Monday, August 9, 2010

crazy mileage ...

In the past two years, I have trained for two marathons. Two marathons that didn't work out exactly as I had hoped. Try like way worse than I hoped. (Based on my 5K PR, I should be capable of a 3:51 marathon. My PR is 5:06).

During each of those training cycles, my weekly mileage maxed out at 38. I ran that far once during my first training cycle and twice during the second. In the past five weeks, my lowest mileage week has been 38. Seriously? And I haven't even run my first 20 miler yet. That is just crazy to me.

Looking ahead in my schedule, my 50+ mile weeks seemed quite intimidating. 50 miles is a lot. Like 5,850 calories worth of running. Do you know how many cupcakes I could eat for 5,850 calories?

OK, that was not my point. What I was getting at is that I am no longer intimidated. Because in the first seven days of August, I logged 56.2 miles.

Six days of running + One day of rest = 56.2 miles and one happy Tonia.

31 comments:

Jen said...

Great job... I am following your first 2 marathon mileage... but I hope I can go under 5 hours... only time will tell.

kat said...

Great mileage, very inspiring, big pat on the back.

Silly Girl Running said...

Yay on the mileage! :) Managed to get 32 miles in in a post-marathon week; glad with that. And you're right; that kind of mileage would've scared me 6 months ago.

Great info about the cupcakes! I looooove cupcakes. :)

KM said...

5K to marathon time predictors are notoriously inaccurate - have you tried doing the race predictor starting from your half PR rather than your 5k?

abbi said...

That's awesome! I've very anxious for October to get here to see how my first marathon goes. Seems like I've read several blogs lately that all indicate their total mileage was too low for their first few marathon attempts.

mommaof3ontherun said...

Wow, I'm so far from there. Great job!

Keri said...

Congrats on a great week!

Jodi H said...

Amazing Tonia!! Way to go! You will be great in the marathon!

Tricia said...

awesome job on the miles

Rae said...

Great job on your high-mileage week! You rock!

Tortuga_Runner said...

Yowza! Way to go! How do you feel? Yes happy, but are you building in a few weeks of less than 6 days to rest? I'm always amazed at the 6 day a week programs. Looking forward to the results.

Jill said...

This is so exciting to me. Makes me re-think my next marathon training. I am in the same boat as far as low milage for my marathon training. I can't wait to see how great you do at your marathon.

KovasP said...

Awesome progress!

Marlene said...

YAY! Congrats on the 50-mile week! They used to intimidate the crap out of me too! You are going to have a GREAT marathon!

Allie said...

Amazing! I can't wait to read all about how you rock that marathon!

Jamie said...

Awesome job on the first 50+ week! You are rocking it!

Unknown said...

Amazing! That is an awesome way to start august!

Michelle said...

Wow! That's fantastic!! Great start to the month!!

Nicole said...

I think I got an injury just *reading* about your mileage!! One day maybe I'll be able to push the mileage, but right now I'm just happy to be able to run! Your mileage is both impressive and aspirational!

ajh said...

Great job! I'm jealous!

Emz said...

LOOK AT YOU GO!!!

And GO FAR!!!

Awesome. Smiles from AZ.

Unknown said...

Racking those miles makes all the difference. Make sure you take time to rest and recover too, though.

Bethany + Ryan said...

wowzers! that's a lot of miles! i've never even ran that much in 1 week!! wtg!

track coach and adorable wife said...

I may have to take a sympathy rest day for you! I did about 5.62 miles last week, yay! You are awesome and totally rockin it.

racing dawn said...

Love big numbers! That's awesome!

Dave Warfel said...

...and it keeps going up and up from there.

Before you know it, 70 mile weeks seem like nothing and you're running 50 on the weekend :-)

That's how it happened to me...

Joanne @ MostlyFitMom said...

High five! That's awesome :) Funny how we progress and don't notice...

dawn @ running the dawn said...

good work on your mileage! already over 55 miles per week. very impressive!

i've got a question for coach T...i know all the risks of running outside in the heat. are there any benefits? is it a form of resistance training? or altitude training? will running outside in the summer help me more than being inside on a treadmill? cause i'm pretty sure the heat is going to kill me...

MCM Mama said...

Impresive! Here I am happy to breaking 30 miles a week LOL.

Keep up the great training!

Julie D. said...

That's some serious mileage. You are going to KILL that marathon!! 3:50 or better, is definitely yours!

suzy, http://countdownto13.blogspot.com/ said...

WoW! And I was moaning about a 25 mile week. You are awesome girl!