February Training Overview

Most of my training has been easy running. And lots of it. The first week of February started off with 57 miles. But it was a “down” week. Recently, I have been running three “up” weeks followed by a “down” week. The “up” weeks increase the previous weeks mileage by 10%. So say I ran 50 miles week 1. Week 2 will be 55 miles and Week 3 will be 61. Week 4 is 20% under Week 3 mileage. So Week 4 will be 49 miles. Then Week 5 is 10% greater than Week 3 at 73 miles and so on. So, getting back to February training…

Week 1: 2/4-2/10

Monday: off
Tuesday: 8 miles: 2 up, 2 x 1 mile @6:07, 2 x 800 @ 2:55, 4 x 400 @ 1:25, 1 mile down
Wednesday: 7.5 miles easy
Thursday: 5.5 easy
Friday: 8 easy
Saturday: 2 up, Oozlefinch 10 miler, 4 down
Sunday: 10 easy

Total: 56 mi/wk

My easy miles are anywhere between an 8:00-9:00 min/mi. I usually just run what feels easy to my body and ignore the watch.

Around mile 3 of the Oozlefinch 10 miler. Tucking in, to escape the wind, without success.

Week 2: 2/11- 2/17

Monday: 6 easy
Tuesday: 9 easy
Wednesday: 6 easy
Thursday: 6 easy
Friday: 4 up, 3 @ 6:36, 6:27, 6:32, 1 down
Saturday: 14 easy
Sunday: 20 miles easy on the trails

Total: 69 miles/wk

Sunrise on the Chesapeake Bay during Sunday long run

Week 3: 2/18- 2/24

Monday: 8 easy

Tuesday: 10 easy

Wednesday: 8 easy

Thursday: 4 up, 3 @ 6:28, 6:23, 6:18, 1 down

Friday: 20 easy on the trails. I ran the 60k loop once to try out the route.

Saturday: 14 total: 7 easy, 7 easy

Sunday: 11 easy

Total: 80 miles/wk

Long Creek 60k loop trial run

The view from Long Creek trail at First Landing State Park

Week 4: 2/26- 3/3

Monday: 7 easy
Tuesday: 2 easy (sick)
Wednesday: 8 easy
Thursday: 13 total: 5 easy, 8 (4 up, 3 @ 6:37, 6:27, 6:30, 1 down)
Friday: 8 easy
Saturday: 20 total: 3.5 easy, 5.5 easy, 11 easy
Sunday: 20 easy

Total: 78 mi/wk

Monthly total: roughly 285 miles

Virginia Beach oceanfront view from Sunday’s long run

About 25% of my runs are done on the treadmill, which is not ideal, but that’s life. Although, I do try hard to run all my workouts outside. With three little boys and a husband who’s gone 50% of the year, the treadmill makes it possible to get my runs in. So for that, I love you treadmill.

March will be my peak training period for this training block, including close to 100 mile weeks and the Shamrock Half Marathon on March 17th. The very end of the month will start my taper for the Long Creek 60k on April 6th. Getting excited to gear up for this race!!

Happy Running!