Marathon Training Week 7 Results - Sometimes You Have to Gut It Out

I'm happy to report that I have felt a lot better this week!  My blood pressure has been consistently lower and never above 145/82.  I see my doctor on Monday and hope for lots of good advice.

My running was so-so.  I've been having too much pain due to shoes, so I finally bought a new pair on Wednesday.  I think they're going to work, but it may be a little early to tell.

Sunday:  Rest Day
Monday: 6 Miles Easy w/6 Strides (pace 9:58 pace)
Result:  Ran 5.01 miles in 1:17:27, 15:27 pace
I was so sluggish.  We spent a ton of time sitting on Sunday (church, lunch, 220 mile drive home, and church again.)

Tuesday:  7 Miles Hills (no planned pace)
Result:  Walked 2 miles in 34.44, 17:24 pace
I was thinking about new shoes at this point and didn't want to run too long with pain.

Wednesday:  Rest
Result:  Ran 7.01 miles in 1:25:22, 12:11 pace
Got in my hill run on the trail (my trail shoes are fine.)  Lots of bear tracks and I got stung by a bee while out!  Quite the exciting morning.
I spent about an hour at Foot Pursuit and purchased the Asics Gel Nimbus. 

Thursday: 5 Miles w/3 Miles @ MP (marathon pace = 9:09)
Result:  Ran 5.10 miles in 1:00:06, 11:47 pace
Tried out the new shoes.  But new shoes can only do so much with old legs!  My feet were hurting when I got up, so I can't blame the shoes.

Friday:  5 Miles Easy (pace 9:58)
Result:  Rested
Again, my feet were hurting when I got up, so I decided a rest day was in order.

Saturday:  18 Miles LSD  (pace 10:04-11:04)
Result:  Ran 18.01 miles in  3:37:52, 12:06 pace
This was one of those "just do it" kind of runs.  I wanted to give my new shoes a true test and they didn't fail.  Not one blister!  My feet weren't hurting when I got up.  They were tired by the end, but that is to be expected after more than 3 1/2 hours!
It wasn't my shoes that slowed me down - it was my stomach!  In an effort to save money, Les decided to make his own Perpetuem.  I've never had any trouble drinking it on long runs.  Les bought flavored Stevia (Stevita) and it contains Xylitol.  Xylitol is enemy number one where my gut it concerned!  Major GI distress ensued (sorry, TMI!)  I was thankful for public restrooms.  There weren't any in my final two miles, so I had to slow down to a walk. But you know, some days you just have to gut it out!  Major learning experience today!  No more Stevita for this girl.

Total planned miles: 41
Actual
Running  35.13
Walking: 2.00
Total  37.13