(On Running) #5 New Ambitions

New Ambitions

In Week 3 of my Baystate Marathon training block, I eclipsed 60 miles for the first time since my 63 mile peak week during my first marathon training block. To date, 63 miles is the furthest I have gone in one week. To prepare for Baystate, I am planning to peak at 80 miles, including eleven 70+ mile weeks. 

Running at high mileage is a true test of discipline and mental resolve. It requires sacrifice; a devotion to running beyond what is convenient. Yet, the more I run, the more my world seems to open up in front of me. 
MCRT, Damon Rd entrance

I have always discounted the notion that I am too busy to accomplish my goals. When I find myself responding in conversation with "I don't have time for that" or "I am too busy," I pause and consider if that is really true. Do I really not have time, or will I have to replace something I am currently doing to make time for something else? 

Since I began running, I have made numerous alterations that open up time in my day. I no longer drink caffeine, which reduces time spent in Dunkin' drive thru lines or making coffee at home. To improve sleep quality and duration, I read books (physical copies), journal, and meditate before bed instead of watching random Youtube videos or finding an interesting Reddit thread. I meal prep each week to reduce friction in eating healthily and time spent making meals. These practices are examples of how I maximize my time to ensure I am on track to meet my running and life goals. 

Because of these alterations, time has opened up to pursue new ambitions. For example, maintaining this blog is another consistent weekly practice that allows me to reflect on my training and continuously improve. With one year left in my graduate program in school counseling, I have been looking into options postgrad. My original plan was to find a job in school counseling right after graduating, but I recently became aware of an intriguing prospect: the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. 

Essentially, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a fully funded international exchange program for college graduates. Projects and assignments vary by country and location, but mainly fall into two buckets: English Teaching Assistant (ETA) and Research. My specific interest is in an English Teaching Assistant award in Italy, in which I would be placed in a high school in Southern Italy to help teach underserved populations English. I believe this would supplement my school counseling training well and broaden my perspective before launching my career as an educator. 

Fulbright is competitive; especially as an ETA in Italy (I estimated a 5-8% acceptance rate for this cycle, based on historical data). But running a marathon has given me the confidence that I can achieve hard things and pursue ambitious goals. So, I am planning to dedicate an hour each day (Mon-Fri) to learn Italian this summer. Specifically, I plan to complete the Italian Language and Culture: Beginner course through Wellesley College by September to take the A1/A2 exam before the Fulbright application deadline on October 6th. 

Similarly to my running training, my preparation for Fulbright will be methodical and intentional. Prioritizing my health and fitness has sparked a growing belief in myself and my abilities, which will only be furthered by learning a new language and applying for Fulbright. 

Week 3: Training in Summary

60.3 miles | 9h 15 min workout | 1,490 ft elevation

(E) = Easy | (W) = Workout | (L) = Long 

Monday (E): 8 miles | 7:14/mi | 171 ft elevation gain | 6:17 AM

Same route as last week, at a faster pace (-13 seconds per mile). Getting the Monday run done sets the tone for the week, making it the most important run on my calendar.  

Tuesday (E): 12.14 miles | 7:24/mi | 463 ft elevation gain | 5:49 AM

Tuesday may just be the hardest run of the week for me. I have to leave for work at 7:40 AM Mon-Fri, and my training plan demands 12 miles each Tuesday. Starting a medium-long run this early is a challenge. 

Completed the same loop route as last week in reverse, also at a faster pace (-6 seconds per mile).

Wednesday (W): 9.7 miles | 8:24/mi | 26 ft elevation gain | 6:36 PM

Third Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club's summer track workout, with a different coach this time. This was the most grueling one yet, in a good way. I left the track Wednesday night feeling simultaneously accomplished and in pain. My body was able to recover well Thurs/Fri, thankfully. 

The workout:

  • 1.5 mile warm up
  • 4 x 800m @ 10K pace (200m rest)
    • 2:43 (delayed watch start, missing .5 mile) (6:00/mi)
    • 2:53.1 (5:47/mi)
    • 2:51.9 (5:43/mi)
    • 2:51.8 (5:43/mi)
  • 2 mile @ marathon pace (400m rest) 
    • 12:40 (6:22/mi)
  • 6 x 300m @ mile pace (100m rest)
    • 53.7 (4:51/mi)
    • 54.3 (4:57/mi)
    • 53.1 (4:41/mi)
    • 50.6 (4:33/mi)
    • 50.1 (4:23/mi)
    • 50.2 (4:27/mi)
  • 1.5 mile cool down
The short rests here were killer. I have been running with people who have faster marathon times than me, which has helped me push the envelope. It feels good to get progressively faster throughout the workout and still hit my paces. 

Thursday (E): 5.03 miles | 8:05/mi | 125 ft elevation gain | 6:36 PM

Ran this one at the Marathon Sports run club in Northampton, which I have been going to intermittently since October 2025. Ran into someone I went to high school with, which doesn't happen as often as it used to since graduating from UMass. 

Friday (E): 9.51 miles | 7:34/mi | 436 ft elevation gain | 6:02 AM

In my first marathon block, Friday runs were a much lower mileage than the rest of the week. To hit my higher mileage goals, Friday runs have become longer. 

Saturday (L): 16 miles | 7:22/mi | 269 ft elevation gain | 8:02 AM

Ran this one with a new group. Reached the end/start of the MCRT bike path in Easthampton, which I had never seen before.

Held a steady pace throughout, picking up the pace in the second half of the out and back. Suddenly, in the last two miles, two of the guys in our group started running a faster pace than I could sustain, but I latched on to them for as long as I could. It was a reminder of how important it is to sustain faster paces on my long runs, even on "easy pace" long runs. 

Insights on Improvement

As I steadily build my mileage and speed ahead of the marathon specific work later in the block, I intend to sustain strong habits now. Fueling and recovery are essential for race day performance, as is consistently hitting my paces in training. Easy days are supposed to be between 7:15-7:45/mi which I have been able to maintain. The challenge will be to hit those paces as the workouts and long runs get progressively harder. 

Reflecting in this blog has also shown me growth. Without it, I would not have noticed the faster times I ran this week on identical routes this Monday or Tuesday. I have noticed improvements in my writing and formatting, too, which I can always appreciate. 

Even just three weeks into this block, I feel far more confident in my training. Marathon training in the winter and during the semester is proving far more difficult than during the summer. If I am able to avoid injury and remain consistent, I believe this will be the block I achieve a sub 3:00:00 marathon, with a chance of challenging for sub 2:48:00.

Week 4 totals 64 miles. Stay tuned every Sunday for insights into my training towards a sub 2:48:00 marathon!

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