Illinois Marathon Training Week 15

I just counted and the Illinois Marathon is less than 9 weeks away.  9 weeks!

• Sunday: Rest
• Monday: 9 6 treadmill miles
• Tuesday: 75 min yoga
• Wednesday: 45 min cycle class with hills, 3 mi run with 1 mile at 8:13
• Thursday: 6 mi w/ 3x1600 repeats @ 8:34
• Friday: Rest
• Saturday: Rest
• Sunday: 17.5 mi
• Total: 32.5 miles 

Snow covered running path

My highest mileage week yet. It was hard to get back in the swing of things this week after a week of vacation, but I still managed to get in all but a half mile of my weekly mileage goal.  On Monday, I could definitely feel that I had taken a week off. Running was tough and at only 2 miles in I remember thinking there was no way I was going to make it to 9 miles.  My glutes were sore from all the skiing I had done the previous week which wasn't noticeable until I tried to run. I cut my losses and quit at 6 miles.  Surprisingly, Thursday run went great.  I was able to do all the mile repeats without feeling like I was dying.

Saturday was intended to be my long run day, but after laying around for half the day, I just couldn't convince myself to go run.  Part of me was scared of the 18 miles, the other part was just lazy.  Sunday morning was much better.  I got up, had some breakfast, and put my running clothes right on.  The run wasn't so bad.  I only took one gel for food because that was my last one.  Nowhere near enough fuel for 17.5 miles. And it was apple cinnamon flavor which was disgusting. I did a lot of walking in the last 3 miles, but I finished out 17.5 miles.

Also what is with people not shoveling their sidewalks and Palatine not cleaning all of their trail? Running on the packed, uneven snow was more work.  I'll be changing my path this weekend to somewhere that is shoveled.
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