This is week 13 in my 20 week training for the Boston Marathon.  As much as I enjoy running, at this point in training, it begins to get old.  It becomes a challenge to get up early to get the miles in before work.  Being in upstate NY during the winter doesn’t provide much motivation so I have to find ways to keep going.

Monday was a day off which I gladly took.  Tuesday was a speed workout with a 4 mile warm up then 12 x 1/4 miles uphill at 10K pace with 45 seconds rest, 1/4 mile down at HMP with 90 seconds in between sets.  It didn’t happen. It wasn’t the fault of the weather as much as it was me just giving up.  I managed to get in just under 11 miles.  Wednesday I simply called it quits and took the day off completely. No gym. No run.  Thursday I felt revived. Got up at 3:30 am (you’re thinking WHAT?!), got on the treadmill and ran while watching “The Crown” on Netflix.  Logged 14 miles on that machine then took Zoey for an easy 6 miles. 20. 37 and felt pretty darned good!  Friday, just trying to make up for the extra day off earlier in the week so I ran 5.3 miles, easy pace.  The work out should have been 8-10 miles aerobic.  Saturday’s run should have been rolling hills and it was, kind of.  I ran the golf course since the snow has melted and got in 8 miles with Zoey. Went out again for what ever I could and that resulted in another 5 1/2 miles. Decided I needed another dose of “The Crown”, got on the treadmill and finished an episode while running 4 miles.  A second long run in the books 17.31 miles and felt GREAT – again!  I must be doing something right.  Sunday will be a day off because we are traveling.  Doing two long runs sure takes the pressure off while on vacation.

Getting back to Saturday, after running 13 1/2 on the road and before hopping on the treadmill, I decided to make another smoothie.  I’m really getting into those drinks to finish up a long run. They taste good and I can be super creative with all natural carbs. Love it!

This one is called The Big Green Fruit Fantasy.

  • 2 heaping handfuls of organic baby spinach
  • 1 small organic apple, peeled and cored
  • 1 small banana
  • 1 large Medjool date
  • 6-8 almonds
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 8 oz water
  • 1 cup ice
  • cinnamon and ginger to taste

Put everything in the blender and puree until velvety smooth.  DELISH!

I find that 1 date and the banana make the smoothie plenty sweet enough for me but if you like sweeter drinks, add 1 or 2 more dates.

Running while on vacation.  I’ll take it easy with shorter runs since I don’t know the area. If I’m comfortable enough, at the end of the week, I’ll run a 16 miler.  In addition, if the legs are up to it, maybe there will be a speed session or two.  My philosophy is when getting to the point in training when I begin to feel burned out, just run at an easy pace and enjoy. Screw the training plan.  Don’t think about the miles. Just run.  This way of throwing it to the wind has got me through 25 marathons. It works.

I’d love to hear anyone’s secret to getting through workouts when it begins to get old and tiresome. Please share.

Share your best, tastiest smoothie recipe.  What’s your go-to ingredient?

Joanne

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