Monday, September 27, 2010

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Marathon training - big miles - hill repeats - tempo runs - yoga - stretching - planks - push-ups.... 
"ain't life grand?"  

(Before I go further or is it farther?  i dunno, but let me just go ahead and apologize to my Mother and the teachers who read this blog.  Obviously, if you have read this blog before,  or if you have heard me speak, you have noticed the English language is not my forte.)

So today I begin week 2 of my 12 week marathon program.(1st time to do such a short program)  I was greeted this morning with 60 degree temps.  We had a day and a half cool front, at the beginning of Sept., and then NOTHING.  In fact, last week, we had heat indexes at 100 degrees.  The early tease of cool air intensified the fall fever in most of the runners in the Southeast.  So today, I was "giddy" with fall excitement all day.   I started the day with the most excellent run.
6:15 am start, 60 degree temp, cold shoulders, sunrise pic with cheap-ass camera phone.  It's kind-of cool though!  The run was nothing spectacular.  In fact, the plan was 9:40 pace and I ended with 9:38 pace, but "the feeling" was amazing.  I ran on hills, I felt good the entire run, I felt strong.  The almost weekly, hill repeats with my friends were evident today.  They are making me strong.   My run today made me proud of  my summer training.  The run today gives me hope for the fall.  Hope that my speed will one day return.  Soon...it will return.  As I patiently await the return of my speed, today, I feel my strength on the hills.  I feel the summer high mileage helping me.  I ran 16 on Sat.  I ran 12 on Monday, and I feel strong. 

Last week 55 miles with a 16 miler on hills
This week 59 miles with an 18 miler
Next week 62 miles, with a marathon in Madison, MS, as a training run....a SLOW training run.
(well on my way to my new training goal of 3 - 70 mile weeks) 

The next 8 weeks (before the taper) will be GRAND.  I love the training, I love the cool weather, I love the racing, I love going after new training goals.  I am not the best racer, but I am a strong trainer.  When I am in "the thick of things" in my marathon training, it is, for me....
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

Other great things today.... lunch with my honey, while I worked today - the hubby cleaned the house.  Sweet!  Life is Good!

12 comments:

Jill said...

I just smiled the whole time reading your post. Life IS good!! I am so impressed with your massive mileage...I wonder how I will handle those miles when I train for the big 5 0 (the most I've gotten up to is 65 and I thought the skin was going to crawl out of my skin). I love to use marathons to train for "the" marathon, too. Keep going in the life is good lane :).

Unknown said...

OH, Ginny, I totally agree!! I'm in my "thick of things" right now and doing my two hardest weeks this week and next and I couldn't be happier! I don't want to taper yet, I just want to keep going.
I completely agree and am so happy that there are other crazy runners like me, it's just SO fun!!

Jennifer said...

Life is great and so is running. This time of the year is so exciting, all the marathon training and everything that goes with it. It's going to be a great fall!

Robbie said...

Loving the running right now, too!! BUT, BUT, BUT I could never reach your level! You are awesome to say the least. 70 miles in a week...WOW!! That's amazing and a goal I'd never attain for a week (much less for 3). Looking forward to fall weather, too.

misszippy said...

So glad it is going well for you! And I agree, I love fall training for marathons. It is the best!

Lindsay said...

These new temps have been amazing! So nice to be out of the 90's.

Julie said...

It sounds like life is grand for you! There is nothing better than getting giddy after a good run:) Cheers to the 2nd week of marathon training! Yay, good news...the south is cooling down! 60 degrees in the morning...it doesn't get any better than that:)

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

3 70 mile weeks!! I thought I was killing myself with high mileage and I'm training for another 50k!

I know that last week (I think I was 69 miles) was over training for me. But you sound like it's going to be great for you! I love your happiness in this post.

LMC said...

I agree with Jill about smiling while reading this post. Your positive energy is contagious! I'm taking some with me and for that, I thank you! Good luck with the 3 70 mile weeks. Just remember, you've got this!!

HappyTrails said...

Sounds like great training times for you Ginny. Glad the fall weather is agreeing with you and keep up the happy runs!!!

Julie Ard James said...

So impressed with your running and am almost equally impressed with the husband cleaning the house part!:) Please share your secrets!! The picture is cool by the way!

Iron Mike said...

Nice inspirational post.
70 mile weeks? Very impressive.
Great training routine, and enjoy that slow training run/marathon. That's a great idea.