NYC Marathon Training | Week 15 of 16

15 weeks down, 1 to go!

Race week is here! I can’t even believe it. I also hit by fundraising goal for the MEB Foundation with donations still coming in. So cool to have so many people support me and to know we are making an impact by helping youth in the areas of health, education and fitness.

As for last week…

Monday was a normal rest day. I didn’t have anyone for Foam Roll & Stretch class so I actually slept in a little. These next 2 weeks sleep is extra important so its nice to sneak in some extra hours where ever I can.

I didn’t run again on Tuesday because after work we had our Employee Appreciation Party.  That made 3 non-running days in a row for me! Thank you taper time.

I ran an easy 3 miler on Wednesday. The weather was windy but beautiful. I opened at work on Thursday morning so I left work earlier than usual. I came home thinking I would catch Craig before he went into work but just missed him. Now I was at home staring at a crazy Reggie, eager to join me on my run. It was 71 degrees. We stayed close to home because I didn’t know how far she’d make it being this warm in late October. She lasted 2 miles before I dropped her off at home and continued on for another 2 on my own. Later I got to watch the Bills on Thursday Night Football. BIG DUBS.

Friday was another 3 miler. It was cloudy but a lot warmer than I thought. During my run I was thinking about how many times I would stop and walk on a 3 mile run early on in training. I’ve come a long way since starting the year off with 6 weeks on the couch! That night I re-watched Spirit of the Marathon for more motivation.

I worked Saturday afternoon and took a day off from running. Instead I set up a halloween photoshoot with the pups then took G by Naukabout in her pineapple costume. Tis the season.

Sunday morning was my final long run before 26.2. I had 10 on the schedule. They were predicting rain to start around 11am so I hoped to be out the door around 9am. My dad joined me on the bike. I forgot to use my inhaler and left my body glide at home. I didn’t take any pictures. We made 2 quick stops at the beach and only found one tiny piece of sea glass. I was in “just get it done” mode. It was ONLY 10 miles. I was ready to get it over with - before the rain - and move on to RACE WEEK! LET’S GOOOO! 

Monday 10.23.23

REST

Tuesday 10.24.23

Low Impact Aerobics

Wednesday 10.25.23

3 miles (23:19)

30 min Mat CORE

Thursday 10.26.23

4 miles (32:46)

Low Impact Aerobics

Friday 10.27.23

3 miles (23:35)

30 min Mat CORE

Saturday 10.28.23

REST

Sunday 10.29.23

10 miles with Daddo on the bike (1:18:46)

This week’s mileage: 20 miles

This week’s Reggie mileage: 2 miles

Training totals: 395 miles

ICYMI

Week 1 of 16 Week 5 of 16 Week 9 of 16 Week 13 of 16

Week 2 of 16 Week 6 of 16 Week 10 of 16         Week 14 of 16

Week 3 of 16 Week 7 of 16 Week 11 of 16

Week 4 of 16 Week 8 of 16 Week 12 of 16

Why I’m running the 2023 NYC Marathon

If you would like to support me and donate to the MEB Foundation, visit my fundraising page: https://www.givengain.com/ap/jen-skiba-raising-funds-for-meb-foundation

NYC Marathon Training | Week 6 of 16

6 weeks down, 10 to go!

Last week started off with a rare Monday recovery run. I knew that the next couple of weeks are going to be tough at work with my entire front desk staff leaving for school and my new staff coming in were not through the onboarding process yet so I snuck in a run when I could. I had a few morning clients and was done by 1pm. Craig and I took a quick trip out to Home Depot, stopped at Osterville Fish on the way home then I was out the door for a little under 3 miles. My legs were tired. I was pretty pumped though because I had a zoom call later that night with Team Meb! Craig cooked up an awesome meal with tuna, rice, asparagus and a stuffed scallop while I chatted with my team. It was fun and very motivating listening to Meb’s stories about NYC and hearing questions from my teammates.

Did you know? Since the MEB Foundation was established, they have donated more than 70,000 pairs of shoes to children and communities around the world. How cool is that?

Tuesday was a long day at work… 5:45am-6:15pm. Yuck. I didn’t run but I did teach a class. Then I got Thai food take out on my way home.

Wednesday was a better day. I was home at a decent hour, ran 5 miles - felt amazing during it - then met my parents for a drink at Naukabout. I taught my two aerobics classes on Thursday morning, had to close up at work then was treated to a massage from Craig. I sure needed it.

It rained most of the day on Friday. I had a few instructors out so I taught a bonus HIIT class in the morning and kicked everyone’s butt - including my own! The weather cleared up so after closing up the Athletic Club I went out for 4 miles. I didn’t stop once - mostly because I didn’t get started until about 6:15pm and I wanted to get home to the pups. It initially felt a little cooler and the rain may have stopped but it was SO HUMID. I stupidly wore a sweatshirt. By the time I was done it was a totally different shade of blue. Soaked.

I taught classes Saturday morning, closed up at work and was ready for bed. Craig had other plans. We were on our way out to get ice cream but detoured out to Chatham to meet up with our NH friends Drew and Molly that happened to be on Cape for a few days. Even though I was tired, we had a blast. Such good people. By the time we got home at about 11pm I was totally exhausted and not looking forward to running 14 miles the next morning.

I was wide awake Sunday morning around my usual time even though we were up a lot later than normal. I packed up my running gear and made my way to Falmouth. It had been a few weeks since long running in Falmouth and I was looking forward to the route I had planned out. I was tired before I even started and sore from my Friday and Saturday classes.  Oh and it was 70 degrees with 98 percent humidity, a dew point of 70 with 4 mph winds. It was going to be a fun one.

About 2.5 miles in, I was dripping from every pore in my body. I actually took selfies along the way to watch the progression of sweat marks on my shirt. Pace wise I was cruising along, taking my time, trying to enjoy the run. I passed a lot of other runners and walkers out on the roads. I got to one of my beach stops with about 3.5 miles to go and realized I was almost out of water. That never happens. I called my mom and luckily she was on her way home from pickleball. She met me a half mile later with a bag of ice and a water bottle refill. It was so hard not to jump in her car for a ride home but I toughed it out and finished my second 14 miler of training.

It’s funny every marathon I’ve trained for, I’ve craved something different. My last marathon was cheeseburgers. One marathon was very specific - I wanted a scallop and bacon pizza from a place on Main Street Falmouth. This time around, all I want is a frozen drink after my long run. Must be a summer training thing. 

With that being said, after my run Craig and I went to the Poppy Raw Bar and of course I had to try their strawberry mudslide. I am on a mission to find the best mudslide on Cape Cod. Right now the Poppy Raw Bar is up there in my rankings behind The Port and the Beachcomber. We also slip oysters, littlenecks, a bowl of chowder, a stuffy and a crab cake. All delicious and a perfect post-run treat. We may have stopped at Naukabout on our way home too for a pina colada sloshie. Craig wanted to pick up his tips from the night before and one just happened to land in front of me. Oops!

Monday 8.21.23

2.65 miles (21:10)

Tuesday 8.22.23

Low Impact Aerobics

Wednesday 8.23.23

5 miles (38:09)

30 min Mat CORE

Thursday 8.24.23

Low Impact Aerobics

Water Aerobics (from the deck)

Friday 8.25.23

4 miles (31:19)

30 min Mat CORE

Saturday 8.26.23

Water Aerobics (from the deck)

Saturday Strength

Sunday 8.27.23

14 miles (1:50:26)

This week’s mileage: 26 miles

This week’s Reggie mileage: 0 miles

Training totals: 141 miles

ICYMI

Week 1 of 16 Week 5 of 16

Week 2 of 16

Week 3 of 16

Week 4 of 16

If you would like to support me and donate to the MEB Foundation, visit my fundraising page: https://www.givengain.com/ap/jen-skiba-raising-funds-for-meb-foundation

Weekly Roundup 4.1-4.7

Week 15 of 16

We are one week away from the 123rd Boston Marathon!  Oh em gee.

Overall it was a nice and easy training week for me while G had a big week totaling 6 miles.

Last week’s 20 miler left me feeling like I got hit by a bus so I was very happy to be tapering.  I worked out on Monday with a big focus on my core.  I planned on a short run with Georgie but she surprised me with 3 miles.  Tuesday I cruised for 4 miles after work then took a total rest day on Wednesday.

Thursday was spin and swim.  Friday I didn’t feel like running.  It was cold and windy—big surprise—but I was hoping for 3-5 miles.  I relied on G to get me going with the idea that she’d go a mile or so then I’d continue the rest on my own but again she ran 3 miles.  I was so proud.

I woke up Saturday morning to rain but the hour by hour forecast looked very promising.  When I started running at 1pm, it was 55 degrees and sunny.  10 miles later it was 62 degrees to end a great last long run through Cotuit.  The goal was to stay relaxed and enjoy the weather.  I didn’t even look at my watch until I finished.  Love those kind of runs.

I can’t say I’m totally ready for Boston but I know I will be fine.  Any time you tackle 26.2 miles there are a ton of nerves and doubts.  There is no guarantee in the marathon.  You may have put in the work.  You may have been there before but you never know what cards you are going to get dealt on race day and it certainly doesn’t get any easier with experience.  I’m starting to get excited but it’s definitely a bunch of different feelings going into race week than last year.

Time to rest up, mentally prepare and weather stalk for the next 7 days.  Positive vibes only, please.

Other highlights:

·      I can’t stop reading my race report from last year’s Boston Marathon: http://www.jenrunsfastblog.com/2018/04/race-report-boston-marathon.html

·      I’m number 15097 if you want to track me!  Wave 2 has a 10:25am start time.  Download the Boston Marathon app or go to www.baa.org on race day.

·      Just in case you didn’t already know this… Somerset Creamery in Cataumet opened up this weekend!  I blogged about it awhile back calling it “the best waffle cones on Cape Cod.”  My go to order?  Medium waffle cone with cookie dough on the bottom, orange sherbet on top. 

You can read my full review here: http://www.jenrunsfastblog.com/2015/06/cape-cod-ice-cream-tour-stop-1-somerset.html

Upcoming events:

·      1 week until the Boston Marathon!

Monday 4.1.19

2.93 miles with G (28:51)

Burdenko H2O

Lift

Tuesday 4.2.19

4 miles (32:28)

Taught spin class

Wednesday 4.3.19

16’ walk

Thursday 4.4.19

Taught spin class

Power Water

Friday 4.5.19

3 miles with G (31:05)

Saturday 4.6.19

10 miles (1:18:29)

Sunday 4.7.19

Taught spin class

Burdenko H2O

ICYMI

Week 1 of 16             Week 5 of 16             Week 9 of 16             Week 13 of 16

Week 2 of 16             Week 6 of 16             Week 10 of 16           Week 14 of 16

Week 3 of 16             Week 7 of 16             Week 11 of 16

Week 4 of 16             Week 8 of 16             Week 12 of 16

This week’s mileage: 20 miles

This week’s G mileage: 6 miles

April Totals: 20 miles

2019 Totals: 298 miles