Here’s my training log from June 6, 2011 after week one of training for my first marathon:

Monday: off
Tuesday: 8 miles (4 at lactate threshold)
Wednesday: 11 miles medium-long run
Thursday: 8 miles general aerobic
Friday: off
Saturday: 5 miles recovery run
Sunday: 13 miles long run
total: 45 miles

Here’s my current training for week one:

Monday: 6 miles recovery
Tuesday: 9 miles (4 at LT 25:22)
Wednesday: 13 miles
Thursday: 6 miles recovery
Friday: 11 miles
Saturday: 6 miles recovery
Sunday: 18 miles long run
Total: 69 miles

I remember feeling like 45 miles was a lot at the time, especially because I had only been a weekend warrior for the past few years. I didn’t have an accurate time for my 4 mile tempo run from that first week because I did it near our old apartment and the course was a little short, but I found another time from week three on June 15, 2011 which was 26:33. There is so much value in keeping a training journal, I can’t say enough about it.

I’m excited to see how much I’ve improved in those five months. Five months from now will be mid-April, which is when I’m hoping to make my first track appearance in a long time. It makes me nervous to write that, but also… kinda pumped.

You might see me doing this again soon.. I'm the one in purple on the right. I love this pic for many reasons, but mostly because of Dawn hurdling the water barrier.