5 days to go!! and Completed; Week 17 of Marathon Training

Bib #1893!

The count down is on.  In 5 more days, I will have marathon #3 under my belt.  Am I ready?  I have no choice but to be ready.  I did some reflecting yesterday evening.  I flipped through every single page of my training log and as I read the various distances, paces, terrain, etc... I really began to feel like I can do this.  I know I can run a marathon. I've done it twice. I just want to be able to meet the goal that I've been working so hard for.  Thank god I will have my dad running with me.  He really knows how to push me and I know having him by my side will make this experience a great one.  

As of now, the weather says high 64, low 51 with 30% chance of showers.  I can handle that. 

I only have a few short & easy runs planned this week.  I ran an easy 3.5 miles this morning.  I plan to run an easy 4 tomorrow and an easy 3-4 on Thursday.  I am going to get to bed at least 30 minutes earlier each night and I am really paying attention to what I eat.  It's my last ditch efforts in ensuring my body is ready come race day!

Here is how last weeks (week 17) training went.

Monday scheduled: 4 mile run
Monday actual:  unplanned rest day, I was exhausted! so I listened to my body.

Tuesday scheduled: 5 mile run
Tuesday actual: 6 mile run 48:34 8:05 pace, push ups 4 x 15, various core exercises

Wednesday scheduled: 4 mile run
Wednesday actual: 6 mile run w/ speed work 48:15 avg. pace 8:02, push ups 3 x 18

Thursday scheduled: rest day
Thursday actual: rest day

Friday scheduled: 3 mile 
Friday actual: 6.04 mile run, 46:30 7:42 pace, 10lb slimdown yoga (25 minutes), 10 minute dancer abs, push ups 3 x 20

Saturday scheduled: 8 mile run
Saturday actual: 8.05 mile run with dad on the Wildwood Trails 1:03:59 7:57 pace

Sunday scheduled: cross train
Sunday actual: Full body strength training (bi's, tri's, shoulders, back, chest), 30 minutes/6.60 miles stationary bike, push ups 5 x 10, various core exercises

Schedule Total Mileage: 24 miles
Actual Total Mileage: 26.09 miles
Weight: 124lbs

Completed; Week 17 of Chicago Marathon training

Monday Scheduled: cross train
Monday Actual: cross train; 45 minutes AMT intervals, upper body weights

Tuesday Scheduled: 4 mile run
Tuesday Actual: 4 mile run w/ speed work, core work, push ups 2 x 20

Wednesday Scheduled: 5 mile run
Wednesday Actual: 5 miles 40:40 8:08 pace

Thursday Scheduled: 4 mile run
Thursday Actual: rest

Friday Scheduled: rest
Friday Actual: 4 mile run 31:41 7:55 pace

Saturday Scheduled: 3 mile run
Saturday Actual: 8.28 miles (3 miles treadmill 25:00 8:20 pace/5.28 miles outside 41:30 7:51 pace) upper body lifting (biceps/shoulders/triceps)

Sunday Scheduled: 8 mile run
Sunday Actual: 3 miles on treadmill w/ .5% incline 24:54 8:18 pace, lifting for back muscles, core work

Scheduled Miles: 24 miles
Actual Mileage: 24.28 miles
Weight: 121lbs

1 week from today!

One week from today and I will be running my first marathon. I really can't believe I have made it and actually feel ready for this! I have a few more shorter runs to do that week and then its 2 days of resting along with expo fun and card loading.

The next weeks schedule looks like this.

Sunday: 8 miles

Monday: 3 miles, weights for back

Tuesday: 3 miles, weights for shoulders

Wednesday: 4 miles, abs

Thursday: 2 miles, biceps & triceps

Friday: rest

Saturday: rest

Sunday: MARATHON DAY!!!!

Week 16 Complete

Week 16 is complete and into week 17. I can't believe that the marathon is in less than 2 weeks!

I ran an awesome 12+ miles on Saturday in Illinois. The prairie path was such a nice place to run. I wish I had something like that near my home. I couldn't cross train on Sunday due to prior plans, but was able to get into the gym on Monday for 45 minutes of cross training on the AMT. The rest of my training goes as follows:

Tuesday: 4 miles, weights for shoulders
Wednesday: 6 miles, push ups, core work
Thursday: 3 miles, weights for back
Friday: 15 min. bike warm up, weights for biceps & triceps, core work
Saturday: 8 mile run
Sunday: cross train