My training plan has had me alternating between long runs and shorter runs every other week once I hit 15 miles, so I had done 22 two weeks ago, but only 13 last week. My 22 miler really took it out of me. I had been sick and wasn't feeling it after about mile 3. I had severe calf cramps at 18 that I had to fight for the last 4 miles. I felt pretty miserable after the run...but when I was finished I still felt confident I could do the 26.2, but I just thought I would barely drag myself to the finish line. My 20 miler this week was completely different......
I felt great, almost the entire run. I started out feeling good, and I really felt pretty good overall until about mile 16 or 17, and even then I just started feeling pretty tired, but wasn't overly exhausted. When I was finished I walked in and said to Jim "I just kicked that 20 miler in the A$$!!" Pardon the language, but I was pretty excited about it. I then took Jack for a recovery walk and put in another mile and a half for a total of 21.5 miles for the day! It was a HUGE Confidence booster!! I finally feel ready for Disney!
And, my overall pace for the 20 miles was 12:57 per mile, which was over 39 seconds faster per mile than my 22 miler and even 23 seconds faster than my 19 miler! And to make things even better, the majority of my "injury" issues seem to have subsided. My hips and foot are feeling much better. Overall, I'm feeling pretty good........so two weeks of taper and then it's GO time!!
After my run there was lots to do to get ready for Christmas time with family. We had a GREAT Christmas! It was awesome to spend time with my family and just have some time to relax and unwind. I ATE WAY TOO MUCH and need to do some major scaling back on the eating this week.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas too! I'll leave you with a few pics.
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| Me & my beautiful niece |
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| Jack with his new Angry Birds toy |
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| My new running jacket - I love it!! |
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| My awesome cow from Coy Martinez :) |
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| Jim and our grandson Ryder with his new dump truck |
YEAY for a Christmas Eve 20+! I'm tapering and got in 9...we're gonna kick some Disney butt! Merry (belated) Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWow, great job on the 20 miler!
ReplyDeleteOh my, your grandson is seriously cute!
ReplyDeleteHave fun at Disney, I am jealous as some day I would like to do that. You sound more than ready.
I have always admired you as an athlete who does triathlons but the more I swim (and see how hard it is) the more I admire you!
sounds like a great day!! You are going to rock that marathon!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet 20 miler girl.So glad it went well. Disney is right around the corner. You are ready girl. Love your new jacket and that cow is awesome. That grand baby is a cutey.
ReplyDeleteWay to go Michael!! I loved that you kicked that 20 miler in the a$$!! Super proud of you and you're going to do awesome at Disney!
ReplyDeleteYou are ready to rock and roll! Way to go with the final 20.
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas looked like fun...love that the dog got a new toy too!
Nothing better than kicking a 20 miler's A$$!! Great job :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Disney! I think I mentioned to you before that Disney was my first marathon. I loved all of the runners engulfing the hotels & parks, loved how easy it was to find plain pasta, and loved the most: running down Main St. @ Magic Kingdom.
Have fun!!!
Great job on your 20 miler on Christmas Eve! It sounds like you're ready. Enjoy your taper and don't stress about eating/gaining weight either. I was antsy the last week or so, but you'll do great! Can't wait to hear all about it!
ReplyDeleteYou are ready and taper will treat you very well.
ReplyDeleteI am excited to see what you do at Disney.
Are you taking any tips from Jim? He's run a few marathons I think....you probably have heard about them.....
That's a pretty good looking cow! HAHAHA! I'm glad you liked it! Guess what? It's gonna snow here today...sooo I'm taking those gloves with me on my 9 miler Wed :)
ReplyDeleteI will be with you in running spirit on Disney day!
You have prepared well for the marathon. If you felt pretty good after 20, then you are going in with confidence. I am looking forward to your race report.
ReplyDeleteso excited for you! I hope you guys have a great time :)
ReplyDeleteI'm SO glad you had such a great 20-miler, with energy to spare for your dog, too!! I'm sure we were running at the same time--here's to retroactive mutual energy!
ReplyDeleteYou're going to have a wonderful time at Disney. I can't wait to read the report and see the pictures.
Perfect timing to get your best run in. You're going to do so well at Disney.
ReplyDeleteI have a really hard time believing you are old enough to be a grandmother. Anyways, great job on the 20 miler! Disney is going to be a great race for you!
ReplyDeleteAwesome job on completing that long run! I remember my 20-miler very well.. it was just amazing how awesome I felt during and after the run.. you're gonna rock it!
ReplyDeleteWow! great job!!! it is almost marathon day!!! this is huge!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat 20 Michael, looks like you will be kicking some Disney A$$! Enjoy the taper, Happy New Year, and good luck at Disney!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to do awesome. Great job on the pace improvement! And I'm a fan of that psychedelic cow.
ReplyDeleteWoo hooo!!!! Nice job on the 20 miler!
ReplyDeleteOk I feel better about Josh's training because he did 20 this weekend too! Lol. I was thinking he overdid it but I guess it's not too late. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteYou've had quite the year, yay for the 20 miler!
ReplyDeleteWe planned a list minute trip to Disney, arriving just a few hours after the marathon! Good Luck!