TexasLindsey

4 miles pushing Ryan.  There were alot of hills and I had to take the double stroller even though I had only one child today because the single stroller has a flat tire.  So it was kinda a strength training workout.

Splits

9:56

9:24

10:09

9:45

Ran 10 miles at 6pm.  85 degrees outside but it felt perfect.  Ran further than I was planning.  I didn't stop at all, didn't have water with me, and didn't even look at my speed, only distance.  I just ran how fast I felt like going.  It was comfortable but maybe a little faster than 'easy'.   It's amazing how much faster I am now than I was when I started on this blog in July.

My knees are still bothering me a little.  I'm thinking I'm developing runner's knees.  Probably increased milage too much too fast.  Ah well...  It's just too late to worry about that now ... Nov 14th is the marathon... and I'm in the final stretch of my training.   Saturday morning I'm set to run 20 miles with my group.  My focus this week is to get lots of sleep and about 30-35 miles in before Saturday. 

Splits 

9:12

8:54

9:05

8:38

8:50

8:50

8:48

9:04

8:38

7:49

Only had time to run 3.5 miles this morning.  I got up to do 6 miles but my 7 month old woke up and I had to feed him before I left.  My left calf muscle felt a little tight no matter how much I stretched.  I took it very easy.

Splits

10:58

10:14

10:05

9:19 (last .5 mile)

I ran an easy 6 miles.   My left calf / achillies tendon was bothering me so I slowed down. 

Splits

9:37

9:34

9:34

9:36

9:43

10:05

I'm taking today off.   Yesterday when I ran, my left calf was bothering me.  It first started bothering me on Tuesday.  It feels like the pain is coming from my achilles tendon. 

All I'm doing lately is just having one pain after another.  First it was IT band, then runner's knee, now this.  Every problem seems to have happened after that first 19 mile run on Oct 2nd.  I think I ramped up to 19 miles too quickly but I was just doing what my group was doing. 

So I'm taking IB profen, vitamin C and resting.  Tomorrow I'm supposed to run 20 miles with my group.  I'm prepared to cut the run short if my legs hurt too much... Above all I don't want to be hurt for the marathon.  I'm just trying to figure out what kind of pain is "too much" during a long run.  This 20 miler is important for the marathon training but it's pointless if I get so injured during it that I can't run my marathon.  It's the last big run before the taper. 

I'm really looking forward to the taper because I feel like my legs are ready for a break.  My marathon is Nov 14th so this will be a three week taper.   I think my plan is to run 4-5 days a week but less miles than I have been... also to run some shorter races.  There's a 10 mile race on Oct 30th I was thinking about doing.  Then either a 5k or 10k on Nov 6th. 

My first 20 miler!  Averaged 8:32 pace.  

Splits: 8:57, 8:51, 8:37, 8:20, 8:04, 8:04, 8:10, 8:01, 8:09, 8:14, 8:09, 8:07, 8:11, 8:01, 8:10, 8:06, 9:04, 10:04, 10:05, 9:04

I ran with "super fast girl"... found out her name is Laura and her PR is 3:33.  She's running Boston this year.  We also ran with a new guy to our group named Monty.  He's a 3:00 marathoner.  It was a great run.  We talked the whole way.

First 4 miles we got lost through this neighborhood and it was dark so our splits were a little slower because we kept turning around.  Around mile 5 we made it to the trails and it was light out.  Our pace was challenging from miles 5 thru 17 but I didn't feel like I was in over my head.  I was feeling pretty good actually. 

Mile 17, my IT band started acting up and I had to slow down.  I let them go on.  BUT it was really good because I figured out exactly what I need to do in this situation.  I didn't stop but slowed to a pace where it didn't hurt...about 10:30 pace.  I kept telling myself not to panic.  I took deep breaths and concentrated on my form.  I started telling myself that it was only a cramp and nothing serious.  I thought about how great I had been running today and how proud I was.  In other words, postive thoughts.  And it worked. 

I was able to speed up a little bit and then a little more... and by the end I was back up to a 8:30 pace and my IT band was barely hurting.  Weird!!?  Is this common, I wonder?  I even caught back up to within maybe a 150 yards of the two I was running with the whole way.  

So I'm actually most proud of the last 3 miles.  Running through that pain and coming out ahead, I think I have finally gotten the confidence to run 26. If my legs would just hold out for another 6 miles I felt like mentally and aerobically I could handle it.... although I think I was in the middle of a "runner's high" when I finished... so I might have crashed after that.