4 weeks to go

I can't believe there are only 4 weeks left until the race. I'm not ready. This coming Saturday I will do my longest long run... 20 miles. I know I can do it. I just did 18 last week. But it still seems so unreal. I think I've convinced myself that I'll finish the race. The only question that remains is what kind of time I'll be able to make.

My foot is almost completely healed. It only gives me a little discomfort every now and then during a run but really nothing worth mentioning. I'll consider myself very lucky since I basically ignored my doctor's advice and managed to get away with it. With my injury out of the way the only thing to worry about for race day is weather. It's only recently started getting cold. It hasn't been bad at all, really. Yesterday I had to run in a bit of rain but it was pretty warm outside so it wasn't a big deal. The average temperature on race day is 45 degrees at the start of the race. I remember thinking that sounded so cold last year. Now that I've run through a winter here 45 degrees seems just fine.

I've got plenty of things to keep my mind occupied during these next 4 weeks. This is good because otherwise I might start obsessing about the race.

high and short, low and long

This past week I was running at 7000+ feet. Gratefully all of my runs were short ones (6-ish miles and under). The altitude kicked my butt. Then I came back home and ran 18 miles at near-sea level. For some reason that didn't seem any easier. In fact, it kicked my butt moreso. I think I prefer the short runs at high altitude, quite honestly.

I have 5 weeks left until the race. I have one more long run... 20 miles. I know I can do it but it would be nice if it didn't make me feel like I was going to die. A month ago I wasn't sure I would make it this far. I wish I could say I was more confident about finishing the race. There's a bit of a gap from 20 miles to 26.2. Of course, I'll still be out there on November 23rd lining up with all of the other crazy people.

Where's a hot tub when you need it?

I ran 16 miles yesterday. The last two were hard, very hard, but I finished. And my foot isn't feeling any worse than it usually does, so that's good. I'm stiff and sore today. Hell, I was stiff and sore yesterday right after I finished the run. A soak in a hot tub would be bliss but unfortunately I don't have access to one. I suppose a regular tub would do but it will have to wait. Life is too hectic at the moment to allow for a long hot soak.

I'm grateful to have a rest day today. I always get a rest day after my long runs but it means more now that the mileage is getting up there. I have 6 more "long" runs before the race. The mileage goes 8-18-8-20-10-6. When I think about how hard it was to add two miles on to the long run yesterday I get very nervous about having to add 6 additional miles on to my longest run in order to finish the race! If going from 14 to 16 was hard how am I supposed to go from 20 to 26?! I know they say adrenaline carries you part of the way but what I want to know is who is going to carry me home when I collapse?