Steady ~ Four Weeks of Marathon Training Down (Weeks 9-11/52)

One of us ran and the other rode Tantalus on the same day!

It's been almost 3 weeks since I posted anything.  We were still in Hawaii when I last checked in.  We flew home on March 2nd and I brought a sinus infection with me.  I was in absolute misery as we landed and the pressure made my head feel like it was exploding.  #wimp.  I didn't run for several days, I got up and tried a couple of times but breathing is a crucial part of running.

Marathon training has been going great.  For these four weeks my planned long runs were 8, 10, 12, and 10 miles.  My actual runs were 10, 10, 12, and 10.  Yesterday's long run was one of my best (which means I'm due an ugly one soon.)  My first mile yesterday was my slowest and my last mile was my fastest.  I ran the second five miles only 11 seconds slower than the first five!  I've always struggled with going out too fast and bonking with a few miles to go, so that was a huge win in my book.

I've done intervals 3 of the 4 weeks and this week's session was my best so far.  I call it the Ladder of Pain - 2 x 400, 1 x 800, 1 x 1200, 1 x 800, 1 x 400.  My first three were right on target.  I had hills in the 1200 and 800 intervals so they were a bit slow but I finished with a strong 400.

These green hills inspire me!  Here's a little Irish blessing a few days post St. Patrick's Day:

May those that love us, love us;
And those that don't love us, may God turn their hearts:
If He can't turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.

How's your training going these days?  Hope you're not limping!