Tag: training

Marathons

6×60

fitlibby

I like number combinations. I guess that’s how my brain works. Especially when it comes to personal goals or things I really want to accomplish.

6×60 is my new and personal challenge. It is my goal to run the 6 Majors by the time I’m 60 and becoming an Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) six-star finisher.

I started running later in life. The pandemic pushed me into walking and hiking and eventually that lead to running marathons. I’m a spinning instructor, cyclist, and always active, but never was I a runner. Traditionally my knees hurt after 3 miles, my IT band, hips, glutes were chronically tight. But after training for, and hiking, the Grand Canyon South Rim to North and back (~48miles and lots of vertical ascents/descents) I realized my problem with running wasn’t the running, it was my training (or lack thereof). Endurance running requires a serious commitment to strength training and stretching as much as it requires distance runs.

The Rim to Rim Grand Canyon hike sparked my endurance flame so I decided to try a marathon. I enrolled with the American Cancer Society TeamDetermination to run the 2021 TCS NYC Marathon (the 50th anniversary year). My goal was to find a professionally coached running program with a strong community focused on safe, responsible training so I could show up on race day healthy – and finish the race injury free.

I accomplished both, and promptly signed up for the next NYC marathon and starting plotting with my fellow DetermiNation teammates which Major to tackle next. Check out what I have on deck and I’ll share some of my learnings as I go.

MY 6X60 ROADMAP

2021-2022

  • TCS NYC Marathon, November 7, 2021 (NYC Marathon 50th Anniversary)
  • TCS NYC Marathon, November 6, 2022

2023

  • TCS London Marathon, April 23, 2023 (done!)
  • BMW Berlin Marathon, September 24, 2023

2024-2025

  • Tokyo Marathon, March 3, 2024 or March 2025
  • Bank of America Chicago Marathon, October 13, 2024 or Oct 2025
  • Boston Marathon, April 15, 2024 or April 2025

Next up…Marathon training and staying healthy (fingers crossed) along the way.

Endurance Adventure

Endurance Adventure

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Rim to Rim/Recover/Rim to Rim Schedule

The R2R is the hardest hike I have experienced. It is demanding, humbling, and inspiring. It is a serious commitment to training, research, planning, and responsibility and… it’s worth it. The Grand Canyon is special, mighty, fragile and fierce. It touches you deep down inside. I’m hooked. I look forward to repeating my last hiking route and plan to train for 5 months prior in conjunction with my marathon training.

South Rim to the North Rim hike and back, covering ~48 miles.

  • Day 1: Arrive Grand Canyon South Rim: Travel from Phoenix airport to South Rim is 238 miles, 3:40 drive.
  • Day 2: 5:00AM South Kaibab trail head to North Kaibib: 23.5 mile hike, 6,809 elevation gain.
  • Day 2,3,4: Full recovery day at the majestic North Rim Grand Canyon Lodge. 1 day, 2 nights.
  • Day 4: 5:00AM North Kaibab trail head to Bright Angel trail head: 24 mile hike, 6406 elevation gain. Longer distance but less steep for the final leg – and that helps.
  • Day 4: Finish in the evening and pass out at Hotel in park.
  • Day 5: Depart Grand Canyon for Phoenix, AZ. Travel time to Phoenix 3:40 drive.

Helpful Information and Resources

The many images and experiences of hiking the majestic Grand Canyon South Rim to North Rim and back.