Here we are. January 31st of 2019. This month felt both quick and long at the same time, but in terms of Boston Marathon Training, it was definitely quick. I feel like I just started running consistently again and all of a sudden I am five weeks into training.

This training cycle has been a slow build. I was hardly running in November and December, so I couldn’t just jump back into 30 mile weeks off the bat. I try to train smart. Having a coach helps with that. I eased in, I still prioritized strength and yoga, and I am finally feeling a little more in shape.

It’s easy to compare my training to where I was last year at this time. Or two years ago. But I have learned I need to practice patience and it doesn’t do me any good to compare past me to current me. I am confident I will get into the shape I need to be in to run a strong Boston this year. Trusting the process!

Here’s what my first fives weeks have looked like.

December 24th-December 30th:

• Monday – 75 minute yoga class + 4 miles
• Tuesday – 1.50 miles
• Wednesday – 4.27 miles
• Thursday – HiDef class
• Friday – Cycle 45 class + 3.32 miles
• Saturday – 5.26 miles (with tempo miles)
• Sunday – Rest day

 

December 31st-January 6th:

• Monday – 3.50 miles
• Tuesday – Rest day
• Wednesday – HiDef class + 4.05 treadmill miles
• Thursday – Hot yoga class, 3×3 class + 5 miles
• Friday – Hot yoga class
• Saturday – Hot yoga class + 8.25 miles
• Sunday – Yoga flow 75

 

January 7th-January 13th:

• Monday – Strength with Jake
• Tuesday – 4.34 miles
• Wednesday – Hot yoga class
• Thursday – Hot yoga class
• Friday – HiDef class + 4.23 miles + Yoga class
• Saturday – 10.50 miles
• Sunday – Yoga flow 75

 

January 14th-January 20th:

• Monday – 5.35 miles
• Tuesday – 5 miles + Strength with Jake
• Wednesday – 9.26 miles speed workout (400s) + Yoga class
• Thursday – 5 miles
• Friday – Rest day
• Saturday – Rest day
• Sunday – 10.03 miles + Yoga flow 75

 

January 21st-January 27th:

• Monday – Hot yoga class
• Tuesday – 6 miles + 45 minute strength class
• Wednesday – Strength with Jake
• Thursday – 10 treadmill miles
• Friday – Hot yoga class
• Saturday – Rest day
• Sunday – 10.28 treadmill miles + Yoga flow 75

Chicago winter has been challenging lately. I am not great on the treadmill and I have had to shift things around, but I’m embracing being flexible. Not much I can do about a polar vortex.

January was also a good month for me for a lot of non-running reasons. I gave up alcohol for 31 days. I focused on getting more sleep. I finally found an answer to my breathing problem after 3.5 months of appointments and tests. And I gave up coffee (which is something I never thought I would do). I feel better today than I have in months. I don’t plan to give up booze or coffee entirely from here on out, but I want to treat both categories as a “treat” kind of thing. I don’t need to have caffeine everyday and I don’t need to drink every weekend. Taking a step back from something let’s me really think about what it does for me and how I want to move forward. I know I am feeling better now than I was on December 31st. Little changes add up.

I’m happy with this start to the year and this start to my training. I have a good feeling about this one.