me (mentally) for the next few months of training. I did do one hard workout (marathon training schedule)- with 7 goal marathon paced miles, but then everything else was super easy or else just lots of sleep/rest/yoga/ cross training. It was exactly what I needed to feel rejuvenated for the next 3 weeks before I get my next one!

Monday, 1/28: REST DAY! Wanted to swim, but I forgot something very important when you want to swim (AKA my swimsuit). Did some nice yoga to stretch out at the end of the day.

Tuesday, 1/29: 1.5 mi warm-up/ 7 miles at goal marathon effort (8:23)/ 1.5 mi cool down & 30 minutes of strength. My legs felt absolutely terrible at the beginning of this run and I got on the treadmill that feels “off” so I’m super happy to have mentally pushed through it!

Wednesday, 1/30: REST DAY! Yoga using this video. One of my favorites!

Thursday, 1/31: 5.31 miles easy to finish out January!

Friday, 2/1: 3/4 mile swim!

Saturday, 2/2: 8 miles easy with 446’ up at 9:55 pace & recovery yoga

Sunday, 2/3: 7 miles easy in crazy wind, but warmth! Strength afterwards

Total Mileage: 30.35 for recovery week!

Total Elevation gain: 1,534’ up

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What are you training for right now?

Favorite run of the week? —> I’m really loving the challenge (both mental and physical) of goal marathon paced miles. After I finish those runs, I feel INVINCIBLE!