Seeing as life was moving pretty fast and I was trying to stop and look around so I didn't miss it, I have been lacking on my blog posts. If you don't get the attempt at a movie reference, please stop reading and do yourself a favor and watch "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Never fear though, you will get updates on the 14 runs I have done since Sept. 19th -- and in rapid succession all in this one post! Sunday, September 20th: A quick six miles to recover from my 16 the day before had me rejuvenated and excited to finish the last three weeks of training! I completed the run in 58:55 at 8 a.m. I averaged a 9:48 pace and ran a relatively flat route in Bristol! Monday, September 21st: Today was a strength run -- 4x1.5 miles w/ 800 recovery and one mile warm up and cool down. As it is a Monday, I ended up on the treadmill for 1:27:00. I'm pretty sure there was only one other person in the gym who was in there the entire time with me. I was happy the treadmill didn't shut off on me. I ran all 4 intervals at a 7:47 pace and felt really great about this workout. Tuesday, September 22nd: OFF DAY!!!! It was also cheat day as I explored Avon, Ct, found a place called Luke's Donuts and got myself a really good bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a bagel and a vanilla sprinkled donut! Wednesday, September 23rd: Today was the second of three 10 mile tempo runs. Again, these runs have been happening on the treadmill -- the most boring place for a run -- but necessary to keep tempo. I did 10 miles at 8:00 min/mile pace. After six miles, I had to sprint to the restroom -- probably providing great entertainment for the other gym patrons, but the worst feeling as a runner. I felt pretty strong about this run, however it was done a little later in the day than I am used to (11 a.m. instead of around 8 a.m.). Either way, good run, glad 2/3 of the 10 mile tempos are done! Thursday, September 24th: A nice easy six miles after work today was exactly what I needed after yesterday. It took 1:00:19, a little slower than I would have like, but still rewarding. The one thing that is getting more difficult as I am running after work is that we are inching closer to day light savings ending and thus sunset is happening earlier and earlier. I have to pay attention, even more than I already did, to my surroundings and making sure I am visible to drivers and other hazards on the road. Friday, September 25th: Today started the last weekend of 10 and 10 -- 10 miles on Friday and 10 miles on Saturday. I ran to Farmington and back today on my 10 miler. It took 1:37:30 total, an average pace of 9:45. As I was running back towards home I came across a back up on the road and nothing is as exciting as beating traffic while running! I also was able to enjoy a really good sunset. As I look back on my log, I see I had a total of 12:14 for rest time (accounting for traffic lights stops, an emergency bathroom stop and also time to enjoy the sunset -- see picture below). It really did get pretty dark as I ran and I was happy I was wearing reflective gear. Saturday, September 26th: Another 10 miles down -- this time I ran towards Burlington...didn't quite make it, but got close! I ran it a tad faster than the previous day -- 1:37:06 with a 9:42 average pace. I also had a lot less rest time today -- 4:09 (#SoState) as I didn't have to make a pit stop today. It was a really great run as it was a beautiful fall morning and I got to enjoy all the beauty central Connecticut has to offer. Sunday, September 27th: You know you are a marathon runner when you look forward to an eight mile run as a break from longer runs. I only had to do eight this morning and I did it in a quick 1:16:19 with an average pace of 9:33 min/mile. I only needed 1:31 minutes of rest as I encountered one stop light (2x on the run). It was another beautiful morning and I spent a lot of the time reflecting on how far I have come on this crazy journey. Monday, September 28th: Today was my last strength run!!!!!! If you have been following since July, you might have noticed that both the speed and strength workouts build up to a point and then reverse back to were they started. Today's run was 6x1 mile repeats w/ 400 recovery -- with the one mile warm up and cool down, a total of 9.5 miles. This is the same workout I did on the first week of speed training. Today, without a doubt I felt better than the first time. I ran all of the intervals at a 7:47 pace, opposed to the 7:53 pace I did on the first day (Aug. 24th if you were wondering). I looked back at my log and that day I wrote that I felt like Jell-o, today I most definitely didn't feel like Jell-o. I felt like a confident runner who has a decent shot at a BQ on October 10th. Tuesday, September 29th: OFF DAY!!!!! Today was an even bigger cheat day than the previous week. My mom and I attended The Eastern State's Exposition -- aka 'The Big E!' We had been planning this day for close to a month and I was excited to eat my way through the different states, ride carnival rides and have a blast! See picture for some highlights of the day!!! Here is a list of what we ate, in no particular oder -- baked potato, mac & cheese in a cone (yes, it was as good as it sounds), moo-nut (a glazed donut with soft serve ice cream), Vermont cookies, fudge, milk, a lobster roll and lots of root beer from Maine. The one thing that I had going for me was that we did walk 7.43 miles while pacing our way through eating all of that delicious food. Wednesday, September 30th: Today was the last tempo run!!!!! It was also a 10 mile tempo run. I didn't actually know how well it would go as I spent the previous day eating all types of foods -- none of which were probably that great for my last tempo run. However, the run went great. I did the 12 miles -- warm up and cool down count too, in 1:40:09 on a 1% incline on the treadmill. I did the last .2 miles of the tempo at a 7:53 pace and used the mantra -- "do it for Boston" to get me through this tough workout. Also, because I am not coordinated enough to trust myself to drink water and run at a 8:00 min/mile pace on the treadmill, I stopped after each mile during the tempo to have water. I will not have water at every mile on race day, but I still don't think it deterred from the success of the run! Thursday, October 1st: WE HAVE REACHED RACE MONTH!!!!! October is here, race month is here, we are 10 days out!!!! If you can't tell I'm excited you should know, I'm excited! Today was an easy seven miles -- all of the runs from here on out will be "easy runs." I might run them closer to the 9:02 easy pace, some might be run closer to the 9:42 easy pace, but this portion of the cycle is keep fitness, eat right, rest and prep for the race! My seven miles took 1:05 minutes -- a 9:21 average pace/mile. I had to fight a headwind coming home and also ran into darkness as I went grocery shopping after work. A solid run regardless of the light and left me feeling good going into the weekend. Friday, October 2nd: Today started an eight and eight weekend -- similar to the 10 and 10, expect only with eight miles instead of 10. I ran today's run in 1:17:06 -- a 9:39 average pace/mile. It was rainy and cold as Hurricane Joaquin was supposedly on its way. I had to break out my leggings that do a better job at wicking water away. I again hit headwind on the way home, but still felt confident about the run and was very excited to get home and into warm clothes. Saturday, October 3rd: The second eight miler of the weekend. This one I ran towards Burlington and ran in 1:17:14 as the route was a tad hillier. The weather wasn't any better as it was still raining and cold and my knees were hurting a little. However, I was happy I got to nap before work and snuggle back into my warm bed after my traditional yogurt parfait, pancake and chocolate milk breakfast on Saturdays. Sunday, October 4th: Today was a perfect fall day for running. I can't say it was a perfect run because I couldn't shake the migraine I got the night before at the end of work. It took me 59:06 to complete my six mile run -- a 9:51 average pace/mile. As I ran out and back, my route home was more downhill and was able to shave two minutes off the split time between the three miles out and three miles back. Besides the migraine, I was ecstatic to have a beautiful fall New England morning to enjoy the open road. Also with the pain of my head, I took a total of 4:09 min of rest time -- accounting also for traffic lights and intersections. At the three mile turn around I had to give myself a pep talk to get home, but I completed it. I'm not going to have anything stop me, especially since we have OFFICIALLY REACHED RACE WEEK!!!! Monday, October 5th: Now for the good stuff, today's run! Today was the first Monday in nine weeks that was inside staring at a treadmill. I also only had to do five miles, the least amount of milage I have done in this cycle. It was another beautiful fall morning and it took me 47:53 minutes to complete the five miles -- 9:36 average pace/mile. I was feeling a little slow this morning, but it was probably due to the weird sensation of not being on a treadmill! Only 5 days until race day!! Here is to tomorrow's off day, an updated blog and a fantastic race!
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Megan FloodMegan is 29 and a 14-time marathoner. She is hoping to Boston Qualify one day. She doesn't know exactly how this blogging will go, but she is giving it her best shot! Archives
June 2019
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