Hello! Is it week 4 of Marathon Training? It might be week 5. I lost count because I usually count down from 18 weeks of training (or however long the training schedule is for that race). Luckily, I just paused this post to update my training schedule with a count of the weeks going up and down. Boom.
Now I’m sharing an update on what I ran this week. PLUS – What I listened to while running with recommendations.
Marathon Training Week 4
![Marathon Training week 4](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Running-Website-Sept-7-500x500.jpg)
Marathon Training Week 4 – RUNNING
I ran the Surf City Half Marathon last weekend so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel this week and was open to switching up my training schedule if I needed extra easy days or rest. Before I realized there was a half marathon on Saturday I’d planned some speed work into Monday’s run. But, I skipped that and did 5 miles easy to check in with my body.
My foot felt a lil tight but didn’t hurt. I decided to err on the side of caution and keep it easy except for the 2 runs that are the most important = tempo and long run. So, this week’s running looked like this:
Marathon Training Week 4 (or 5) Plan:
- M – 5 miles easy
- T – 3 miles easy / S&C
- W – Speed Run
- Th – Strength & Condition
- F – 4 miles easy / S&C
- S – 15 miles Long Run
- Sun- Rest
I also did some strength and conditioning on Tuesday and Friday. Sunday was a complete day of rest because I had an early appointment to get a body scan (more on this later).
Overall: It was a good week. And I see a lot of room for improvement. I have a super tight hamstring on one side that needs extra time and attention – so I need to start earlier or make time to do that later in the day.
After my long run I made a magic drink with all my favorite runner recovery drink supplements. I usually am not hungry after a long run, especially on a hot day – but it’s important to eat and/or drink something within 30 minutes after your run. I usually make a smoothie but decided to try this combo Satuday.
![Marathon Training week 4](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Running-Website-Sept-6-500x500.jpg)
Running Recover Drink Mixes (pictured above):
Vital Performance Recover – I’m not in love with the Guava Lime Flavor and would recommend the Lemon Grape instead.
Primal Kitchen Collagen Quench – love this flavor alone or mixed with almost any of my other drink mixes
MRM Bone Maximizer with Collagen – this is the same one but they changed the packaging
Post Run I think I had the usual breakfast and then ordered Thai while meal prepping for the week.
![Marathon Training week 4](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Running-Website-Sept8-500x500.jpg)
And I ate a watermelon. Yes, a whole one.
![Marathon Training week 4](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Running-Website-Sept11-500x500.jpg)
Dessert was Biscoff Crunchy Cookie Butter and Mint Chip Ice cream with a side of massage gun.
![Marathon Training week 4](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Running-Website-Sept9-500x500.jpg)
What I’ve been LISTENING to on the RUN
After finishing A Little Life: A Novel by Hanya Yanagihara I needed some time to listen to light, happy things for a while. That book is DARK. It’s well written, but I wouldn’t recommend that you read it. I read it because someone mentioned it was their favorite book AND I saw that it’s LONG. I needed a good, long book because I’d been going through my Audible credits SO FAST with breezy lil novels.
So I figured I found the perfect next novel – a long book that a well read person calls their favorite. But, it just turned out that I had to listen to story about someone being abused their entire life FOR A LONG TIME.
At one point Ben told me to stop reading (I’d fill him in on the story when we’d walk together). But I figured it was about to turn around at any moment and I needed closure. I wanted to know the main character would triumph and everything would be okay.
A Little Life SPOILER ALERT: It wasn’t.
I’m sure it’s not just the book’s fault and there was probably an unfortunate combination of hormones and low blood sugar and the isolation of a worldwide pandemic, but I felt sad and weird a lot of the time while reading it. (Okay, that makes me think I should’ve stopped reading it. But at the time I was sure it would end up on a high note.)
My point is – after finishing that book I listened to funny podcasts for a few weeks. Then, I decided I needed some light fiction to get back into books. So listened to Eliza Starts a Rumor and The Lion’s Den.
Eliza Starts a Rumor by Jane L Rosen – Recommend. It was a good story, well written and easy breezy – just what I needed.
If you like the Betch Sesh podcast – you’ll like this book because it’s a combination of gossip and scandalous stories from fun young moms.
![Marathon Training week 4](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Running-Website-Sept-13-500x500.jpg)
The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John – Recommend. Good story. It’s suspenseful without being stressful (does anyone else get stressed if there are high stakes during a story?).
If you like the Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald Podcast you’ll like this book because it reminds me of her phrase ‘hooker light’.
![Marathon Training week 4](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Running-Website-Sept16-500x500.jpg)
Now I’m listening to Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty. I listened to Nine Perfect Strangers by this author somewhat recently and didn’t really like it. But, I LOVED Big Little Lies and I’m still chasing that high.
Luckily, I really love a cute lil Australian accent and the narrator is always so pleasant to listen to I always enjoy that no matter the story.
I just started Apples Never Fall and will report back with my thoughts.
![Audio Book Recommendations](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Running-Website-Sept17-500x500.jpg)
Question: What are you listening to this week?
Keep Going with these:
- List of the BEST Running Books
- What I Ate Today Food Diary week 4
- Easy Green Chile Queso Recipe
- Aftershokz Running Headphones Review
- Running Log and Meal Planner printable
Follow me on Instagram @RunEatRepeat for daily tips and fun!
Check your local library for free audiobooks! I’ve listened to so many more books than I actually read haha. Anything on Reece Witherspoon’s book club list has been great for running!