Week 14 of 16
Guess what time it is? It’s taper time!
I am a week late to start tapering
but I was forced to miss a few key weeks in training due to injury so I made
the decision to push one more week. I’ve
told clients before that they could run a good marathon with training only
reaching 16 miles however mentally I knew I needed to get in a 20.
I’ve never really been a high
mileage runner. My first marathon in
2012 I ran 50 miles in my biggest week but since then I’ve stuck to a goal of getting
up to 40-42 miles. This week I hit my highest
mileage in training this year with a total of 34 miles. Nothing crazy or even impressive but I was
happy to get there considering a few weeks ago I didn’t even know if I’d be
healthy enough to run a marathon on April 15th.
I started the week off with an
easy 4 miles after work on Monday. I was
still a little sore and sluggish from my last long run so I tried by best to
stay relaxed and just enjoy being outside with the sun shining.
Tuesday is run club and all day I
planned to go. I don’t know why I
changed by mind but as soon as I got home I grabbed Georgie for a short run
around the neighborhood. She made it
almost 3 miles so I showered, put on my PJs and I was done for the night! Oops.
Craig met me at the gym on
Wednesday afternoon for a strength training session then I came home to another
short run with G. I wasn’t going to run
at all but it was one of those lovely evenings that I just felt like doing
something. I actually don’t even like
running Georgie two days in a row but she was sitting at the back door begging
so I couldn’t say no.
Friday was super cloudy and grey
but WARM. Like high 50s. Shorts weather. I decided to take a little field trip to
Cotuit and run my favorite 5 mile loop by the water.
Saturday was long run day. It was a big day. 20 miles.
I have always created a marathon training plan for myself with two
20-milers. The first one always seems to
be a struggle physically. The second one
is more of a mental boost. This was my
one and only shot. On one hand, I didn’t
want to do anything stupid—like reinjure myself. On the other hand, I just knew I needed to
complete the run to enter Boston with the confidence that I could at least make
it 26.2 miles. I know it’s not going to
be a fast marathon time for me. When I
got injured all I said was if it’s a nice day, I feel good and I was happy out
on the course, it would be a successful marathon for me. I am way more focused on just enjoying the
experience this time.
My dad decided he would bike with
me for my entire 20 miles. In the past he biked alongside me for almost all of my long runs. This was his first of 2019 training.
The first 11.5 miles felt
great. The sun was shining. There was virtually no wind. I was in shorts again. As I turned around back to my parents the
wind suddenly went non-existent to strong, constant, in yo face headwinds. It was awful.
For the next 8 miles, I felt like I was running in slow motion. I was old man shuffling. I stopped a lot. I drank a lot of water. My dad was encouraging me the whole way.
At 19.5 miles, we passed the Cape
Cod Winery and I saw the best sign of the day.
Wine. And it was calling my
name. I needed to get home! It wasn’t pretty and I may have felt like I
got hit by a bus after but I did make it 20 miles. NOW I was ready to taper.
Other highlights:
·
What’s your favorite post-long run meal? This week we went for Mexican followed by ice
cream. Give me all the food!
·
Boston Marathon bib number have been assigned
(…and then mine was updated!) I was
originally assigned to Wave 4, Corral 5 but now I’ll be in Wave 2, Corral
8. Yeah!
Upcoming events:
Monday 3.25.19
4.25 miles (32:17)
Burdenko H2O
Tuesday 3.26.19
2.76 miles with G (26:05)
Taught spin class
Wednesday 3.27.19
1.96 miles with G (18:46)
Lift
Thursday 3.28.19
Taught spin class
Power Water
Friday 3.29.19
5.15 miles (39:02)
22’ walk
Saturday 3.30.19
20 miles (2:46:36)
20’ walk with G
Sunday 3.31.19
Taught spin class
Burdenko H2O
ICYMI
This week’s mileage:
34 miles
This week’s G
mileage: 5 miles
March Totals: 118
miles
2019 Totals: 278
miles
There was for all intents and purposes no wind. help with writing research proposal As turned around back to guardians the breeze out of nowhere went non-existent to solid, consistent, in yo face headwinds. It was horrendous. running in lethargic movement.
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