Chicago Marathon Training Week #4

“Marathoning.  The triumph of desire over reason”.

(New Balance, athletic apparel company)

I will be the first to admit that I’m not a New Balance athlete.  My primary running apparel company is Nike, and my running shoes are Brooks GTS 23s.  Hoping the Brooks GTS 24s drop before my racing season kicks off, but the GTS 23s have been good for me.  The New Balance quote is prophetic for the marathon journey I’m currently experiencing.

Marathon training can be taxing physically, mentally and emotionally.  The desire to compete and get better is stronger for me this year.  I’ve trained for two marathons and seen minimal improvement but that is because the desire was not as strong in the past.  I’ve rededicated myself to this process and vowed to give maximum effort weekly.  Yes, I trained for the marathon in the past but took a few short cuts that I’m not willing to repeat.

I just completed Week #4 of this training cycle and I am proud to say I have not missed a training session or mileage goal so far.  It sounds like a simple thing but there are times when it’s easier to hit the snooze button in the morning and not get up and train.  The snooze button has not been a problem this training cycle—I’ve established a set bedtime and have not adjusted it for any reason.  I’m getting prepared for lights out at 8:30 pm with a consistent wake up at 4:44 am—I like odd times. Melissa, that’s for YOU! 😊

I am following the Hal Higdon marathon training plan again with an eye towards the details of the plan and no missed training sessions.  I ran into issues with the heat and humidity last year because I didn’t get out early for my long runs.  I’ve adjusted my Friday night bedtime to provide a consistent sleep pattern.  I’m getting out for my long Saturday runs by 5:30 am to beat the sun, heat and humidity.  It’s still humid out but it’s easier to handle at this time of the day.  I’ve also adjusted my hydration plan and ensure I have water, Gatorade and coconut water available for each long run.  I hydrate better during my weekday runs too—a very simple concept but it is helping me get stronger mentally and physically.

My weight training program remains consistent with 3 days in the gym each week.  I adjust the workouts but make sure to incorporate leg days into the routine.  I’m not a heavy lifter anymore but concentrate on compound exercises with high rep levels.  My yoga program consists of one weekly session to help my muscles stretch and recover.  I will increase my yoga routines but one time per week is good for now.  This will increase by Week #10 to match the miles I will be completing.

Here’s my weekly progress so far:

Week 1	32.11
Week 2	36.17
Week 3	18.78
Week 4	35.98
Total	123.04

The mileage will start to ramp up Week #5 through Week #15.  The first four weeks helped build the running base needed for the increased mileage.

Excited to see how my training program has matured over the past two years.  The Chicago Marathon is calling and I’m answering the bell. 😊

Here’s my projected racing schedule—I’m still looking for races.

8/17/2024	2024 Celebration of Running 5k	Winter Park
9/1/2024	2024 Virginia Beach 10-Miler	Virginia Beach, VA
9/21/2024	2024 Race for Recovery 5k	Port St Lucie
10/13/2024	2024 Chicago Marathon	Chicago, IL
12/7/2024	2024 OUC Half Marathon	Orlando
12/15/2024	2024 Garden of Life Half Marathon	West Palm Beach
1/19/2024	2025 Vero Beach Half Marathon	Vero Beach
1/26/2025	2025 Town of Celebration Half Marathon	Celebration, FL
2/8/2025	2025 Fleet Feet Run for your Heart 10k	Jensen Beach, FL
3/2/2025	2025 Game On Marathon of The Treasure Coast	Stuart, FL
4/25/2025	2025 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon	Nashville, TN
6/1/2025	2025 San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon	San Diego

Thanks for joining me on the training process—Irie!