Boston, here I come?

Objective: 12 mile run

Today was one of the best runs I've had during this training schedule.  I did the very hard golf course loop, which I consider a fast run if I break 90 minutes - today I was home in 85:52, and felt great doing it.  I wasn't trying to go fast in the first 2/3 of the run, but did want to speed up in the last portion - that worked out, with miles of 6:52, 6:50, 6:47, 6:40 to finish the run, and an overall 7:03/mile pace.  I definitely could have gone a few miles more at around a 6:45 pace, but I know better than to overdo it this close to the marathon so I'll settle for the confidence-boosting run that it turned out to be.

Around golf course 

Objective: 4 easy miles

I was a bit more stiff than I thought I would be from yesterday's run, but wasn't concerned about it at all..just got up early (although not as early as the last couple of weeks) and let my body wake up during the run.  I finished at exactly 30:00, for a 7:30/mile pace, which was a great place to end up after a 7:52 opening mile.  I may take an extra day off this week, but we'll see how it goes - I'm feeling good, and want to be sure this feeling lasts for the next 2 weeks. 

Objective: 6 mile race pace run

I've been doing these faster runs in the evening to meet my time goals, but did this one in the morning to make the day easier.  I knew after a couple miles that I wouldn't get down to 7:00/mile for the whole run, so instead just kept in the 7:15 range until the final mile, when I turned it up to get to 6:50.  Yesterday was a good day off, I woke up planning to run but didn't feel quite right and the baby was being fussy anyway..my legs enjoyed the extra rest so it all worked out. 

Objective: 30 minute tempo run

I hit my pace goals in today's run, starting slow with a 7:54, then a 6:46/mile pace for the middle 2.43, and finishing with a slower 7:31 mile.  It's always tougher to go fast in the morning, but now that I can see the finish line of the training schedule I'm not too concerned with getting tired or feeling slow so early in the day.  Getting closer and closer to leaving for NY for the marathon!

Objective: 4 mile run

This morning's run was okay..speedwise I was fine, averaging 7:06/mile and speeding up for the last mile plus, but my legs took a couple miles to loosen up.  They never hurt necessarily, but I was uncomfortable for the most part until the last few minutes.  I'm glad they did feel better eventually, and tomorrow's 8 miler should be no problem.