It’s kickoff week 1 of 18 and I’m coming from 0 running mileage base. I did a few test runs in late June just to make sure I could survive it and kept doing weightlifting at the gym along with weekly Peloton bike riding.

Week 1 Rundown:

Monday 7/5: Rest day. I prefer to kickoff a marathon training cycle with actual running, but my plan called for rest and I had done a several mile hike up Kaaterskill Falls the day prior.

Tuesday 7/6: 3 easy treadmill miles in my apartment gym. I did this as a progression run and took it up 0.1 mph throughout but starting at ‘super ‘easy’ and moving to just ‘easy’. Later on at fancy gym, I did upper body strength stuff including my first attempt at Romanian deadlifts.

Wednesday 7/7: 3.8 easyish treadmill miles on a Woodway in my fancy gym. I meant to do 4+ but accidentally pulled the emergency stop cord prematurely and figured I was close enough. This one was already pushing to the top of Zone 3 heart rate halfway through so I actually took it back in pace as I went on.

Thursday 7/8: 3.2 easy non-Woodway treadmill miles. I did hex bar deadlifts first but didn’t make time for squats. At home, I had a very painful Theragun session.

Friday 7/9: Rain from Hurricane Elsa greeted me. Off day from running. 20 minute Robin Arzon ride on the Peloton (her last one from before maternity leave) then squats to make up for the day prior, abduction, and adduction at the gym.

Saturday 7/10: 5 miles on the Woodway. I had some work stuff in the morning and kept pushing off my run in the morning. Didn’t have time at the gym for anything else but the run since this distance at my current pace takes an extra 10-16 minutes than when I was in shape for previous training cycles. I did this as a ‘progression long run’ and sped up by 0.1 mph every half mile for the last couple

Sunday 7/11: HIIT class at the gym, focused mostly on core. We did arm hang off the bars and I really sucked. I was way more in my element during the mat work with abs and planks.

So far, there are a lot of treadmill miles because it’s been hot and humid. For shorter runs, I really don’t mind! I just pop on a podcast or watch a Peloton workout (I got a shoutout from my favorite run instructor Becs Gentry on my 50th app run during this week). For anything over an hour, I definitely prefer outside. And I’m trying to make scenic run plans for all those future 12+ mile long runs in the future – Central Park, West Side Highway/the Palisades, Rockefeller State Park, etc. I want to have the trail option available for at least half those runs if possible. Good for being in nature, great for the joints.

Total: 15 miles, all treadmill.