Grand Rapids Marathon - 9 weeks left!

Single digit weeks remaining! I can't believe how quickly race day is approaching. Especially since I now have two races on my calendar instead of just one.

Monday
rest

Tuesday
Distance: 6.0 with 6 strides
Pace: 9:44

Wednesday
Distance: 14.0
Pace:  9:16

Thursday
Distance: 6.0
Pace: 9:58

Friday
rest

Saturday
Distance: 7.51
Pace: 9:30

Sunday
Distance: 18.6
Pace: 9:34

For my long run I decided to split the distance between last week's 17 miler and next week's 20 miler, which put me at 18.5 this week. I was hoping that this run would be as good as last week's, but this week had higher temperatures and higher humidity. I got through the distance without any issues, but I definitely wasn't feel strong at the end like I was last week. 

Total: 52.11 miles

This was my highest week of mileage ever, which is pretty exciting! Although this coming week will be the real test with 55 miles on the schedule. My top priority is getting through my weekly mileage, so I am not sure if I will be adding any speed work this week. I'd like to get in a few miles at half marathon pace early in the week, but I also want to make sure my legs are some what fresh for my 20 miler. I might have to hold off this week.

Last minute changes...

Ever since my less-than-satisfactory finish at the Charlevoix Half Marathon, I have been toying with the idea of adding another half marathon to my 2015 race line up. At first I was really against the idea of adding another race since I was planning on racing a 10 miler in August, which already meant one week without a long run. I didn't like the idea of adding another week without a long run to my training plan. After all, my number one top goal of the year is the Grand Rapids Marathon. I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that race.

And then summer happened and the hotter it got, the less interested I became in racing in the heat. The 10 miler is this coming Saturday. I decided a few weeks ago not to register. I am pretty relieved not to have a race this weekend. So instead this happened...

I guess I have a half marathon coming up in 5 weeks! This will be my third year running this race; you can read last year's recap here. Every year that I have run this race I have set a new PR, so it would be nice to continue that tradition. In general, I think, I just want to finish the race feeling strong and confident so that I can carry those feelings over to the marathon starting line 4 weeks later. 

I should have my training check in up tomorrow morning. Spoiler alert: It was a pretty huge week! 52 miles total!!

Medium Long Run

It is safe to say that marathon training is starting to take over my life. I've already had one 50+ mile week, and, if the rest of the week goes as planned, this week will be even bigger. Yesterday I set out for my longest midweek run ever: 14 miles.

Two weeks ago, during my cutback week, my long run was 14 miles. Now that same run is classified as a "medium long run" and my husband is left wondering what sort of crazy marathon pills I have been taking. Before I left for my run I told my husband that I couldn't tell if I was dreading this run or looking forward to crushing 14 miles on a Wednesday. His response was that if I wasn't sure if I was looking forward to the run, I was probably dreading it. He was probably right.

So happy for gorgeous views and company on at least part of my run!

I'm happy this run fell on a Wednesday so I could join the Downhill from Here for about 6 miles of my run. Downhill from Here is a social run that starts at a park approximately 6 miles from my house. That gave me a solid 12 miles and I figured I could just add an extra two miles in the park. Also I am super grateful to have a husband who was willing to come pick me up when I finished my run (and then take me to Chipotle #besthusbandever)

The downside to the Downhill from Here group run is that you have to run up a massive hill to reach the whole "downhill from here" part. Usually this is about 3 miles into the run. Yesterday it was 10 miles into my run. It was a killer climb, but honestly wasn't as bad as I was expecting. When I got tired I tried to just focus on pumping my arms or picking up my knees.

Silly Garmin. The elevation gain is definitely not 0.

When my watch finally clicked over to 11 miles I let myself start counting down the miles. I was ready to be done. I kept myself running by dreaming about the huge chocolate chip cookie my husband would have waiting in the car for me. And a bottle of water that was actually cold. And a huge burrito bowl.

I'm looking forward to the fact that tonight's run is a paltry 6 miles. And then shaking my head at myself for considering an hour long run paltry.