Pounding Pavement

Well.... with the Music City Marathon only 2 weeks away, I knew that I needed to test myself with some serious milage. On Monday I only had class from 9:00 to 9:50 so I decided that I would get out and run an 18 miler. I ran from the campus out to our Apartment. It was a beautiful day, around 70 degrees and I loved having a destination to run to. I knew that I had to make it the 18 miles... or I wouldn't make it home! How's that for motivation? I was hoping to do the 18 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. It actually took 2 hours and 55 minutes.... but I made it home! Surprisingly, I was a only a little sore in my quadriceps... and could walk the next day so that was a great sign. Unfortunately, I was so busy I didn't get out and run any more this week.... until today. I wanted to get in one more long run as preparation... so I was up and running at 8:00 this morning. Today was not nearly as nice as Monday. It was a chilly 45 degrees... but I knew if I made excuses I wouldn't get out there. So I took off this morning and got back to my car 20 miles later! I did great through 17 miles.... and the last 3 were killer but I made it the full 20 miles in 3 hours and 8 minutes! So I was a little quicker today! It's hard to believe that for the real marathon I need to go an additional 6.2 miles. But overall, after a 38 mile week I feel great, and it is a relief to get the long runs out of the way. Over the next two weeks I will just do a few shorter milage... keep the legs loose type runs and then it's on to Nashville!
Anyway, hope everyone is doing well and training hard!