9 more sleeps

9 days until Fox Valley and I'm over the moon excited.


Im more than halfway through a short n sweet 2 week taper and can't wait for a 12 mile "long run" with some goal paced miles mañana in some awesome temps.

Taper thoughts

Ok, so the only real difference in mileage from this week to last week's peak mileage is the reduction in miles for my long run.

Near the end of my 20 miler last week I was out by soldier field and heard Sweet Caroline playing at a festival. I started choking up almost immediately- because it brought back memories of my grandma (who passed away 11 years ago) and her love of Neil Diamond Fun fact: Neil Diamond was the first concert I ever attended. At the ripe old age of 7? and also because that song became the anthem of Boston post bombing. Or perhaps it was always played at Red Sox games but I never noticed during the games I went to...


The one thing I've noticed this year vs last years taper is that I'm super emotional.

Received my Fox Valley race plan from coach last Friday- I cried.

Last 2 miles of the 20- I cried.

Ran 2x3 miles at 7:18 pace on Wednesday, I cried.



Got my final weeks worth of workout from Coach and I cried.

Shit. As I write this my eyes are starting to well up.

And these are completely tears of joy.

I keep reflecting how far Ive come this year and am amazed at what my body and heart have been able to accomplish with the most amazing plan put together by Coach Britt.


Foto courtesy of Kim. Last years Fox Valley, and one of the best days of my life.

For so long (in regards to running) I've been operating at way under my potential. I slacked with training, I got injuries a lot. This year I feel I'm finally where I should be with running. I also felt that way last year but severely underperformed in Fox Valley due to my ankle injury.

I have only the happiest of thoughts going into tomorrow's long run and my workouts next week.

Tchau

- xaar

FVM BQ or BUST Week 12

Week 12!?! Where the heck has time gone!?!

Monday Easy 5 with the pup


I always love running with him. :)

Tuesday REST!!

Wednesday 9 miles with 7 tempo miles at 7:35-7:30 pace + strength

Cowabunga!

Thursday Easy 6 + strength

Friday 7 miles with 5x 20 second pickups

Received week 13 + the outline of my racing plan for Fox Valley from Coach B. I got chills.

Saturday 20 miles, 2:59


Ran the first 1.5 miles with L and then 6-7 middle miles with KIM! It was nice to run a few miles with some of my favorite people around for this final long run before Fox Valley. Overall I felt good with No complaints other than the heat and humidity (70 degrees when I started at 6:20am).

Sunday REST


2 weeks from now Is my goal race- the race I've pretty much been working towards for 2 years now. And I'm excited, nervous and anxious for 9-22 to come so I can run my heart out and put all the training Coach B has laid out for me to good use. and to prepare for the mental side of this race, I will be be pulling back from the distractions of social media. Well, I've already been doing that... 9-22 can't come soon enough and I'm so freaking ready to hit my goals.





Tchau.



- xaar

FVM BQ or BUST weeks 10 and 11

Monday Easy 7
Ran with Marla for Fleet Feet Pint Night

Tuesday REST

Wednesday Easy 5

Ran with CB in the morning.



Thursday 3x 2 miles @ 7:18 pace

Crazy to think my current 5k PR pace is 10 seconds faster than 7:18/mile.

Friday easy 8

Saturday 16 on the Los Gatos Creek Trail 2:24.



splits ranged from 8:00-11:00 a mile. Yay hills and dehydration. But I was very happy to run the last 2 miles with L.


And it wasn't ideal.


Sunday 2 hours of Stand Up Paddle Boarding!

Week 11!


Monday Unintentional Rest Day

Returned from California.

Tuesday 2 early am miles to pick up the CB dog.


Wednesday 10x 800's at 3:22-3-19

Cowabunga!

Thursday easy 6

Friday Easy 8

Saturday 18 miles with 10 @ GMP 2:26.


It was rainy the first 6 miles which was fun but not really since there were 12 more miles to run in wet socks n shoes. It was also on the hot and muggy side and all I can hope for is a beautiful cool dry day for Fox Valley.


These past 2 weeks had some highs and lows and I really cannot believe that I've got less than 3 weeks left at this point. I know I've made some crazy progress so far and need to remember that.

I'm starting to freak about the weather, if BM registration will be closed before I even run Fox Valley, and a host of other things. All of which are out of my control. So this week of training I'll just calm the eff down and focus on my final week of high mileage before I start a 2 week taper. Yes. I like my tapers short n sweet.

20 DAYS TO GO!



- xaar