sub-3 or blow-up trying

Alright, trying to stay calm in the midst of tapering.  Ran 1-mile warm-up on the gym's TM and then did 5-miles (TM) in 29:40- 5:56 pace.  Yes, it's easier for me on a TM, yet that's still booking for me.  Shut things down even though I still had energy in the tank.  I'm at 175 lbs which is the lowest I've been since 10th grade. 

30 minutes of weights + 8 miles @ 8:40ish pace.

Went to the track in hopes of running 3 mp miles as a final "dress rehearsal" for this weekend.  Ran 1st mile slow and then tried to pick it up to mp.  It was very windy, the type that was blowing down garbage cans and even a bench sitting next to the track.  I checked my watch at the end of lap 4 and saw 6:55- way too much work for that kind of pace.  Decided to shut it down and come back later in the day when it was less windy.  Stopped by Dunkin Donuts for a juice/bagel and then was suddenly struck with the thought- "I haven't come this far to whimp out on the final workout", so headed straight back to the track with a new sense of purpose and drive.

Immediately started into a 3-mile mp run (actually was really more of a half marathon pace).  Decided to pick things up with the wind at my back and then stay steady against the wind.  Mile 1- 6:38 (that's more like it), Mile 2- 6:35 (feeling in a bit more of a groove), Mile 3- 6:23 (actually the same pace as the first 2, but picked up the speed on lap 4).  Finished things off with a 2-mile "cooldown" and much better peace of mind- 7 miles total.  Tomorrow I'll run 4 with my wife and then take Fri/Sat off completely. 

I'm a little nervous- 3 of my children were puking last night.  Why?  Why always on the week of a marathon?  Plenty of nutrients and fluids for the rest of the week and pray that I stay healthy. 

Ran 4 miles on the TM @ 8:30 pace, throwing in 6 x100 @ 6min pace.  Last run before Philly- tons of energy!

Goals for "Philly"...

1) pr- break 3:09:09

2) break 3:06- 3 min pr would be satisfying

3) Keep a 7-min pace- 3:03:00- this might be do-able.  The furthest I've taken a 7-min pace is 16 miles- we'll see how far this will last this weekend.

The plan...

Start off at a 6:50 pace and keep it as long as it remains comfortable (never want to fully rule out a sub-3).  If effort becomes too difficult, shift to a 7-minute pace and hold on for dear life (at least 16 miles).  If "wheels" fall off, then gut out a pr- anywhere between 3:05 and 3:09.  I feel prepared and healthy, the weather reports look good, so I'm going to be on the aggressive side.  My heart of heart guess?  3:07ish, yet I wouldn't be overly surprised with a sub-3:05-  we'll see!