Monday, February 27, 2012

Boston 2012: February Training Update

The Boston Marathon is only 48 days away. WHAT?! That's so soon! Training was going fantastic, until last week. I got too caught up with lesson planning and my own homework to be able to make it outside for runs. And just when I go on vacation, the snow storm came. It snowed Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. Being the baby I was, I was not willing to go out there in that mess.


Prior to my mini running break, I was doing fantastic! The week before I got up to 39 miles and even got in an amazing 18 miler. However, it was that 18 miler that left me very confused.

What is going on with my legs?
For the first time ever, I finished that 18 miles and my legs felt as though I had only run 9. I was able to walk without any problems that afternoon, that night, and even the next day. There was no soreness whatsoever in my legs. In fact, I even went for a 4 mile run the following day. On Thursday I ran an 8 miler and felt incredibly strong. My legs wanted to keep going. I could understand how people get started on ultra marathons. For some strange reason, my body is no longer phased by the distance I'm doing. And I can't figure out why!!

Is it because I'm almost 25 and my body is better able to cope? That my legs are able to deal with the stress after training for four other marathons?


Is it because I discovered that the best pre-run meal is actually toast with peanut butter and a banana, a glass of milk, a peanut butter cup and two mini butterfingers? And that the best post-run meal is chocolate milk and a Mad Taco burrito? (Gosh, that is so much sugar right there...)


Is it the addition of coffee into my daily routine, which jumps me into gear and eliminates my sense of pain? 

Is it the fact that I'm standing up for a large part of the day while I'm at school, preparing my legs for the hours I'll be on them during my long runs and marathon?

Or maybe it's because I'm the happiest I've been in years? 

I don't know. But I'm hoping that my legs can continue to feel this well for the next 48 days and that when I step onto Boston's route on April 16th I feel as strong as I felt last weekend. 

Questions for the readers: 
1. What things make you run faster? 

2. Have you noticed a change in your running as you've gotten older? 

5 comments:

  1. 1. A dangling carrot

    2. What running?!

    But seriously, I have been running on and off ever since college. Mostly off!!! But I started again in January and I'm up to 2.5 mile runs. (SLOW 2.5 miles.) And in that way my running hasn't changed much since high school, I've always been and always will be a mosey runner! But I'm okay with that, as long as I get it done. It DOES feel a lot easier compared to that very first few practices we had in XC where my insides felt like they were being squeezed by an iron fist. Now all I feel is an awareness of my breathing and my muscles working!

    P.S. We should meet up when you run the marathon!!! Do you know where you'll be staying? I live off the red line!!

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  3. Congrats on the fantastic marathon training!

    Mine is going....errrr....so super great.

    I'm having trouble fitting in workouts and my left IT band is tight. Grrrrr.

    I think my body is rebelling in its 30's. Ha! Dammit.

    Enjoy your break!

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