Marathon Weeks 11 and 12

I am having a hard time believing that August is over and only 6 weeks of marathon training remain. How has time gone so quickly?!
 

These legs just ran over 18 miles!

Week 11
Monday: rest
Tuesday: 5.12
Wednesday: 8.01
Thursday: 3.12
Friday: rest
Saturday: 7.1
Sunday: 18.42

Total miles: 41.77

Thursday's run was supposed to be 5 miles (not 3), but my legs just were not up for it. I ran too fast on Wednesday, so this was completely my fault. With just that one exception this was a great week of training! I even made it through my first 18 mile run. About 15 miles into the run, I might have said (out loud, talking to myself), but I somehow managed to hold it together for the last few miles.



Week 12
Monday: rest
Tuesday: 5.0
Wednesday: 8.01
Thursday: 5.15
Friday: rest
Saturday: 7.1
Sunday: 20.42

Total miles: 45.68

I made plans to run with a friend on Thursday to make sure I didn't cut it short this time around. We got caught 2 miles from our cars in a downpour, but we still made the full distance. The storms continued through Friday night and created a few obstacles for my Saturday run.

Sunday's run was actually one of the best runs of the week. I was up early to take advantage of the cool temperatures and the view of the sunrise while running did not disappoint. I was a bit nervous for this run (based on how my 18 miler had gone), but I didn't struggle at all with this run. I did the first 18 miles at my long run pace and picked up the pace by a full minute for the final two miles.

Sunrise with fog coming of the river, so lovely and serene.

I was a bit sore through out the day, but nothing too terrible. That all changed at about 7 PM when a rather intense level of pain in my legs set in. I spent the rest of the night with my feet up. I am feeling pretty decent today, though I am glad it is a rest day. I must say, this whole marathon thing feels pretty real now that I've crossed my first 20 mile training run off the list!