[S]he Conquers Who Endures

12 miles. Last double digit long run. Didn't go so hot. The back of my legs were in so much pain! I tried to run a comfortable pace, but couldn't find a pace that was. This was a similar pain that I had before Thanksgiving. I'm beginning to wonder if it's associated with wearing new shoes. They seem so much stiffer and harder than my broken in pairs. I'm thinking I will go with an older pair for the marathon that have around 125 miles. Definitely could not BQ today. 8:10 min/mi average pace.

6 easy miles on the treadmill at recovery pace. Switched back to my old shoes and my legs felt much better. Nixing the new shoes for the race and going with shoes that have 128 miles on them. I ran a 22 miler and 20 miler faster than BQ pace, so they gotta be the shoes to BQ in!! T minus 5 days until marathon!!! Hopefully my lost race pace tats will get unlost in the mail and find my mailbox pronto!!

Dress rehearsal! 7 miles with 2 miles at marathon pace. I've been running this week on the treadmill because I want to acclimate to warmer weather. Call me crazy, but I ran yesterday with a long sleeve shirt on the treadmill to make me sweat! Today was dress rehearsal. I have run half naked like 5 times in my life (sports bra and shorts), and plan on racing at Disney half naked (sorry, kiddos, but this is an adult sport!). It felt really good when I got hot. I haven't seen my body in a while of winter. I look cut! I look like a person capable of BQing!! :) 

Anyway, I'm not focusing (taper madness). My treadmill runs have been scaring me because they feel difficult! I'm running a 1% incline and recovery pace feels like I still gotta put some effort into it. I think I realized today that's because I'm a terrible treadmill runner. I ran 3 miles easy, 2 miles at marathon pace (7:53 min/mi), then 2 miles easy. The last 2 miles were faster pace than the first 3 easy miles but still felt too easy! I was watching tv then would bump into the handrail in front because I was running too fast. So, this was good. I am having a HARD time running recovery pace because it's too SLOW!! My body is not falling apart after all. :)

Last run in Cambridge before race. Next, (last!) 2 runs in FL. T minus 4 days until marathon! 

5 miles and recovery pace with 6x0.1 mile strides in FL...at 82F...95% humidity...in January!!! My first run after a flight is always crappy even though I wear recovery pants. Gotta flush the oxygen back into my legs. Not feeling ready to BQ on Sunday.

4 miles at recovery pace. Added in 3x0.1 mile strides to loosen up the legs and finished the last 0.3 miles at marathon pace just to see what it felt like. Still humid, but not hot and the legs felt much better!