Of Mice and Marathons

AM: Walked 2+ miles to Purdue to watch Brandon kick the tar out of some college students in a student organized 5k. Course was way off because he ran about 15 flat and he's not in that kind of shape. He was using it as a tuneup for River to River (an 80-mile relay race) that he runs with teammates from college. He was hoping to run ~16:40. Based on the workouts he is running, that sounds about right. We hung out with Jim and had coffee. Good morning/lunch time.

PM: North side - 6 miles @ GJP

Might only be the second day in just shorts and a t-shirt. Warm, but not still cool (55 degrees).

Evening: 20 minutes of rolling and stretching

Day off.

49 days on. It was time. 21 days to Boston seemed like a good time even though I really didn't want to take the day off (expected to be in the 60s too). 3 weeks will allow an additional rest day likely in the last 8-9 days of the buildup, but not too much of a stretch that I go too long.

Late: 20 minutes of rolling and stretching

Heritage Trail to West Lafayette and back w/ Brandon - 9.25 miles, averaged 7:42.

Legs felt heavy, but I was suprised by the pace. Warm but very windy. Enjoyed the run and company.

Late: 20 minutes of rolling and stretching + 25 minute core routine.

4th Street Hills (extended version) 12 miles, averaged 7:28

Afternoon: Saw a bit on Competitor.com about jogging strollers and I thought the guy was going to say he ran with an empty stroller because he saw how people gave people with jogging strollers space. Since I don't have children and Oliver wouldn't be thrilled to ride in one, I think I might pick one up and strap a Cabbage Patch Kid in there. Of course, in Lafayette people still jeer and yell at you, but I think it might work in Philly. 

North side - 9.5 miles, averaged 7:29.

Coldish, rainy, and windy. Legs seem like they are looking for some action. Not ready to run a marathon tomorrow, but I am more convinced that I need my race/workout on Saturday in addition to the 10-day out workout. I'll probably not cut back the first taper week as much as I normally would given that this week is already a decent cut back (so ~65-70). Cutting out a long run and a workout/double will get the mileage where it needs to be.

North side - 9 miles, averaged 7:52. Started some strides but the wind got the best of me. Feeling pretty good.

Goal for tomorrow is to try to run 101%-105% of goal marathon pace. So 6:10-5:57, which is basically fast end of aerobic into the top of half marathon pace. Probably wear my Garmin so I can dial back the pace as neccessary and monitor it a bit. Anyone who has done a race/workout knows how hard it is to slow down!

Late: 35 minutes of rolling and stretching + hips and glutes

AM: 500 FESTIVAL 15k - Did this race a few days after my grandfather died two years ago, so I wanted to run it even as as workout. The cost of the series (5k, 10k, 15k) is something like $38 and you get good support and it has been competitive enough as I have started getting faster over the last three years.

Goal was to run the Garmin at marathon goal pace to a touch faster (steady state pace), keeping splits and effort slower than half marathon pace, then pick it up when and if I felt like it to catch the bleeders in the final 5k. That's pretty much what I did. Fast to start because I was monkeying with my Garmin and it ended up "jumping" down in the last few hundred meters. If it wasn't so expensive I would throw it out. I thought 6:20-6:30 was feeling a little too fast (feel versus watch pace) even on tired legs and without a proper warmup. Started passing people around mile 3 and caught 4-5 dudes in the last 5k. Had some fun after mile 8 to the finish (elevation really doesn't change much).

I offered to block the wind for a few people, but their paces weren't quite in my groove so I helped them out for a few miles and then did my own thing.

The rich chocolately goodness (sweeter because I can put most of them down as "marathon pace"):

6:04, 6:17, 6:18, 6:18, 6:18, 6:11, 6:07, 6:15, 5:46, 1:44 (5:15 pace)

~2 up/4.7 down

PM: North side - 5.25 miles, averaged 7:56