Week 15 complete!

This was my biggest week thus far and turned out to be my best week! I had great runs during the week and my 20 miler turned out to be better than I could ever imgaine! I am so proud of what I accomplished and how ready I feel.

When I first started my training, I felt like the marathon would never be here. Now it's just around the corner!

3 weeks from today I will be in the 1% of Americans that run a marathon!!

Successful 20 mile run!

My dad and I signed up for a 20 mile training run that our local running store organized. I wasn't nervous but had put high expectations on myself...and I exceed them! Our goal was a 9 minute per mile pace. We ended up finishing the 20 mile run in 2:51:55, which is an 8:35 pace! I am on track to run a sub 4-hour marathon! My goal is 4 hours, but I really, really want to come in under 4 hours. If I can maintain this pace come race day, that will give me plenty of time to play with (if needed) for the rest of the 6.2 miles to the finish line.

Aside from my hip flexor, I felt great during the entire run. I knew today would play a huge part on me mentally and I am beyond happy that I had a great run. I finally feel mentally & physically prepared for the marathon.

Time to focus on taking care of my hip flexor (with plenty of stretching, icing & heating) and having a safe 3 weeks of tapering.

I am ready Detroit. Look out! :-)

14 weeks later, and now it's here; 20 miles!

Tomorrow is the big day...my 20 mile run. I am lucky enough to have a local running shop put on a 20 mile 'training' run. It is a closed road course with GU/water/gatorade stops every 2 miles and has a time clock at the 'finish line'. I can honestly say that I am not nervous. Not today anyway. We'll see how I feel tomorrow. If all goes well, then mentally I will be ready for October 18th, if not, well I don't even want to know what will be going through my mind. So I will stay positive and KNOW that tomorrows run will go great!

Then it's on to 3 weeks of tapering. I am looking forward to this. Marathon training has been long, hard, stressful, fun, painful, but most of all, I had to stay committed. Which I think I did to the best of my ability.

My eyes are already welling up tears knowing that in 3 weeks & 2 days, I can call myself a marathoner.

I need new shoes!

And last night is when I realized it. I started to feel pains in my shins and knees that I normally do not have. I thought about when I bought my last pair of shoes and I couldn't remember! I know it was just before or just into marathon training. I really need to start being better about recording the mileage my shoes have instead of waiting for pains to appear.

So, next week I am off to the store to get my shoes. Sadly, the ones I have now have only seen one half marathon and one 10K. They are jealous of my other pairs that got to see 2 half marathons and various other races.

Week 14 complete

I have successfully completed 14 weeks of marathon training. Week 15 is going to be the toughest week yet! 40 miles of running which includes 10 miles during the week and 20 miles on Saturday.

My training schedule looks like this.

Monday: rest day, I plan on doing pilates
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: 10 miles
Thursday: 5 miles
Friday: rest
Saturday: 20 miles, a local running shop puts on a training run as preparation for the marathon. They have gu, water, etc...
Sunday: bike & weights

Then I start tapering. Wow. I can't believe the marathon is almost here. I am not so sure I am ready for this.

Week 14, mid-week update

I totally had to reschedule all of my runs this week! Monday was a rest day but I ended up using the elliptical for 45 minutes at the gym. I was supposed to run 5 miles last night, but we got last minute tickets to the Tigers game. Which, by the way, sucked! They got killed by the worst team in the league (KC Royals). So anyway, my scheduled has been completely turned upside down!

Tonight: running 6.5 miles
Thursday: running 9.25 miles
Friday: really easy 2 miles on the track at the gym
Saturday: 14-15 miles
Sunday: really easy 2 mile run

This is the only way I can get all my mileage in for the week! I hate having to go off schedule, but things happen.

Week 13 Complete

I finished week 13 by running my furthest distance yet; 18 miles! I met my dad saturday morning to run 18 miles through two local parks. We finished the run in 2:40 with an 8:54 pace. I felt great from start to finish. After our run, we hopped in my aunts pool. It was freezing cold and felt wonderful on our legs.
5 more weeks to go! I am really looking forward my running my 20 miler on the 26th!