How I Ran a 33-Minute Marathon PR

I'm two weeks out from the OC Marathon, home of my new marathon PR of 4:19:20, which demolished my past PR of 4:52:52. A 33:32 PR, a time I'd dreamed of but wondered if it were possible. Was my heart in it? Were my legs capable? What if I can't? I think these are all games we runners play in our head (really, anyone with a goal or dream in mind). 

I had gone into the Phoenix Marathon knowing I was well under-trained and unprepared, but was determined to make the most of the race day that was handed to me. Recap: I felt pretty awesome until mile 20 where I was on track for a 4:30ish finish, my stomach flared, and I spent 1:38 walking the last 10K to finish in 4:55. Not the day I'd had in my head, as I was hoping for at least some kind of PR, but I learned a lot that day, too. 

When I got home from Phoenix, I took a full week off. I walked, did yoga, but didn't allow myself to run for a full week. And I missed it. I yearned for a run, but told myself that I need a week to rest, recuperate and fuel the fire that I knew I had. I treated Phoenix like a good long training run heading into OC. Mind you, I'd run two fulls two years apart and now I here I am running two just nine weeks apart. What was am I thinking?

Looking back at the struggle that my first marathon was in 2013, it's amazing to say I've come this far. I ran Surf City that year with a simple goal of finishing sub-5 and still standing upright. 4:58:42 later, I got to call myself a marathoner! I met both goals but was pretty certain it would be a long time before I got there again. Two years later, I was toeing the line of my second full, LA Marathon 2015, feeling infinitely more confident, prepared and trained, many thanks to the run club I'd joined and spent every Saturday with. The heat knocked me off my feet in the end, but still achieved a PR by 6 minutes. That's still a win, right?

So now here I am, jumping from a 4:58 first marathon to a 4:19, I've figured out how to make it all count. These are six things that - especially in this OC Marathon training cycle - I believe are the key to how I had the success that I did at OC a few weeks ago. I had 3 main points that I wanted to focus on during this cycle, some of which are reflected here. Shall we? 

1. Respect the Distance

I'm some 40-something half marathons into my running career and can confidently say I can run a half in my sleep, comfortably. I'm regularly running sub-2 halfs now, also comfortably. Throughout this training, there were several folks who mentioned that if I could run a sub-2 half so easily now, surely I could bust out a sub-4 or 4:00 marathon. Not gonna lie, while that idea sounded so great in my head, it was important to remember to be real - with myself, and with the race - that running a 2-hour half is a lot different than running a 4-hour full. Respect the distance. 26.2 is not the same as 13.1. 

2. Higher Weekday Mileage 

Throughout my other full training, I struggled with not only making it through more long distance (14+ miles) runs, but also didn't pack on miles during the week, which I thought worked. However, after completing this cycle and seeing how many runs were on plenty-tired legs but I pushed on and had some amazing runs in the process, I see the benefit of tacking in those miles during the week. I remember early on in the cycle when I had a #tenmiletuesday (also achieving a personal mid-week distance record), Catherine commented how much of a difference it made to feel prepared for a marathon by not neglecting the mid-week mileage. 

A #tenmiletuesday with Sandy!

3. Yoga

While only four months into yoga at this point, I admittedly suck at cross-training. Like, I'll be great at it for a week and then give up or get bored (mostly bored, let's be real). Yoga became a great place to not only use my muscles in different ways, but also to get my stretch on, because the other thing I suck at worse than cross-training is stretching. I'm a terrible runner, let's be honest. Though I only practice at my local Fleet Feet once a week and on some good weeks, once at home, is something I really do believe helped me immensely through this cycle: stretching out my chronically tight hamstrings and IT, forcing me to relax and breathe and focus on me just being me. 

4. More Quality Long Runs 

For my three previous fulls (Surf City, LA, Phoenix), my longest runs in training had been 16 miles. While 16 is a lot, there's a long way between 16 and 26. One of my major goals for OC was to ensure that I was packing on the miles and getting in the distance past 16 mles, my wall. I can say I successfully:

• 15 miles (2:15 half marathon pacer + 2 miles)
• 16 miles (9:50 pace)
• 22 miles (Ragnar So Cal)
• 21 miles (9:12 pace)

And many more weekends inbetween with runs ranging from 10 - 12. Feeling these extra miles out was most important for me mentally, as I allowed myself to break past the "13.1 is my happy place" mentality and fight for miles beyond that. 

5. Food Logging

Okay, so add one more thing that I suck at: food. I eat terribly, and regularly joke that I run so I can eat. If I ate the way I should  for the way I run, I'd weigh probably 15 pounds less. By no means am I overweight and know that I have muscle to show for 15 years of soccer and now long distance running) and that 5'6" and 145 is perfectly healthy. However, I am a little conscious about my weight and wanted to be more mindful of what I was fueling my body with and how it added up to race day. Logging my food on MyFitnessPal  from the end of February (just before Phoenix) all the way through OC did not necessarily lead up to weight loss (I don't know a scale), but it did make me more conscious about what I was putting in my mouth and fueling myself just a little bit better.

6. Believe 

It's so cliched and so true. But for the first time, I see where it got me and how much it meant on race day. After my 21-mile run and the energizer bunny that was my pacer Eric, and recognizing that we are our own worst enemies and that you, we, I  are more capable than we think. On race day, when I was at mile 17 on my own and still had energy to go, I had that 21-mile day in my head. If you can do it then, you can do it now... ... hey! Look! Mile 21 and you're still kickin'. Now finish those last 5. Al. Most. There. For once I had that belief, I had something to hang on to and knew that I had it in me from the start. 

Believe in yourself. You are more capable than you realize. 

For more tips and ideas for your training, also check out Run Far Girl's post of a similar nature. I love her tips and ideas and shares how she earned a 23-minute PR too. 

What are your best tips for marathon training?

OC Marathon Goals

Goals. Sometimes they're really hard to put out there. Sometimes you need to, just to hold yourself accountable.

The last time I wrote out race goals, I was feeling way under-prepared, nervous, and kind of just a wreck. That was before Phoenix, all of eight weeks ago. I ran Phoenix, attained my C goal of a strong race (pretty much my strongest race ever), and knew that if I stuck to a plan, I could totally rock at OC. Phoenix became a great mental test of where I stood, and of course physically, given that my longest run had been just 16 miles like seven weeks prior to Phoenix. All being said, Phoenix worked out okay. And then I had a full week of recovery - just walking, yoga - and by the end of the week, I was itching to get out and run. I think that's a good sign.

OC training was all of eight weeks. Eight weeks isn't a lot, but I wasn't starting at point zero either, considering I really count Phoenix as a long run to test my endurance and mental capabilities in handling another 26.2 so soon. Mind you, my first two fulls were TWO YEARS apart, and now here I am running two in eight weeks.

My major goals for training were:
- More longer distance runs (over 13)
- Strength/yoga
- Weight loss

Compared to my other two fulls, I nailed the longer distance runs perfectly. A 15-miler, 16-miler (where I could have kept going), 22 at Ragnar in 30 hours, and capped off two weekends ago with the biggest confidence-boosting 21-miler ever. I built more mileage in during the weeks, often having an 8- or 10-miler on Tuesdays, bookended by 5 each on Monday and Wednesday. Mid-week mileage certainly makes a difference.

21-miler day.

I didn't incorporate strength training (weights, really) in any form, like ever, but practiced yoga weekly at Fleet Feet and a few times, did at-home practice too. I'm proud that I've continued with it and really see what a difference it's making just in terms of my overall strength.

Weight loss was up and down. I don't keep a scale at home (mostly on purpose), but about halfway through training had dropped about 3 pounds. That was about 5 weeks ago, and I have no idea where I stand heading into race day, but I'm feeling better than I've felt in a while. We shall see what kind of difference that makes on Sunday!

With that... here we go! My goals for Sunday's race, marathon #4 lifetime and #2 of 2016.

Goal A: The Elusive Time Goal
Much like Phoenix, I'm leaving this goal to myself. It's a goal for the year, but I honestly feel like with the work I've put in the last eight weeks, it's just maybe attainable this weekend!

Goal B: A PR
That PR still stands from LA (4:52) and I know it's bound to be broken, because I am far better off than I was last year (not to mention those 100-degree heat indexes). I know a PR is in the bag, whether it's 20 minutes or 5 minutes. It's mine.

Goal C: Run a Smart Race
The highs are not super forgiving on Sunday (75 as of Wednesday night), but tolerable, especially given that we're on the coast for the race. I've definitely run in hotter weather, but am hoping I know how to take advantage and still run smart, all things considered.

There we go. Vague on purpose, but I'm hoping that I can at least come back with a pretty killer full marathon PR. Here we go, #4!

Have you run the OC full? Favorite parts? Worst parts?

OC Marathon Training

It’s OC Marathon training time! This week begins week 1 and while I realized that’s a shortened time frame (8 weeks from this past Sunday), I am not starting from Point A and am really thinking of Phoenix as having been a good training run. 

Please consult a health professional before you begin a marathon training plan or new health regiment. I am not a doctor, wrote this plan for myself with some other professional plans mixed in, but I know this is what works for me. 

Photo opens link to downloadable plan.

This training cycle, I am focused on getting more longer distance runs in - that is, anything over a half marathon. At this point in my running career, I can run a half very comfortably and know that my pressure point is above 16. I want to ensure that coming OC race day, I am more than ready for an entire 26.2.

I am also more focused on my weekly yoga and adding strength. While one day a week is not a whole lot of strength/weight training, it is one more day a week than I usually do. Realistic steps to start with, right? *nods* Habits can start, even if it is only one day a week.

While I have one day a week of yoga scheduled at my local Fleet Feet, I am also hoping that at least one more time a week I can do some at-home practice, if not just to stretch out but also continue building a core. Yoga has done wonders for me already, just eight weeks in, so I look forward to continuing that journey as well.

The big part for me is also a little weight loss. While I know this body can easily take me 26.2 miles, I also know that I can do myself a world a favor and drop a few extra pounds. Ten pounds is the goal between now and May 1, so we will see what my body is up for. I don't eat well, but I am going in with the goal of just paying a little more attention to what I am putting in my mouth at each meal. Time will only tell. 

My first two marathons were two years apart - Surf City in 2013 and LA in 2015, and here I am now with four fulls on the calendar in just this year. I think I am a little bit crazy but I am also way freaking excited about the challenge, the progress, and the desire to just keep getting better. 

Here we go, OC!

What is the greatest number of full marathons you have run in a year?

Phoenix Marathon: Goals

I feel like I was just writing that the Phoenix Marathon was 30 days away. And now, unbelievably, we're jsut five days from toeing the line and beginning another 26.2 mile journey through Mesa.

I've trained, kind of. My longest run has only been 16 miles (though that's true for the two other marathons I've run). However, I am very comfortably at a point where running 13.1 is more than easy and I like to say I can do it in my sleep - that is to say that I can bust out a half marathon pretty much any weekend I please (and let's be real, I do). Running another 13.1 right after that might be a different story, however, and I guess we'll see come Saturday.

I am nervous. I am feeling under-prepared, though I know my fitness is good enough to get me to the finish line. Will it be my best? Who knows. The weather is already predicted as hot, so I'm gearing myself up for that and re-visiting things that happend at LA last year and how I adjusted so that I might plan accordingly.

Tina will be running the half (and hopefully achieving her sub-2:30 goal!), and we'll have Doug and hopefully Jon and the cutest twins ever waiting for us at the finish line. The ProCompression crew and We Run Social crew have a strong representation, so I know those folks will help me get out of my head come race morning and just have a freaking good time.

But all that being taken into consideration, I have some goals for the race. I've said to myself for awhile that - at the worst - I use this race as a temperature check for the OC full come May 1. Either I just need to get in some of those good, long runs, or I am doing okay and just need to maintain my fitness. I can already tell you that I am going to be certain that after some marathon recovery time next week, I am going to very intentionally get back into my strength training game, continue with recovery yoga, and be much more mindful about what I am consuming (hello, wedding dress shopping is coming, too!).

But for now, I have Mesa to conquer. Let's do this.

There's a good hill at mile 5, but this course is fast otherwise. I just need to run smart and not burn myself out, especially given the anticipated heat. 

Goals? You betcha. Take a look. 

A) A Time

I've said this out loud to two people. I have a goal time on the year - and currently, I have 4 opportunities to achieve said time, two of which are steady downhill races (to bookend the year, no less). I am anxious to share, again fighting off the disappointment of not achieving a goal you've put out there so much. So hopefully I can come back Saturday at lunch and tell you some really badass news. We'll just see if it happens here or not. 

B) Just a PR. 

The current PR is from LA last year and still stands at 4:52. That was in a head index of nearly 100 and up until mile 16, I was on track for a near-4:30 performance. I am (fairly) confident I can put something like that into play.

C) Run a strong race.

A PR doesn't always mean it was a strong race. I know how to run a half comfortably, and I am wanting to see if I can make a marathon a comfortable race (future forecast: probs not. It shouldn't be comfortable, should it?) I want to run smart and consistent, knowing that this can just be a gauge for how I am doing heading into OC. 

That's it. Vague, for a reason. I hope with all my heart I can report back to you with some really freaking awesome news and an even great charge and motivation to kick ass as I make my way through OC training in a few weeks! 

See you in Phoenix?

Sometimes a Mental Taper is What You Need

This week has been tough.

I think the last four weeks have been truly catching up with me - and it's not even in terms of running, but in life. Traveling is great and fun and all and I wish I could even do it more, but it's not until the last of the weekends-away-from-home come creepin' upon you that you wish you could just stay home for the weekend. With little to nothing to do.

But true, no?

I don't think I've had a chill weekend since January 9-10. And that still involved running a half, then staying out until 1 or 2 am doing karaoke, and then spending all day Sunday lounging and a whole lot of nothing. Since then, it's been a lot of go, go. go. Which - let's be real - probably eventually added up to the flu.

After Surf City, I was really nervous for pacing the following weekend at Mermaid. 2:15 is a walk in the park these days, but for how lousy I felt at Surf, I was anxious to make sure that I didn't feel that way when I was responsible for meeting a time expectation. Good news: I felt fantastic.

With Phoenix coming up in just a week and a half (didn't I just write that 30 Days post yesterday?!), I haven't run since Saturday at Mermaid - we spent a lot of time walking around Sea World, and I've been pretty fantastically lazy since Sunday. The running clothes and shoes have laid on the bathroom floor a few mornings, waiting for me to get up and go do it, but it's just not happening.

And I'm starting to think that's okay. I mean, tapering shouldn't mean you're putting in zero miles, but I think the mental taper is here and that I realize that not getting in two 3-mile runs won't kill me next weekend. I'm conditioned, I'm in shape (maybe not as great as I want, but I am) and that I'll still be able to conquer Phoenix with no problem. Mental tapering is totally a thing.

Rock 'n Roll posted this yesterday and it was just perfect timing. I have a week and a half to get my head on straight, to get in a few easy runs to keep my legs fresh, but  I know I'm going to be fine.

T-minus 9 days until 26.2!

When you're close to a big race, how do you stay mentally focused? Do you let yourself go easy the last two weeks of taper?

30 Days Until Phoenix!

There are 30 days until my next full marathon. I may or may not be freaking out a little. But only a little.

As it does with every major race and milestone, I’m at the point where every other day, I feel ready. And every other day is filled with a lot of self-doubt.

Have I done all the work I really should have? No.

But am I conditioned and in shape to make it work? Sure.

Can I try and squeeze in one more really good long run in? Probably.

Will I? Who knows.

{Photo credit: Phoenix Marathon}

I’ve got Surf City next weekend (February 7). Am gunning for a shiny new PR to kick off 2016 with a bang! The Saturday (February 13) following, I am pacing the 2:15 team at the Mermaid San Diego Half. If I have any opportunity to squeeze in more miles, it’s then, but then again, that’s two weeks out so would I be pushing it too closely?

The mental madness of not even pre-taper is cruel. 

I felt more prepared for LA last year than I do right now, though I think I am overall in better shape right now than I was even last spring. I'm much better mentally than I was last spring, as LA training just distracted me from job searching. 

I've made a commitment these next two weeks going into Surf City (again, PR at stake) to eat a little cleaner, no soda, no alcohol, and just be a little more cautious about what I am stuffing in my mouth. If I can hang with this for two weeks, I hope to be able to continue such a plan leading into Phoenix. It's not about losing weight (though that's certainly an added bonus), but so much about just feeling better about myself and feeling as best as I can. Time will only tell!

I'm anxious. I'm excited. I know tons of folks that are going to be there (#itsgoingdownatphx is happening once again, people, and I'm ridiculously excited about it), which always make for a fun race day and calms my nerves. 

30 days to go, friends. 30 days to make more of it count. Let's go.

It Isn't Always Pretty

Tuesday night I got home from work and was supposed to head out for an 80 minute aerobic (re: easy) run. I had nailed my 70 minutes the Tuesday before, so I figured 80 minutes was a walk in the park and it wouldn't be hard. It'd been a long day at work, and I should have gotten my run in before the sun was up, but whatever, life happens.

I got to the gym at the apartment complex and ready to go. The fans were on high, so I tried getting them to shut off. The janky remote wasn't doing anything, so I figured that I'd deal with the cold until I'd warmed up, and then I'd appreciate it. TV wouldn't turn on, so I tried to watch some Friends episdoes on my phone. I was so defeated already (from fans and a TV!) that I covered up the treadmill screen in the hopes that I'd forget how far I need to go. Wrong. 16 minutes in, I was over it. Done.

I went home and called it quits.

There are lot of things that I can attribute - the gym was super cold, the TV wasn't working, it was that time of the month, long day at work... but let's be real. Mentally, I just wasn't there. I looked for any reason to call it quits and just be done with it. So I was.

After the baller week I had had the week before, I went in with a lot of confidence and this run (or lack there of) just totally knocked me off that confidence wagon for the rest of the week. Yoga on Wednesday felt like a "I have to go..." rather that an "I get to go..." (no regrets though, that felt amazing!). Doug practically pushed me out the door to go.

So when I got to last night's run at Fleet Feet, I was really wanting to knock it out of the park. 45 minutes at race pace (8;30 pace) seemed totally do-able and I really wanted to make it count - and especially make up for Tuesday's craptastic treadmill defeat. Sandy joined me and helped push me a bit for 5 miles at exactly an 8:30 pace overall, and crushed the last mile in 8:06. Boom. 

Carlee wrote a few weeks back about having a positive outlook on your fitness, and sometimes it's just that. You need to go in with the positive attitude to make the workout work! I just told someone the other day too that sometimes these bad runs keep you humble - the bad runs make you appreciate the good ones even more! An awesome week followed by a bad week reminds me that I'm only human and I can only do so much. And then it's upwards and onwards to the next week and ready to kill the next workouts.

But as my friend Meb says...

don't give up. 

How do you move past those bad runs?

LA Marathon | Goals

This is it, kids. It's marathon weekend. I've been training for this race since October, registered since November, and all of a sudden, it's here. While my nerves are nowhere near what they were for the first 26.2 mile adventure two years ago, it's still a sense of nervousness.

I'm stronger, smarter, and even a little faster than I was two years ago. I've trained smart (most of the time), have listened to my body on days I could push it and days I couldn't. I've PRed my 5K and 10K during training, a time where it isn't about speed but endurance. And I could have kept going.

So here's where nearly 500 miles of training over the last 500 months come to play: the stadium to the sea.

All weekend, they've been blasting the 10-day forecast everywhere and are expecting near-record, if not record, highs for the weekend. Awesome. Considering the corrals don't start until 7:25 am, that's already a late start if it's going to be that hot. While I'm bearing that in mind, I'm sticking with my original goals for the race. Ready? Here goes.

Goal A: 4:20
My one and only marathon time is currently a 4:58. I was undertrained, not smart, and though I made my goals, I knew I could have done better. In hindsight, I'm not sure I could have... but now? I'm ready. 4:20 is a 38-minute PR (HUGE), and still only a 9:54 mile. I know I am fully capable of maintaining such an average over 26.2 miles.

Goal B: 4:30
But should the heat get to me, there's always a Plan B, right? A 10:17 average mile would get me to a 4:30 finish time, which is still a super-stellar 28-minute PR. Seriously? Also totally acceptable in my head.

Goal C: Just Get Me a PR
And, well, because we always know that race day can throw whatever it wants your way, I'd just be happy with knowing I did better than the first time around. While I know that I'm smarter, stronger, better than two years ago, you really don't ever know what race day will throw at you, and sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches and play the cards you're dealt. If worse comes to worse, a PR is good enough for me!

It's scary putting these out there. It's scary knowing that it's already here, when I thought 5 months would drag on. This has been such a great focus for me, especially as I've ridden the ups and downs of job searching, which has been a marathon all its own. And it's all coming to an end... or at least in 2 days, 26.2 miles. Eep!

Meanwhile, I'll be working the expo on Friday evening and Saturday morning for Sparkly Soul
, so come say hi and get your sparkly goodness! Otherwise, see you on the course, or at an aid tent or the finish line!

You can also track me here - I'm bib #E9137. You can track online, and if we're Facebook friends, my feed will update for me. You can also follow me on Twitter, where my splits and updates will be. Send me some love - while I won't be reading 'em, I know they'll be coming! 

Are you running LA? Spectating? Watching from the comfort of your couch, thanks to it being televised in LA?

Marathon Music

I legitimately don't run  with music anymore. As in, I couldn't tell you the last time I ran with headphones, nor the last time I even downloaded a song because I thought,  "Oh! That'll be great on my playlist!"

In fact, even when I made a playlist for the first full marathon I ran, I didn't even listen to music, but instead talked to my friend Michael the whole way. Whoops? Truth be told, I very much weened myself off of running with my phone in two phases: first, when I got my Garmin because then I didn't need to track on RunKeeper or anything and secondly, during marathon training for Surf City because I ran inside so often and wanted to be able to focus. I am very much the type that gets lost in the song I'm listening to. Which isn't always bad...

So my plan for LA isn't that I'm running with music. I'm running with people. However, I'd like a pump-me-up, kick-it-to-the-finish kind of playlist to get me through the last 6-8 miles, right when I need that kick in the pants and a good beat to let me drown out the tired, heat, and pain and be able to push strong to the finish.

Here's where you come in. As I said... I have old songs. Last song I downloaded?

Check out that 'added' date. Sad, huh? I mean, truth be told, if I DO listen to music around the house or whatever, it's usually off Pandora or Grooveshark, so it's not like I've had to download songs in recent history. But still, sad, because I know there's some great stuff out there!

So alright... lay it on me - what HAS to go on my playlist for this Sunday's magical 26.2 miles... or rather, last 10Kish?

What's your current go-to song for a good push?

On Marathon Confidence + Giveaway Winner!

My head has gone in both directions on how ready I feel, how ready I am, and how not ready I am for these 26.2 miles in two and a half weeks. I cannot believe it is almost here and just in awe at how fast the last four months went - seriously though!

My first leg at Ragnar was rough - a tough elevation climb, but it left me doubting what kind of shape I was in, because surely, I'd run hills before?! That's nothing new, so why did they beat me up so badly? It left me feeling a little down, as I'd hoped to knock out three stellar legs and maintain at least marathon pace on all three legs. The first leg averaged a 10:01 pace, leg 2 at 10:35 (only because all those dang stoplights!), and leg 3 finally kicked tail at a 9:49 pace.

The last mile of leg 3, I was feeling it. I had rocked pretty good that leg, and going into the last 1.25 miles, had five kills (all men) to help kickstart my final push into the exchange. When the going got tough, the first thing in my head  was, "Okay... this is mile 22 of the marathon. You got this now, it's time to push, get past the hurt and uncomfortable... and make this happen!" Bam. Done and done.  More on Ragnar Del Sol soon.

Tonight, I was scheduled for 40 minutes at an aerobic threshold pace. It was the last thing I wanted to do after an exhausting day with third graders, and really, I put it off as long as possible.

10 minutes of an easy warm up, 35 minutes at an AT pace, and then (too short of) a cool down, but that's okay. Those 4 miles during my 35 minutes are probably, in combination, my fastest 4  miles ever, all at an 8:13-8:29 pace, and even with the cool down and warm up, these 5.5 are probably my fastest ever (too bad the last Ragnar leg didn't turn out the same!).

Killer. And then it's runs like these that make me feel like I can do it all over again! Bring it on, LA Marathon!

Congrats to Jillian for winning the Spartan giveaway! Jillian, I'll be emailing you information and your registration code for the newest race on your calendar this year!

Didn't win? Have no fear - you can still get 10% off with the code SPARTANBLOGGER. This is good for any race in the US, any distance!

When did you hit the point where you feel like you COULD tackle that distance, whatever it may be?

Marathon Training: One Month To Go!

So I'm running the LA Marathon in four weeks - holy crap, four weeks. I realize that I, for once, haven't recapped training once (though have been good about it on Daily Mile), and really... haven't talked about it all that much here on Run Megan Run. I guess life has other plans while I'm not blogging and staring at my computer.

But amazingly enough, the last four months have flown by, hundreds of miles down, and I'm gearing up and getting ready to hunker down, finish the last two strong weeks, and psych myself up for taper time. The last time I did this, taper really meant get-bronchitis-and-be-forced-to-sit-on-the-couch-anyway, so I am actually wondering if I'm really going to feel the taper madness.

After a super tough 12.3 miles on Saturday (re: where I didn't even make it to 13), I realize that I've got some major commitments to make in life for the next four weeks to ensure I am at my absolute best going into race day. I'm laying them out on the line to ensure you folks hold me accountable and that I follow through with my actions.

1. Stretch & Foam Roll 
This is vital - I'm guilty of not streching, even when I feel tired and sluggish, and know that I need to keep myself limber and able. I am making a commitment to stretch every morning, whether there is a run scheduled or not, and that especially after long days, I'll be getting down on the floor with the roller to make sure I'm working any tight spots out.

2. Hip Exercises
I know my hips have been wonky for awhile - my theory is that it's mostly due to fluctuating between which leg I put more pressure on to either make up for a bum left knee, or overcompensating for that fact. The chiropractor I met with after the Russ 5K started to adjust me, started to get me in place, but told me there's a lot of work to do. I'm going to start with some basic hip strengthening moves, just to keep things in place and as strong as they'll be!

3. No Alcohol 
The culprit for most of the reason that Saturday's run sucked. I don't drink a lot, nor all that often, but here on out, there's none of it. I had some fun indulging this weekend, but that's enough to get me through another four weeks.

4. Don't Miss a Run
Quite honestly, there are not many runs I've missed altogether in this cycle. Some have been modified, but overall, the runs have all been happening. But this is ultimate time, time to make sure I've got it together, that I'm stronger and tougher than I think. Skipping on a run will only be in cases where my body really just says, "Yo, chill for a day."

5. Chiropractor
Again, the awesome chiro we met with offered one free treatment for visiting her again. I'm already planning on going again in two weeks, and then plan to shortly after the marathon, too. She was amazing in talking through where my aches are, what history I have with surgeries, and how my right side overcompensates for the left and therefore a lot of the physical issues inside! I would like to make this a regular occurrence, but that'll have to wait for a regular income.

6. Water Intake
It's amazing how much better I was about drinking water while I was sitting at a desk, rather than running around all over the place like I do now. Even with substitute teaching like I have been, I need to ensure that I'm taking in my daily recommendation (90 oz) and staying hydrated appropriately through the week.

7. Portions, Diet, Whatever
I'm calling it a diet, but really, I'm sucking at it. What I really intend to do is watch my portions a little better, cut out some of the crap (I'm a sucker for dessert). Originally my goal was to lose about 10 pounds prior to race day, but really, I'd be happy with 5 because frankly, I'm just not getting there. I know I need to eat better for the way I run, but I also like to eat the way I do because I run. One long, vicious cycle. Le sigh.

There you have it. Seven major goals, projects, tasks, whatever you want to call it to ensure that I'm my best on March 15. I feel stronger, healthier, better and more capable than I did for marathon #1, and I'm excited that we're just a month out! And terrified. But mostly excited, amped, and ready to go.

What are your major focuses heading into the last weeks of marathon training? Any additional tips for me?

16 Miler + A 5K Sandwich

Because, really... this is what it's all about.

Today I had 16 miles on the schedule for LA Marathon training. The last time I remember running 16 miles (aside from during the Surf City full TWO years ago), was during training for the Surf City full! That time, I went and ran a half marathon that was near me, and then went home and ran 3 more miles to top it all out.

Today was different. I skipped out on the IERC run club group long run (eeeep!) in exchange for another one of the local Chino 5Ks, the Run for Russ. We ran this last year and it's such a heartfelt local cause, it'll be hard not to run it every year. This year marks 15 years since Officer Miller was killed. Last year there were about 800 finishers and today just over 900, so this race is certainly picking up steam in the community.

So, my day. 16 miles on tap, only 3 of which were going to be with other people. A solo half marathon? Not going lie, was a little nervous for that idea, but also excited to test out how much willpower I really have and to see how far this marathon training cycle has gotten me.

The Goal:
- At least 5 miles before the 5K
- 2 miles to the 5K from home
- 5K
- Rest of the miles to get to home... eventually

6:25: I rolled out of bed at and was out the door at 6:30 to get moving. I ended up doing a full 5-mile loop from home straight back to the front door. Perfection. I had exactly 5 minutes to change my shirt and shoes and head out the door again.

7:28: Out the door for the run to the start. 2 miles, race started at 8, so I was on tap to get there before 7:50 and have a few minutes to chill out.

Halfway there: Realize it's not 2 miles to the start, but 2.5... got some hustlin' to do. Last mile to the 5K start line, 8:40 pace. Whoops.

8 am: 5K start. Start too fast for legs that already have 7.5 miles on them today. Back off, Doug pushes on ahead.

8:28: Finish 5K in 28:14. Wait for dad to see if he'll make his goal time (35 minutes, or at least a PR).

8:36: See Dad, jog down to him and sprint with him back up to the finish line (.25 miles in total).

Dad's got a new PR! 37:02 and 13/55 in his AG!

Hang around, eat pancakes to re-fuel with Mom, Dad, Doug, and Adrienne and listen to age group awards. I finished 6th of 53 in my age group. Not bad. Go visit the chiropractor at the race, get adjusted, get advised to come see a chiro more often (my hips are all kinds of wonky), and get loose again.

10:15: Take off for the last 5.25 miles to get to 16 miles on the day.

11:10: Done and done. 16 miles ticks exactly as I reach the front door. BAM.

I wanted to quit at mile 14. I was ready to be done, but the thought of having only two more miles to go in the span of 16 was nothing, so I pushed on and had an awesome last mile. I did it!

BAM. Done and done! 

It's been a long time since I've run that much (aside from in increments, like at Ragnar), and I felt/feel pretty damn good, considering. I'm really proud of myself for sticking through those solo miles and being able to knock out 16 miles in 2:32 at a 9:30 pace, which is perfectly on target for marathon pacing and I couldn't feel better about it!

Bring it on, LA.

Have you ever done a race to account for a long training run?