All about that pace.

When I'm a bit sore, I either take a day off or spend a couple (or few) days running at a very comfortable pace- 9 minute mile speed. Be careful...you're so close!

I think I am going to take tomorrow off just to be safe. I really wanted to work harder for the next 2 or 3 weeks, not take it easy. On a more positive note, my garmin isn't dead after all. I only had to wait on hold for 30 minutes with garmin support to find out it needed to be reset :) I could have googled that in about 10 seconds and used it on my run this morning, but I was convinced it was dead...

Hooray for the Garmin, boo for the knee. Take it easy.

I"m glad you don't have a dead garmin...and Ihate knees...I wish they were better made! Rest up!

Sounds good...one other thought. You'll need to begin thinking through a taper plan (perhaps you have already). I'm convinced my tapering was a huge factor in achieving a bq. My legs felt so fresh that day. 7:10 pace was something that felt semi-hard throughout training and then almost scared me by how easy it was on race day. Hope the rest helps the knee.

BE CAREFUL! just don't overdo it, trust me :)

your training has been great, and it's going to show in the marathon when you smash your PR and get a BQ. a little rest for the knee won't hurt.

Thanks for permission to take a rest :)

I just reviewed some mileage stats from the weeks leading up to your best marathons and it looks like this probably should have been my last "big" week anyway. I had planned on plowing right through the next 3 weeks just as I have been, and not really cutting back until the week of the race(probably not the best plan). I will at least take tomorrow off and maybe even the next day if I don't feel 100%. I've invested way too much to blow it now. If I take 2 days now and two days before the race that only leaves 21 potential running days. Any advice on how I should spend my miles during those days would be appreciated.

If anyone out there deserves a break, it is you! Take care and rest up, you are so ready!!!

Sorry i did not get on the blog yesterday, I could have told you how to fix your Garmin!!!!

Kelli - My legs like the idea of taking a break, but it kills me to think I'm losing ground towards my goal. I won't be ready for long if I rest too much.

No worries about that garmin fix, I won't be using it for a couple days anyway :)

I am not an expert, but I really doubt you will lose much fitness. If anything, you will recharge that battery and be even more amazing. BUT if you do not rest, DISASTER could strike and we do not want that.

Rest up, ride your bike!

If I were you, I'd put a request in on the "training review" section to get input on the 3 weeks leading up to a marathon. You'll get good perspective from strong runners- most will probably advise a 2-3 week taper- I've kind of done both, decreasing from 70 mile week to 50-60 mile week, to very little running the week of. Keep the intensity, but begin to drop volume. Also, don't run more than 2-4 miles on the 2 days preceeding your marathon (I totally rested on those 2 days).

In regards to losing fitness, you'll be fine.

Kelli - Bike riding in WA is probably more dangerous for the rest of me than running is for my knee :)

Dave - I did put something on the discussion forum this morning and got some feedback from Jon. At this point I plan on taking tomorrow and Thursday off and then doing an easy 10 in place of my long run on Friday. If I feel ok after that I'd like to keep up the 10s and take 2 days off before my next long Friday run and see if I can get in one last 18-20 miler. Of course, that all hinges on how I feel this Friday.

HOPE you are healing well and resting up!

I was hoping to rise again on the third day, but I'm still hurting enough that I called my PT friend for help. The pain has moved from the back of my knee to the lower part of my hamstring now. I'm not sure what he can do for it, but I'll find out in a little while...

I am so sorry. I will send all of my prayers your way! That is a total bummer, but it will heal before the race! IT WILL!!!

Thanks Kelli! Prayers are appreciated! I'd also love to hear some good stories about runners taking 4 weeks off before a marathon and still getting that PR/BQ :)

Feel free to make some up if you have to :)

Oh, I was thinking so hard---then you changed it from 3 weeks to 4!

Honestly, you have trained so hard, you are ready. I do not think it will hurt you! Are you doing some cross training?? Is there anything you can do pain free?

Have you seen Spirit of the Marathon? Deena Kastor took a ton of time off while training due to an injury. She pool ran and cross trained and still did very well (do not want to give away the ending!)

Hang in there!

Ha! I just mentioned that movie in the message I sent to you Kelli. Too funny.

well what you are describing sounds very similar to what i was feeling before the ogden marathon when my knee gave out. if i could go back in time, i would change one thing: i would have rested, maybe even for a week. but i pushed through it and pushed through it, and it ended up killing my race---literally. so you are being very wise to rest. you are not going to lose fitness. you can still have a great race, but right now you need to get that knee better. i am hoping for the best and i am cheering for you---full and speedy recovery!

Preston says it is my Biceps Femoris that's hurting and is hopeful that I will still be getting that BQ. He cleared me to run on it tomorrow after a good warm up if I agreed to take it easy and to stop if there is any pain. I'm excited and a little scared...

You make sure to TAKE IT EASY!!! All of those miles should be in the 8's. I know it will be hard, but you can do it! 8's are fun, you might decide you like the break!!! GOOD LUCK.

Kelli - 8's? I felt like I was walking in the 7:30's today. I tried slowing down more and it just felt so awkward that I couldn't do it. Unfortunately, my leg was still a little achy at any pace, but slower didn't feel any better. I did keep it short; I should get some credit for that, right? :) I just want to get this race over and then take a couple weeks off to sit on my butt and eat cookies :)

If 7:30's is walking, you are fast or crazy or something!

Maybe I will mail you some cookies. I wonder if they would still taste good??

You say crazy like it's a bad thing...? :) After resting for three days it seriously felt like a brisk walking effort. I'm not kidding.

Ooooooh cookies :)

We send cookies to my best friend in Iraq packed in cheapo gladware and he says they are great!

Well, I MEAN crazy like it is a good thing!!

That is it then, PM me your address and I will mail you some cookies. BUT I am not sure the sugar cookies would be as good as fresh. Of course, the will not be fresh when I feed them to you in Boston either! Maybe i can mail you some homemade cookies...there is actually one cookie that I can make and they beat all others!

Kelli - Sent. That is soooo cool! In Boston you'll probably have time to bake some after you finish before I get to the end :)

Only if you have a broken leg or something.

Any knee relief?

April27 - I ran 4 miles yesterday morning and thought I was going to be ok. By dinner time it hurt just to walk. Walking is ok now after keeping off of it for a night, but it's still sore enough that I probably shouldn't run again yet.