MY FAMILY 💕
TRAINING:
Hello everyone! Welcome to WEEK 10! When 16 Miles is on deck, and you just spend the week dreading it. However, the week was actually really good starting with
a Chicago Bears home opener victory, Chicago White Sox game (well...iykyk), great emotional outdoor tempo run, effective workouts and good race prep! I just hate the 16 Miler, there's just nothing charming about it.
Starting with this week's runs...
I did a full-on tempo treadmill run on Tuesday and followed that up with an outdoor tempo run on Thursday! I felt pretty good! The quad felt fine, not perfect, but also not throbbing in pain.
I spent the rest of the week with a good amount of strength training reps, took up the core work, push-ups and squat/leg work. I am seeing results on my long runs in my posture, gait and overall fitness. I focused on band work and had 2–50-minute wellness sessions and tacked on 17 miles walking!
THE GOD AWFUL 16 MILER!!
Ok, so by now, you know I hate this run. It has always been one of my worst runs. This year was no different.
Of course, the weather was crap, hot, humid, sunny...yay. This also meant that I would have to leave before sunrise so I could get the majority of my miles in before the heat really got bad. The issue with September in Chicago is that sunrise is now at 6:30am, so leaving at 6am means running in the dark, which definitely adds to the stress of the run.
I will admit that as a female runner, I am nervous about running by myself in the dark. There aren't a lot of people on Belmont Avenue for 4 miles. I have started to carry a small knife for peace of mind. It's just the world we live in right now, trying to balance fear and protection.
On to the run...it went. The lakefront was packed, but at least the lake was behaving so I was able to avoid trash can lane and run closer to the lake. I headed south to meet the family, walking the inclines, sprinting the declines and switching my gait as necessary to get through these miles. I met the family with about 6ish miles left. I made a point to stop at every fountain to drink water, splash water and stretch. My dri-fit wasn't dri-fitting. The heat and humidity came on fast and I couldn't cool-off or dry out, it was disgusting. I finally got down to the last 2 miles and just burst into tears. I was so tired, I was so over it, I was so spent. I don't know how I managed to get those miles in, I could have stopped at 14 and almost did. I can't even say that anything went badly, because it was a decent run. I just emotionally could not connect with this run on a positive note. I couldn't have been happier when it was done, and got a hug from my baby girl, beach time and a dip in the lake. Good riddance, 16.
NUTRITION:
In the spirit of NFL opening weekend, I had a tailgate themed week with some fun favorites and some new twists on classics.... here is the food for the week!
(PLEASE NOTE: All meals are home made by Vik or me unless otherwise noted in the description (i.e. restaurant website link, or source (parents, family, friends))
1. Quinoa of the Week – Chicago Classic Pizza (Ground Turkey made Italian Sausage style, Navy Beans, Green Peppers, Onions, Fresh Made Tomato Sauce)
Served with Baby Spinach and Mozzarella for lunch on Wednesday and created breakfast pizza/frittata on Friday with Eggs, Caramelized Onions, and Fresh Tomato!
2. OTHER BREAKFASTS THIS WEEK:
Aloo Paratha - Potato Stuffed Flat Bread
Mini Everything Bagel - Scallion Cream Cheese, Finocchiona, Tomatoes, Hard Boiled Eggs, White Onions with Dill
Mini Everything Bagel - Scallion Cream Cheese, Finocchiona, Cucumbers, Everything Bagel Seasoning
Special K Protein Fortified Cereal with Whole Milk (pictured before)
Chicago Pizza Quinoa Frittata (as mentioned/pictured above)
3. LUNCHES THIS WEEK:
Buffalo Salmon Caesar Wrap
Pizza Quinoa with Baby Spinach (as mentioned /pictured above)
Jalapeno Popper Pasta with Chicken (dinner leftover, see below)
Caprese Sandwich with Ham from Red Star Deli (not pictured) - https://redstarlogansquare.com/
4. DINNERS THIS WEEK:
Buffalo Honey Grilled Salmon Skewers with "Faux-sotto" made with Cauliflower Rice, Carrots, Celery, Onions & Bell Pepper with Blue Cheese & Ranch
Trio of Sliders - Cheeseburger, Greek Chicken & BLT
Bratwurst with Sauerkraut & Grilled Onions - Chicago White Sox game
Jalapeno Popper Pasta - Large Rotini Noodles, Cream Cheese, Cheddar, Grilled Chicken, Jalapenos
Grilled Ribeye Sliders with Spicy Horseradish Sauce, Grilled Mushrooms & Onions
5. PRE-RUN DINNER THIS WEEK:
Lamb Keema with Navy Beans & Potatoes, Baigan Bharta (Eggplant Stew), Veg Pulao (Basmati Rice with Peas & Carrots), Plain Yogurt & Cucumbers.
OVERALL:
Week #10 was the week I loathed the most, but it was fine. The week itself was great, the run was as obnoxious as I predicted. I am just leaving it behind and focusing on 20 miles next week.
Physically, I am feeling great. The quad and hip pain comes and goes. I stretch and it's better. it doesn’t hurt on my runs, only after, as expected.
Mentally, I feel ok. This run really drains me because of my disdain for it. I dread the week of the run and want to forget it as soon as my run trackers tells me I hit 16 miles.
Emotionally, I cried on my 2 road runs this week. The emotions are definitely heightened as we head into the final long run and then taper and then race day. I think the emotions are coming from a place of "Holy Crap, I am doing this again, I can't believe it!" and exhaustion.
I have one final long run left, the Monster 20 Miler. I know I will be in good company next week as most of us training will be suffering together on the Lakefront Path. At this point, I have put on about 100 Miles in less than 2 months, I am feeling those aches and pains for sure. I'm nervous about race day, which I haven't been since my first marathon in 2016. I'm ready to get this 20 miler out of the way and begin my healing process and gear up for Marathon Sunday.
I am running the Chicago Marathon 2024 for the same charity as in previous years, The Chicago Diabetes Project - Cellmates on the Run Foundation! Click on the link below for more information, race updates and donations! Every dollar counts, help us find a cure!
See you all next week!
~Giz
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