Before I get into my training recap for the week, I want to tell you about Sweat Guru’s No Excuses Challenge. If you’ve read my blog for long, you probably know I love challenges. Encouragement to work out, a group of like-minded supporters, and a chance to win prizes? I’m in. The Holiday Sweat challenge was a lot of fun, so imagine my excitement when I saw this one! Here’s what it entails (wording taken from Sweat Guru’s e-mail):

• Each Sunday we’ll send you an email with weekly prompts (workouts, healthy snack ideas and more)

  • We ask that you share your answer or interpretation of those prompts daily via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, your blog, etc using #NoExcuses #SweatPink for a chance to win fun weekly prizes from brands like Augusta Active, ShowerPill, ActivMotion Bar, WIN Detergent, Beaming with Health….etc etc…

  • The workouts will be things like drop down and give us 10 push-ups or burpees or even get out and run (or walk) a mile!

• Each day, we’ll all share what we’re doing and how we’re doing it on our social channels and help each other stay accountable, motivated and on top of our goals.

• Every Friday, we’ll send around an email with winners, prizes and our favorite Tweets, IG posts and blog posts from the week (hello, link love and social sharing!)

Want to sign up? Use this link: http://bit.ly/1yCAQLl.

Now, let’s talk about week 2 of marathon training. Between marathon training cycles, I tend to forget, or maybe just look at through rose-colored glasses, how time-consuming training is. This cycle seems especially so, since I’m going back to a Pete Pftitzinger training plan after using McMillan plans for the last two races. Both plans have about the same overall mileage, but Pftiz has longer-at-once mid-week runs  — an 11-miler one day and a 5-miler the next, for instance, instead of two 8-milers like McMillan’s. I’m hoping that the mid-week longer runs will make me stronger and faster so I can finally get over that 3:13 hump. So I’m willing to put in the mileage, even if that means seeing numbers like this on a treadmill on weeknight.

Monday: 
AM: Longer runs also mean two-a-day workouts when I strength train. I’m trying to do upper and lower body on different days, when possible, so I can spend a little more time on each. Monday was upper body and core.

PM: 8 miles with 10 strides… or at least as close as I could come to running strides on a treadmill. They’re so short that it’s tough to do them inside.

Tuesday: 
AM: 30 minutes lower-body strength training.

PM: 12-mile easy run. I was pretty disappointed to see that I can’t watch The Bachelor on Hulu yet for free. Looks like I’ll be a week behind all season, so no spoilers!

Wednesday:
AM: 5-mile recovery run followed by some stretching and foam rolling, I’m really bad about doing those two things, so one of my goals this cycle is to diligently do them.

Only one workout today, as I had an evening full of meetings.

Thursday:
AM: 9 miles easy. J and I both had meetings/stuff that had to be done after school, and I wasn’t sure how long they would take, so I wanted to make sure the run got done.

PM: Quick upper-body and core strength workout.

Friday:
AM: 5-mile recovery run, some core work, and a bit of stretching. And then I took a selfie, because that’s what bloggers do.

Working out at home is the best, because who has time for clothes that match?

Saturday:
J had a meeting in Denver (read: free hotel room), so I went up and stayed with him Friday night. Saturday morning, I headed to the Cherry Creek Trail for what was supposed to be 16 miles with 8 at goal pace.

The first couple of miles were pretty clear, but then the patchy ice became more ice than concrete. Instead of goal pace, I stuck with “stay-upright” pace. It was a beautiful morning, though, and I love running in Denver, so overall, I’m not disappointed. I’m a little sore today, even though I didn’t go fast. I think it’s from stabilizing myself on the ice.  Afterward, I met up with my two college roommates for pedicures and brunch, so Saturday was pretty super overall.

Sunday: 
Rest; just 30 minutes of yoga. J agreed to try joining me for my Sunday yoga sessions. I’m pretty excited… even though he’s WAY more flexible than I am and will show me up.

Totals: 55 miles, 2.5ish hours strength/stretch

Week 2 is in the books, and today I made a bunch of meals to free up some post-run evening time, so bring on Week 3

Are you joining the #NoExcuses challenge? DO IT.

What’s your favorite city to run/exercise in?