Hello All -
This week saw a small shift in my running schedule that will carry into next week. I pressed REALLY hard last week and into the beginning of this week and as a result, my knees really started to hurt. After some consulting with my running coach and acupuncturist, it was decided that I should take 1 or 2 extra days off. So what I did was - run on Sunday rather than Saturday (giving me Fri & Sat off after my Thu. run), and I will take Monday and Tuesday off from running, while doing some strength training Monday and acupuncture Tuesday....then it will be back to running on Wednesday and Thursday with my next long run next Saturday. Should be just fine.
Today(Sunday)'s long run was supposed to be 12.8 miles (twice around Lake Murray). As I was driving to the lake I thought "well, I am getting extra days off and it sure would be nice to run the half marathon again @ 13.1....screw it - why not?" So off I went with my new running glasses and new fuel belt that I got for my birthday. The first 10 miles were so easy it felt like I was cruising around the zoo with my family on a lazy evening looking at the flamingos. There was no pain anywhere to speak of. A little bit of tightness in my knees and right hip at about mile 11...and mile 12 and 13 started to get awfully hard, but in the end I actually had some gas left in my tank and sprinted the last 1/4 mile to finish in a SOLID 2:29:34. For the record, my Carlsbad 1/2 Marathon time was 2:42:51. I went from a 12:26/mi average at Carlsbad, to a nifty 11:25/mi average today. There were no hills run today (which DOES matter)...but I ran the entire thing pain free and felt great doing it. Very nice.
So - week #8 is now in the books with week#9 coming up. Week #9 will be a bit different in that my total miles will not increase, but my long run will. As stated, Monday and Tuesday will be "Therapy/Treatment" days for the knees and glutes, Wednesday will be 6 miles flat, Thursday will be 4 miles flat and on my birthday (Saturday) I will be at Lake Miramar for 15 miles. 25 miles total for the week and this week is the official start of what I am calling the "Satanic Cinco". That would be the final 5 weeks leading up to the 2 week marathon countdown. More on that later.
Mileage dedications: Mile 7 - Nanaw (my grandmother). For all her love. Mile 10 - Kathie (my mother in law). Mile 10 I will be walking down the 163. I dedicate this mile to her for teaching me to just "slow down once in a while"...and enjoy life. I wish she could see me now.
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