Monday, Sept. 26th:
Day off. Exhausted, and left heel bothersome again. Long runs especially seem to make it flare up. Thankfully, I have only a 15 and 12 miler left before the race.
Tuesday, Sept. 27th:
5:05 am, 68 degrees, 95%, calm. Maple Shade Loop (S). Nike Pegasus 27+ (Red).
5m easy (BOF) - 8:02 average.
Another foggy/humid morning. Body felt drained the first 3m, just couldn't get going. Opened up a little the last 2m and felt better at the finish. Can't wait for these warm humid mornings to pass.
Wednesday, Sept. 28th:
4:40 am, 70 degrees, 95%, 0-10mph. Neighborhood. Nike Run Avant.
1m warm up, 1x4m (6:15 15 15 14), 4:30 rest, 1x2m (6:17 14) 1.75m cool down.
Way too hot and humid to attempt a 2x4m. I badly overheated the 2nd set despite taking gu/gatorade during the break. I wisely cut the workout short and took it easy on the cool down. Just way too hot. Good to know that today was the last "hard" workout before the race. Just wish the conditions could have been a little better.
Thursday, Sept. 29th:
4:45 am, 71 degrees, 90%, calm. Kilmer Loop. New Balance 890.
6m easy - 7:56 average.
Felt much better today. Ran without music for the first time in awhile, and it was actually quite peaceful. Supposed to get a break in the weather starting tomorrow. Can't wait.
Friday, Sept. 30th:
5:45 am, 58 degrees, 85%, calm. Moorestown. Adidas Marathon 10.
8m easy - 7:33 average.
Perfect morning. Cooler temps, lower humidity (at least, lower than what it has been!), felt relaxed with great form the whole way. Picked up the pace on last two miles comfortably (7:09 07). Finished feeling great.
Saturday, Oct. 1st:
"Turn of the Calendar - Two weeks"
5:30 am, 58 degrees, 85%, 0-10mph. Maple Shade Loop (L). New Balance 890.
7m easy (BOFM) - 7:40 average.
Repeat of yesterday. Felt strong the whole way - had to hold back the urge to go faster. Can finally feel the taper really taking effect. It's amazing how responsive I feel during each run now. The itch to race is getting stronger, but I am forcing myself to remain patient.
Sunday, Oct. 2nd:
6:40 am, 50-52 degrees, 90-85%, 0-10mph. Moorestown-Home-Moorestown. Adidas Marathon 10 B.
10m easy (BOFM) - 7:23 average, 5MP 6:25 (6:31 26 24 26 20).
Felt great the first 8 miles or so at easy pace, but then felt like I was working hard to find marathon pace for the first 3 miles MP - very up and down at times. Finally hit my stride the last mile and finished strong. Great display of mental toughness to hang in there on a day where I just couldn't find a groove. Good to know that I can survive hard mental/physical stretches and come out stronger on the other side. PATIENCE.
Weekly Total: 50 miles
Last week of workouts didn't exactly go to plan, but I feel more confident than ever before that everything is falling into place. I have learned from past mistakes by not killing myself on workouts just to prove a point, and to hang tough knowing that I will have more in me later during longer runs where I am just not feeling it early on. Encouraged by how easy my easy runs are starting to feel, and how quickly I am recovering within workouts and following workouts. I have no doubt that if Mother Nature cooperates on October 15th, something special IS going to happen.
Two weeks to the marathon.
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