I haven’t really been counting the training weeks for this marathon but I thought that I would start to quantify a bit.  I started my training early, sort of doing my own thing.  Running three times a week with a little bit of speed work added to the mix.  I am now on a more “solid plan” if you will.  I will be running 4 times a week following a defined plan.  I used this same plan for my first marathon and it worked for me.

This weeks mileage plan called for 4/5/4/11 with rest days in between.  I ran one of the 4 mile days on the dreadmill to give my legs a bit of a break.  My 5 mile run was a great run.  The weather has started to break a bit and it was 79!  I could really tell the difference and I didn’t have to stop and walk once.  My pace for that day was sub 11 and that felt good.

This weeks long run was pretty good.  It’s so funny how just last month I could get out the door at 5 am because it was light.  It’s now dark until 5:30 – 5:45.  I was able to eat two waffles (yes…Eggos™ I’m addicted), coffee (always) and a sports gel (ugh).  I was out the door at a respectable 5:45.  I’m doing a loop that is about 5.5 miles.  It takes me by my house so I can fill up on water and preposition snacks.  I don’t need too much water for the first 5 miles but after that I’m drinking it fast, so running by the house helps a great deal.  Today’s long run came to 11 miles.  I was good until mile 4 then my legs started feeling a little heavy.  I was wondering when my gel was going to kick in… I must have a high tolerance for things that are supposed to make you have energy.  I can drink three cups of coffee in a span of 30 minutes and nothing.  The same seems to be for the “sports” gel.  I didn’t really feel that umph until mile 8.  I took a gel before I started running, one at mile 5 and another at mile 10.

These last few weeks my piriformis muscle has been screaming.  Most likely because my pelvis is supposedly getting corrected and by hips are in full revolt.  We’ve been doing it wrong for so long why change now!  That started to hurt a bit at mile 8, but if I paid attention to my foot strike I could keep that pain at bay.  The last two miles were a bit of a slog.  It was starting to get hot and I was breathing heavy and I was thirsty.  During last weeks long run I lost one of my water pods.  It is safe to say the water belt is now on life support and I need to look for another one.  My average pace was….average at 12:36.  I did have to walk a bit, but I got it done.  I’m looking forward to next weeks runs. It’s hard, but at the end, when it’s finished, it’s joyful.

Total miles for last week and this week came to 34.04!  I have completed 4094.19 miles in my journey with 6620.81 miles gratefully remaining.

Had this song playing on my iPod today…like with many things in life this is so true….

Happy Miles to You!!