Marathon Training Recap - Week 10

It's another Monday and time to review how well I did this past week. Let's just say I really wanted to get everything in since this would be my last high mileage week. I was off to a good start, and then I get hit by a cold & my period. Gotta love being a woman!! I felt like I got slammed with a truck and was miserable Wednesday & Thursday and explains why I ended up missing my workouts.

I actually had to travel for work on Friday to Madison,WI to meet the new President and made it out to lunch with some of my fellow co-workers. Then I went to the expo for the Fox Cities Marathon and picked up my packet and some new running gear on sale, which I can't resist!! Oh yeah, I did end up walking around for about an hour trying to find my dog Friday night so I probably got in the miles I missed....that was an adventure!!

3 Trail

8 m pace

Strength

4

Rest

Rest

7 + Fox Cities Half Marathon

Overall: I ran 31 miles this past week which is the most I have ever done. I am still injury free and really excited to hit taper! I'm looking forward to resting up my legs and improving my strength to make the feat of completing the marathon an easier task.

It was really hard watching the marathoners finish on Sunday as I did wish that was me out there. Part of me wants to have the experience over with as it is going to be a physical and mental challenge. Sarah and I were joking about some of the horror stories that may end up playing through our heads, which I will share eventually as more will be added to the collection.

I did throw my half marathon time into the McMillan calculator yesterday. Doesn't everybody do this right after a race?? It says that I should be able to do a 4:31 marathon although I'm not really buying that. My 5K time is just about right on with it based on my half time, but if I feel good & everything falls in place maybe it can happen!

I am still feeling the soreness of my 20-miler and will have a recap coming soon of the Half Marthon and my 7 miles prior to it. It was a very long day but definitely worth it.

A Mother's Nightmare!!

Last night I plopped in bed around 10pm for what I thought would be a night of catching up on some sleep. 11pm my husband walks in to wake me up and proceed to tell me that our dog, Vito, is LOST!!

WHAT??? WHEN??? all questions coming out of my mouth. He let him out shortly after I went to bed and had been looking for the last 30 minutes before he decided to wake me up.

He had been going insane on our deck that evening sniffing out some animal, presumably a bunny, so we were assuming he chased after it and could not find his way back. It was a wet, cold, dreary day and I was worried about my boy being out in that weather for too long. We grabbed our flashlights and split out trying to find him.

First loop in the car and no success, tried walking around on foot to see if he had got stuck or hurt himself. He has had 2 ACL surgeries on his back legs and they are not 100% anymore. AGAIN, no luck. We talked to a few neighbors that were still up at 11:30 and about midnight we decided to call the police to report him missing.

And that is when I LOST IT and began to cry. He had been gone for 2 hours at this point and didn't know what to do, but I couldn't just stay home and wait. I had to go find him!

I hopped in the car again to do another circle and decided I would expand out a little farther. FINALLY after driving about 3 blocks away he came running out from someone's yard. He must have recognized the sound of my car. I was THRILLED, and then ANGRY, but overall just HAPPY to have him back!!

Not exactly the best scenario to have 2 nights before your long run! It took awhile before I was able to fall asleep but I'm hoping that will help me get to bed early tonight in order to be alert when the alarm clock goes off at 4am. I will be strating my run at 5am with Sarah to the start of the Fox Cities Half Marathon, which begins at 7am.

My goals for this race....NONE. OK, I do have a minor goal and that is seeing if I can keep up a decent pace (between 11 - 11:30) for my miles as practice for marathon day. I know my marathon will end up being a little slower since 95% of the race is on a crushed limestone trail instead of roads. But if I'm feeling good halfway through then I may try to pickup the pace and I am going to try and walk very little. I've walked a decent amount on all my long runs but I'm curious if I can cut those back a bit in a race atmosphere.

I just need to tell myself...THIS IS A TRAINING RUN. But my race outfit is up in the air since as you can see from the weather, it will be chilly! I will take this anyday though over a hot, steamy day. This is my kind of running weather!!

Fox Cities Marathon Meetup

For anyone tackling the Fox Cities Half or Full Marathon weekend, we are planning a meetup after the race at a local bar. I will be running the half marathon with a minor 7 mile warmup run to the start in the wee hours of the morning. So by the time we get to relax, drink some beers and eat food I may be slightly loopy.

OH, and you may just be able to feel up this guy or one of his friends!

Was trying to see what was under the skirt....just a BIG block of wood!