Category Archives: postpartum running

Training Strategy for LA Marathon

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Training for a marathon is not easy and even harder when I am struggling to make it out for runs consistently. In the past, my training plans called for 5-6 days of running, where 2 of the days were speed work – intervals and tempo and long run during one weekend day. I used to double up cross training and runs at least once a week. Those days are long gone.

For the Los Angeles Marathon, my goal will be to finish the race in a respectable time. What does respectable time mean? Well, for right now, I am not sure. I signed up for the race so I had a goal and something to motivate me to run consistently. I missed the structure of having a schedule and everyone knows I am much happier and nicer after I have had a good sweat.

While I am not completely starting from fitness level zero, my days of having a strong base are a distant memory. These days my base is about 2-3 miles. While I was pregnant, I read about the “Run Less Run Faster” training philosophy created by the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training. For more research, I purchased the book leading up to developing my plan. While I have not read the book cover to cover yet, I find it to be a good resource and I’m sure will be useful in many more training programs to come. The theory behind the program is that more miles does not equal faster race results. Not only are there other time commitments that prevent people from being able to run as often as possible, for some, running more leads to injuries as well. The FIRST plan calls for 3 tough days of running and 2 hard cross training days. In the 3 days for a marathon, there are track repeats/intervals, tempo runs, and the long run. There are several critiques to this plan (as with all plans out there) which I acknowledge and respect but for me and my current training situation, this plan seems to make sense. I’ll definitely plan on doing an overall training recap after March 19th!

My training plan, which started three Mondays ago, is built on the FIRST foundation — three days of hard running: intervals, tempo, long run + two days of cross training: easy run, elliptical, or spin class + one day of barre. Most days I am up around 4:30AM to get ready for the day before the workout and many runs are unfortunately on a treadmill since it is still dark out. I try to join a local running group when I can and sign up for as many races that make sense so I can get some speed/tempo work in outside. So far it has been a challenge to get up that early and out the door but it does feel great to be done with your workout before the sun rises(!).

I’ll continue to keep you all posted in the months head. Look for my training recaps every couple of weeks!

Bronx 10 Mile Recap

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img_5989On Sunday, I ran the Bronx 10 Mile. I ran this race two other times before but not since the course changed.

There were many times leading up to this race even up to 30 minutes before I was supposed to leave the house that I thought about backing out. I had so many doubts about whether I could finish the race without hurting myself and last night, I started having mom guilt. I have not been away for that many hours straight before  (around 6 hours total).

If it weren’t for my friend, Maria, I would definitely not have run this yesterday. She remembered us talking a couple of weeks ago about run/walking it together. We touched base earlier in the week and agreed that we would do the 10 miles together. It sounds like we were each other’s motivation to make it out!

img_5987So race morning started with me waking up to pump, eating breakfast, changing into my running clothes, and coordinating where to pick up our friend, Toni. We made it to the Bronx a little later than I wanted but fortunately NYRR recommended a nearby garage that I was able to park in fairly quickly. The garage was right by Yankee Stadium and bag check. There we met up with Maria who had picked up my bib earlier in the week.

I had serious doubts about whether I could finish the race up until we made it to mile 5. We even talked about how if it didn’t feel right, we would stop and cheer everyone on. With inconsistent running and my longest run being 4 miles, what was I thinking that I could even complete 10? I also brilliantly took a cardio barre class on Saturday so I was already feeling sore. However, Maria and I were in it together and we had a lot of catching up to do. We spent the time chatting about everything from running to families to life. The first 5 miles flew by (flew is relative, not as fast as we both are used to). We walked a bit between mile 5 and 6 while we refueled and drank some water. Then we chugged along and mostly ran with some walk breaks for the last 4 miles. As we were approaching the finish line, we had enough left to speed up. Our finish time of 2:04 is slower than most of my half marathon times, but I am extremely proud of what I was able to accomplish with little training or fitness since the 9th month of pregnancy.

img_6005I signed for the race back in May. I thought when, almost 9 months pregnant, that it would be a good test of my fitness in preparation for the NYC Marathon. This was my first race postpartum (10 weeks postpartum and a 10 mile race, very appropriate timing!) and my first race sporting my Oiselle singlet. I wouldn’t have been as successful today if it weren’t for Maria and Toni who I really wanted to see and that was encouragement enough to get out there. Also, I am fortunate for Josh’s support – he was on full baby duty since Saturday bedtime until I got home. He even managed to track me during the run and send a congratulations video when I crossed the finish line.

As it relates to the logistics of the race, I am generally pleased with NYRR’s organization in race settings and the Bronx 10 Mile was no different. There are a ton of volunteers and signs around. Bag check was relatively easy to find and it was short walk up a hill to the start. We started in the last corral since we were late getting there, so it did take 28 minutes from the start of the race before we crossed. The only downside to the race is how crowded it was. A couple of years ago when I ran this race, there were a lot less people and I didn’t need to sign up months in advance on the day that registration opened just to get in.

Overall, it was a gorgeous Sunday and I am glad that I decided to run. My legs are not feeling the same way now though but as Maria puts it, you need to do things for yourself so that way you give your child(ren) your best time when you’re with them.