IL Marathon, weeks #8 & #9

Let's look back over the past few weeks of training... they've been quite interesting.

Two weeks ago, I had an involuntary cutback week due to my lovely right foot. (And the peroneal tendinitis causing me loads of pain.)

I actually thought it was a stress fracture, so after seeing the doc and finding out it was only tendinitis, I was pretty ecstatic! I took 3 days completely off to help with the inflammation and then I was able to get back into running pretty much pain free.


I have been wearing the boot all day at school so that my foot doesn't have any unnecessary pressure/pain during the day, and I am thinking that at the end of this week I will be done with that. I've been feeling pretty good!


Anyways, I ended up with 40 miles for the week, including an awesome 18-miler before my foot went all crazy! That run was a great confidence boosting run... I averaged 7:56 pace outside.  


Weekly Rundown 2.27.2012-3.4.2012
Mon - 8.2 miles easy
Tues - 18.3 miles LONG (7:56 avg)
Wed - 5.5 miles easy <-- lots of foot pain
Thurs - Rest
Fri - Rest
Sat - Rest
Sun - 8.3 miles easy
Total - 40.3 miles


Last week, I was able to get back into the groove a bit more. My foot was still pretty tender each morning, but by the afternoon it would loosen up and be fine for a run.

I started out with an awesome tempo run on Monday - 6:40 average for 6.2 miles! Almost a 10km PR.


This week's long run was a cut-back week... 13 miles. Of course I had to run 13.1. The last 5km was at goal marathon pace - 7:30. Those miles were kinda hard, just in that uncomfortable zone. I also didn't remember to bring any fuel or even water so I'm sure that had something to do with it.


Sometimes I get upset with myself that MP running sometimes feel hard... but then I remind myself that I'm right in the middle of training, not tapered. It'll be a whole different ball game when I've been in taper for 3 weeks!

In addition to my tempo run and long run, I also got in a race this weekend! The BBO 4-mile was a great little get-me-pumped-up-and-excited race, and of course I was happy with a PR. And the beer stein. Duh.


Weekly Rundown 3.5.2012-3.11.2012
Mon - 6.2 mile tempo @ 6:40 avg; 9 miles total
Tues - 7.5 miles easy
Wed - 13.1 miles LONG with last 5km at 7:30 GMP
Thurs - Rest
Fri - 6.4 miles easy with 6 striders
Sat - BBO 4-mile 25:01 PR; 7.7 miles total
Sun - 7 miles easy
Total - 50.7 miles


So what does the next week look like? I'm hoping to get in another solid 50 for the week, and an interval workout. Maybe mile repeats, 800m's, or some sort of ladder?


Also... this weekend my Business Man and I are headed to Chicaaaaago to spend some time with these two, and to run the Get Lucky Half! (Well, I'll be running; my Business Man'll be spectating. As usual.) 


It'll be all sorts of crazy as I hear Chicago gets pretty ridiculous for St. Patrick's Day. Supposedly the river is dyed green! I'll be sure to take some pictures. ;-)


And... on a final note, I would like to share with you my post-race treat from Saturday...

Yes, that would be a Monster Cookie Cupcake topped loaded up with some moose tracks ice cream.   It was all my dad's idea, I swear. But it was definitely a good one.