RunFasterSarah (my running adventures)

Ha! Bet you thought I’d fallen off the face of the planet?! Or maybe you are so busy also, that you didn’t even notice 😉

That wouldn’t surprise me. We are all SO BUSY!

In fact, that’s where I’ve been these past 4 weeks – being busy.

But it’s more than that –  in fact it’s a pet peeve of mine to use ‘busy’ as an excuse so what I just wrote really irritates me.

It’s that back in week 10 I fell 15km short of my goal. And because of this I hid. In week 11, I again fell 15km short of my goal. More hiding.

As I headed into week 12 I had just experienced the loss of a beloved pet – my cat who had been with me since college. All of a sudden running didn’t feel so important. I fell 68km short of that week’s goal but it didn’t so much as phase me. And last week I fell 20km short of my goal – for no good reason and I’m not about to go around making up excuses for you.

So what’s the deal? Am I still planning on running Eugene marathon? Getting my sub 3:21?

Yes. Yes yes yes. I am and I will.

When life gets bumpy (and really, it’s always bumpy – sometimes it’s up, sometimes it’s down) it’s best to reach out for support. I thought I could go it alone this time round, sans coach. I guess even coaches need a coach. I’ll now be training under the guidance of Coach Carey Nelson, running coach and Canadian Olympic marathoner. In fact he’s training both me and my husband to our July 27th race day!

And so, with renewed motivation, nicer weather and a running coach – I stand here 16.5 weeks away from race day (actually, I’m sitting – but that’s beside the point). More than enough time to get back on track and build my way up to the best race I’ve ever run.

Oh, plus I have come to the realization that weekly meal planning, adequate sleep and proper core strength training are essential components to a successful marathoners training plan. Wait… I already knew that!!

Now, nutrition is pretty easy for me (it better me, it’s my livelihood), but I’ve been skipping out on good sleep and where in the world did my yoga/strength training sessions disappear to?!!

Ha, I am so not perfect and life is so totally bumpy.

Bump along dear friends, bump along.

PS. I love instagram. If you are on instagram, I invite you follow me if you’d like (can you tell I’m obsessed with instagram?!!):

• @runfastersarah – posting every single darn run I do
• @eat2run – my professional account, posting yummy foods for runners
• @sarahjanecuff – my life

Training — Planned Weekly Mileage:

1. Dec 30 to Jan 5 – 50km (actual – 57km)
2. Jan 6 to 12 – 60km (actual – 63km)
3. Jan 13 to 19 – 60km (actual – 63km)
4. Jan 20 to 26 – 75km (actual – 77km)
5. Jan 27 to Feb 2 – 105km (actual – 108km)
6. Feb 3 to 9 – 90km (actual – 90km)
7. Feb 10 to 16 – 75km (actual – 75km)
8. Feb 17 to 24 – 105km (actual – 100km)
9. Feb 25 to Mar 2 – 135km (actual – 135km)
10. Mar 3 to 9 – 120km (actual – 105km)
11. Mar 10 to 16 – 135km (actual 110km)
    
12. Mar 17 to 23 – 150km (actual 83km)
    
13. Mar 24 to 30 – 120km, with specific pace runs (actual 100km – no pace runs)
14. Mar 31 to Apr 6 – 120km, with specific pace runs
15. Apr 7 to 13 – 105km, with specific pace runs
16. Apr 14 to 20 – 135km, with specific pace runs
17. Apr 21 to 27 – 135km, with specific pace runs
18. Apr 28 to May 4 – 105km, with specific pace runs
19. May 5 to 11 – 150km, with specific pace runs
20. May 12 to 18 – 135km, with specific pace runs
21. May 19 to 25 – 120km, with specific pace runs
22. May 26 to June 1 – 150km, with specific pace runs
23. June 2 to 8 – 135km, with specific pace runs
24. June 9 to 15 – 105km, with specific pace runs
25. June 16 to 22 – 150km, with specific pace runs
26. June 23 to 29 – 120km, with specific pace runs
27. June 30 to July 6 – 105km, with specific pace runs
28. July 7 to 13 – 105km, with specific pace runs
29. July 14 to 20 – 90km, with specific pace runs
30. July 21 to 27 – final taper week