Of Mice and Marathons

PM: 13.1 miles, averaged 7:35. Did a few strides.

+ Rolling, stretching, and core (very late)

Lunch: 8.25 miles easy.

Broke 2014 mileage totals. I won't hit 4000 miles unless I get ambitious given my planned week off after the marathon but somewhere between current mileage and 4000 will be plenty. It's been a pretty good year. I just need one more solid race to cap it all off.

PM: Off. Taper.

AM: 6.25 miles. Did a couple strides. Feeling pretty good.

PM: Hopefully a nap.

AM: 8 miles. Did a 3-mile dress rehersal tempo in 18:58 (6:19 average)

3 up/2 down with strides

6:20, 6:22, 6:15

Wore my HR monitor for some stupid reason. I was in the lower 170s but I was already running ~145 for 8:40 pace. I tend to run my marathon workouts around 168-170 average.

I ran this on a flatloop in the next town over where I sometimes do my recovery runs. The loop was okay, but it is square and I lose time on the corners. The Flourtown tempo loop is much better even with its ups and downs.

The effort felt a bit high but pretty much how the first few miles of an 8-mile tempo feel when I'm not feeling absolutely fantastic. I'll try to lock into the effort I did last year and try to run as hard as I can. It's likely going to be windy, so I need to try to relax and not fight every split.

PM: 5 miles in the rain and semi-darkness. Completely soaked but I had fun and I'm feeling pretty good. On par with last year.

Bib #444. I guess I need to break 2:44:4x. Going to be some difficult winds I'm afraid. I'm not a good wind runner. Or a hot weather runner. Pretty much I'm good when it's 30-45 degrees, overcast, and calm.

+ Rolling, stretching, and core (very late)

AM: 5 miles. Did some strides.

+ light stretching

Feeling pretty good! Still on par with last year. Not feeling stale but not 100% full of fire. I think I'm pretty much there though. Strides felt good and I got down to 5 flat pace or a little under without really jumping on them.

AMish: 4 miles easy with 2 one-minute pickups around marathon pace. Did two short strides in the parking lot to get the knees up.

I feel good. I haven't felt stale during the taper. Not so fresh that I feel like I couldn't control my pace, but my legs are moving above a shuffle.

Weight is way up. #goteamskinnyfat

About 200g of carbs for lunch. I hate carboloading because I feel like crap. I just hate eating this heavy when my mileage is down. I know it's necessary of course. Typical pre-race dinner of Thai early this evening. Race is at 7:00 #groan