Hard to believe that in exactly five weeks time, I will be celebrating, and planning a trip to New York.
Those are the thoughts that were going through my head again and again during today’s run. It got down to -2F today, the coldest day in Colorado since I moved here, and as I gutted out my 16 miles, I just kept telling myself: this is what is going to get me to New York. This is how it gets done.
Yes, as I headed out on fresh-fallen snow, bundled up and wearing my yaktrax, I joked that this was NOT preparing me for Arizona at all! But the tougher the workout, the easier the race, right?
Today’s workout was 16-18 miles, and I noticed as I headed out that I’d run 31.25 miles as of this morning. A teeny tiny part of me wanted to run 18.75, just to hit an even 50. In the end, the conditions were enough that I stuck with 16. My cytomax started turning to sluch in my bottle before I got to mile 5, and by the time I turned around, it was almost entirely frozen solid.
It’s hard to believe it’s only five weeks to race day. In Pfitzinger training plans, this would be the peak week, hitting 55 miles. My McMillan plan runs primarily by time, and I take off one day a week, otherwise I would have been up at 51-53. The miles aren’t quite as high as I’ve done in the past, but I definitely feel that the program is a good one.
The other day I posted the pictures from the half marathon, where it appears I have some new muscle definition in my quads. My calves have been tightening up as well. My Mom said once that she’d heard people say someone LOOKED ready for a race. I feel that way: I feel myself growing lean and strong. Pushing through snow isn’t direct experience for what I’ll have on race day, but I will know what to do.
Today’s run was a rough 16 in 2:34:34 (a 9:40 pace). I ran the last two miles in 8:47 and 8:35. I can keep going when it’s tough, and I can push when the time comes.
Mile after mile, day after day. I know what I’m working towards. And just like when I trained for Columbus ’04 with Boston dreams, and when I ran Steamtown 05 with 3:30 aspirations, I know what will happen in just a few short weeks.
Stretch, stretch, stretch. Your calf tightness can lead to plantar fasciitis and you don’t want that!
Meredith’s last blog post..With Every Beat of my Heart
-2? you are insane!
keep up the strong mentality – everything you do today will just continue to better prepare you for the big day!
lindsay’s last blog post..goofy training week 14
Keep it up – you’re almost there. I’d echo Meredith — keep stretching. That’s so important for me at this point of training for an event.
Joe Hrdlicka’s last blog post..Be Baseball-Ready With Gym Practices
I hear ya about muscle definition. I’ve enjoyed seeing my body morph through my race photos in the past 6 months!
FrayedLaces’s last blog post..Race Report: Honolulu Marathon 2008