Northern Lakes 30k and 3 Weeks to Go!

It was quite the exciting week in my little world of running. I hit my first 100 mile month and ended up with 120 miles during May! Its exciting that I have been running this much and do not have any major injuries. The IT band is slightly more sore than it has been but I am not too worried since the taper began after the race today. I have a 12 mile, 8 mile and then the marathon.

Today was my longest race yet. It was the Northern Lakes 30k (18.6 miles) in White Bear Lake. The weather was absolutely beautiful and was around 65 degrees and sunny. The race was mostly on the roads without trees so needless to say it got quite warm. I was shooting for around 3 hours which would have been under a 10 minute/mile. The flew during the first 15 miles and hung just under a 9 minute pace and then the heat and direct sun took its toll and I slowed down the last 3 miles. I finished at 2:53:16 well under the 3 hour mark! Right now I am contemplating running a half marathon next week as part of the taper but that is yet to be seen. So far so good and I hit the 400 mile mark on the year which is half way to the goal! Stay tuned pictures to come!

I was never happier to be done with a run then I was in this picture!

4 Weeks to Go!

The marathon is officially 4 weeks out! Just knocked out my last 20 miler the other day and I am happy to say that I made it the whole way this time! There was no collapse or sputtering out at the end! It was a good confidence boost. I am not sure how I will ever do another six miles beyond that but ignorance and adrenaline will have to carry me the rest of the way!

I am also looking at my first every 100 mile month this month! I have hit 80 mile months several times but nothing above that so far. I have the Northern Lakes 30k next Saturday which will be a great tune up for the marathon! Its right around the corner!

Five Weeks to Go!

I love recovery weeks, I love recovery weeks, I love recovery weeks. Oh yes, It was a recovery week this week. Total miles on the week were only 16. It was a welcomed week after the last several in the upper 20's! The long run on the week was 8 miles and I felt pretty good through it. Some IT band soreness afterward like usual but nothing a little ice and Aleve can't help. The other runs were an easy 3 miles on Tuesday around the neighborhoods. Wednesday was supposed to be 7 around Calhoun but I cut it to 5 miles after swallowing 1.75 million bugs around the leg. It was nuts and there were swarms of gnats everywhere. Next race will be the Northern Lakes 30k two weeks from today. There is starting to be a light at the end of the tunnel! :)

Six Weeks to Go!

Well Grandma's Marathon is now officially six weeks out! I had my first every 20 miler today and I hate to report that I crashed and burned. I am not quite sure why but I suspect that I did not eat enough in the day before. I started hitting the wall at mile 15 and at mile 17.5 I had to throw in the towel. I am going to start using gatorade on runs and up my gel packs too. I am not too worried about it. I have another 20 miler in several weeks. I have a 7, 16, Northern Lake 30k (18.5 mi) and 20 mile long runs before the taper starts. Overall I am still feeling pretty decent. I have had a hint of an IT band pain throughout the past few weeks but I am keeping an eye on it!

Training Updates and 18 miles wicked miles!

Figured I would give everyone a quick update of what training has been like lately. I am still running 3 days a week and don't plan on upping it to 4 days a week anytime soon. I tend to get hurt when running more than 4 days a week. Last week I put in 27 miles culminating in one nasty long run of 18 miles...

It was quite chilly in the morning so I waited until late afternoon to start off on my 18 mile trek. From the onset I was feeling a little rough especially after eating junk at a confirmation a few hours earlier. The air temp was around 54 degrees but wind gusts were up to 30 mph which I did not take into account. Also, I ran from home down Theo Wirth into the Lakes area which was ridiculously hilly. The first 13 miles were absolutely fine but then I hit a wall around mile 14. I was forced to do a .4 mile run followed by a .1 mile walk the rest of the way. It was a slower and HARD 5 miles but I made the run in just under 3 hrs. The reality of the marathon is starting to come into focus. I am on my way but I am never running on a full stomach, into heavy winds, and on a hilly course again. Ouch.