Second Wind

Rest.

Woke up late today and was only able to slog out 3 slow miles.  Probably okay though because I was still feeling some soreness from the long run and 5K last Saturday.  I have stopped taking the 800mg Ibuprofen every 8 hours so I can test how the back and hip are coming along.  My last dose was Saturday morning before our long run and today I could feel a few more aches and pains here and there and my hip was hurting a little more than usual.  This was to be expected since I have been drugged out on Advil for the better part of a month now.  We'll see how it feels tomorrow and go from there.

One dose of Ibuprofen yesterday around dinner due to the aches and pains, but none this morning before our run.  The hip and back actually felt pretty good, but my legs still felt dead.  I had to make a bathroom stop just before mile 7 and when I went back out, the last 1.4 miles felt really good and I was able to step up the pace.  I think I still have some lingering fatigue from last Saturday.  I know I am still trying to get some fitness back and the 47 miles last week was only 2 miles short of my all time weekly mileage high, so I think I can attribute some of the fatigue to that as well.  This week I am looking to log around 40-42 miles as I will be going into a slight taper mode for SGM.  Hopefully the legs find some zip soon as the marathon is fast approaching.

Another 8 base miles today.  Things felt a little bit better today and the legs were not quite as fatigued today but nowhere near where I want them to be.  I imagine things will start feeling progressively better as the week goes along.  It was another chilly one today by Las Vegas standards, the starting temp was about 71.  I think summer is finally over and we have probably seen the last of 100 degree days.  I must be getting climatized to running in Vegas when 70 feels cold.  I am gonna freeze at the start of SGM where the temps can be below 40.  I'm going camping this Friday night up on Mt. Charleston and there is a chance of rain and temps could be around 40......I should get up and run that morning just to get the lovely feeling of running in the freezing cold......NOT!  I think I will wait until I get home in the evening to run.  I have run up there before and running at 8500 ft is not fun and the dirt roads are a mess.....don't need a sprained ankle at this stage of the game.

Another 8 miles of aerobic base today.  Hip and back felt remarkably better today.  Have been trying to do a bit more easy stretching during the day at work and maybe that is helping a bit.  I know my hamstrings are always really tight so lossening thing up a bit can only help.  The temps continue to fall as our run this morning was around 67; a bit chilly at first but just right once you get going.  Tomorrow we may do a marathon pace run of about 4 miles plus a mile warm-up and cool down.  8:00/mile is our/my new goal for the marathon but I am having doubts as to my ability to hold that pace for the whole marathon.  We'll see how tomorrow goes for 4 miles and maybe make some goal adjustments after that.

Well my marathon pace didn't work out as expected.  I think fatigue is still giving me some problems and some dehydration this morning was a bit of a problem.  Ended up running a couple of miles in a light rain shower this morning and it was much more humid than anticipated.  I also realized too late that I really hadn't had any water after dinner last night and I could feel it this morning.  Thought about stopping at 4 or 5 miles but decided to slog it out to the end and at least be able to s.....log the miles.  Not much of a confidence builder this morning, I'm starting to doubt my ability to maintian an 8:00/mile pace for SGM.  I keep hoping each day will get better and for the most part it has but not to the degree that I have been hoping for.  Hopefully as my modified taper progresses, some of the fatigue will give way to a bit more energy in the legs and more will power in the mind.  Tonight I am going to 11 year old scout camp with my youngest son and it is gonna be cold with rain a very good possibility and snow a slight possibility.  I don't get to excited about camping anymore with the thought of sleeping on the ground, or on an air matress.  I just don't sleep well out of my normal comfort zone.  Besides the fact that we will be freezing.  I am planning on doing a 10-12 mile run Saturday evening when we get back from the camp.

Literally slogged and sloshed through this wet run.  I shouldn't complaint too loud though because it only rains about 2 days a year here in Vegas.  Really struggled on todays run.  Nothing wanted to go, the legs were tired, the knees were a little achy and my mind just wasn't into it.  It was another one of those runs that really is a confidence killer for the upcoming marathon, especially when you don't feel good the whole way.  I am really hoping that I can attribute most of my fatigue and pain on the last two week of getting back into training and that the coming days will bring some much needed releif and energy.  Only time will tell but today I would have never been able to finish a marathon.