This was the week any hint of summer totally slipped away, leaving a nip in the air and frosty breath in it’s wake. The morning chill in the darkness brought back all the ghosts of marathon training cycles past. Don’t worry, they’re friendly ghosts. After training for 12 fall marathons, my brain is hard wired to expect now to be taper time, or pretty close to it.
Columbus Marathon, 2009. Back when I dragged my kids to races.
I have many fond memories of toiling through the summer humidity, throwing down those monster long runs, and before you know it, 3+ months have passed, the humidity clears, and the proverbial hay is (hopefully) in the barn. You pause with anxious excitement and look back with pride on that enormous body of work you committed to, in an attempt to achieve marathon-caliber fitness. Was it enough? Am I enough? What will marathon day bring?
Girls’ marathon weekend in Twin Cities. 2015.
Let me be clear: I’m not longing to train for another marathon. If that were the case, I’d do it. Actually I’m quite content running for an hour or less…mostly less. But those marathons and the running community changed me for the better. While I wasn’t always pleased with the outcome of those races, time has a way of smoothing things over and giving you perspective. It was never about winning the race. It’s about summoning the courage to start, showing up consistently, and giving it your best, even when it feels like you’ve got nothing left to give. I am proud of those efforts, and those ghosts of marathons past will always make me smile.
Alright enough reverie. Here’s how my workouts went.
Monday: Walk 3 miles, Track, 800m repeats. ouch
Tuesday: Walk 3 miles, Lower Body Strength
Wednesday: Walk 4 miles, Trail Run 3 miles + Mobility
Thursday: Walk 4 miles, Upper Body Strength + Core
Friday: Walk 4 miles, Trail run 4 miles
Saturday: Walk 4 miles, Rest
Sunday: Walk 4 miles, Trail Run 3 miles, Heavy Strength
The ole bod was not ready for 800m repeats but whatever doesn’t kill you…
It was a decent week here. Kind of a blur, but the cool weather was most welcome. My Monday track session went off without a hitch, except for a guy with a dog who kept circling the outer fence. I suspect he was waiting for me to leave so he could have the dog run around in the enclosure.
The sunrises and sets have had a sort of eerie, smoky glow.
Things have gotten pretty darn crisp on our morning walks. Low 40s may be perfect for running but our walks were kind of chilly.
New On YouTube
Strong Arms & Shoulders Workout. Many runners neglect their upper body, and then wonder why their form goes to he!! in the late miles of a race. Grab your handweights and join me for this one.
Loving
Feetures Elite Series. I had a chance to test out Feetures new-for-fall Elite Collection. From Ultra-Light to Max Cushion, there’s a sock for everyone here. I love the Ultra-Lights for strength training. I wore the Light Cushion socks to the track and loved them. My feet felt great and there was no slipping.
Ozzy is just waiting to run off with one of these.
I’ll test out the Max Cushion ones next weekend when I run the ZOOMA Cape Cod virtual race. Overall though, these are winners and the muted colors are really pretty: Raspberry, Sage, Rose and the Ultra-Lights are Navy/Wine. Find them here (Affiliate link).
Pineapple Kombucha. This flavor from Synergy may not be new but it’s new to me and I love it!
Pineapple Seltzer. I love flavored seltzer water and this one is a winner. Find both of these at Trader Joe’s.
Runfession Friday Linkup
September is already winding down (wasn’t that quick?) and the Runfessional will be open for your ‘fessions this Friday. Be sure to join us!
How was your week? Did you make the most of our final week of fall? What’s your fondest running memory?
I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!
how do you think the feetures compare to the Baglegas? Those are always my go to but I hear good things about Feetures too. I am really enjoying the cooler temps perfect running weather. Love those old marathon photos what fun memories
We got down into the 30s in the evenings/mornings here — but I wasn’t out in that. Loving that I can run later in the day & still not die!
We didn’t have as much smoke, but we did have some. Crazy indeed.
I think a guy & a dog circling would’ve creeped me out. I actually was a bit creeped out at the park I stopped out because I had it almost to myself!
I kind of have those same feelings of “I should be training for something”. I’m not missing the long runs, but I still feel like my Saturday workouts should mimic the intensity of a long run so I usually do my harder workouts that day.
I tried that pineapple kombucha last month and it’s now my 2nd favorite flavor – it was so good!
I am not missing training for things although we have a not-the-Birmingham-half-marathon in club to do in October so we are all getting our distances slightly up for that (we’re OK with 8-9 miles so not too hard). Can’t believe I’ll do a marathon again though!
Even though I’m excited to race 2 halfs and a 10 miler in the coming weeks…I runfess that shorter runs sound amazing!!! I have the feeling that when the last race is done that I’ll drop my mileage, exactly like I did last year. My ghosts are only “half ghosts” (and 5k ghosts and 10k ghosts) but they are happy ghosts. Even with the really bad races, I’m so glad that I did them.
I just got a shipment of those Features socks yesterday and can’t wait to try them out!
That’s such a sweet photo of you with your girls 🙂
It’s crazy to think the smoke from the west coast fires has traveled so far…sigh.
This morning had the feel of marathon running in the air. I always get nostalgic this time of year too. I wish I COULD run another marathon. I gave it a go with my 50k training, but I’m no match for the summer heat. Now I know. Sigh…
I’m getting some of those Feetures socks too and I’m looking forward to trying them out! Altho I’ve fallen hard for my new Balegas… :p
Reading your post also brought back fond memories. But I don’t want to train again for another marathon. Not yet.
I love Balega socks but have heard good things about Feetures.
Great photo of you and your girls. So adorable!
Like you, I have many a fond marathon memory, and not due to my absolutely fast finishes LOL. I do LOVE the training, the anticipation, the excitement of race day AND the grit that gets one across the finish line. It’s a bummer to not be experiencing any of that this year…but, no one else is either. The sting is a little less painful when you know it’s being shared by many fellow runners as well. I’m jealous of all those walks!
This time of year always reminds me of marathon training too! And I’ve only done 4 fall marathons. It got chilly here this week too. Like you said, good for running but chilly for walking!
I love seeing your pics of marathons past! I am not missing the pressure of training for a race, but I am loving the cooler weather, and working from home makes the darker mornings manageable for now.
I like the way you described that pre-marathon-race feeling, after you’ve done all the hard work and are now waiting for the starting line.
That’s a lovely photo with you and the girls. How much can change in 11 years!
Excellent strength video, thank you, Marcia!
We’ve had some cold temps in the am.. still fingering out out to dress but so far the afternoons have warmed up nicely.
I can’t believe that I hesitated so long in running a marathon and now it’s my fondest memory. This time last year I was dong those crazy long runs. Good times.
Still very much summer here! Although, I confess, yesterday and today were much more pleasant.
I do love Feetures socks. Their Ultralights are super thin and I love that.
I just made a note to write a runfessional post. I think I missed it last month and was so disappointed!