Weekend Workouts - Oct. 8

[sadlebred]

What did everyone do this weekend?

BQ: Do you enjoy fall weather to workout or be outside in?

[sadlebred]

Friday: Off
Sat.: 22 mile easy gravel ride with friends
Sunday: 2 cyclocross races, one hard, one at party pace

Monday (government/bank holiday): Planned 2 hour easy road ride

BQ: It could be 65 or 90 here in GA in October. Sometimes it goes from 90 to 45 and we never see "fall" temperatures. It's a real swing. Today was glorious and 65. I loved it!

[scm1011]

F: 2 mile run
S: 2 mile run
S: 9 mile run
M: GOTR practice

BQ: I looooove fall weather. Fall in New England is the best and I want to soak in every minute.

[laterz]

F: 1mi run + 20min elliptical
Sat: nothing
Sun: nothing, which actually may be good for my achilles.

BQ:  Yes, definitely

[Susie]

Fri & Sat - rest
Sun - Mohawk Hudson Half Marathon Day!
Mon:  rest/recovery/yard work

MHHM went really pretty well.  Weather was perfect, about 50 at the start, cloudy giving way to sun toward the end.  The course is significantly downhill for the first 5 miles, and then flattens out for the next 8 miles.  I found it hard to rein in my pace in the beginning like I knew I needed to while trying to take some advantage of the downhill.  Things felt good, running mostly in the 9:10s to 9:30s until about 10 miles in.  The first 7 miles were positively joyful and totally easy.  Then at about 8.5 or 9 miles you cross under the interstate to the path along the Hudson River, and it fully flattens and becomes slightly rolling.  That's when I started to feel it.  My longest run prior was 11.3, and right on cue around 11-12 it got really hard.  But at that point you're almost there!

I didn't really know what to expect.  All my prior halfs were in 2013 and 2014.  In the past I've gone 2:07, 2:09, and 1:55, plus some 2:10-2:25s as parts of 70.3s.  My C goal for this race was just finish.  It's been almost a decade, and just making it to the start line isn't a given, let alone the finisher's medal.  B goal was to break 2:10.  A goal was to maybe break 2:05, although that was somewhat arbitrarily selected.  I finished in 2:08:04, for 9:47 pace by chip time.  My Garmin measured the distance a little long, so it registered 9:39 pace.  I am totally at peace with that.  

My next race is in about a month, a 15k.  I think that will be a good distance for me.

BQ:  yes, I am really enjoying the break in the heat!  But I'm dreading the cold to come.

[dove]

Sat: 26 mile gravel ride
Sun: rest, took the dog on a 2 mile walk
BQ: the weather has been amazing in TX. Much needed after this brutal summer

edit to add FRI: 30 min reformer pilates and a 1 mile walk with the dog

[sadlebred]

Susie That's awesome! Congratulations! I remember when you did your IM and halfs (I guess we are that much older now. LOL!) 9:47 is a very respectable pace, AND you made your B goal! I'd call it a very successful HM!!

[scm1011]

Yay, Susie! Congrats!! I have the same A & B goals for my upcoming half

[brooke77]

Sunday: Chicago Marathon!

Chicago was a dream. Weather was perfect! Cool and cloudy. Such a fun city - so much crowd support and interesting neighborhoods. I finished in 4:25 and am so happy with that!

Going into the marathon, I had no idea what pacing was realistic for me. I was hoping for 4:30, but my paces were nowhere near that during training in the heat this summer. I decided to just go for it and the worst that would happen was I’d miss my goal. I had heard that GPS is unreliable, so I grabbed a 4:30 pace tattoo at the expo. I am so glad I did because I think it really helped me stick to the pace. I periodically checked in on my splits, but didn’t obsess over them. Each time I checked, I was on target/slightly ahead of target. The last few miles were definitely painful, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was still slightly ahead of my targets. I ended up finishing at 4:25 - my 2nd fastest time! My paces have been in a steady decline the last few years, so it felt really great meeting my goal. I’m already looking into 2024 marathons 🫣

[scm1011]

yay, brooke77!! Congrats on an amazing race!!

[breezy8407]

congrats Susie and brooke77!

[breezy8407]

Friday: 3 mile run, 30 min strength
Saturday: 60 min Peloton cycle, 20 min walk
Sunday: 3.25 mile run

BQ: Both. I'm looking to get in some more outdoor running while the temps are right. I am also going to do my outdoor bike route as long as I can. 

[sadlebred]

brooke77 That's incredible--your 2nd fastest time EVER! Congratulations!!!