I know it is already Monday but I can't mess up the trend now when I'm this close to the finish line. I've already covered the highlights of last week. I was determined to get in my six days of running but by Wednesday that clearly wasn't going to happen. So I did the next best thing, I ran 6 times instead.
Thursday, back home and back at work, I headed over to the dam with the intent of doing speedwork. I planned on warming up for 1.5 miles and then doing 3 minutes speed followed by 3 minutes recovery for the next 2.5 miles with a mile of cool down. Well I hit the 1.5 mile mark and the effort felt nearly as difficult as in Calgary two days prior. I took off like a bolt and made it to within sight of the next half mile mark by the time the watch finally beeped 3 minutes. It was one of the longest 3 minutes ever. After the 3 minute recovery jog, I took off again and made it for about 1 minute before I said to heck with this. At the turn around point I decided that if I wasn't going to get any speedwork in I would at least try for a marathon pace run. I ramped up the pace and got the last 3 miles done in 7:51, 7:41 and 7:56.
Friday I headed over to Via Verde for an abbreviated run; 4 miles at an easy pace in anticipation of Saturday's race.
Sunday afternoon I headed over to Bonelli at 5:00 in the afternoon after having hung around the house all day in my running clothes from Tyler's 5K that morning. So although I only ran 5 days, I put in 6 runs.
Miles for the week: 40
M: Rest
T: 8.8 miles, 1:23 (9:31 pace)
W: Travel day, 0 miles
H: 6 miles, 48:56 (8:09 pace) with 3 miles at MP
F: 4 miles, 38:07 (9:31 pace)
S: 13.1 miles, 1:49:31 (8:22 pace)
S: 3.1 miles, 34:00 (10.58 pace) with Tyler
5 miles, 50:28 (10:06 pace)
On Sunday afternoon I tallied up my miles for the month of March and was shocked to find 197.7 miles. If I had realized how close I was to 200 I would have run a little more during the week. This is 15 miles more than my last highest month in August 2006. I recently read about the challenge of running 2007 miles in 2007. This requires an average monthly mileage of 167.25. I wasn't far off track and this months 197.7 gives me a cushion to play with. I haven't completely committed to the idea of 2007 miles but, so far so good.
This week the miles start to taper down although the last 22 miler is scheduled for Saturday. During the week there are no more 8 milers and the 6 milers become 5. Let me tell you I am looking forward to the rest and recovery leading up to Eugene.
9 comments:
Keep working hard Darrell or I'll smack talk you if I pass you at Eugene!
Darrell,
I can relate to your feelings after slogging thru run after run. Always nice when you can almost taste that taper right around the corner. There is light at the end of the tunnel! ;-)
If you an Eric are going to throw down, I want pictures... Enjoy your rest and recovery! You've been working hard and deserve it. Look out Eugene! Here he comes....
Nice job on the mileage, Darrell. I think the 2007 goal sounds doable for you. I am trying to get one good mileage week in before Eugene.
Great Job Darrell, awesome focus on getting your trainings in and yes almost taper time :-)
This is why BQ is such an awesome thing...it is just so very hard to do. And you are nearly at the peak of the training stress. Stay with it, my friend, even on the lousy (speed) days. You'll be grateful for it. It will be sweet relaxing after the race and a very, very sweet trip and run through the streets of Boston a year from now!!!!! Keep your eye on the prize!!!
I'm right there with you - onew more long run and then it's taper time. Nice going with all that mileage.
Nice job fitting in all your runs! I've decided to not taper for Eugene (although week after next might be a bit of a step down). So maybe I'll taper vicariously through you. : )
Awesome job with the mileage!! That's great! You are going to rock Eugene!
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