cheryl

I had just started running on my treadmill when my husband called, and I knew he really wanted to talk with me, so I got off.  I don't normally stop when I'm in the middle of a workout.  I thought I could get back on and finish, but I lost motivation after that, plus my mind started doing stuff like saying I should rest instead of run, so I just quit and one mile is all I have to show for today.  This last week before the marathon is tricky because I'm not sure exactly how to taper, so I keep going back and forth in my mind that I should run, no I should rest, no, run just a little.  I don't know what to do!

I met with the group at Bingham.  For one brief moment I was tempted to bag the workout and just go to breakfast or something, but the group kept me focused.  We went to Rustic Roads and ran 3x1 mile repeats.  My times were 8:43, 8:14, and 8:17.  We then ran two 2-minute fast runs.  It felt good.  Later on in the day I felt so good that I put in 3 more miles on my treadmill.  I think that may be it for me, no more running until the big marathon.  We'll see if I can stick with that plan, I'll probably give in and run a little on one of the days.  Nothing I do now will probably make a difference, so I think rest would be the way to go.  On the other hand...  I can't decide what to do!  Hopefully I can stick to my rest plan.

So what time do I think I will get in the marathon?  Last year I ran it in 3:35.  Nothing I've done this year indicates that I will match that time.  Every race, every workout, pretty much everything, has been slower this year.  It all started in March when I got a bad case of sciatica, and it has taken me forever to overcome that.  The only thing I have this year that I didn't have last year is a lot stronger base.  Last year the longest I ever ran was the half marathon distance.  This year I've put in a few runs longer than that, plus overall my weekly mileage has been a lot more this year than last.  However, all that mileage has not thus far translated into faster times.  So, for this Saturday, I think it's unrealistic that I'll be below 3:40, unless all the stars and whatever align, so I'll have to be content with somewhere between 3:40 and 3:45.  If I'm slower than 3:45 I'll be somewhat disappointed, but not too much because there's always next year!

As for my fellow BBK members, you guys will be awesome!  Everyone is running so strong, I expect to see some great PR's.  Good luck to everyone.

It was my birthday today, so I have to stay very positive in my race report.  So I'll start with the positives:  I am now a member of the St. George marathon 10-year club!  And I did qualify for Boston so I have at least two more years to run it if I ever decide that's what I want to do.  Any other positives?  I completed the marathon with a minimum of walking after my legs rebelled early on.  I ran the most even splits I've ever run at this marathon.  Usually I negative split by three or four minutes, or positive split by many, many minutes (when I've faded badly at the end).  Today I ran the first half in 2:01 and the second in 2:00, so pretty even for me.  I was faster than I was when I first ran it 13 years ago.  Now the negatives: I was 26 minutes slower than last year.  I can only blame about 10 minutes of being slower on the weather, so how do I explain the other 16?  I certainly was not undertrained, I ran MUCH more this year than last, I ran much more this year than any previous year, and yet this was my second slowest SGM (besides two that I don't count because I had some health issues during those).  I think it all comes down to hamstring/piriformis issues that have bugged me pretty much all year.  Aerobically I feel fine, my legs just always feel weak and achy and there is always pain in the hamstring area of both legs.  It always takes me a while to loosen up, but with the weather today, I don't think they ever loosened up.  So until I get these leg problems taken care of, I will not be setting any more PR's or apparently not even getting close.  My husband says my problem may be one that doctors can't help, the problem being getting older and entering the change of life (she whispers).  I hope I still have one or two last hurrahs left in me.  Stay tuned...

My fellow BBK members--what a great job all of you did.  I take some vicarious pleasure in your accomplishments by helping to hook us up with Steve and having him reveal to us the secret to marathon running:  lots of miles!  Thank you Steve, you're great!!  And Sasha, your encouragement and your willingness to answer any questions I've had is always appreciated!  It's been a lot of fun being a member of this blog.  I enjoyed meeting many of you Friday night. 

On a side-note, I have to add one more positive on this day:  OJ Simpson was convicted of armed robbery and could be sentenced to life in prison.  It's interesting, 13 years ago in 1995 when I first ran SGM, he had just been acquitted of double homicide in that wonderful trial I'm sure all of you remember.  I still remember being mad when I ran the marathon.  So his legal issues make interesting bookends to my 10 years of running the St. George marathon.