Recaps: Merchant Mile, Marathon Training Week 5 and Best Body Bootcamp Week 2

My long run this week was planned for Saturday which was the same day as the Merchant’s Mile race which is a 1 mile race in Massapequa Park.  Most of the group had plans to run the long run (13 miles total) after the 1 mile race but I figured by the time I left the race it would be 11 a.m. and I couldn’t fathom running another 12 miles at that time because it would take up most of my day plus it would be really hot.  I decided I was going to sandwich the 1 mile race in between two 6 mile runs to get my 13 mile long run in at a decent time and so that it would not take up my whole day that I really wanted to spend with my family.

I ended up leaving my house at about 7:15 a.m. so I could get to the race in time to pick up my number and to have some time to rest before the mile.  I don’t know why but the mile actually made me more nervous than any other race I have run and I think that is because (1) I had run 6 miles already and (2) I was running for the We Are Athletes Racing Team.  I wanted to do my team proud plus I really wanted to beat my best mile which was 7:16 and I was just so nervous I wouldn’t be able to accomplish these goals.

I got to the race by 8:20 and hung out with my team members preparing myself for THE mile…….I know it is just a mile but that makes it so much worse because you just figure you can go all out for mile but you do need to have strategy because 1 mile can be harder than it appears.

I actually ran this race with my friend Crystal about 12 years ago and it is a funny story………we actually could not find the race and ended up running a mile to get to the start.  As soon as we got to the start we had to turn around and run the mile!!!  At that time the age groups were 10 years and the races were not quite as competitive or crowded so Crystal and I actually ended up winning 2nd and 3rd for our age group (I got 2nd).  The memory of this race has lingered with me for a long time…….obviously.

This race was split into (3) groups:  Men’s Masters, Women’s Open and Men’s Open.   Women went at 9:30 so we started walking up around 8:50, we passed the Men’s Masters running at the 1/2 mile mark…..they looked like the were running in slow motion but the time was 3:00 minutes at the 1/2 mile mark which is actually super fast.  We reached the start at about 9:10 a.m. and I just hydrated and tried to keep the nerves from overtaking me.  Katie, one of my teammates, had a goal of 6:30 (she is young, 15).  I told her I was going to chase her the whole way and that is exactly what I did, finishing about 10 seconds later than she did.

Nerves and everything aside, I actually ended up finishing with a time of 7:03 which is my best mile ever…….a 13 second PR!!!!!!

I placed 2nd for my age group!!!!

Trent did awesome….he is on our team!!!!  I mean a 5:08 mile is just soooooo fast!!!  After running close to a 7 minute mile I cannnot believe people can actually run a mile in the 4′s and 5′s…………

I ended up waiting around until 11 a.m. for the prizes because I was told they gave trophies in the past and I wanted to at least get mine.  I ended up getting a Nike ID band instead……an awesome prize but I was really hoping for a trophy 

After the race I hung around for my prize and then headed out for my “6″ mile run home..  Here is my mileage, I ended up doing 12.6 miles which was more than enough for me…..

Here is what I was scheduled to run vs what I actually ran:

Scheduled         vs             Actual

• Mile 1:  1 Mile Race                      1 mile easy
• Mile 2:  Slow                                   10K pace
• Mile 3:  10K pace                           10K pace
• Mile 4:  10K pace                           slow
• Mile 5:  Slow                                   10K pace
• Mile 6:  10K pace                           slow
• Mile 7:  Slow                                   Mile run: 7:03
• Mile 8:  10K pace                           slow
• Mile 9:  Slow                                   slow
• Mile 10: 1/2 mile 5K pace,          slow
• 1/2 mile recovery
• Mile 11: 1/2 mile 5K pace,            1/2 mile 5K pace
• 1/2 mile recovery                             1/2 mile recovery
• Mile 12: 4 x 1 (fast)                          slow
• Mile 13: 4 x 1 (fast)                          slow

A great week!!!!!!!!!!!   Low mileage but i trust my coach and he says it will get me to the marathon and I believe him!!!!!!!! 

Best Body Bootcamp is awesome!!!!  I love all of the strength workouts!!!!  If I wasn’t  marathon training I would follow the program to the tee……..but since I am running a lot I have modified the program to work for me.  This means following the weight training program but ignoring the cardio portion in favor of marathon training…….it all works out in the end.

I had an awesome week…vlog to come soon……

How was your week????