For the most part I’ve done well in getting outdoors for the long runs but the weekly runs were all on the treadmill save for my President’s Day run. Three weeks ago I set out to run 20. It was cold and windy but I was doing fine, until I returned to the house at 14 miles to refill water and Gatorade. I finished on the treadmill…didn’t want to go back out. Oh well. The following week was a great run, 16 miles with 13 at goal pace…all outside! Score one for me. But then there was last week. I had to start very early to make it to my son’s basketball game…couldn’t be late since I’m the coach. So I started at 5:30 AM on the treadmill and put in the movie, Michael Clayton. That kept me going for almost 2 hours and by then I decided to finish on the treadmill. So I watched Invincible. A new treadmill PR – 21.5 miles.
The marathon training is taking it’s toll on my physically and mentally. It’s the most challenging plan I’ve followed and last week I was drained. So I cut my Monday and Wednesday run from 8 to 7 miles and 11 to 10.2 miles, respectively. Not much of a cut but it was needed. And then this past Saturday was tough getting out the door. I was in no hurry since basketball was later in the afternoon and I didn’t want to set an alarm. Then I got comfy on the couch drinking coffee. Finally I made it out the door around 9 AM. The first 7.5 miles were great, the second 7.5, not so much. But it got done and it was outside…small victories.
There are only 4 weeks left until the race, for which I finally registered last night. $101 for a marathon. My wife thinks I’m nuts. It’s been a few years since I’ve run one but damn, they’re becoming as expensive as triathlons.
