Week 27: Marathon Training

It’s almost time!!! Only SEVENTEEN more days until MARATHON!

Rock n Roll Las Vegas, here we come!

[ week 27 / 3 weeks until 26.2 ]

Sunday – Long run, 18 miles, 2:56:21, 9:48 min/mile.

Longest long run yet again! It was not easy. Miles 14-18 were practically unbearable. In fact, I thought this might be the first time I let myself down by not completing a long run as planned. I pushed through, though, because I just couldn’t bear to quit. I could barely pick up my legs the last two miles. I got emotional. I questioned all of my life choices. Mostly the one where I decided to run a marathon and wake up this morning and run 18 miles. I felt pretty poopy afterwards, too. It was a hot and humid day, so I’m thinking that contributed to the poopy feeling. Yes, I said poopy. Three times now. It was one of those runs. But I was stronger for it and able to do TWENTY miles yesterday! (That’s not supposed to be revealed until NEXT week’s update, but I couldn’t hold it in)!

Monday – No run. Strength training.

I felt fine after a night’s sleep. I don’t get sore from running anymore (muscle soreness), but I just get achy after a really long run. So far, it’s gone away within a few hours each time. The back of my hips and feet are achy in particular. This is cured with some couch time. Anyway, I felt fine today so I did some strength training. Nothing too intense, and only did arms just to be safe. Dips, flys, and some other exercises I don’t know the names of, to be specific.

Tuesday – Easy 3 miles, 28:44, 9:33 min/mile.

Easy early miles!

Wednesday – 3 easy miles, 27:55, 9:16 min/mile.

Sunny and hot today, but it still felt nice and had a nice, short run. My legs felt so great that I also did a spin class after work! My arms were sore from yesterday’s strength training (good sore) and I was feeling great after spin class!

Thursday – 6 mile tempo run, 52:56, 8:49 min/mile.

3 miles easy, 3 miles tempo. This run felt AH-MAYY-ZING! First of all, I LOVE tempo runs, I like being able to go a little bit faster and just a little bit longer than 3 miles, but not too long. I just felt perfect during this run. The weather was perfect, my legs felt great, I was in a great mood, and excited to RUN! I was so excited I almost tripped over a squirrel while waving to a lady and apparently became a run-vlogger! With the cooler temps (80ish or a little below), I felt SO energetic. I had to slow myself down!

& I found a rock on my run that looked like a piece of steak, so that’s a bonus.

Friday – 5 easy miles, 45:53, 9:09 min/mile.

This was supposed to be a 4 mile run, but I found a stray dog. Again. Guess WHICH dog? Yes, the same dog I found last week!!! I know it sounds like I’m making this stuff up. But, if you kept up with the details, the pup escaped from my yard before I could take him to the animal shelter to see if he was chipped and try to find his parents. For some reason, this morning I set my alarm a little earlier than usual. Not even a mile into my run, I see him! I can’t believe it. I crouch down and he comes sprinting towards me with a huge smile, gives me a big hug as to say “thank you! thank you! take me!!!” Poor baby was scared, hungry, and incredibly thirsty. Long story short, I get little Houdini in a crate until I can take him to the shelter. I take him, and unfortunately he’s not chipped. They are currently holding him for a few more days to see if parents claim him, if not he will be up for adoption. I’m just happy he is off the streets! (I found him near a highway). So, I had an eventful run to say the least! I went ahead and started my run over after all of this, because I ran about a mile, then spent about an hour doing stray puppy things, then back to my run.

Saturday – Rest day!

Total running miles for the week – 35.03

I am so excited for the marathon and cannot thank my coach, Andrew Simmons, enough for getting me to where I am now. I can’t imagine where I’d be, training-wise, if it weren’t for him. I have no doubt that I would be way less prepared. With Coach Simmons’ help, I feel 100% confident going into this that I can, and WILL, finish that 26.2 miles. Thank you.

What’s a memory you have from your first marathon (good or bad)?