The Next Step

I ran after work today so it was pretty warm (75) and windy.  Today I wanted to my last MP run before the marathon next week.  Starting out I didn't feel the best.  I felt a little sluggish so knew it wouldn't be a super easy effort.  I ran 6 miles at around 8:00 pace then ran 4 miles at MP and then a 1 mile warm down.  The MP miles were: 7:06, 7:00: 7:02, 6:58.  The goal was to stay around 7:00 so I was happy with that.  I just wish that they would have come more easily.  I am still trying to figure out what pace to plan on running next week and today didn't help with the decision. I probably need to be conservative but that is usually hard for me to do so I will have to wait a few more days and see how things go.

1:13:16 (7:35 avg)

It has been unbelievably nice this week.  It was in the upper 60's and the wind was finally not blowing that much.  Today I just wanted to do an easy recovery run as I continue to taper for the marathon.  I felt ok but I kept the pace real easy so hard to tell much about how I was running.  The plan for the rest of the week is easy day tomorrow then a few faster repeats on Thur to shake the legs out the really taper down for the race.  I will be traveling to Boston on Sunday so I am trying to take it easy before the race and not get out sight seeing, etc.  I just really hope the weather forecast holds because it is looking good.

 40:24 (8:05 avg)

Very warm today for this time of year.  I don't want to complain because I am definitely enjoying this compared to the cold winter.  I just did an easy run today.  I am continuing to cut back on the taper.  I am planning some faster repeats tomorrow to shake out the legs so wanted to keep it easy.  I am trying to get everything ready for the trip and hoping the weather stays good. 

 39:38 (7:52 avg)

Another warm and sunny day with some light wind.  Today I wanted to do some tempo running to shake the legs out and have another test before the marathon.  I planned on doing 5 x 4:00 at tempo pace (around 6:20 to 6:30) with 90 seconds recovery between.  I did a 2 mile warm up and felt ok nothing special.  The first tempo took me a little to get in the groove but felt ok.  My legs still seems tired and sluggish any time I run faster runs.  The rest of them felt better and I had two into the wind that made them a little tougher.  After the tempos I did a few strides as well.  I don't think today was a confidence booster for the marathon.  I am still thinking that I am maybe 5 to 10 minutes off of the shape I was in last fall.  Hopefully, the next few days of taper will give me some sharpness on race day.  

51:29 (7:22 avg)

Another warm day around 70 but more windy.  I just wanted to do an easy run today to continue the taper.  I felt ok today nothing special but just ran real easy.  I plan on taking tomorrow off and then running a few easy miles on Sunday before the race on Monday.  I am finally getting everything ready to go and the weather still looks good but is going to be cool in the morning so need to bring some warm clothes to hang out before the race.

40:06 (8:01 avg)