Breaking Half-Marathon Personal Records and Celebrating Traditions
Week 12 Update (2024 Chicago Marathon Training)
Dear Duniyawaalo (People of the World),
In my previous post, I shared how I was preparing for the Hidden Gem Half Marathon, hoping to beat my personal record from last year. I am thrilled to report my race success this week while enjoying a meaningful family celebration.
Hidden Gem Half Marathon Success
As part of my Week 12 long run, I participated in the Hidden Gem Half Marathon in Flossmoor, Illinois. Last year, I set my personal record (PR) at this race, and I had high hopes of doing the same again this year. Running alongside members of the Fast Track Racing Team, I witnessed some amazing PRs from my teammates, which was incredibly motivating.
I am excited and proud to announce that I beat my previous half marathon PR by 10 minutes, finishing with an 11:34-minute per mile pace!
This is also my first-ever sub-12-minute-mile half marathon, which was a huge and unexpected surprise. I had set my goal at a 12:10 pace, so surpassing that was beyond what I imagined.
I am still in shock but very grateful for how everything came together.
Family Time and Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations
In addition to the race excitement, we celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi at home with the whole family. Both of our kids came home from college for the weekend to join the festivities. We have celebrated this festival grandly for over 20 years, and it was heartwarming to see our children, who have participated since birth, be part of it again.
A special thank you to my friend Ronak Patel for joining us during the Visarjan ceremony and catching up over coffee.
Training and Nutrition
I managed to squeeze in a 4.5-mile run at the Harper College track during the week, and I completed one strength training session at CrossFit Arlington Heights with my friend Tiffany Perry DeRamos.
Given the festivities, I could only stick to my healthy eating plan 60% of the time. The celebrations added a bit of indulgence, which caused me to gain a pound, bringing my weight back up to 259 pounds (from my starting weight of 267).
With five weeks until the marathon, I am refocusing on my nutrition, with a goal of reaching 250 pounds by race day.
Looking Ahead for a Scale-Back Week
Week 13 will be a scale-back week to allow my body to recover before I take on the Fox Valley 20-miler race on September 22, 2024.
I am excited about the challenge ahead and feel motivated to keep pushing toward my marathon goal.
Planned Long Runs
Here’s a look at my upcoming long runs:
Week 1: 6 Miles (Done)
Week 2: 8 Miles (Done)
Week 3: 10 Miles (Done)
Week 4: 12 Miles (Done)
Week 5: 10 Miles (Done)
Week 6: 14 Miles (Done)
Week 7: 10 Miles (Done)
Week 8: 16 Miles (Done)
Week 9: 10 Miles (Alpine Races 10 Miler) (Done)
Week 10: 18 Miles (Done)
Week 11: 10 Miles (Done)
Week 12: 13.1 Miles (Hidden Gem Half Marathon) (Done. PR by 10 minutes!)
Week 13: 10 Miles
Week 14: 20 Miles (Fox Valley 20 Miler)
Week 15: 10 Miles
Week 16: 6 Miles
Oct 13, 2024: 26.2 Miles (Chicago Marathon)
Thank you all for your continued love, support, and encouragement. This journey has been filled with both triumphs and challenges, and your support keeps me motivated every step of the way.
Here’s to more progress in the coming weeks!
❤️ Rajneesh