Abbys Running a Marathon

I’m running my first marathon! This has been something I have been wanting to do for so long (crazy I know). I have run a handful of half marathons, but to say that I ran 26.2 miles in one race would be amazing! It has always come down to training and not having enough time, this is a commitment I am making to myself to spend a lot of time hitting the pavement! My husband and I have two kids, ages 9 and 6, we both work full time jobs in addition to my husband’s job which  has him traveling quite a We also share our gym schedule so we can both have some “me” time. But again, I have always wanted to do this and accomplish this big challenge. I should also reveal, this is a big year for me… big big year… I turn 40.

Towards the end of 2019, I felt myself just sort of “here” when it came to goals and motivation to do anything from the norm when it came to my health and fitness. I was working out, mostly doing strength training, but I didn’t have a ton of drive to do much more. The holidays were quickly approaching, and our weekends were filling up with parties, nights out and indulging in delicious food and drinks. While at work one day, a fellow running friend of mine was sharing her experience about her first full marathon. Her husband and herself have full time jobs and three young kids, and she was able to figure it out somehow… why couldn’t I? After some discussion with my husband, and receiving his full support for the long haul, I pulled the trigger right after Christmas.

With that said, I have a great opportunity to train smart by having access to VO2 max testing via Metatec. With this test, I’m able to understand the exact heart rate I cross over from the aerobic energy system to anaerobic energy, also known as the anaerobic threshold (AT). This is fantastic information to have! Now I know I need to train right below my AT and build my base. The more I build my base, the longer distance I can run and the faster I can run without burning out. I’m super exciting to train and test this concept out. Think of this like a pyramid, by running right around my AT my body learns to use oxygen more efficiently and my AT increases. This allows me to run at a higher heart rate (pace) without using my anaerobic energy storage and without building lactate, perfect for the endurance athlete.

In 2020 I needed a goal, and what a goal I have! I’ll be running the Bayshore Full Marathon in Traverse City, Michigan on May 23. Having this goal keeps me motivated, engaged and the feeling of having a purpose with my fitness goals. I needed something for just for me and I’m ready. I look forward to keeping you all updated on my progress as I move through my 18 weeks of training. I want to share with you my ups and downs, speed improvements (hopefully), and what’s keeping me motivated to push through. I am logging all of my run details including distance, pace, HR information and the values from my VO2 max test. Below I have written some of the important information from my first test and I plan to do one around 7 weeks and a final one right before the marathon to show my physiologic changes. I have just finished week 2 and feeling great!

It’s just 26.2 miles, right?!?!?! One foot in front of the other.

Cheers!

Test Date: Jan 20, 2020

VO2 Max: 36.3 mL/kg/min

HR at AT: 147 bpm <— This is what should increase

AT% of VO2 Max: 75% <— This is already a good number but hope to increase, it means my AT doesn’t cross until I have used 75% of my maximum.

Max Watts: 193

Watts at AT: 138