Things They Don't Tell You Part 2

I think it is high time for another edition of Things They Don't Tell You about marathon training.

1. You will voluntarily wake up at 4:50 am. You will then voluntarily run nearly 11 miles before work. You will voluntarily admit that you have most definitely gone off the deep end.

2. You will start adding bread to all of your pre-long run meals. Already eating a big bowl of pasta on Friday night? Better eat half a loaf of baguette too... just in case. Or better yet, just eat the whole thing. I haven't hit the wall yet, and I'd rather not find out what that's like so bring on the carbs.

3. The words "I only have to run a half marathon this weekend" will come out of your mouth. While you are talking to a non-runner. They will look at you like you are a nut job. They will be right.

4. This one if for the ladies (look away, gentlemen). Marathon training will really screw up your cycles. It will be late, it will be early, it will be painful or it won't, it will be short, it will be long... it will basically become a guessing game. Oh, and if you are like me and always have an insatiable appetite during the week before you can look forward to being completely ravenous 24/7 for a week straight.

5. On days when you don't run, you will need to do something with your excess energy or you'll feel like you're going to bounce off the walls. I've washed my car, the siding and front porch of our house, and gone on cleaning binges inside.

Richmond Marathon Training Take 2 - Week 16

How in the heck is it September 24th?

How in the heck do I only have 8 training weeks til the marathon? (Awesome?)

How the heck am I once again late on my weekly update?

Sigh.

This looks funny but at the moment I'm too lazy to fix it. Sorry.

4 runs for 35.6 miles
1 mile swim

Running miles logged so far: 348.8

Training highlights:

• New longest run ever on Saturday. The 19.1 miles took me 1:49:24, average pace around 9:00/mile.  When I finished back at the stadium, a lot of my teammates were laying in the grass, stretching, or inspecting blisters and various ailments. For whatever crazy reason, I felt absolutely fine. Yeah, I don't get it either. I felt like I must have done something wrong because I wasn't groaning or wincing. I did earn myself a nice big blister on my 3rd toe, which I was very proud of. However, it was kind of disappointing because after I popped it, it went away within a few hours. I am officially the weirdest person you know.
• Accompanying my friend Danielle as she ran her first ever 5k on Wednesday night. It was so awesome to be with her for it and see her cross a finish line for the first time. Once we were finished, I said, "So, are you going to do it again?" and she said, "Yep!" with a big smile. Seeing others discover the great feeling that comes with running a race is such a gift.
• The fabulous fall weather!!!!! After months of starting to sweat before I even start to run, being chilly before a run and then juuuuuust right during is a real treat.

Training lowlights:

• Not really a lowlight but this week's speedwork was really tough. It was 2 x (6 x 400) with 90 second rest intervals between the laps and a 2:30 rest interval between sets. I thought it would be easy to run only 1 speed lap then rest for 90 seconds. Yeah... not so much. This was definitely the hardest speed workout thus far. It probably didn't help that it was way too easy to run too fast and Greg and I were hovering between 6:50 and 7:25 minute pace. Whoops.

Hydration Belt Status:

• Unsullied... though there is a 99% chance that this Saturday it may be used!

Gold Star of the Week:

• Danielle for finishing her first race ever.

It's already Tuesday, which means I've done my speed work for this week. It was much better than last week's, thank goodness.

I'm starting to think that if everything goes right, I will be able to get that 4:00:00 marathon. Based on the 19 miler, I'm on pace. My elapsed time including water stops was 3:00:00, so if I can just run 7.2 miles in one hour I just might squeak by. But of course I know that usually race day doesn't happen the way you plan.

This weekend, Husband is in an epic wedding in Philadelphia/Baltimore. We will be going up there on Friday, so I will miss Team Navy's first 20 miler on Saturday. I did some research and found the Boston Pacemakers, a group that runs long each weekend. A quick Facebook wall post later and I will be joining them for whatever they have on tap. I don't think they are doing 20, but between 17-19, which I figure is close enough. 

And then I will put on high heels and go to a wedding where there better be a buffet dinner... cause if not, I'm going to be eating Husband's food too.

First Marathon "OMG What if..." Moment

As I finished up my run this morning, I couldn't help but revel in the perfection of the weather.

And then I thought about marathon day and how I hope that the weather is just like today (ok, maybe a shade cooler).

And THEN I thought ... oh no ... WHAT IF IT RAINS??

I really don't think I can do it if it is raining.

Please God, let it not rain.