And now nothing...

Since that pseudo Herculean 18 miler, I've been sort of out of commission. First I was just too sore, then I got sick. So out of 3 five millers I only did two, and my cross training was nothing more serious than stretches. I've also been going light on weight training. I'm planing an 8 and 13 this weekend. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow morning though.
Next week is another push forward, as I will finish the week with a 20 miler. It is one of two in the training.

I ran a marathon over the weekend.

Well, sort of. In two days. I'm skipping taking about my midweek runs because I didn't do many, due to a sore ankle and an ugly cold. Yesterday it was raining rather hard, so I ended up running on my treadmill for 8 miles, quite at pace, and I have to say, it rather took it out of me, but although boring to stare out of the window instead of running outside, it was good to know for sure I was running at pace.
Today was an 18 miler, and I still need to finish them faster. Mostly I need stamina to finish if not very strong, at least still running. The run was really pretty and up until mile 15 or a little before, I was doing quite well, but then my ass and my hips started paining me quite a bit and I ended up walking for, I would say, about a mile and a half, perhaps two of the last bit, which put on the minutes. I finished in just under 4 hours, and I was really hoping to finish in 3:20 or so. But I'll get there, I hope. Oh, and I know gmaps pedometer says something like 11 miles, but that's because they are being weird with the there and back function, but trust me. I ran 9 miles each way.
Easy week next week, and I hope to find some time to be social too.

This is NOT easy

Last Thursday 28th I had a nice short run and Friday I rested. Saturday's 8 miler at pace was more than comfortable. I think I might have run closer to 9 miles (and I locked myself out of the house). I spent a good amount of time at the gym afterward, no problem. On Sunday I had a 17 miler to run, which I did, but it was really very hard. It took me almost 4 hours to complete because of all the walking breaks I took. I think I let myself be daunted by the distance and thought about it too much during the run. I plan to take a book with me (audio book, of course) for this week's long run (18 miles) which I will also do in a new place, Mt Vernon to Old Town.
On Monday Sept. 1st I did some walking and strength training. Yesterday I could not get out of bed. Today I had an 8 miler, but I decided to just run. As if I weren't training for anything. Just run. I ran a pretty fast, comfortable and enjoyable 10 miles. I plan to do something similar tomorrow and get some strength training in as well. I think I will take Friday off, but I'm not sure right now, I might do something easy. I need to build up for these long runs as well as rest.

The Hardest Week So Far

This week will culminate with a whopping 17 miles on Sunday (and 18 the next week). As I was saying, I feel that my good work last week is preparing me mentally and physically for what is to come. My foot has not been hurting after work outs and I am still being very careful with it. I have however, noticed that my speed is catching back up.
Due to strange mood problems and sleeping habits, I totally skipped Monday's cross training. Tuesday I did a good 4 miles, which, considering how beautiful the morning was, left me wanting more. This morning I ran about 9 miles, this is at least a mile over what was indicated, but as I said, great weather and all, plus I feel that pushing a bit this early in the week might help with what's to come.
Tomorrow I plan to listen to my training guide and do an easy, comfortable 4 miles followed by rest and then the big 8/17 c0mbo. I might get some cross training in, but if I do, it will be rather mild. I want to be rested and ready for what's to come.
I'm almost there!

More about last week.

I ended up indeed running six very good miles on Friday, followed by 7 on Saturday and 11 on Sunday. I also went to lift weights on Saturday. By the time the week's work outs were over, I felt pretty good about myself. It helped that it was a step back week, of course, but I feel like I got a good lead into this week, which won't be so mild.

Week's runs

Monday I sort of took off. It was cross training day, and since the previous day had been so harsh, I just went out for a walk.
Tuesday I ran 4 miles and lifted weights at home.
Wednesday I ran 5 miles and worked on my abs and my arms with my wheely thing.
Today I didn't do anything.
Tomorrow I plan to run as long as I want, probably around 6 miles (I should have run 4 today) and I also want to go to the gym. Although I might leave that to Saturday and work here instead. I need to start going to the gym a little more often again. That will start in earnest next week.
Saturday is a 7 miler, followed by an 11 miler. Easy week. Next week the long run jumps to 17, so that will be a sight to behold...

I need more speed

The drowsiness continued last week, so that Thursday and Friday were a wash as far as exercise of any kind went. Yesterday, however I ran around 9 miles, maybe a little less. Today I ran probably above 15 miles. My pedometer said over 16, but I know it is not accurate and that it tends to log too much when I walk, which I did do during this work out. I'm a bit sore, and my foot is rather stiff, but other than that, no problems. I do have to work a bit on speed. I realize I'm supposed to be doing these well below what I plan to do on race day, but all the same, 2:45 minutes for 15 miles is not really very good.
The coming week is a step back week for me. I plan to follow it and not just add miles one day because I didn't run on another day. I also plan to work on speed. Specially during Saturday's pace run. I want to make sure I finish the marathon in something close to decent time. The way I'm going, we are talking 5 hours, which is still within the limit, so I can still finish, but it is just too terribly long. So I'll be working on speed from now on, always deferring to the sore foot when necessary. But with the shorter runs this week, foot should not be a problem at all.