Training for a Marathon in a Heat Wave

It has been really hot in Georgia Lately. Record breaking heat in June. And to think that I have an 11 mile run coming up on Saturday!

Fortunately, the weather in the early morning is not too bad in Georgia. I have been running early every day this week (actually, I mean four days). It has not been a problem, because my runs have been 5 miles or less. Next Saturday, I will need to plan a little more for my 11 miler. It really shouldn't be a problem, if I rise early and depart at about 6 AM. That will have me completing my run by about 8:15, give or take a few minutes.

For this long run, I'm planning to use the Galloway Run/Walk method. If all goes well, I should move along at a 12 minute per mile pace. Hopefully, I should be a little faster, but no worries because it is an LSD run. LSD=Long Slow Distance.

This week was so easy that I'm eager to get out there and complete an 11 miler. Speed work is scheduled for Wednesday morning again. 6 quarter mile repeats at 2:15 or less. Just thinking about next week makes me want to run some more today, but I know it is wise to take full advantage of this easy week since additional long runs of over 20 miles lie ahead in this schedule.

Planning on swimming and biking for at least two days next week as well. So far the heat has not been a problem. I guess it pays to rise early and run during these hot days.

Laying the groundwork for the Atlanta Marathon and Random Thoughts

I ran an easy 5 miler today. It was definitely easy compared to Saturday's Ten Hill Repeats. This week, I will be increasing my weekday mileage and incorporating some serious Cross Training and Weight Lifting into my routine. The weekend run will be an easy 4 miler.

My recent runs seem so easy after having completed the Nashville Country Music Marathon, but I keep reminding myself that I am building a base, so I can improve my fitness for the Atlanta Marathon on October 30.

Laying all of this groundwork reminds me that I will need to spend time laying groundwork with my new students at Fairview. They will most certainly need to adjust to my ways of teaching, and I will need to remember that they are not the students I have been teaching for years. Once the groundwork has been laid, we will all succeed in making music together, because that is the most pleasurable way to learn about music.

I'm looking forward to many pleasurable experiences in music and running this fall.