MCM Training Week 7

With the end of week 7 of Marine Corps Marathon training, my fellow trainees and I are just past one-third of the way there:

A whole column of clickable recap links!

Motivation

So far I'm staying pretty motivated. That may be more challenging as I move into the "build" portion of my training plan with the higher volumes and intensities. I try to surround myself with motivation:

• The coaches and my fellow runners from Potomac River Running Training in Reston are my #1 source of motivation - I love you guys!

My peeps!
photo credit: Laurentina Photography

• My MCM vision board helps me stay focused on my goal

A vision board for my personal vision quest

• The Marine Corps Marathon & 10K Club facebook group is filled with advice and motivation, especially for us marathon newbies

Now this is motivating!
Richard Pimentel shared this picture in the FB group and said:

A little motivation.
There's nothing like the Marine Corps Marathon medals,
you won't be disappointed at the finish line.

• Kudos from my tracking devices are always encouraging:

New Longest Run record from Garmin
photo credit: Laurentina Photography

"Congrats on earning your first Cleats badge!" from Fitbit

Week 7 Statistics

I ran 4 times for a total of 29.4 miles.

• Track: 1600, 2x800, 4x400 w/ 3 minutes rest + another 1600 (5.3 miles)
• This was a cool workout. It was the same as Week 1, plus the extra mile on the end. 
• At first I wondered if the goal was to do it faster than Week 1...
• ...but it was actually about pacing...
• ...as with Week 1, we were to start at threshold (T) for the 1600 and keep getting faster with each interval...
• ...if you've paced it right, you can run the last mile around the same pace as the first mile and not feel like you've just run a 5k.
• I nailed this workout, and as Coach Adam noted I handled it much easier than in Week 1 
• Easy runs: 3 and 6 miles
• Long run: 15.1 miles(!) - new longest run record 
• Strength training: 3 times (my routine)
• I can tell I'm getting stronger and I've increased the intensity/reps for everything
• I like to do the exercises throughout the day which makes it easier to fit everything in:
• Lunge matrix during my morning break
• Plank series during my mid-day break
• Myrtl routine during my afternoon break
• Yoga: No classes or formal practice this week. I did do "legs up the wall" most evenings.

Onward to Week 8!

Read about previous training weeks: 

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6

Natalie, Debbie & I rocked the long run together.
New longest run records for all of us!
photo credit: Laurentina Photography