Rearranged Training & 11 Tomorrow

This week was rather uneventful - running wise. If you're reading this blog for motivation, you should probably ignore my training the last few days. I didn't pay too much attention to my training program this week. There were a few things that popped up in my schedule and you just have to learn to adjust and not beat yourself up over it. It's tough when you're preparing for something that you've never done before and training gets a bit mangled. Realizing that a couple off days won't throw me off track was hard to get used to but really, not a whole lot can happen in those few short days.

Let's see, what did I do this week? Tuesday I ran six and a half and Wednesday I didn't run at all but I already told you that. I was planning on going for a run Thursday but I ended up meeting some people right after work for some drinks. Since I knew that I was going to do my long run on Sunday - I was able to convince myself that this was fine, and really, it was. I knew I had to fit in a run no matter what on Friday and then take it easy on Saturday. I ran a fast tempo four-mile route on Friday. My pace averaged out under eight minute miles; I can't remember exactly. I felt great though - I could have kept running but it was my boyfriend's birthday and I was excited to celebrate the day! Birthdays are my absolute favorite! :-)

If this blog wasn't solely about running I would go on and on about my wonderful day that I had today. I took my two nieces to a lake in Raleigh to feed the ducks and play on the playground. I didn't run today knowing I had to rest up before the long one tomorrow. I'll tell you what though - keeping up with an (almost) three-year-old and an (almost) one-year-old is tiring in it's own right.

Tomorrow my long run has feathered back a few miles. I'm slated for 10 to 11 miles. That's how most training programs work. Build up for a few weeks and then drop it back a little, then build up a little more, then decrease again. I'm sure I've said it before but I always try and hit the higher mileage on the long runs so my goal will be 11 miles in the morning. During the week I'm not as concerned about that. Before I go to bed tonight I'll put my watch and my iPod on their chargers, lay my clothes out and then put the water for my water belt in the fridge to get it good and cold. That way I will be able to get up, change, brush my teeth and get it going. My routine helps me go into each long run how I want to ... it's just another run. I try to not think about the distance, or anticipate how long I'll be out there ... it's just another run that I have to do, want to do and it's just another run that will get me to the finish line after I kick over 26 miles in the ass.

I'll be talking to you tomorrow to let you know how my long run went! Happy running (or whatever it is that strikes your fancy)!

P.S. E-A-G-L-E-S GO EAGLES!!! :-)