Really feeling like I'm in countdown mode now. Just over 5 weeks to go - and two of those weeks are taper, so only 3 more weeks of crazy intense training.
Right now I'm sooooo looking forward to tapering, but I know that once I get to that point, I'm going to feel antsy and unsettled, and like I'm not doing enough. But I'm hoping that feeling well-rested outweighs the antsiness, and I can appreciate the short respite from all-out effort.
Two more 20-milers on the schedule, one of which I'll be running this Saturday. I'm planning on treating it exactly like race day, so that I can really test out my nutrition and hydration, and make sure that I have a good plan in place.
I'll do that again with the final 20-miler, too, which will be 2 weeks later.
I can't believe how far I've come over the course of the past 11 weeks. I went from never having done a track workout in my life to running 1200s and 800s at speeds I never imagined I could possibly run. And I'm on the verge of running my 4th 20-mile training run!
My emotions at this point are pretty positive, which is a wonderful thing. After feeling so rundown for so long, it's nice to feel slightly refreshed and ready to tackle these last few weeks.
I've made a point of changing up my running routes during the past couple of weeks, and I think it's made a world of difference. The changes I made weren't even all that drastic - hopping on the bike path for a mile or two; running a short loop the opposite direction I usually run it; getting on the treadmill for speedwork instead of on the track - but it was enough to make things feel much less monotonous.
And when running on the treadmill makes me happy, I know I was due for a change of scenery, because normally I would do just about anything to avoid it.
And as I'm counting down to the marathon, the boys have already begun counting down to Christmas. I kid you not - they have already started formulating their Christmas lists! I keep telling them that we need to slow down and enjoy all the fall fun and fall holidays before we start singing Christmas carols.
They're in full-on Fall mode, though, now that they're back to school. And I'm happy to report that they're both doing great. We dropped them off the first day, and loved seeing them both get settled into their classrooms.
And on the second day, they got on the bus together, and Carmine and I saw them off, waving to the bus as it drove down the street. Carmine loves to wait for the bus - he watches each car that goes by, and yells "whoa!" as they pass us. And when the bus comes, he practically bursts with excitement, yelling "bus, bus, bus!!!!"
Not a moment's hesitation getting on the bus from my little champ, Dante. I didn't expect any, but it still kind of amazes me to watch how he just meets life head on, ready for anything and everything.
Even though I have Carmine to fill the baby/toddler role of the family, I still sometimes think of Dante as a little kid, but seeing him climb up the steps of that bus was a very vivid reminder that he is anything but little.
I think if had let him, Carmine would have climbed right up the steps after his big brothers, but lucky for me, he's got a few more years to go.....
You're training has been spot on. Whilst we can't predict what will happen on race day, you've done a fine job of optimizing your chances.
The little one's don't grow backwards do they? My youngest is a junior in HS!! O.M.G. :-{
Posted by: Wes | September 09, 2011 at 01:05 PM