Eyes on LA: Week of 8/10-8/16

This week didn't hit the volume that I was hoping for.  Missed a double or two for a few different reasons.  Starting to get into a good rhythm with the mileage, and feeling good on a daily basis.  Reintroduced the "medium long run" back into the weekly regimen, and it felt good to start getting into the my marathon training routine.  You can check out most of my runs and workouts HERE.

8/10-8/16 Weekly Mileage: 102

Workout #1 @ Buffalo Park: 3 mile warm up, 2 mile tempo, 2 min. rest, 10x 200 meter hill, 2 min. rest, 2 mile tempo.  Hit the first tempo in 10:18, feeling smooth.  Powered through the hills, and got through the second tempo in 9:54 with a strong second mile.  Felt good about this one, I haven't gone sub 10 in Buffalo Park very often, so to do so this early in a training cycle bodes well.

Workout #2: Integrated this one into my long run this week.  Did 18 miles, with 5 miles of 3min.-2min.-1min. fartlek from miles 10-15.  90 seconds rest in between each interval.  I like integrating fartlek into my long run to mimic changing pace and running faster while being fatigued and depleted deeper into my long runs.  I didn't take any fluids or carbohydrates through this one, and felt surprisingly good on my hard sections.

So far so good on this cycle of training.  Just need to keep getting the miles in, and building up a little more volume through the next few weeks.  Excited to get racing soon, and will be hitting the roads for the first time this fall at the Rock and Roll San Jose 1/2 Marathon!  Will be looking to run somewhere near my PR, or at the very least cracking 64 minutes again.

Until next time!

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Eyes on LA: Weekly Write Up 8/3-8/9

We're about 6 1/2 months out from the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials.  From here on out, that is the sole focus.  Every other race is secondary, and every run, workout, gym session is done to prepare myself as best as humanly possible for that race.

The next 3.5 months will be spent putting together the biggest strength block that I've ever done, followed by 12 weeks of lower volume and sharper workouts to get me ready to handle 26.2 miles of running at close to 5 minute pace.


So, after years of inconsistent blogging, I had the amazing idea (that dozens of others have also had) to write a weekly blog (instead of random 6 month updates).  I wanted to chronicle the final few months of training and racing going into my first Olympic Marathon Trials.  These weekly updates will go in depth into my training, racing, and my mindset going forward as I prepare for the most important race of my life.  So without further delay, let’s get started.
 

Week 1: 8/3-8/9. 

Note that this isn’t my first week of training in this build up.  I actually began about a month ago.  It is my first week of substantial (100+) mileage, which seems like a natural place to start.  

Weekly Total: 104 

- Didn't get all my runs on my watch this week, but you can check out the Strava data that I do have HERE

First workout of the week was a 6 mile progression run at Buffalo Park.  Two mile splits: 11:02, 10:48, 10:24.  Danny Mercado and I closed it in about 5:09, definitely a nice way to end the day.  I think the progression was a good way to get back into the steady state running, and I felt pretty good about the effort.  

Workout #2 was the Dave McKay Memorial Big Brothers Big Sisters ½ Marathon up here in Flagstaff.  Happy to say I got the win in some muddy conditions, and was about 30 seconds off the course record!  Pretty solid day on the whole. 

Always fun racing this guy in the Run Flagstaff Summer Series

 

Long run this week was 18 miles, averaging 6:30 pace. Ran with a big group on Forest Road 700 in the little town of Mountainaire.  Hilly, but beautiful run.

Also hit the gym once this week.  My sessions are mainly plyometric based, with some kettle bell and body weight work included as well.  We’ll see how the gym feels once the volume starts to increase.  I haven't done this type of gym work during a big marathon bulk block, so I'll be curious to see how my body handles the specific strain of this type of work.  I think it's beneficial and it allows me to hold on to some speed, so I'm committed to keeping it in the regimen. 

 

I feel like every time I come back off of a break my baseline fitness is better than the previous time, and I’m able to get into the meat of my training a little quicker.  This time is certainly no exception. 

The first big week of training is always a bit tough, and it takes a few weeks to get into the full work day-big mileage groove.  The first few days were a bit rough, and I probably wasn’t the most pleasant person to be around (sorry Sarah!!) but I think I’m getting into the groove now, and am ready to dive head first into the good stuff! 

All I can think about on many of my runs, especially the solo ones, are the trials.  I've been in Flagstaff for almost 3 years now, and all this work is starting to pay big dividends.  I know that as long as I'm smart and can keep myself healthy, that I will line up in the best shape of my life.