Last week I started my 16 week training cycle for the Chicago Marathon.This training cycle I'm incorporating a few things that I didn't do last training cycle; cross-training and strength training. I also plan on keeping up with my planking. The hubs recently went out and got us a gym membership, which will definitely come in handy with those goals as well as provide me with a treadmill option too. This week I used yoga as both cross-training and strength. Maybe a bit of a stretch, but the way my muscles felt afterwards, I think it did both jobs.
This cycle I'm also focusing on eating a lot better. While my diet is pretty good, I really want to eat a lot cleaner and avoid processed convenience food as much as possible. Last week was a win as I prepped a weeks worth of lunches on Sunday, and had a plan for dinner that week too! This Curry Roasted Vegetable & Kale Salad from Minimalist Baker kept really well for 4 days worth of lunches, and I enjoyed the leftovers from my Summer Squash Tacos for dinner. I also experimented with making celery juice... I really didn't like it at first, but after the first glass, I got used to the taste of juiced celery.
Chicago Marathon Training - Week 1:
Monday - 4 miles easy. 1:00 am plank/1:00 pm plank.
Tuesday - Vinyasa Flow Yoga. 1:00 am plank/1:00 pm plank.
Wednesday - 4 miles easy on the treadmill before work (in case TS Cindy impacted our weather - it didn't). 1:00 am plank/1:00 pm plank.
Thursday - Vinyasa Flow Yoga. 1:00 am plank/1:00 pm plank.
Friday - 4 miles easy. 1:00 am plank/1:00 pm plank.
Saturday - 8 miles total. I got in 3 miles before a massive thunderstorm hit, then went to the gym to get in the remaining 5 miles on a treadmill. 1:00 am plank.
Sunday - Rest Day.
Total Miles = 20
I'm linking up with HoHo Runs and MissSippi Piddlin’, and special guest hostess Zenaida Arroyo for the Weekly Wrap.
9 Comments
I start half training next week and I'm going to try so hard to not let my strength training fall to pieces! I did that last time and lost so much muscle. It made my running a lot more difficult.
ReplyDeleteStrength training is so important, especially as you increase your mileage!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!
ReplyDeleteI am excited for you as you train for the Chicago Marathon! Have you run it before? If you haven't, it is a GREAT one.
ReplyDeleteI need to get back to a more consistent strength workout schedule. I did some strength training as I trained for my marathon, but I did scale it back. Celery juice? sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteI defnitely think you've see a big boost from cross training & strength training. It's just hard to keep up with as the miles add up.
ReplyDeleteGood start, Vicki!
I hope to keep up with it, but I can see as miles add up I will be craving more rest days.
ReplyDeleteI am so much for strength training as it is very important for the core and preventing injuries, Vicki! Keep up the awesome work!
ReplyDeleteI think it really helped me this training cycle... I'm a believer :-)
ReplyDelete