It’s race week! It’s race week! It’s been 17 long weeks but here I am, just a few days out from running the 41st Marine Corps Marathon. I’d like to thank all of you for following along with my training and for cheering me on virtually throughout. It means a lot knowing I have friends rooting for me even if y’all aren’t there in person. Thanks. 🙂
This week I have three runs — only one of substance, the other two will be shakeout runs more or less — and then the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday. Looking back on last week, I had a decent week of training even with the crazy temperature swings and the crying baby at the track. No, I’m totally not joking about that. Check it out:
Marine Corps Marathon Training: Week 17
Tuesday — 6 miles
I had my chiropractor appointment in the morning so I ran afterward. Unfortunately by the time I was running it was in the mid 70s and nice and humid. I had every intention of running this as a steady state run but there was no way that was going to happen. I ended up making it my easy day instead. I also couldn’t find satellites with my watch so I had to use MapMyRun instead. I absolutely should have run with hydration but I was so preoccupied by my watch being stupid that I didn’t even think about it until I was 2 miles from home. By that time I was determined just to finish the run. I had to really dial in and listen to my body to make sure I didn’t become dehydrated because the threat was very real. Fortunately I made it home without getting sick or passing out. If I had to do it again I absolutely would have gone back for water. It was a rookie mistake.
Wednesday — 5.55 miles
When I go to the track, it’s not to run in circles at a leisurely pace. It’s not to power walk with my friends. I’m there to do work and I’m there to do hard work. Now, I understand I am likely the minority when I pull up to use the high school track during school hours. I realize most other people there (if any) will be there to use the track for the reasons previously stated. But if there’s one thing that gets on my nerves more than anything is when people refuse to use proper track etiquette.
What happened on Wednesday was atrocious. A lady arrived with her mom and her baby. The mom (presumably the grandma?) was in charge of walking the baby around the track in a stroller while the lady run/walked for her workout. Not really a big deal (the stroller on the track is kind of a no-no but it was just the three of us, I’m a mom so I get it). Not until the baby started crying. Instead of the lady calling her workout early and tending to her child, her mom tried to soothe the baby for quite a while. At one point she even moved to the middle of the track in lane two!!! With a stroller. And a crying baby. WHO DOES THAT?!
To say I was off my game would be a gigantic understatement. Normally on the track I don’t wear earbuds. I like to listen to the sound of my own breathing and work really hard. I don’t like any distractions. I stopped after one of my intervals so I could grab my phone and put my earbuds in. I may or may not have uttered “are you f%cking kidding me” out loud at one point. I can’t really say if those words came out or not. I was definitely thinking them, though.
Thankfully they left while I was cooling down and I finally had the track to myself for a few laps. #namaste
Thursday — 5.01 miles
Thursday was better than Tuesday and Wednesday combined. Although I nailed my paces on Wednesday despite the ridiculousness, I wasn’t satisfied. Thursday helped wash that away. Goal was to run steady state. My first and third steady state miles were great — the second one was “okay.” But since the bookend miles were faster than goal pace, I was happy with that. Plus it was a beautiful day so I definitely won.
Sunday — 9 miles
Last long run of the training cycle like whoa. No more long runs! I originally scheduled this run on Saturday but when I woke up and the “feels like” was 36˚F and the winds were howling, I decided to wait until Sunday. It was still brisk on Sunday morning but nowhere near as bad as Saturday.
Plus the sun came out within the first 30 minutes or so of my run and warmed me up quite a bit. I had a pleasant run listening to a Rich Roll podcast and getting into my groove. I couldn’t have asked for a better last long run. It felt great, I was in the zone, it was peaceful. My last long run left me in a good headspace for Marine Corps.
And that, my friends, is my last training recap. I’m sorry you’ll miss hearing about week 18 but I’ll be back next week with a race recap of the 41st Marine Corps Marathon. Send me good vibes, if you will! My zen-feeling of last week has been replaced with anxiety. I knew it would come, just wasn’t sure when. Turns out six days before the dance is the sweet spot for that.
Catch you on the flip side!
OORAH!!!
xo
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Ever have a wonky experience at the track?
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Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs for Tuesdays on the Run, and HoHo Runs and MissSippi Piddlin’ for the Weekly Wrap. Also linking up with Nicole, Annmarie, Jen, and Michelle for Wild Workout Wednesday, and myself, Susie, Debbie, and Lora Marie for the Running Coaches’ Corner linkup.
