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September 18, 2007
3 Weeks: The Butterflies are Tumbling
3 weeks and the gun snaps . . . the butterflies are flip-flopping around in my stomach already. When I think about this training segment and everything that has happened, I almost have to pinch myself. While I always thought I had the ability to run the times I have been posting all summer, I never knew how to uncover them and bring them to the surface.
H. always reminds me (with a smile stretched across his face, of course) that the first time I showed up to run with the group, I had to pull off to the side and drop off the pack - I almost quit that day as a result of a piercing side stitch. In fact, when I first started pounding the pavement with H. and friends, I thought I was a bad ass when I could do mile repeats in 6:30! It's funny how a nice KICK in the ass changes our perspectives :)
Last week marked my highest mileage week ever: 77. And most of it was quality. I followed up a solid Tempo run on Tuesday with 4 x 1 mile repeats with 60 seconds rest on Thursday: 6:19, 6:05, 6:00, 5:53. On Wednesday and Friday I logged a pair of comfortable 10 milers. On Saturday, we went to the Morton Arboretum outside of the city and put in 15 miles. H. and I rolled the final 10 faster than marathon pace - finishing the final 5 a step faster than 6:20 pace. On Sunday, we hit 20 in slightly over 2 and a half hours. Final 20 miler DONE!!
I took yesterday off and today I hit the path once again for a tempo run. We re-arranged it slightly in that we ran 3 out (19:05), then pulled it back a notch to 6:40 for 1.25 miles and then we faced a mean and abusive headwind for the final 3 miles back (19:00). Even though I physically feel like a wasteland, my body came through for me today.
I didn't feel wiped out or anything from the run - it actually felt fairly comfortable (well, as comfortable as running on dead legs can be!).
Although I seem to be handling the mileage quite well, my body seems to be expressing some anger over the mileage mountain from last week - perhaps other runners out there have experienced this. Aside from feeling just downright shitty, I feel lethargic and puffy . . . and my weight shot UP 6 pounds! I tend to weigh myself to make sure that I am not losing . . . so I was shocked to see the increase staring back at me. However, I am not going to freak out - I am optimistic that my pending taper will even things out :)
Speaking of the taper, I have said this several times over the past few years, but I LOVE the taper! It's a beautiful reward for all of the hard work we put into this sport. The idea of brining a pair of fresh legs into the marathon excites me tremendously.
I am still iffy on overall time goals since this is unchartered territory for me. My idealistic/dreamy goal is 2:49. My realistic goal is sub 2:55. I will go out with the realistic goal in mind and if all goes well, I will ramp it up and chase the clock.
Posted by bridget at September 18, 2007 9:35 AM
Comments
the hay's in the barn, babe!
be proud of all the hard work you've put in this spring and summer. congratulate yourself. then quit congratulating yourself, get out there, and kick some ass!
Posted by: carrie g. at September 19, 2007 10:44 PM
Ok now bridget...remember your family will be on the sidelines cheering you on and just take a deep breath and shake your arms/hands before you start your run and leave the rest in the hands of all the hard training you have done and just enjoy the run...love you too much...smilies
Posted by: MOM at September 20, 2007 7:15 AM