Towards the end of training, training report

Big mileage weeks are starting to seem like the norm (Sarah, don't go thinking you can add more miles to next week :) and that's a good thing since there is one more before the taper begins. My routine has been - get up way before the crack of dawn, run 12-14 miles (depending on the day) and go to work. That just happens twice a week. Other days we just run an easy 7 or 8 unless there is a pace or track workout. I'm feeling like I'm in the sweet spot of the training where it seems pretty easy and I'm feeling in pretty good shape. I wish this lasted longer. Pretty soon we will start our taper and feel like out of shape slackers.

On Saturday I celebrated my 36th birthday with a 20 mile pace run with Sarah in Golden Gate Park (a new workout that Sarah made up I think. You do 3 miles easy, 3 miles pace three times with a 2 mile cool down).  She said to think of it as a 3 course meal and had a goal to run each pace segment faster than the last. I stayed slightly faster than my zone most of the time and felt pretty good - the last few pace miles I really felt like I was working, but it strangely made my legs feel good. Go figure. It was a nice birthday run. After, I hopped on a plane to NYC, where I am writing this.

This week is a lower mileage week before we ramp it up next week one more time.

Two other big developments!

I got an iphone and now I can easily take pics from the road!

I got a running skirt! I guess I can't make fun of them anymore!

Daylight savings

Started out the week an hour late - for some reason, the daylight savings change messed up my fragile schedule and it took me until Thursday to figure out when I should get my butt out of bed. I ended up doing two workouts in one on Thursday - ran 4 miles with Dan and then 5 800's along Chrissy field during another 8.5 miles. We got up very early so I was able to get this all done and still get to work at a respectable hour! Friday I ran the tempo and managed to still get all of the miles in at my pace zone. The track workouts are still a struggle for me though.

Right now I am getting ready for a 14 miler with 6 miles at pace. Sarah is away this week so I will be running solo. Can't wait until she come back - running buddies are a big motivator!

Running away

Sarah is away this week so for my long Saturday run, I headed out solo for 20 miles - out and back from Chrissy Field past Sausalito and into Mill Valley. It was beautiful out and I neglected to wear sunscreen so I have my first sunburn of the year. My pace was pretty good for running alone - I tried to keep it in a respectable range for most of the run except when I slowly headed up those long hills. Back over the bridge I decided to speed up a bit, although it was very crowded.

So, nothing too exciting to report except for a pretty run and that my legs felt great later that night and today.

Music is my boyfriend

I used to always run with music and then at some point, I just wanted silence. I've been going back and forth recently between being bored with my own thoughts, or bored with my music. I think this happens when you run 40 plus miles a week and only run with a buddy one or two times week. Today, my ipod was charged and music motivated me during 12 miles - the sunny weather and scenery helped. I loved running over the bridge today and saying hi to the workers who were driving on the walkway in little cars. I didn't even mind the bikers who narrowly miss me (literally not emotionally) as they commute to work.

I have a 20  miler on Saturday and I'm hoping to download some new music. Sarah will be away so I will be chasing the miles by myself.

Halfway done

At some point last week, it became the midway point in our training for the Ave of the Giants marathon! I didn't really notice it because my schedule was wonky. I had a three day training in San Francisco and I ran at night after work instead of in the morning. Also, on Tuesday I actually ran home from training and did a 14 mile route in the city ending around 8pm. That was the longest mid week run that I've done (that wasn't a weekend run rescheduled). 14 miles in the middle of the week was a killer. I was bitter about it most of the week, but then during our 14 miles on Saturday with 5 miles at marathon pace, I felt like it may have paid off somehow. Stamina!

This week is another monster - almost 60 miles! Today I ran 7 and I have a 12, 10, a tempo workout and a 20 miler on Saturday to top it off. I am concentrating this week on eating better, sleeping more, and being more organized.