Week 14 Updates: Cut Back Week!

"I don't know what I've been told
marathon training puts my life on hold
No more drinking at the bar
Because I have to run very far."

Creative, huh?  One woman in my group told us that we should create a chant for our pace group.  That was my suggestion.

Program Mileage: 33
Miles Run: 26

I felt good about this week despite not running all the miles.  First of all, it's a cut back week and I ran 18 miles for the long run last week.  That's my second time at 18, which is my longest distance ever run.  And, I only did 12/14 today, but I hauled it on the last 1.5 miles with a few other runners so I felt like I worked hard enough.

I ran 5 miles Tuesday night after work and that went well.  I ran around my old neighborhood, which was good.  It was nice to see my old stomping ground.  I took it a little too fast and averaged 9:13 per mile.  Oops.

I ran 9 miles Wednesday night after work and that was more challenging.  My average was 10:10 per mile, but that was all over the place.  I started out too quickly, got into a rhythm in the middle of the run and petered out at the end and struggled to get home.  By struggle I mean 11+ minute miles for 1.92 miles.  It was getting hot and dark.  And, I was tired.

The weather was PERFECT for this morning's run.  It was in the upper 50s when we started and it isn't even 70 out there right now.  This is my favorite type of weather for running.  I've always preferred to run when it's cooler since it's easier for me to breathe that way.  I'd take cold and even rain over the heat any day.  Hopefully this will be the weather for marathon day, but I doubt it.  It's been hot the past few years so I'm thinking that it could be the same.

But, I've already established my goal as just to finish so hopefully I'll ease up on myself a bit.  I'd love to break 4:30 in my debut marathon, but there are so many factors that I can't control that go along with race day.  So, it may or may not be my day.  Plus, if I don't break it, I'll have even more incentive to keep up my training so that I'm able to do so.  And, if I break it, I can work on improving my time for the next one.

Next week is going to be CRAZY!  We have our 20 mile run on Sunday.  It's an organized run in Chicago and we run along the Lakefront Path.  I'm looking forward to it, but I'm nervous for it as well. For our midweek runs, we have 5 Tuesday, 10 Wednesday (this will be difficult) and 5 Thursday.  I have an appointment Wednesday evening, but I may try to move it back so I can get my run it.  Otherwise, a couple runners were thinking about meeting at Old School on Thursday evening to get the run done.  We shall see how this week goes.

PT and ITB wise, things are OK.  My ITB/right knee really hurt after the 9 mile run so I took off on Thursday and didn't run.  I felt somewhat guilty, but I didn't want to risk it.

Overall, good week of running and can't wait to see what next week brings.  20 will be my longest run ever!