I hope you aren’t getting tired of reading about my LA Marathon training with Team Nutribullet! It seems like this marathon is consuming my life and that ain’t a bad thing! Last weekend, I ran 18 miles for the first time ever. It was amazing! I am starting to believe that I can actually run this entire marathon. There were moments during the 18 miles that I even got a little teary eyed thinking about how far my running journey has come in the last year. I never would have expected to be where I am today.
(Via)
During the run, I kept thinking back to the speech Nadia Ruiz (100+ time marathoner, 3 time Ironman, and all around badass) gave right before we began the 18 mile run. Among nutrition and proper training, Nadia emphasized that the body can endure much more than we would believe. Nadia ran her first marathon with her dad at the age of 14. Since Nadia had not trained long distances (only 6 mile speed work in track and field) before the race, she hit the wall at mile 12! She started crying and told her dad she couldn’t finish. Her dad encouraged her to push through the mental wall knowing that his daughter did have it in her to make it to the finish line. Nadia finished in about 4 hours! This began her journey to over 100 marathons and 3 Ironmans. All I have to say is Nadia is my new hero!
Reflecting on Nadia’s first marathon experience, I was able to run the first 17 miles at a very consistent 11 minute pace. It felt surprisingly good! Running along the Santa Monica beach didn’t hurt matters either! My only mistake was stopping to walk for .2 miles after mile 17. When I stopped to walk, I felt every single little pain and ache so it was hard to get running again. Needless to say, I ran the last mile in 12:35 minutes. I’ll take it!
Since some of you had asked about my training plan on Instagram, I thought I’d break it down for you below:
This program is working for my body. Naturally you need to listen to your own body when creating a training schedule. I had to switch a few things up mid-way through the program, and so far, it seems to be helping with my long runs. You may also notice that I’ll be on vacation a few weeks before the race. Luckily I will be tapering off my longer runs during this time. However, I have three runs scheduled for each city I plan to visit in Australia. I figure it’s a fun way to see the in’s and out’s of the different cities! And being the Type A person that I am, I already have the running routes planned out. 
Something happened that switched my entire attitude toward this marathon over the weekend. Maybe it was Nadia’s inspiring story or the successful 18 miles, but I am starting to feel like a real runner and I am even considering more full marathons and full Ironmans after this race. Sure I am not the fastest runner in the world, but gosh darn it, I ran 18 last weekend!!! I’m happy!
Question(s): Who is your running inspiration right now? Why do they inspire you?
Just one question: do you ever train intervals, fartleks or things like that?
And answering the blog question: my inspiration to train is my wife! We are planing to do an IronMan together! And I want to cross the finish line side by side with her! I’ve done 4 70.3 IronMan before and got hit by a car training for my first IM. Gave up training after that (about 10 tears ago), and now my wife motivated me back to training! And started training with me! So, she is my inspiration!
I’ve started doing more interval training, hill drills, and tempo runs to improve pace, but on these longer runs I am just happy to be out there running.
Your wife sounds like a great inspiration! I can’t wait to hear about your first Ironman!
that’s awesome! once the adrenaline hits from a race too, 18 miles will feel like nothing!
jenn @ runnderlust recently posted…Week 3 Recap Rungrams
I hope you are right! haha
Congrats on the 18 miles Jillienne! It sounds like you’re doing amazing! You’re going to totally knock this marathon out of the park!
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat recently posted…Winter Vegetable Quinoa
Thanks Holly! I certainly hope so!
You are going to rock that marathon! Do you have a while between that 20-miler and your flight to Australia? That sounds rough. But worth it, because…Australia!
Cassie @ Rural Running Redhead recently posted…Tuesday Treadmillin’
Thanks Cassie! That means a lot coming from you!
I should have about 10 hours before the mid-night flight. Thank goodness!
Yeah I read about Nadia’s journey and she IS so inspirational! You sound much more positive from the 15 to the 18 miler! 18 IS freaking amazing!!!!!! Can’t wait to cheer you on at the finish line! And you definitely ARE a REAL runner, duathlete, triathlete and…. Soon to be marathoner and ironman!!!
She truly is! Thank you for the encouraging words Rach! Lova ya!
Congrats on the 18! Wait till you break 20. You’ll feel like the world is yours to own forever!
Haha! I am looking forward to that feeling!
Nadia sounds so inspirational! I love looking at what others have accomplished to inspire me to work harder and achieve more. I especially relate to people who I think are like me or had similar experiences to me and have achieved a lot. Congrats on the 18 miles!
FitBritt@MyOwnBalance recently posted…Zumba Master Class with Loretta Bates
Thanks Brittany! I feel the same way about finding inspiration in people I can relate to.
That training plan looks great!! You are going to rock your marathon, YOU CAN DO IT!! Isn’t it an amazing feeling to run further and further than you ever thought you could?! WOW Nadia is AMAZING! Thanks for sharing, girl!
Sarah @ Sweet Miles recently posted…Momo Bands Giveaway
It truly is amazing! I never thought I would be training for a marathon! Thanks for the encouragement Sarah! And Nadia is a total rockstar!
Hello Jillienne, I was at the Houston Marathon this past weekend. I went to watch my niece run the half marathon and my nephew and his girl friend run the full. This was the 1st marathon I had been to and it was amazing to see. I am so happy for you. As you are inspired you inspire others.
Thank you Robin! That is so nice to hear.
What a great story! That is so much running – you’re going to do great! And….Australia…how amazing.
Lauren @ Focused To Be Fit recently posted…F2BF Food & Fitness This Week
Wow, Nadia is definitely an inspiration! That’s an awesome story! And YOU, my friend, are an inspiration – you’ve come so far! Now for a bit of unsolicited advice (sorry!) … I didn’t know your trip was all the way to Australia! Amazing! I just went to Melbourne and Sydney last summer and adored them. Running in Sydney is amazing – you must run in the main park there, and maybe even across the big bridge! But for the 20-miler that you’re doing on the day you get on a super-duper-long flight … PLEASE wear compression socks on the plane, and make sure you stand up several times during the flight. Not only for recovery purposes, but also to reduce the risk of blood clots that is higher when flying and especially after tons of exercise! I’ll stop being a worry-wart now :). Your plan looks awesome!
Megan (The Lyons’ Share) recently posted…Greasing Your Groove
Thanks Megan! My running route goes through the Sydney park!
I was concerned about the same thing flying and running on the same day. I talked to my doctor about it during my recent x-ray. He basically said the same thing as you… walk around the plane and compression socks but he didn’t seem too worried so that was comforting.
I’m running LA as well…. I met Nadia last time I was down there for RnRLA and she is pretty inspiring. It’s amazing what she has been able to accomplish.
Wishing you the best in training and hopefully we get a chance to meet.
Pavement Runner recently posted…Arizona: All The Running
Thanks my friend! Hope to see you there!
Jillienne, you definitely serve as one of my inspirations right now! I’ve seen some of your PT videos of training and reading how you’ve come along for the marathon is really fantastic. I love the transformation that physical activity can do to the brain, heart and soul of a person not just the body!
Thank you and continued success in your training! Take care of those shins!!
Melissa Burton recently posted…7+ Conferences For Health, Fitness and Nutrition Focused Bloggers in 2014
Aww! Thanks Melissa! It is amazing want some good ol’ fashioned sweating can do for the mind and body!