I track my runs in one of those spiral bond running journals. The top of every week has a motivational quote. This week's is:
You entered a marathon with hills? You idiot. - Don Kardong (American writer & Olympian).
I thought that was pretty curious timing since today starts the "official training" for Tecumseh, which reportedly has its fair share of hills. Ironic? But wait, to top things off in today's mail I got a flyer for this snazzy little item. Should I start worrying? It hasn't snowed on Tecumseh in its short 3 year history, but the northern and eastern part of the country have been experiencing unusually early snowfalls this year. Makes a 24-year So Cal transplant shiver to think about it.
With only 8 weeks between marathons I had to work up a schedule. I took the first week off as recovery from St. George, so now I've only got 7 weeks left. I've decided that I will take this cycle easy. I took my cues from Hal Higdon's multiple marathon schedule. During the week I'll be putting in 14 miles over 3 days, with a long run on Saturday and my favorite Bonelli 5-mile loop on Sundays. I plan on keeping the pace easy during the week and hitting as many trail runs as possible for the long runs.
I got an email the other day about the La Jolla Canyon Legend 18 and 11K races next weekend and am considering running it. The 18K is less than the 18 miles I had planned for that day but I can hardly pass up the opportunity to run the trails. This race is put on by the same people that put on the Malibu Creek Trail Challenge I did in 2005. I enjoyed that one, I expect that I'll enjoy this one too.
Maybe I am an idiot, but I intend on enjoying the next 7 weeks. I'll start worrying about the weather around week 5.
8 comments:
No point in worrying about things over which we have no control!! However, that doesn't mean you can't be prepared. Now, I'm not sure that spending $139.00 on spikes for your running shoes is being prepared, but hey, that's just me. I could spend my salary on all the cool stuff I like when I see. Enjoy your seven weeks. Sounds like you are in the groove.
Yeah you should do the La Jolla Canyon Legend! They put on some good races. I'm planning on running it if I can drag someone along with me. Don't want to drive the 1.5 hours up there by myself...
You should pretty much be in auto-pilot now. More of a injury prevention workout schedule more than endurance conditioning...
I'd do the race because it's more of the race mindset. It's shorter, so you could run it faster. You have the endurance, you just need to work on your speed and, oh yeah... the hills.
Always remember... There are no bad hills!
Cheers.
Rice
Those look like a couple great races...trail marathons are a lot of fun...it's a nice transition from road marathons...enjoy yourself out there!!
I wouldn't worry about it! A trail race is not typically one where you set a PR but more of a race where you have FUN!
It sounds like a great adventure! Enjoy the next 7 weeks.
what a funny quote. i wouldn't buy the spikes, either. just think of all the "everything else" you can get with the money! :-)
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