Marathon training update in 300 words or less. Can I do it?

This week I'm going to skip the backstory of my ultra marathons (I'm likely to pick up where I left off next week!) and just dive straight into how my training went this week.

If you missed it, I'm training for a marathon.
Want to know why? Read this post.

Steps:

Every day, except Tuesday, I did over 10K steps. (Tuesday was still okay with 7,875). On Friday, Saturday and today (Sunday) I managed over 14,000 steps each day. Something about being the Ovulatory Phase of my Menstrual Cycle methinks! And after two very low mileage weeks I was more deliberate about just getting out the door this week.

Walking:

I did deliberate, recorded walks on Monday (1.7km), Thursday (1.7km) and today (3x walks totalling 6.8km). I also ended up walking (unrecorded) with a total stranger (but lovely, talkative lady) very early on Friday morning for about 45 minutes (about 4.5km). The best part about the walking is that I'm fervently tapping and processing emotional baggage as I walk. So it feels like a solid double win; I get exercise and I get to let go of old sh*t I don't need to be carrying anymore.

Running:

For a total of 11.1km (some of which was a run/walk on parkrunday), I jogged 5 days out of 7. Yay! Let's break them down because this is probably the most interesting for my fellow runners.

Monday: 1.3km. In the bush. Time elapsed = 10:01. Average pace = 7:42 (mins/km). Average HR = 136 bpm. Average cadence = 178 spm. 🙌

Wednesday: 1.6km. In the bush. Time elapsed = 13:54. Average pace = 8:37 (mins/km). Average HR = 140 bpm. Average cadence = 177 spm. 🙌

Friday: 1.2km. Along the road/path/grassy verge next to houses. Time elapsed = 10:03. Average pace = 8:15 (mins/km). Average HR = 150 bpm. Average cadence = 178 spm. 🙌

Saturday: 5km (run/walk!) at parkrun with a friend. Concrete path almost the whole way. Time elapsed = 37:18. Average pace = 7:30; Best = 5:29 (mins/km). Average HR = 129 pbm; Maximum HR = 157 pbm. Average cadence = 149 spm; Estimated average cadence while running when I look at the Garmin Connect App = 178 spm. 🙌

Sunday (today): 2km. In the bush. Time elapsed = 16:08. Average pace = 8:04 (mins/km). Average HR = 144 bpm. Average cadence = 178 spm. 🙌

Strength and conditioning stuff:

This is the part where I'm supposed to be doing core workouts, body maintenance, osteo-given exercises, Born to Run 2 exercises, etc.

I did some. On some days. In between other things. Like when I needed a break from the computer screen and went outside to get some sunshine, I'd do some foot core, or some ring pull ups, or some bear crawls. Could I do more? better? more often? Sure. Am I doing okay? Yes.

Overall:

Reflecting on this last week I'm happy with my progress. 178 cadence (though not the magical number of 180 spm) now feels kind of normal. It's not so uncomfortable or unfamiliar anymore.

I also had a lot of clients this week and decided that this was not going to be an excuse for not fitting in exercise. My body was up for moving, so moving it I did!

I also made it easier for myself by just getting out the door dressed to run and if I only walked, that was okay. If I walked for some and then ran for some, that was okay. If I did 10 minutes instead of 28, that was okay.

Loosening the rules meant I go out the door far more often than when I was being really strict with what needed to get done, and I can see I'm going to make way more consistent progress this way. I also need to remember that I'm working through a massive change by implementing the book Born to Run 2 so being gentle on myself seems like a wise thing to do.

If I'm not ready for this marathon (ish distance event) in July then I'll just do it later. The goal of running well, moving well, joyful and injury free living are far more important than when I next run 41.195km.

Goals for next week:

Since I'm heading into Luteal Phase I should still be able to do plenty of easy jogging, lots of walking, strength and conditioning scattered throughout my days, I'm just going to want to avoid doing any hard workouts because in this phase my body temperature is naturally higher and my body has to work harder just to do all the same things I did this week.

If I can do a similar volume of stuff as I did this week and enjoy it just as much that will be a fabulous week. 🙌

{All photos were taken by me, on my phone, while out on walks or runs. And while I think I nailed it with taking fun photos I failed miserably at being succinct: the word count says... 839! 😂}