I mentioned last week I’m changing up my training this time around. For 14 weeks, I’ll train for the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon using Race Ready Coaching. It’s an online program put together by a team of elite (read very badass) coaches. I was invited to test this plan free of charge, however one of the best things about Race Ready Coaching is the price. Just $5 a week! My particular plan includes 4 weekly runs, strength training, drills and supplemental videos on a variety of topics ranging from breathing techniques to motivation. I’ll be talking more about Race Ready as I go and if you have questions about it, holler. Here’s how last week shook out:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 4 miles speed intervals.
Wednesday: Heavy weights for shoulders/back/biceps.
Thursday: 40 minutes easy. On the mill cuz it’s ridiculous here. Weights for legs.
Friday: Yoga
Saturday: Heavy weights. Hello bench press my old friend.
Sunday: 50 minutes endurance run. Corework.
I just told you I’d be doing 4 weekly runs, yet you probably noticed I only did 3 last week. The plan actually started on January 1 so, because I’d already done some speedwork, I did not do the 6x400m the plan wanted. My bad. Overall last week was pretty tame. That will not be the case this week.
The heavy lifting is my pet project, not part of the coaching plan. The goal is to go heavy once a week but somehow I made it twice. I’m getting more comfy in the freeweight area of the gym and my muscle memory is coming back, although my triceps are in agony. Let the record show, the gym has been positively empty…at least in the wee hours. Looking ahead, this week has a pace run and some speedwork that excites me. Most of all, I am learning to run my slow days SLOW. I’m not always succeeding because slow on the mill (I’ve been on the mill all year so far) is a special kind of hell, but I’m getting better.
The weekend was pretty uneventful besides unrelenting snow and uber cold temps.
I made some Chicken Tortilla Soup to keep warm. Schools are closed today (-17 with -50+ wind chill), and since this cold isn’t supposed to break until Tuesday afternoon, I’m beginning to wonder if they’ll be open tomorrow?
What was fun for you this weekend? Are you freezing? Training for anything?
How fun to try a new program and with a goal in mind.
Lucky you to find your gym empty in the morning hours.
Speed intervals? Yuck! More power to you! Good luck with the training though! It is absolutely freezing here, luckily, as of now, my indoor track is still open and I’ll be headed there as soon as I can escape work. Phew!
I’m pretty sure the nicest thing I’ve ever done for myself has been running my easy runs at a really, really, REALLY easy pace. Sometimes it feels like walking, but my body appreciates the break so much!
Awesome that you connected with Joanna and company! I hope it’s a great fit for you all.
Soup is definitely on our menu this week. We hit our coldest tomorrow morning–pretty sure the coldest temps I’ve ever seen in Md!
Definitely froze this weekend. We had a thaw and rain this morning, but it’s supposed to go back to single digits this afternoon and tonight. Time to hunker down again.
Super cold here, too, but not as bad as you guys have it. I’m wondering what’s going to happen with school tomorrow with the wind chill forecast to be pretty ridiculous.
I got to go mountain biking in the snow both Friday and Saturday (Thursday’s outing being spoiled by THAT day’s snow day for my son). Yesterday’s workouts, on the other hand, featured a snow shovel.
I like how you have supplemental videos. That’s a nice bonus. After seeing your plan, I am much more comfortable with what my coach has laid out for me. It seems to be right on target but at my newbie level.
Heavy weights are awesome.
Cold doesn’t even begin to describe it. There should be a new word for this. Even if school is open tomorrow, I’m not sending Lucas. Cold like this will trigger his asthma and I don’t have time to deal with it. Good mom stuff right there. LOL
Carla I think your coach is doing an excellent job so far. Here in Chicago we are calling it ChiBeria.
good on you for your training plan. I just started some specific strength stuff to my routine – at “our age” it’s important to keep up the muscle mass. I can’t believe how cold it is there. Hopefully you’ll get some relief soon!!!
Florida – so not freezing 😉 You look awesome! And you can’t beat the cost of those training plans even out of pocket!
Sounds like a great new plan! I hope you enjoy it!
Right now I’m gearing up for a 20 mile run on the trails, for fun. Ironman training starts in March. We are cold here but that’s alright!
Good for you for trying a new training plan. And I love that you’re going after heavy weights! Good luck with your training!
I will not complain about our cold- yikes!! I’ve heard good things about that training plan, excited to hear how it goes for you!
No school here today or tomorrow dur to cold. Couldn’t bring myself to run on the mill today. Maybe tomorrow.
Online coaching sounds fun, specially for free 🙂
The most fun thing I did all weekend was hide in my air conditioned workroom to escape the ridiculous heat. Needless to say – it’s not freezing here.
It was SO darn cold here that we didn’t do that much and I certainly didn’t run (because of the snow).
Yep – cold here, too!
I have to say, the only time I don’t really love my treadmill runs are when I try to go long and slow. Today I did do a fun little pyramid up and down x 3 to pass the time while I did almost 10 miles and that helped me not feel so slow!!!
I love walking into a free weight area in a gym with tons of confidence. You look like you owned it. Great job on the weights. I need to lift a little heavier. Good goal for the year.
I’m frozen and it’s not nearly as cold as you guys have it. How much longer ’til summer? I now know why old people flock to the South in the winter…I’m right there with them (I wish).
You be rocking this new program, Louise – look at you go. Wishing you nothing but many, many successful (that mean INJURY-FREE) miles this year!!
Good luck on your new training program. I am sure it will work for you. I don’t lift weights but I find useful to swim.
My program: training for one monthly race with the only goal to finish (but not to be the last of the last pack).
Stay Warm!
The cold front managed to avoid us. But I remember several years ago having a spell with days with highs around -15 (not even counting wind chill). It was awful!
Love that you are training a new program & of course weights! 🙂
Marcia! Glad you are digging the program. Keep it up and let us know how it is going.
Cheers,
Brandon