Back to Reality

I am leaving the Catskill Mountains in the morning.  My legs are sore, my mind is clear, and I am ready to push myself into the last month of training for the RB run.  I worked pretty hard in NY, hitting the hills, running mile repeats and most of all just staying on track with my training.  These next few weeks are going to be pretty intense.   After running on these monster rollers everyday I think my body will enjoy the flat low altitude training that we do in Michigan.  Going to try to get in a few miles in the morning before I drive, but am ready to just pack up my children and rest my legs for 12 hours or so. 

NY

Trying to train at the same intensity while on vacation can be difficult.  Yesterday I finished my required running for last week.  I just barely made my mileage goal factoring in my driving day and one rest day I was only able to muster up 5 days of training this week.  Not ideal, but still on target.
I have been enjoying the rolling hills of this wonderful landscape out here.  Had one good strong run, in the snow that climbed for 2.5 miles.  I forget what it like to live in the mountains, and  how intense it can be.

It is really hard to judge how I feel this week.  After this coming week things start to get really intense around here.  I have decided to take the Strider 10k challenge and race the 10k course in East GR weekly.  I have always hated the 10k.  Its too fast for how long it is.  I figure, I can use this as my tempo work, for the rest of the weeks leading up to RB, and use the challenge as a goal for the downtime between RB and the beginning of my Chicago Marathon training.  I am sure I can run 42 and change before summers end.  Maybe.
My diet has been getting a little out there without being in my own element, but this is to be expected.  I have been trying to not drink too much alcohol, and stay base line hydrated.  I figure, the week after I get back home I am going to have to really work on getting back to my ultra-hydrated self.
All and all, I am a little tired from all the extra stimulation, having both my children sleeping the the same bed as me and the change in my normal sleeping patterns.  I feel good.
A 90% week has started today, so this will be a difficult week to get in mileage wise.  I might just double up one of the next few days just to get in the mileage.  Driving on Friday or Saturday, so I will have to put off my long run until I get back home.   We will see.  Beast mode continues for another 38 days.
38 days and counting until I let the horses out of the barn and see what they have in them.

Stay on Target

Last night while running with the Striders boys I had a moment of clarity.  The plan that I am using for my training is working perfectly.  Running a modified marathon plan for a 25k has pushed me to build my endurance while also running some smoking fast tempo runs.  I am very pleased with where I am at with 5 more weeks of training to go.  Being able to close a 10k last night with a 7:09 mile without feeling like I was pushing has given me the confidence that I need to stay the course and not lose sight on my goals.   I am now at the phase in my training where I get more 25k specific shortening my long runs a bit, and focusing on my 25k pace instead of my MP.
I am going to be going a little shorter on the weekends but at a much faster pace.  I am leaving for the Catskill mountains in the morning to add a bit of hills to the mix and to get a change of scenery.  When I return, I will be in full beast mode.   I am hoping some hill training will help me through mile 7-10 of RB.  GROWL!

Whatever Doesn't Kill You.

I am starting to feel like someone's science project. Measuring my sweat loss, calculating my lactic threshold while contemplating my proper nutritional needs. This morning I suffered through the last couple miles of my 19.5 mile run. Suffered like I felt like some organ was going to stop working inside of me.   Don't get me wrong, I get off on the work that goes into training for these things, but sometimes I really step back and wonder why am I doing this to myself?  Marathon training is grueling.  Most marathons are run in the Fall, and that puts us out on the roads training through the heat of a long summer, and early fall.  We were lucky enough to get 80 degree temperatures in March this year, and so I am lucky enough to be training for an October marathon in 8 months of heat.  I am not trying to complain, but I guess the question is what do I get from this?  I am a middle of a packer, who will never win any money, or really any sort of prize for my running.. So really, why did I chose this goal?

Dripping wet

With Summer in full swing here in the great Midwest I have to be very careful to stay hydrated.  I know this is a bit early for this type of talk being  March and all, but last night the temperature did hit 88 degrees right before our 6 mile run.  I have started to weigh myself before and after my runs while factoring the weight of the water I intake into the equation as well.  I am hoping to find a baseline sweat loss level so I can figure out exactly how much drinking I need to do while running a marathon.  I am going to see how this plays out on Saturday on my 18 miler.  Hydration will be crucial in my success this coming fall.  I am going to start making more comments about my weight in the next few months.  I am not weight obsessed, just very serious about keeping myself hydrated.

CRASH

I am going to be positive here.  I am getting stronger and have been feeling great. 
Yesterday I had the worst run I have had in over a year.  Lets review what happened.
#1.  The tempreture was 82 degrees.  Not ready for that
#2.  I thought I was going to run @ 12, so I didn't properly hydrate, or eat before hand. I ran @ 3pm
#3.  Daylight saving time has screwed up my sleep patterns
#4. Family stress has taken its toll on me
#5.  I ran my tempo runs too fast this week.
#6.  I think I am fighting off a little cold

Results:  My 10k time trial turned into a jog walk after 2 miles.  My brain starts betraying me.

How to fix this:  Finish of weekly mileage with an easy run today, put up legs, hydrate, and get back to sleeping.  Legs are going up, and I am going to listen a little better for next week. 
As for the heat,  I race in the morning so I still should not run in the heat of the day.  Duh!  I'm bad in the heat
Yoga
Stretching
Legs up
Relax
Eat well
Relax
Taking Monday and Tuesday off and then back to the Grind.  Going 18 this week with 3x2mile again. 
Pay attention

Knee deep

Knee deep in the shit is how I feel right now.  This week we substitute a 10k time trial for my long run bringing my mileage totals down to a comfortable if not easy 37 miles.  Its a recovery week.  I also have added to my plan for the next coming weeks either a medium easy run 10 -12 miles or a double day  of the same mileage total.  Next week we ramp up the training and return to a 50 plus mile week with a big ole 18 mile progressive run... That will be fun.  With less than 2 months to go before Riverbank, I am starting to feel really strong, but I have to be careful playing around with this marathon plan that I am on.  I don't want to burn out before we get to May.  My body keeps on telling me to up the mileage, but I have to remember to stay on target and stick to the plan.