This past week was my first of two peak weeks, and I survived! This coming week is a cutback week, which will then be followed by another 44 mile week. I was feeling really tired all week, but surprisingly my legs were feeling pretty strong. It was just the rest of me that was plain worn out. Despite feeling tired, I had what I think was a great first 20 miler on Saturday and a successful peak week overall.
Monday- 8 mile run on the Dora and New River Trails. This was the day I crossed into a new level of ‘real runner’. Somehow it was still a good run, despite that first incident, later spraying myself in the face with my water bottle, and then my hard effort the last 2.5 miles because it had gotten dark and I’m scared of the dark. Not sure how, but it was.
Tuesday- Rest.
Wednesday- 8 miles with Sven, with the 4 middle miles at marathon pace. One of the benefits of running my marathon pace run on the treadmill? I nail my splits! I also enjoyed a few guilty pleasures which includes Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition and Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball during my run.
Thursday- Another 8 miles with Sven. I was feeling too tired to drive anywhere for my run, or to run on the roads around our house (and be mentally present enough to react to oncoming vehicles), so I opted for the treadmill again. I hit a bit of a rough patch early on in the run, but pushed through and finished feeling pretty good.
Friday- Rest.
Saturday- 20 mile long run. This was my first-ever 20 miler and absolutely the furthest I’ve ever run. As usual, this long run got it’s own post. Overall things went really well. Thanks to Barry crewing for me, I never had to stop until a bathroom break at mile 17 (no walk breaks or stops to refill water, etc.). I also got to see some new parts of the trail and enjoyed some beautiful views.
When we got home I took my first-ever ice bath and I think it definitely helped me recover. But boy was it cold lowering myself down into that water!
Sunday- Rest day. I woke up feeling pretty good, and only had some soreness in my back and my legs. But I was happy to find that my hips, knees, joints, and feet all felt fine. Barry and I took the dogs on a short walk in the morning, which helped with some of the soreness in my quads and back.
Total miles: 44 (weekly mileage PR)
This week’s schedule (cutback week):
Monday: 6 miles
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 6 miles w/ 4 @ MP
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 6 miles
Saturday: 14 miles
Sunday: Rest
Turkey Runner 
You did it you did it!! I hope this week is another good one too 🙂
Thanks! I’m glad my mileage is lower this week, but I expect it’s still going to be tough coming off of this past week.
My regret yesterday after the marathon was not using ice-I feel really stiff today. There’s something mental about the 20 mile run. You know when you get there you’ve got it. It’s true the last 6 weren’t too bad and it’s true the last .2 really is a killer-you get to 26 and you are like really? I loved seeing new places on my trail as well. Having to go to the bathroom on runs started at about 2 weeks left in the race and sure enough I had to stop in the race to wait on line for a port a potty. I’m pretty sure it’s why I missed my goal finish. But it was so much fun.
I hope you start feeling better soon! Congrats on your marathon!!! I can’t wait to read all about it! 🙂
LOVE that pic of the New River with all of the clouds! Keep it up girl, you’re in the home stretch now!
I know! I was amazed at how that one came out. I literally pulled my camera out of my handheld water bottle pouch, snapped that picture, and put it away while running. I didn’t even know how it turned out until I loaded the pictures onto my computer.
Congrats on your achievement.Guess this is for real. Time to get on the bike and get my miles up. Looks like I will be shuttling around Charlotte in a few weeks.LUD.
Thanks, Dad! Yes, it looks like I am going to go through with this thing. 🙂
way to GOOO on that 20-miler!!! sooo awesome…and glad u even took the ice bath plunge, ur legs needed it. 🙂 okay, confession, i don’t care WHAT people say, i will always be a miley fan. had wrecking ball stuck in my head for one of my runs the other day too. 🙂
Thanks, Cait! I am so glad I did that ice bath, because I felt pretty good on Sunday. Much better than I felt last week after my 18 miler. Sometimes Miley’s voice kind of gets under my skin, but I do like that wrecking ball song!