Changes in Plans

Wow - long time no post! I've been in New York since last Wednesday, when my husband and I were called out here due to his grandfather's health being rather precarious at the time. This meant that I had to cancel birthday plans as well as my plans to run the Seattle 1/2 Marathon, which was to also be my birthday celebration.

Luckily, fitness wise, my 1/2 marathon dreams are still in the running - I am scheduled to run the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon next weekend.

Of course, as I usually do the week of my birthday, I am coming down with a head cold, and am laying low, being whiney, and craving a burrito (where's a good burrito near Scarsdale?!)

I was ab it ambitious when I logged onto Blogger today - so I think that's it for the update. I guess a bit of recap - I've been able to do up to 9 mi (including yesterday) so I think I'm in good shape for the 1/2. I'm still debating on following through with the Bikilas, but I've come this far, so why not?

OK, more rest awaits!

The Last Month of Training

I'm already less than a month from the Seattle 1/2 Marathon, and training is getting more challenging in both mileage and otherwise.

The biggest issue is getting the exposure protection handled.Salomon Women's Fast III Jacket is a recent addition to my gear, providing some easy on/off for windy, cool mornings. It does some rain protection, but it's not to be counted on. I've also (shock!) switched to my Brooks Women's Adrenaline GTS 10 from my awesome, totally recommended Five Fingers Bikila. This is mostly due to warmth and friction, as that I've had some nasty little blisters form lately that have made the long runs a little hard to deal with.

Training in conventional shoes again have my knees aching a bit. Then add that I've started going on hills in the dark (mainly because the routes are better lit), I'm hurting a bit. My training schedule up to the race, as provided by the Runner's World SmartCoach app on my iPhone, is as follows:

11/01-11/07
Tues 5 mi @ 11:10 pace
Thurs 4 mi @ 11:10 pace
Sun 5 mi @ 11:10 pace

11/08-11/14
Tues 3 mi @ 11:03 pace
Thurs 6 mi w/ 1 mi warm up, 4 mi @ 9:33 pace, 1 mi cooldown
Fri 2 mi @ 11:03 pace
Sun 6 mi @ 11:03 pace

11/15-11/21
Tues 2 mi @ 11:03 pace
Thurs 7 mi w/ warm up, 3x1600m (1mi) @8:56 w/ 800m (1/2 mi) jogs, cool down
Fri 2 mi @ 11:03 pace
Sun 9 mi @ 11:03 pace

11/22-RACE DAY
Tues 3 mi @ 11:10 pace
Wed 3 mi @ 11:10 pace
Thurs 5 mi w/ w/ 1 mi warm up, 3 mi @ 9:33 pace, 1 mi cooldown
Sun 13.1 mi @ 9:42 pace

Phew! I've got a lot to work on. I'm starting to do some work on the treadmill just when the weather is particularly awful. I'll consider this race the end of the season for me, then it's back to doing cardio/weights/yoga until spring!