Cheris

My legs felt a little tired today, probably from our 22 miles on Saturday. So we just took it easy today, about 8:56 minute pace.

Met the speed group today, and did some relay repeats around the SJ cemetary and up and down the hill nearby. Michelle Nelson and I were on a team--very fun! I pushed myself pretty hard, but not totally all out (it just feels too close to the marathon!). It felt really good!

Very slow miles! I was a little stiff from the speed work yesterday. AND, bad news--I went in to report to my podiatrist how my feet felt with the tape he put on them. However, he is dead. I went to sign in at my appointment, and his obituary was taped to the desk. For a minute I thought it was a really bad joke. But his partner, Dr. Davis saw me, and they fitted me for my orthotics. However, I won't be able to use them until after the marathon ( it takes 10 days for them to come in, and several weeks to adjust to them). Dr. Davis said he could tape me up before the marathon, and I'm wondering if that would be a good thing, or just a good way to get more blisters...

Met with the running group and did 4 5K's! I wasn't feeling well, I think I had some sort of stomach bug. I hadn't eaten much Wednesday, and the 5K's were hard! I tried to run the middle two at 8 minute miles, but didn't. The closest one was 8:20 average. However, after resting all day Thursday, I was finally able to start eating again, and felt much better.

First of all, Michelle Margetts started out as a totally sane, normal person and through the course of this summer has turned into a running maniac. We wanted to do 5 easy miles this morning, so she picked the 5 miles that has THE most hills (and steep ones, too!) to run. I wouldn't exactly call that an easy run. However, we didn't push it, and it felt like we were going really slow, but our overall average pace was 9:10. I worry, too, that we haven't done enough hills (since I have been avoiding them since Hobble Creek and my calves have been tight), but I think after today we are covered.

We did the half-marathon loop that Cheryl came up with a couple of weeks ago--up to Glenmoor (4 miles of gradual incline) then back to 40th West past the new temple (definite hill), on to 118th South and back up 2700 W. to the high school. Michelle and Jody and I did the first 8 miles at a more moderate pace, then tried for marathon pace the last 5 miles of the course. Then we did a one-mile cool down. It was really fun, but totally hard! Michelle was reassuring me that last year her last runs before the marathon were hard, too. I'm hoping it will get better, I just think my body is tired, and it felt hard!