Reid Buchanan's Chicago Marathon Training Part 2 (130+ mi weeks!!)

Reid Buchanan 10 weeks out from the Chicago Marathon

Check out Part 1 of Reid's Chicago Training Blog HERE

I won’t dive too deep into workouts besides general how I felt and what I thought of the day because unless you are in Mammoth Lakes you won’t understand just how tough the terrain is. The only flat place to run is the track.

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Aug 15 - 21 • Week 3 • 115 miles total:

Mon:
• AM: 70 min
• PM: 37 min

Tues:
• AM:
‣ WU & CD
‣ 7xMile off 2:30 min (mile 1 green church rd)
• PM: 35 min

Wed:
• AM:80 min
• PM: 30 min

Thurs:
• AM:75 min
• PM:
‣ WU & CD
‣ 8x200 on 200 jog 33-28

Fri:
• AM: 72 min
• PM: 31 min

Sat:
• AM:
‣ 2 mi WU
‣ 93 min steady (5:23 ave) on green church rd

‣ 1 mi CD

Sun:
• AM: 72 min
• PM: 30 min

Recap:
Decent week with a solid 7xmile(one way is about 40 feet uphill) and good turnover on the 200s but kind of imploded on the scheduled 100 min harder long run. I was hit with two technical interview coding projects and plus had my final project for a React.js course and moved houses in Mammoth which just lead to an unfocused workout. I didn’t have as much fuel as I should have before the workout or during and my hamstring twinged with 7 min left so I just called it. You don’t always have to be perfect.

Aug 22 - 28 • Week 4 • 120 miles total:

Mon:
• AM: 70 min
• PM: 44 min

Tues:
• AM:
‣ WU & CD
‣ 20x1 min threshold 1 min steady out on green church rd
• PM: 39 min

Wed:
• AM: 82 min
• PM: 36 min

Thurs:
• AM: 71 min
• PM: 37 min

Fri:
• AM:
‣ WU & CD
‣ 4 x 3 miles off 3 min on green church rd
• PM: off

Sat:
• AM: 62 min
• PM: 30 min

Sun:
• AM: 140 min easy

Recap:
Great week. Tuesday was solid; averaged 5:05 for the fartlek and got just shy of 8 miles. Friday was one of the best marathon goal pace workouts I have ever done with each rep being 4:55 / mi ave or faster but I felt like I could have done another one. 120 on the week and things are going to get a little steamy these next 3 weeks.

Aug 29 - 4 • Week 5 • 125 miles total:

Mon:
• AM: 71 min
• PM: 44 min

Tues:
• AM:
‣ WU & CD
‣ 12xK 2:50 → 2:40 off 2 min rest
• PM: 44 min

Wed:
• AM:82 min
• PM: 45 min

Thurs:
• AM:72 min
• PM: ‣ 2 mile WU
‣ 9 x 200 off 200 jog rest 31→27
‣ 2 mi CD

Fri:
• AM: 71 min
• PM: 45 min

Sat:
• AM: ‣ 2 mi WU / 1 mi CD
‣ 1:50 for 20.36 mi (5:24 ave)
• PM: 23 min

Sun:
• AM: 56 min
• PM: 30 min

Recap:
Great week. Tuesday was solid and felt comfortable the whole time to where I really was able to roll the last two K’s. Thursday felt good to turn over. Saturday’s marathon simulation was almost perfect but had one bad mile where the hamstring spasms happened at the end but I eventually came out of it. Going to try more fuel during the run next time as it was pretty warm out (over 70 degrees)

Sep 5 - 11 • Week 6 • 131 miles total:

Mon:
• AM: 75 min
• PM: 44 min

Tues:
• AM:
‣ WU & CD
‣ 7 x Mile off 2 min rest 4:36 → 4:26
• PM: 45 min

Wed:
• AM: 81 min
• PM: 39 min

Thurs:
• AM:75 min
• PM: 44 min

Fri:
• AM:
‣ WU CD
‣ 3 x 4 miles off 3 min on green church rd 19:17 / 19:26 / 20:06 (elevation change is different for each one)
• PM: 30 min

Sat:
• AM: 69 min
• PM: 29 min

Sun:
• AM: 150 min easy

Recap:
Great week. Tuesday was again effortless and a really nice rhythm. Friday was a bit hard. I had to fight to run those times as it was a bit smoky and warmer than usual. I know that 4:50 pace in a pack of runners, at sea level, will feel much more comfortable. 131 miles on the week for my highest week of my life.

OVERALL

Since August 1st:

• Average of: 117 mi / week • 13 hours 40 min / week
• Longest run of 2.5 hours • 22.4 miles