Blue Ridge Marathon Pre-Race Thoughts

In case you've missed me blogging about it incessantly, the Blue Ridge Marathon is two days away. AKA America's Toughest Road Marathon is two days away. I've mentioned in a previous post that I'm actually pretty nervous for this race because it will be so challenging.

I decided the smart thing to do then would be to buck up and create a plan for race day so that I don't end up crawling the second half of the course. The scenery is supposed to be astounding, but we actually split from the half at the three mile mark, so I'm planning for a lot of the race to be pretty lonely - making getting my head straight beforehand even more important. (Though all the reviews I've read said the aid stations and residents along the course are amazing at providing support!)

The race has two cutoffs: 6 hours to get to mile 22 and 7 hours to finish. This is actually a pretty generous pace of 16:21 min/mile for the first cut-off (and the second cut-off requires only a slight increase in pace). Blue Ridge recommends adding 30-60 minutes to your normal marathon finish time to predict your Blue Ridge time. Assuming I haven't lost fitness from Myrtle Beach, this would work out to be between 5:21 and 5:51. (Considering how much slower I ran in Knoxville, I assume I will be closer to the 5:51 end of the spectrum.)

There was a recent pre-race email that had a chart to predic your Blue Ridge finishing time based on a flat 5K time. Unfortunately, for anyone that runs slower than a 28:30, which includes me, we were basically told to grab a spot in the back and hang on. The email also reminded us there is no shame in walking this course...duly noted.

Ok, that might have been a little sarcastic, but I'm going to take their words to heart. I remember when I ran MDI, I felt fine on the hills in the beginning, but I positive split the race by about 20 minutes, so I know the hills really took a toll, even if it didn't feel like it in the moment. I think it's time I finally learn my lesson.

While there are lots of small hills on the Blue Ridge course, there are three major hills, all of which I plan to walk. I initially freaked out about this idea, terrified I would miss the cut-off(s), but then I realized it won't be that many miles of walking, and as long as I make myself power through, my pace should still be below the cut-off pace. (And since it's rolling, I'll have already given myself a cushion.) I also know how high my HR gets running hills on the treadmill, and I'd rather keep it a bit lower to conserve energy.

The first major hill that I will walk is between miles 5 and 6.5. I'm hoping I can really hustle through in about 22 minutes. The second major hill is from miles 11 to 12.5. This one is less steep than the first, so I'm hoping I can walk this in about 20 minutes. The third and final hill is between miles 17 and 18.5. There is a short downhill section in there, so I'm hoping I can also do this section in 20 minutes as well.

If you were to assume there are no downhills (which there are plenty of), I will probably be four to five minutes slower per walking mile than running mile (sad slow panda), adding 20 to 25 minutes to my total time, which seems reasonable based on Blue Ridge's guidelines.

However, like I said, there are some massive downhills to make up for the crushing uphills. I've been reading advice on the course, and I guess deciding how to handle these is the bigger dilemma. Running too fast will trash your quads, but you want to enjoy coasting when you can.

The hills did a pretty good number on my quads in Knoxville, but I think they'll do that no matter what. We have a few very steep (though short) hills I run all the time by our apartment, so now I'm decent at handling them without totally bombing down - or feeling like I'm going to trip and land on my face. My goal for the downhills is to let myself go a little but remain in control.

The three weeks between Knoxville and Blue Ridge has flown by (how is it already mid-April?!), but I feel like the minimal training I was able to fit in went really well. My legs feel well recovered, and my mental and emotional engagement with running is still strong.

Worst case, if my plans blow up in my face, I can take in my surroundings while I suffer.

Making My Own Training Plan

I don't know if any of you have been following the drama around the Newport Marathon, but the inability of Rhode Island to get its act together has pretty much derailed our plans to have that be our fall race. Long story short, the race director currently holding our registration fees wasn't permitted for the race and is hoping to put together a random course in the same general area. Michael and I talked about it, and even if we don't get refunds, we're ready to walk away, instead of paying even more to travel to a made-up event. I was looking forward to a very scenic course, I don't want it to be replaced by some random neighborhoods!

However, since our 50 States goal means we're shooting for six races a year, we wanted to find a new fall race to do. I studied the calendar, and I think we've found an ideal one. (I don't mean to vague-blog, Michael and I have not totally finalized our choice yet!)

One of the criterion for my search was finding a race a bit later in the season to allow a bit of a rest after Missoula, while still giving enough time for a more complete training cycle before the fall race. My plan right now is to focus on lots of easy base-building through July, so that hopefully I work off it for another PR in the fall.

Once this timing seemed to be secured, my next choice was to try to decide which training plan to use. I've talked a bit about how I'm going back to basics and using Hal Higdon again (i.e. getting over the fact that I feel like a weak runner for using a "beginner" type style, since it really helps me run faster).

I had originally thought I might do a complete Hal Higdon training plan for the fall, but, while I'm enjoying all the easy runs, I do miss speed work. I figure if I feel like this when recovering from races, it will probably only be amplified when I'm fresh and ready to do some work.

This created a bit of dilemma for me then - which training plan did I want to use instead? I've tried Runner's World SmartCoach (which I think should be renamed DumbCoach), Hanson's (which gave me horrible overtraining syndrome), and RLRF (which worked with modifications, but did lead to injury). I bought Pfitz's book, but I prefer a little more balance during the work week, which I would not get with 10-12 mile weekday runs.

These are the major training plans I know of, so after a lot of deliberation, I've decided to try something different and make my own training plan. At first I thought I couldn't do it, but then I realized I've learned so much about what I like, don't like, what leads to injury, what makes me happy overall, etc., that I should actually put my big girl pants on and put that knowledge to good use.

My first step was to lay out the things I really enjoy and wanted to include: strength training, swimming, and tempo runs. (I love long runs, but those are a given, so that's the reason I omitted them from this list.) My second step was to eliminate what didn't work for me or what I hated: frequent track workouts, runs over eight miles on weekdays, and running long runs at a fast pace.

I found I really liked doing the lifting and swimming prescribed by RLRF, so I kept that piece of it. I've also found tempo runs to be the most enjoyable speed work, since they're a "comfortably" hard pace, and I don't get flashbacks to middle school track and wanting to die.

I know it probably sounds insane (or like I'm dumb) to say I don't like frequent track workouts, but I find they're really hard on my body, and I'm pretty sure they led to injury during RLRF. I knew I needed something similar, so I've decided to incorporate hill workouts instead. I've been experimenting with them for a few weeks, and they totally kick my butt and get my HR up really high, but I don't feel destroyed afterwards. I know this isn't a 1:1 relationship, but again, this training plan is my grand experiment, so why not give it a shot?

Running mid-week long-ish runs are a standard part of marathon training, but I find running more than eight miles on a weekday just makes me cranky and irritated, so I've capped my runs at that. Maybe this will stunt my times a bit, but I'd rather have that balance than a few minutes off my finishing time.

Another major thing I wanted to incorporate was a willingness to modify the training plan for races. I've avoided short distance races for a long time since they aren't called for specifically in my plans, which I realize is the dumbest thing ever, so I want to add in a few this cycle, though I haven't chosen them yet. Maybe this whole process will make me less anal. (OK, probably not, but we can hope!)

I realized when I was finalizing this on paper, "my" training plan really is just a modified version of Hal Higdon, but considering his plan worked the best for me (when you account for staying healthy, as well as time), I guess this shouldn't have surprised me.

That being said - I have no real life experience creating my own training plan. Considering the marathon is such a beast, I would love to get your guys' input on what I've put together. I'm completely open to constructive criticism! I'm sure I overlooked something and I want to give myself my best shot. You can find the training plan here.

I haven't included all the details yet, including my running paces. I plan to do the long runs 90 seconds slower than my MP, whatever I decide that is, based on how I do at Missoula. I really like the swim plan I'm using now (two swims a week to build up to swimming 1500 yards continuously), but I'm not sure what I want to do for the fall. I plan on using NROLFW for my weights, though I'm not sure what stage I will be doing, so I've left those blanks as well.

Again, I welcome any feedback you might have!

Just please don't be this lady.

Weekly Training Recap: 4/5 - 4/11

For the 2015 marathon season, the races I scheduled closest together were Knoxville and the upcoming Blue Ridge Marathon, separated only by three weeks. I know I couldn't do much to build my fitness in this time, but I still wanted to get back to the gym and pool a little bit this week, if only to decide what I want my routine to be in the future.

I'm happy to report it was very successful! I joined the Greater Cleveland YMCA when I moved, so I'm able to go to any of their numerous branches. (But they're all priced differently depending where you join? I still don't understand that part....) There is one literally around the corner from our apartment, but it is a dump. Like, a mom admonished her child for sitting on the bench in the locker room while fully clothed dump. I decided to try the other branch by us, which is about 10 minutes away.

Holy modern gym, Batman, it is awesome! There were multiples of the most popular weight machines, two full sets of dumbbells, lots of space for free weights, plenty of cardio equipment, and an indoor track. The pool is also used by the local high school, so it is maintained to USA Swimming standard. I'm pretty sure the other pool would've given me rabies or something.

Getting up in the morning wasn't actually too bad. I think being able to sleep in Monday and Friday really helped, plus it's dawn when I leave, instead of pitch black. The place was completely empty, too, which was a nice bonus. This coming week will be a taper, but I really like the system I tried out this week, and I plan to get back to it when my next training block starts.

Sunday, April 5
rest

We had gorgeous weather, and I enjoyed a nice long walk around the neighborhood. We had a pretty busy weekend, so it was a relaxing way to wrap it up.

The grass is starting to turn green!

Monday, April 6
PM - 30 min hills, NROLFW Stage 1A-5

I tried to the new gym after work (so much easier to get to than my actual apartment!). I had no problem getting a treadmill or any of my weights. I did look pretty dumb until I figured out the treadmill was a touchscreen - I could not figure out how to start it!

Look at the average HR. I'm clearly a super athlete!

Tuesday, April 7
AM - 800 yd swim
PM - 6 mi easy (11:24 min/mile)

I could definitely feel my lifting session in my legs during the run, but I still felt pretty fresh. We did get a huge downpour partway through, but it was very warm, so I enjoyed it. It's going to make me sound like a total hippie, but I love running outside to connect with nature - running in the rain just means spring is here!

Wednesday, April 8
AM - NROLFW Stage 1B-5
PM - 3 mi easy (11:08 min/mile)

My legs felt really dead this run from both gym sessions. There was also a really heavy fog out, so I was gently covered in water during the run, even though it wasn't rain. It was a very strange sensation.

Thursday, April 9
AM - 800 yd swim

I was intimidated going into this swim (8x100 at a tempo pace), but I figured I would give it my best shot. I was thrilled when most of my 100's were under two minutes! It was a really good cardio workout without taxing my body.

Friday, April 10
PM - 6 mi easy (11:29 min/mile)

I procrastinated running for quite awhile (I made the mistake of looking at one wedding thing, and then I fell into a black hole), but it was great weather once I got out there. My legs felt good, so I think my slow pace was caused by how windy it was.

Saturday, April 11
10 mi easy (10:56 min/mile)

This run got put off until the afternoon (I spent the morning waiting in the three separate BMV lines to get my Ohio plates - Ohio, I love you, but you are so inefficient sometimes!), but I'm glad I waited, because the evening was the most perfect weather ever. If it could stay like this year-round, I would be happy.

Donuts are necessary after spending three morning hours at the BMV!

I drove out to the Big Creek Parkway (mostly flat) again for this run, but way more people were out this time, so it was less creepy when I was in the rougher sections of the route. Also, I was confused where all these new people came from at first because my runner brain was like: "Shouldn't they have been out here no matter the weather?" But then I figured out most people don't like pulling their kids in wagons in the winter.

Run Miles: 27.5 mi
Swim Miles: .9 mi
Lifting Time: 52:08Total Time: 6:43

While I enjoyed stepping it up a bit this week, I'm looking forward to having a light week. I think my training is working out well with all my life changes, since I haven't had to do a big training block since moving, while I go through all these other transitions. However, I think I'm close to getting my groove now, so I'm getting excited to get in some solid training between Blue Ridge and Hatfield McCoy.

I think I'm also focusing on that training because I'm honestly getting really nervous for Blue Ridge! The elevation change is no joke, and while I've been doing specific hill work and running in a hilly area, hills are still not mountains. That being said, it's exciting to have those butterflies again about a race! I've done enough marathons that I know I can will myself through the pain, but this will be a new challenge. As long as I meet the cut-offs, I will be happy!

This means the goal this week is to focus on keeping my legs fresh and eating well in preparation. And checking the weather obsessively, obviously.

What pacing strategies do you use in a very hilly/mountainous race?
Have you been able to enjoy the spring weather yet?

Knoxville Marathon Race Rating

Race: Knoxville Marathon
Date: March 29, 2015 (will be the first weekend of April in 2016)
Location: Knoxville, TN
Year Running: 11th
Registration: $40 (with the most generous Marathon Maniac discount ever!)

Race Information

Size: 585 full, 2221 half

Course Limit: 7 hrs

Min. - Max. Elevation: 800 - 960 ft

Min. - Max Temperature: 37 - 66

Charity Supported: Knoxville Track Club Youth Athletics, Katerpillar Kids Camp, Innovative Recreation Initiative, Thompson Cancer Survival Center

Travel

Airports: Knoxville has an airport, and I think some of the surrounding cities do as well. Flights from CLE, at least, were pretty expensive, so I would recommend driving, if possible. 

Rental car: I would say possible? Packet pick-up, the host hotels, start, and finish are all in a small cluster downtown. Even if none of the hotels had an airport shuttle, a quick cab ride would solve that. Plus, you would still be in easy walking distance of lots of cool stuff!

Host hotel: Several downtown. They're all nice chains, but very expensive because of their location. We stayed 10 minutes away in North Knoxville for a fraction of the cost, and driving in was painless.

Pre-Race

Communications: Pretty good. We got some final instructions that were in PDF (annoying to download on my phone whenever I needed it), and it would've been nice if that information was also easily accessible on the website. 

Expo: Very spacious, but it was all basically packed up when we got there. I think I heard other runners during the race comment that they really enjoyed it.

Other Activities: pre-race past dinner
I think the dinner was at least $20 per person, so we opted out. We saw the spread on our way out of the expo, and it did look very well catered by the hotel, so maybe the price wasn't that outrageous.

Race Day

Parking: Plenty, but a little tricky to find. The best place to park is right next to the stadium, where the finish is, but Google Maps doesn't understand where the entrance is. I would recommend checking it out beforehand in the daylight to orient yourself.

Shuttles: None, but not needed (host hotels were within easy walking distance)

Bathrooms: Plenty. We arrived just as the gun sounded, and there was still a huge line, so they probably could've used more.

On Time: Exactly on time.

Corrals: Yes. There were large signs, and people seemed to seed themselves appropriately. There was lots of space at the start, so it wasn't an issue either way.

Course

Type: Loop

Terrain: Concrete, asphalt

Bathrooms: Every aid station

Crowding: None

Highlights: bike paths, downtown Knoxville

Support

Course Support: Awesome. All the volunteers were extremely enthusiastic, even early in the morning. Every aid station had at least one person clearly calling out what was available and where. Later on when more things were available (i.e. fruit, GU, etc.), the volunteers were very vocal about what they had.

Spectators: Lots in the first half and at the very end, though very few in the back half. The neighborhoods that were officially involved were so enthusiastic and had an unbelievable amount of fun signs up! These people were awesome.

Local knowledge of race: I'm not sure, but I would guess pretty good. The ranger at Obed (a good distance away) knew we were running Knoxville when we said we were in the area for a marathon. I guess the people in the square near the end seemed pretty confused, so it's a toss-up.

Post-Race

Food: Great selection! (Though they did run out of pizza before Michael got any, since some people took a whole box to bring home...not cool.) But lots of other unique choices were still available for us.

Atmosphere: Laid-back, but it was so nice to have a private indoor finishing area 

Party: Just what was at the finishing area, I'm guessing it was in bigger swing when the halfers were around

Swag

Shirt: Short-sleeve technical shirt. The v-neck is actually normal, and it fits great.

Medal: Really cool. I love the skyline!

Bag: Ok, the bag is a drawstring backpack, but also has handles like a tote bag. I am super geeked about it!

Hat: I've been wanting a technical running hat for awhile, but couldn't justify spending the money, so getting one at the finish was a fun surprise. I've since tried it out, and it stayed put in huge wind gusts and completely sheltered me during heavy rain.

Final Thoughts

• I loved this race and would probably rate it my third favorite (after MDI and Monument, but I'm very biased towards nature rather than cities). There was quite a bit of nature on the route for a city race, but the skyline views throughout were also awesome. I especially loved running through World's Fair Park and downtown at the very end.
• Finishing on the 50 yard line of Neyland Stadium was super unique. I don't care about the Vols and hate SEC football, but the experience was still amazing. I also loved being able to watch Michael finish on the jumbotron. (Plus you exit via a ramp, not stairs, like other stadium finish races make you do!)
• The community that comes out to support this race really gets into it. Not only were the spectators so enthusiastic, there were plenty of unique signs put up, and they really helped take my mind of the pain.
• Yes, the course is very hilly, and my minimal hill training was not enough. However, if you live in a hilly area and/or put the specific training in, I think this could be a really great course to PR on. 
• The second half of the race does get very lonely. There was a good number of finishers, but I was surprised how much I was on my own. I could almost always see other runners, but we were pretty spread out.
• This was the best finisher's area, hands down. Having a special indoor lounge was incredible. Nothing feels as good as eating pizza on a couch immediately after finishing.

Recommendation

• 50 Staters: Yes. This race is so well done and does a great job giving special perks to the marathon runners. Plus it's very scenic and in a fun city! (And there's a killer discount to boot.)
• Non 50 Staters: I'd say yes if you want to plan a trip to Tennessee. There seemed to be lots to explore in Knoxville, with the Great Smokies nearby, as well as some other cities. Fit this race in if you can!

Tennessee Recap

The original plan for the Knoxville Marathon weekend was to drive down Saturday for the Sunday race and take a vacation day Monday to drive back home. As luck would have it, I had recently started my new job and didn't have the vacation time. (Which is really frustrating because I now get 28 days per year...I just can't use days until I accrue them!)
We cancelled one night at our Knoxville hotel and booked a hotel Friday night about six hours from Cleveland. We also bought sandwich fixings and snacks so that we wouldn't have to stop for dinner, to save some time.

I guess we still got pretty lucky that it was a Sunday race, since there was no race day packet pick-up. We both worked a full day on Friday (I actually got stuck late..I definitely need to set some boundaries with my boss); I dropped Michael off in the morning, and then picked him up in the evening, since his work was on the way to Knoxville, and basically on the way to my work.

I had heard on the radio in the morning and after work that there was snow around Akron, but I half didn't believe it. The roads were clear at first, and most rush hour traffic was over, so I got cocky and assumed all was good. I got a little worried when cities south of Akron had plows and salt trucks waiting in the medians, but there was still no snow. Until, you know, there was.

The picture (that Michael took, just to be clear) doesn't do the situation any justice. The roads weren't salted, and one of the two lanes became impassable due to accumulation. Now I understand why the South explodes when it snows...turns out driving sucks on unprepared roads! Based on when we actually got to the hotel, I estimate the snow added an entire extra hour of drive time. Never again. (Side note - why do all our trips to the South get derailed by snow?!)

Once we cleared the snow, the drive was pretty clear. I was shocked Sunday how much traffic was on I-75 (and that it was only two lanes - what a horrible idea that is), so we made great time at night. Cincinnati was also super pretty all lit up! My new state is pretty cool.

Though obviously I managed to take no good pictures of it.

MSU also got the 10 PM Sweet Sixteen slot, so we had something to listen to for the last part of the drive. We found a channel that streamed the games, but for some reason it would randomly switch between the games. I passed out when it went to the other game in our time slot and woke up just in time to hear the last two minutes of our game. Go Green!

We didn't get to the hotel until 1 AM. I'm glad we made a reservation, because all the hotels in the area were booked solid. Michael gets a huge shoutout for doing all the late night driving on this trip while I snoozed. He is totally awesome.

But I think I should get a mini-shoutout for finding the nicest Red Roof Inn ever.

We I had planned a pretty jam-packed Saturday of activities, but that was predicated on the idea we would be in bed no later than 11 PM. (Ok, maybe midnight because of the game, let's be real.) Michael and I were totally beat, so we opted to sleep in and only do one of the two hikes I had found for us. With a marathon the next day, I'm glad we prioritized rest.

We left the hotel around 11 AM and went to the Waffle House just down the road. I thought this would be a quick stop, but after having to ask four separate people for our bill because the waitress completely forgot about us, it turned into an ordeal of more than an hour. We still had plenty of time for our hike, so all's well that ends well, I guess.

Our next stop was Obed Wild and Scenic River. Wild and Scenic Rivers are a type of Park operated by the NPS, but I don't think I've ever been to one. Because of the nature of the Park, the visitor center was located in downtown Wartburg, with nearby access to the river proper. The drive was close to two hours and took us through lots of back roads. It was really enjoyable to take a scenic detour, instead of just more time on 75.

After the very nice ranger played the introductory video for us, I poked my nose into the gift shop to get my park stamp (and yes, I keep my Park stamp book in my firebox when I'm home, and I'm not ashamed).

The main activities in the park are kayaking and rock climbing, though there are lots of hiking opportunities. Very few people must come to hike, since the brochure basically said: "Yes, there are trails. Ask a ranger," so I'm glad I had planned in advance. The trailhead was about 15 minutes away, though it took about 20 after we missed a turn.

It was really hard to find information online about the hiking options in the Park, but I found several sites that recommended the Point Trail. The pictures sold me, and I'm so glad we did it. There was a minor snafu where we turned around at the beginning so Michael could change shoes (his old hiking boots were too big), but we were for real on the trail by 3.

There were a few other people on the trail, but all were heading back to the cars, so we enjoyed the hike in solitude. (My favorite, obviously.) The beginning of the trail started out easy, but it quickly got very rugged. (Also my favorite.)

My all time favorite hike ever is Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, because the actual arch itself isn't visible until you turn the final corner of the trail. The Point Trail reminded me of this because, while we had some pretty incredible views on the way out, there were no clear overlooks until the end.

However, before we got the end, we had to make a stop at the small sandstone arch near the end. I thought it might be hard to find based on what I read since it was "off-trail," when it reality it was clearly visible and about 20 steps off the beaten path.

After about 45 minutes of hiking, we finally reached the terminus.

We hung out for about 10 minutes, and even took a sort-of successful selfie.

It felt like we hiked back at top speed, but it still took about 40 minutes. Once we got back to the parking lot, I had the horrible realization I had parked in a handicapped spot! In my defense, the lines were painted white, and there wasn't a post. Both of us made several trips to and from the car when we got there and somehow didn't see it, so the sun must have been hitting at a weird angle. There was still another handicapped spot open, but it made me feel bad nonetheless.

We finished off the sandwiches from Friday (which turned out to be a Bad Decision come race day) and headed out to Knoxville.

Packet pick-up was downtown at the Holiday Inn, which was conveniently next to a parking garage, free on weekends. (Good job, Knoxville!) The expo set-up was huge, but almost all the vendors were packed up when we got there, with about two hours left. Lots of cute running clothes were on sale, but I didn't need anything, so we were in and out pretty quickly.

Our next stop was dinner, of course. We walked through the really nice downtown to the Downtown Grill & Brewery.

With a quick stop to see Rowing Man.

There was about a 30 minute wait at the restaurant, but the food was really good, so I'm glad we stuck around. A bus girl brought our food and I inhaled the fries so fast, the waitress got really worried none had been brought to me when she checked on us a minute later. Runger is real, people.

Because of the wait, the Panera right by the restaurant was closed when we left, but I found one nearby that stayed open an hour later, so the crisis was swiftly averted. After getting our pre-race bagels and some sunscreen, we finally made it to the hotel. But obviously we had to stay up late to see the Kentucky game, but were disappointed when Notre Dame imploded at the end. (Ick...can't believe I typed that sentence!)

The next morning saw us up dark and early to run the Knoxville Marathon, which you can read all about here.

After hobbling back to the car, we moved to a parking garage downtown and walked to the YMCA next door to shower. The showers were private (yay!), and the YMCA was in a really cool historic building, and it was neat to walk inside there a bit. I finished before Michael, so I caught a few minutes of MSU's Elite Eight game against Louisville on TV, though we were down a lot at this point.

We hopped in the car a little before halftime and couldn't find the game on the radio, so we streamed it on my phone. Using the data was totally worth it - since we ended up winning in OT! Louisville normally has our number, so it was so nice to finally get a victory and earn a Final Four slot. In Izzo We Trust.

But I'm pretty sure the cars around us though we were nuts, since we couldn't stop screaming and high-fiving. I was sad at the time that we couldn't watch on TV, but after seeing highlights later, I'm almost glad we couldn't. Some of those shots defied gravity in getting in...I think it was better not seeing!

After passing Lexington, I pulled over at an Arby's, and then Michael finished the rest of the drive. We were in bed before midnight, which wasn't the worst. Both of us were pretty beat the next day, but it wasn't the struggle I had prepared myself for.

Though I have to say I'm glad we gave ourselves three weeks between trips. I need some time to recover before driving seven hours again!

Weekly Training Recap: 3/29 - 4/4

Psst - I think I updated my settings so you will now get an email reply when I respond to comments. Hopefully it works...Blogger is a tricky animal!

Life has felt like a total whirlwind this past month. On top of moving and starting a new job, we just traveled to Knoxville and have a trip to Virginia planned in two weeks. It's all very exciting, but it's made getting into a routine a little tricky. This past week let me catch me breath a little, and I think I'm starting to come up with a game plan for fitting in my workouts.

And I'm sure once I establish some structure, we'll find our dream house, and I'll have to start from scratch again! (Though getting up for early workouts will probably be much easier when there aren't elephants dancing above my head all night.)

Sunday, March 29
Knoxville Marathon, 5:07:49

You can read my full recap at the link above, but suffice it to say the race was awesome, but the hills were killer. Sitting in a car for seven hours immediately after didn't help things in the soreness department either.

Monday, March 30
rest

It was Michael's birthday, so we did gifts and relaxed a bit, but we opted to save the celebrations for this weekend. We were both exhausted, especially since Michael did all the night driving, because he's that awesome.

Tuesday, March 31
2 mi easy, 11:18 min/mile

My legs felt very fatigued (which was to be expected), but all my aches and pain from the race were gone. I just took it slow and felt pretty good.

Wednesday, April 1
3 mi easy, 11:17 min/mile

My calves were especially sore on Wednesday, but I'm guessing recovering from a hilly race on hills will do that to you. It was warm out with the sun shining, and it was amazing to get out there and enjoy the weather.

Thursday, April 2
4 mi easy, 11:17 min/mile

It was incredibly windy (sometimes the gusts were so strong I couldn't hear my iPod) and very, very humid. I don't want to complain too much since I got to run in shorts and a t-shirt! My legs were a little sore at the end, since I think I was twisting at a weird angle to try to protect myself from the full brunt of the wind.

Is spring actually here?!

Friday, April 3
rest

I got a two hour early dismissal from work for Good Friday, so I took advantage of the extra time and went for a walk. I got my pedometer, and my goal is to get 10,000 steps every day. This is super easy on days I run, but it does require extra effort on rest days. I downloaded an audiobook on my phone to listen to, and it was actually really nice doing a low-impact, easy activity outside!

Throw in a rain jacket and hat, and walking in the rain was actually very fun!

Saturday, April 4
6 mi easy, 11:02 min/mile

Some combination of the walk and time healed my legs enough that my easy pace was a bit faster than earlier in the week. The time seemed to fly by, and I just enjoyed some more sunshine. I'm glad my legs are recovering from Knoxville surprisingly well.

Run Miles: 41.2 mi
Total Time: 7:55

I'm starting to get a little nervous for the Blue Ridge Marathon in two weeks. It's billed as America's Toughest Road Marathon (and added extra elevation gain this year to beat the other marathon vying for the title). The cut-off is pretty generous - 6 hours to get to mile 22, and 7 hours to complete the race. They say to add about 30-60 minutes to your marathon time to predict your Blue Ridge finishing time, so I'm hoping to finish in around six hours.

The plan for this coming week is to get some miles in, try out the new-to-me pool here, and hit the weights a few times. Oh yeah, and starting downloading podcasts like crazy to be ready for all the time I'll be spending out on the course.

I don't have to be at work until 9 at my new job (we just work through lunch and still leave at 5), so morning workouts aren't quite so painful. (The gym is also two minutes from my apartment!) My plan is to try it a few times this week and evaluate it for the future. I'll have eight weeks of training between Blue Ridge and Hatfield McCoy, and I'd like to have my routine set for that block. If I absolutely hate it, I'll figure something else out.

We're off now to Easter lunch with some of Michael's family (who are runners and want to see our medals - yay!). I hope everyone has a enjoyable holiday too!

How are you celebrating this weekend?
Any tips for running a very hilly course?