Running

3.0 no watch.

4.0 no watch up to the park on Center St. and back with Mark.

3 miles no watch with some strides.

2 miles with strides.  Of course the goal tomorrow is to go below 3 hours and not have it be close.  But I think the most important thing that will get me there is too make sure I run a negative split.  Excited to see what happens.

Really good, fun race for me today.  Goal coming in was to hit between 2:55 - 2:58, but I especially wanted to negative split the course.  I've never felt better during a marathon, and even though I went through a rough patch, I was able to hold it together and finish strong.

Miles 1-5: 6:36, 6:48, 6:36, 6:26, 6:36.  Within a few miles I ran into Melanie B. and Julie E. Ran with them for the first 13 which really helped the miles to go by fast and kept the pace honest.   Just cruising along here.

6-10: 6:27, 6:31, 7:18, 7:01, 6:57.  Got up Veyo and started the remaining climb.  Felt pretty good, but definitely had to work more on the uphill.

11-15: 7:08, 6:56, 6:36, 6:42, 6:29.  Hit the halfway point at 1:28:50, which was exactly what I wanted.  Feeling pretty good, and looking forward to the downhill.

16-20:  6:23, 6:28, 6:29, 6:56, 6:38.  Great part of the course.  Loved these miles, but the legs are starting to feel it.  Actually enjoyed the little uphill in mile 19 going under the overpass.  

21-26.2:  6:24, 6:53, 7:12, 6:32, 6:41, 6:32, 1:38 (6:15).  The struggle starts around 21.5.  Right at the mile 22 mark I stopped and hit the bathroom.  Lost about 40 seconds but mentally it seemed to help me.  21 - 23 were the biggest struggles for me, but I just kept plugging along.  Hit the diagonal and was able to get into a groove and even though I was having to work pretty hard I still felt relatively good.  Caught and passed several people these last 2 miles.  But there was some girl who went flying by me around mile 25.

Like I mentioned, I'm very happy with this race.  This is about a 4 min PR (2:59:40 at TOU last year) and about 7 min faster than the first time I ran this race in 2009.  Never thought I would ever run a marathon in the mid 2:50s, but I'll just keep on working to get to the low 2:50s and then the 2:40s.   

40 min on the elliptical in hotel in Bozeman.  As expected, my quads are a lot more sore today than yesterday.  I have no need to rush back into anything, so I'm just going to be taking it easy.

40 more minutes on the elliptical at the hotel in Bozeman.

PM CF Got in about 3/4 of a mile of very easy jogging during the workout.

2.0 slow, easy miles.  Not really sore, just some minor aches in a few places.

PM CF 

11.75 at 8:01 overall pace.  Went up to Smiths Mktplace and back.  This was probably too far for today as my legs started to hurt a bit the last 2-3 miles.

CF 

6 no watch up 300 West.  First 2 with Mark.

6 miles no watch.

PM CF

3.25 miles after travelling to Chicago. Ran downtown over by the river and down to the lake. It was cold, windy, and drizzling rain. Hopefully the weather gets a bit better cause this seems like a fun place to run.

Lifted for about 35 min and then ran 6 miles.  Went down by the river and then to the lake.  Headed south down to Soldier Field and then came back to the hotel wandering random streets.

9 miles around South Bend and Notre Dame.  Left the hotel about 7:30 AM and ran down to Notre Dame's campus.  Ran all over the campus.  We were up on campus for most of yesterday, but it was really cool up there this morning.  

Back in Chicago.  Ran 7.30 miles from the hotel.  Went out to the lake and ran north for just over 3.5 and then turned around and came back.  Probably the last run here as we leave for home tomorrow morning.  Fun place to run though.

2.0 no watch.  Over slept, but wanted to get something in.

PM CF 

5 miles no watch with Mark up Center St. and back.

5 miles in the cold with no watch.  Up Center St. and back.

13.0 in 1:42:00 (7:50).  Started at 5:30 and went up to Smith's Mktplace and back with Mark.  

CF Got another mile in during the workout. 

5.75 in 45:18 (7:52).  Up Center St. and back with Mark.  Added a bit on towards the end to get a bit further.

PM CF 

5.85 in 47:01 (8:03).  Standard loop with Mark and then I added a bit by running on the grass in the park.

6.0 in 46:32 (7:45).  Standard route in reverse with a couple of laps around the park on Center St. to add a bit on.

PM CF