Training Week 6

Last Saturday's 10 miler was encouraging. The weather was much cooler than it was on the previous week's 9 mile run and thus Liz and I were able to keep a better pace and stop less often for water. It was great to see familiar faces on the path. Jessie and Erin Tobin, my mom and Dorothea and a number of Loras grads whose names escape me. I keep waiting for my IT band to start acting up but thankfully this hasn't happened yet. Sunday I could definitely feel the previous days run in my legs but there was a certain sense of satisfaction that the slight pain was the result of a solid 10 mile, double digit real run. Something I had not done since the Country Music half Marathon in early May, 2005.

This week is a cut back week, which only has us scheduled for 7 miles on Saturday. I'll be in Dubuque all weekend for Justin's bachelor party, with paintball early Saturday morning so I'm not quite sure when I'll get a run in. It may have to wait until Monday evening.

Chicago Marathon

I am once again in training for the Chicago Marathon. I am following Hal Higdon's Novice Program. Being away from distance training for over a year now, I thought I'd be able to better handle an easier program and my knees should thank me in the end. I've been pretty consistent in my training, making all the long runs and missing all but a couple of mid-week runs.
This week:
Tuesday - 5 miles - 4 loops around Lake Glenview: very muggy with a bit of rain halfway through. My first run around this lake was full of surprises. Tennis courts, fountains, and wildflowers, and a bug that flew right into my mouth.
Wednesday - 3 miles - out and back along the Lakefront Path: normally would take Forest on this run but didn't have time for his sometimes frequent bathroom breaks. Path was pretty empty, maybe due to the 8 hours of rain earlier in the day. I wish the path was a bit more level but the resulting puddle jumping made for a bit of fun.
Saturday - scheduled for a 10 miler with Liz along the lakefront