I feel like I'm passing thru the dark night of the soul. The period Christian mystics endured when God seemed the farthest away, and remaining pious was most difficult. But like them I cling to the notion that its always darkest just before dawn, and keep disciplined in executing my runs one at a time, and one mile at a time.
Marathon training will break you down. In fact its a big reason when many plans are designed the way they are. They push the runner to the edge of their pyshiological thresholds, and then seem to demand just a little more. But get thru it, and new vistas sunny and clear stretch out before us.
So my legs endure it, and feel beat up. Now its my right foot that hurts on top, and also around the ankle areas which may be a touch of plantar fasciitis. Passed the one month marker on Thursday. Four weeks to go; its the final push.
Had the awesome pleasure of assisting a runner BQ yesterday while I was pacing at the Wrightsville Beach marathon. Helped (or tried) to help a few other runners along the way as well. Saw the gamut of emotions experienced by the daunting distance etched on so many faces. Got a little warm again, which hindered many a race.
Brought the mileage down into the 60s, and took 2 days off. Shifting the focus to quality, and getting to the start line as healthy as can be. Inspired by so many too, to run and race to my utmost capacity come April 16th. I'm ready to put it on the line, like so many did yesterday.
Week # 14 (3/12/18-3/18/18)
Total miles: 65.7
Monday: Rest/ recovery
Tuesday: 14 mile. WO2. 6 + (5 x 1000m, 2 min jog recovery) + (4 x 400m, 400m jog recovery) + 2. Pretty solid workout considering some general fatigue in legs coming of the mileage last 2 week and 10k race last Saturday. Ran on dirt road on Farm. 1000m averaged in the 3:35- 4:40 range, with a fastest of 3:33 per Strava. 400s in the mid 1:20s, with a fastest of 1:19 (Strava). Run time- 1:15:18 (8:05 pace)
Wednesday: 10.4 miles. Ran a bunch on Magnolia Road on the Farm to get some distance in. Had to really get straight mentally just to get out, and get some decent mileage in. Looped into KB area and back and felt better once again, after the repeated segments on the dirt road. Searched for the magic, and found some there again. Easier miles. Run time- 1:26:41 (8:34 pace)
Thursday: 10.29 miles. Hill blasts in the Carolina Beach State Park, yellow blaze and sugar loaf trails/ hills. Again had to motivate myself to get out, and then to run the hills. Legs beat up and somewhat fatigued, but took hills fairly hard. DST helped all week as it now stays light for almost the entire runs when I go out about 5:45pm after work. Run time- 1:21:14 (7:54 pace)
Friday: Rest/ recovery
Saturday: 26.38 miles. Pacing 3:40 at WB Marathon. Top of right foot pretty sore at the start, but got a little better as run went on. Ran with Billy Block first 14+ miles until he fell off. Good talks about all the marathons he's done including NYC and Boston. And training etc. Ate several gels and drank some water at the stops. Ran with Clay from about 15-23 mile marker until he fell off. Tired at end but could have kept running many more mile. Run time- 3:39:36 (8:19 pace)
Sunday: 5 miles. Easy to Farm and back. Legs not too beat up. Top of foot sore but maneagable. Run time- 47+ (9:32 pace)
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