Marathon Training Monday - Week 15 (2 weeks to go!)

Two things to note about this week: My body was T-I-R-E-D and fall is officially hereeeeee! And in 12 days I'll be somewhere on the island above with a finishers medal in hand!!!! I tried to listen to by body this week and fit in an extra yoga class this week for something new.

Monday: 1 hour restorative/yin yoga class
Tuesday: 90 minute run (9.5 miles)
Wednesday: 1 hour water run
Thursday: 2 mile walk / 1 hour vinyasa class
Friday: 45 minute gym cross-training (cardio + core)
Saturday: 14 miles! / 2 hour run
Sunday: OFF

TOTAL MILEAGE: 23.5 miles

I tried a new yoga class on Monday night. It was incredibly easy and relaxing, which was perfect given the weekend I had (20 miles!). I just didn't love that it was at 7PM. It was difficult for me to run home and eat dinner beforehand, then turnaround to pack/layout things for the early morning run the next morning. I might consider doing it again on a different night and absolutely the week after the marathon. 

I felt fairly normal at the start of the run on Tuesday...but a few miles in and I was ready to stop. I do not know why I thought it was a good idea to commit myself to the hour and a half run, instead of just an hour. That's about 30 miles in a mere 3 days. I tried to maintain a somewhat quick speed, but it just pain hurt. My muscles had no energy; and then I got a side cramp. It is what it is. I finished without stopping. And I checked the run off my list. Total time: 1:23:37; average pace: 8:48; fastest mile: 7:55; slowest mile: 9:45.

I was ready for no/low impact on Wednesday and cranked out a fairly solid water run solo. There was no buddy with me this week, so luckily I had a workout planned to keep me inline: 

5 min warm-up

5 min on / 2.5 min off

4 min on / 2 min off - 2x

3 min on / 1.5 min off - 3x

2 min on / 1 min off 4x

5 min cool down

Total time -- 54 minutes

I was supposed to do 5 repeats of 1 min on / 30 seconds off before cooling down but decided I'd had enough for the day. Also, I was hungry ;)

Thursday was a big day: did my typical AM yoga, plus I "walked" an errand for work---a nice out-of-the-norm break from my desk---and I got my bib number email #itsreallyhappening. 

Friday was halloween, and a lame one at that. We ate candy, I baked cookies, I ate 1/3 of said cookies and went to bed with a stomachache. Saturday's run was the coldest its been all training, and halfway through (about the time my body was ready to stop) the wind started up from every which-way. I ended strong but had to really talk myself out of a slump the last 30 minutes. Second to last Saturday long run DONE! Total time: 2:06:20; average pace: 9:00; fastest mile: 8:18; slowest mile: 9:44.

Post-run meal was a "crabby cheddar" biscuit + half buttermilk biscuit with sawmill gravy from Early Bird Biscuit Co. And there was a large coffee...a necessity since I had to turn around and leave the house again in an hour for the Fire, Flour & Fork event. I'll be recapping it a little later this week but the main highlights: lots of fun snacks and beverages. Also: I like vegan cheesecake! And can stomach bourbon if there's enough sugar involved!

I stayed at home Saturday night to eat pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and watch Patch Adams by myself. Sunday included a lazy morning with homemade breakfast sandwiches, church, bread-baking and making the official switch from summer to fall/winter wardrobe. I HATE IT!

And with that, there's only one more training update until the big day. On the docket this week is, again, more yoga and another massage for my left leg---IT band all the way down to my calves. They did not feel good on Saturday!