The Almost Marathon

This weekend I ran tons of miles.  In fact, I almost ran a marathon...ha!  Saturday I ran 18 miles with the last three miles below race pace.  Today I ran 8 recovery miles.  I thought about running that last .2 just for kicks, but it is not important in the grand scheme of things.  My mileage is climbing and climbing fast.  There are only four weeks and a few days before The Woodlands Marathon.  I have three crazy weeks of running before taper time!  I have already warned Drew that my tired self will probably not see 9:30p at any time during the next three weeks!

About my runs....I was a little nervous about the 18 miler.  I made the awesome decision to go to boot camp on Friday morning.  I did avoid most of the jumping and squats if possible.  I worked on my upper body and abs.  Still, my legs were a little more sore than normal when I woke on Saturday morning.  My new outlook for each run this cycle is that each run will be good.  Running is such a mental game so I have decided ahead of time that goodness will come to me.  So, tired legs or not, this would be a good run.  I was sure of it!

I have also decided to memorize a verse for each tough run.  That will be my focus point with the running gets tough or boring or whatever.  On Saturday it was Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Be strong and courageous...Be strong and courageous...Be strong and courageous...You can run this fast for this long!  

I decided to EMBRACE the slow part of a long run on Saturday and ran the first 15 miles between 9:57 and 9:14.  Time on my feet is very important.   I started to pick up the pace durnig mile 14 so it would not be such a change to the 8:20 or so pace.  Mile 16 came and I felt like I was finally really running.  I was tired, but I still felt strong like I could finish without wanting to die.  

Mile 16 8:24

Mile 17 8:16

Mile 18 8:15

I was happy to be finished.  I felt like I could have run more, but was glad my run was done.  I took three GU and ran over half way with no music.  I was enjoying thinking and just looking around at my so non-pretty scenery.  It was not ecstatically happy like I was last weekend, but this was a good strong run.  I am pleased with my focus and the outcomes so far this training cycle. 

The rest of the day I focused on recovery.  I tried to eat and drink the correct things to refuel my body.  I spent lots of time sitting or laying with my feet up. 

Fashionista that I am...slippers, compression socks and my skirt to hide the compression shorts

I had some projects to complete that required sitting so that worked out well.

I made 11 of these cute things for an event at church

And, I was craving chocolate chip cake so I made this....

which then looks like this and it is so good and so worth every yummy bite!

This morning I had 8 on the schedule.  Phew....the legs were tired, but worked better than I anticipated.  I previously decided this morning was going to be SLOW and all about recovery.  I ran 8 miles in 1hour 20 minutes.  It seemed like the run took forever, but my body was thanking me for not pushing the pace.  Today again is all about proper recovery.

I have my biggest week of running ever this week.  Two 11 mile runs, one 6 mile run, 10x800, and a 22 mile run with last three miles 8:23 or faster!  That is tons of miles.  I will hit 60 miles for the first time ever this week and I am pretty psyched about each run.  Attitude is such a big deal when it comes to running. 

I am going to enjoy another piece of cake before I go to bed!