I only run on days that end in a "y."

5 easy miles around the indoor track followed by some light core work. 

4 miles easy followed by 4 miles @ MGP.

Rainy and cold outside - I ran 6.5 recovery/easy miles at the indoor track.  

Last hard workout before the marathon.  I did yasso 800s - 8 x 800 at 3:10 - 3:15 with active recoveries in between.  It was cold and misty and I ran them alone so it was a tough workout. 

I can't run this weekend because my wife is out of town and I have to watch the kids.  That means I had to run tomorrow's run today and I had to cut it a bit short.  Also, running MGP miles today after yesterday's hard workout had my legs tired by mile 8.  Anyway, I toughed it out and finished knowing I had a 2 day break and a taper week next week of only about 30 miles with no hard workouts.  I wanted to get 45 miles in this week but managed only 40.  I had some quality workouts so I don't think the 5 easy miles that I would have run will make any difference in 9 days when I run the marathon.  I ran the first 8 miles of the marathon course and then 2 back on the trail for a total of 10, the first mile was 8:30 or so with 2 more around 8:00 - these are all going up a steady incline, then picked it up coming back in @ MGP for the next 7 miles.  I ended up with an overall average pace of my BQ pace..

Well, I am pretty much in trouble.  The shoes that I have been training in caused some pain in the ball of my left foot.  I got the Nike Lunar Elites on a recommendation from someone who has seen me run and knows my form.  I liked them a lot and did 60 miles in them in the first week I had them.  But then I started to get some soreness  in my shins and left knee.  I went back to my Newtons today and had no issues and they are my shoe of choice. The don't have quite 300 miles on them so I am crossing my fingers that they are good for the marathon.  It is too late to order a new pair and get a couple runs in.  I don't want to take a chance in the Elites though I think they are a good shoe and would work out over the long haul.  

I will run in the Newtons a couple more times and the Nikes tomorrow and see what happens.  

I ran 6 miles today, 3 easy, 2.5 @ MGP and .5 cool down.

Fartlek run around the trail - 2 mile warm up follwed by 10 x 1 min @ MGP - 10 - 15 sec with 1 min recovery in between followed by 6 x 100m strides.

One easy mile with two MGP miles followed by some stretching.  Taking tomorrow off and plan on running an easy 30 minutes on Saturday.  In the process of carb loading.

Well, yesterday was just not my day.  A recent death in the family has been really stressful for us and the injury a few weeks ago did not help either.  But I decided to go ahead and give it a shot and see what I could do.  I had trained really hard and felt that I could do it.   I played it conservatively for the first 17 miles, probably too conservatively.  I was around 45 - 60 seconds off the pace group at that point.  I just kept telling myself to start picking it up a little at a time and then to make a final push down Red River and then Duval like we had on so many long runs.  At mile 24 I still had a legitimate shot but I needed to make up a bit over a minute.  So I pushed the pace and was feeling pretty good but all of the sudden I completely bonked at 25.  I just died.  I lost all form and was pretty much delirious at this point. I am not sure why because I had taken water at every stop as well as a Gel every 4 miles. 

Thank goodness that my pal Monique was there at mile 25 cheering others on.  She ran out and got me walking again.  We did a run/walk to the Capitol Building.  Then I took off with what I had left, sprinting to the finish, with Monique yelling at me the whole way.  I pretty much collapsed when I crossed the finish line.  I was taken to the medical tent in a wheel chair.  I was completely dehydrated and my calves were cramping big time.  Several ice bags and bottles of Powerade later I was finally able to get up and walk on my own. 

It was definitely something I will never forget – being paced during the last mile and to the finish by Monique in a green afro wig and then collapsing and getting taken to the medical tent in a wheel chair!  What is the slogan – Run Austin – LOVE Austin?  You gotta love Austin.   I was 4 minutes from BQ’ing but I did manage to PR by 6 minutes – so that is something. 

This is only my third marathon and I am still learning - I probably don't race enough.  Last year I only ran one 10k, a couple 5ks and a half marathon.  I will continue to train and take what I learned from this experience.  I am only 4 minutes from a BQ.

First run since the marathon.  I went out pretty slow and took a couple walk breaks.   Still have a couple issues and some soreness to workout, so I won't start to run regularly for a couple more weeks.  I just wanted to test the waters so to speak.  I have been keeping myself busy with walking/spinning/eliptical.

OK, in typical runner fashion I went out again after saying I wouldn't yesterday.  I woke up and felt pretty good, so I decided to go out for an easy run.  6.5 or so (no Garmin but I know the route) in 53 minutes.  I will go out again, I would like to get a run in everyday this week.  I have minor surgery next Monday, so I won't be able to run for 5 days after that.