Ahh peak week. You were mean to me this time around!
I am not sure what happened this week but I hit a wall both physically and mentally. Maybe it’s because this is my 6th week in a row of big mileage and 18+ mile long runs? Maybe because it has rained 21 out of 27 days in March (or something like that)? Or maybe it’s just a combination of the above and just being tired and ready to taper. Al I kept telling myself this week was taper is near.
Even though I had a rough time, I still made it through the last big week! All my workouts were not run according to plan and that is just fine with me. I still had some great runs, had a lot of fun with my friends, and finished my longest training run ever (which was also my SIXTH 20+ mile run this cycle)!
Monday
rest
Tuesday
7 easy
Had a blast at team lemon run club as always! We had a great turnout and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger every week. I can’t imagine what will happen when we actually have some nice weather.
7.0 miles/1:03:00/9:00 avg pace
Wednesday
10 miles with intervals just running miles
Let my legs run however they wanted to run.
10.0 miles/1:24:47/8:28 avg pace
Thursday
8.5 easy
4+ miles on my own then 4+ miles with the SFM training group. I had such a great run with them, getting to chat a ton and enjoy the beautiful weather post-rain. We saw the most amazing double rainbow and I just left that run feeling happy.
8.5 miles/1:21:20/9:34 avg pace
Friday
11 with tempo GP scattered into “just run” miles
I decided late in the week not to even force myself into trying to wake up and just use the sleep and run after work in the daylight. I had planned on double digit miles with some tempo miles in the middle, so Chris and I coordinated meeting up to run those miles together. I did a couple mile warm up before I met him and already my legs were feeling terrible. It had been raining all day, but it stopped in time for the run but the wind was terrible. I was tired and cranky and I really contemplated getting in his truck to have him take me back to my car.
That didn’t happen though, I pushed through the run and even though my legs refused to run at tempo pace, I still got a few miles in around goal marathon pace so I was happy. I ended the run feeling much stronger than I started and finished off 11 miles! I was so glad I kept on going, but it was a tough battle for a while.
11.0 miles/1:33:19/8:29 avg pace
Cold dreary bridge at the start, drier clearer bridge at the end! 
Saturday
7 easy
I got up bright and early to head to the city with Kristin and Stephen for the 18 week SFM training kick off! It poured again the whole way and we were seriously questioning our sanity. We had our pacer meeting, got organized and finally were able to set off for our run over the Golden Gate Bridge! The rain stopped as we were running and we were able to have a great run up and over the bridge and back.
This never gets old.
7.0 miles/1:05:19/9:20 avg pace
Sunday
23 long
I had a lot of friends running the Oakland Half or Full Marathon this morning and had plans on doing my long run around Oakland to cheer them on. After chatting with one of my friends this week who was signed up for the full, I found out she was hurt and wasn’t going to be using her bib. After a lot of back and forth and thinking on my part, I decided to use it and just not finish the race for her.
I have never really posted my thoughts on banditing or using other people’s bibs on this blog, and actually I don’t think I have ever really thought about it since I was never faced with the choice before. For me it came down to two things: 1. I wanted to have a bib to be “official” showing that someone paid to be out on the course to use the aid, etc. and 2. the fact that I wouldn’t be recording an official finish time for someone else. Since both those things were ok, I decided to go for it! I would get to practice race day experience, in the race atmosphere and have a lot of fun while I was at it.
I got up very early and drove over to meet two of my friends I was planning to run with Melissa and Rachel. Both are training for Boston also so we just wanted to cruise the course, have fun and use it as a long training run before taper.
Me and Ron 
We walked over to the start where we ran into all kinds of people! Danica, Tara, Ron, and a couple friends from twitter I have been wanting to meet! It was so fun to be a part of the race atmosphere. Even though I wasn’t going the whole way, I was still nervous!
We positioned ourselves behind the 4 hour pacer and just used them to make sure we weren’t going too fast. We found our pace pretty quick on and stuck there for the most part except for the gigantic hills. There was A LOT of climbing in the first 10 miles and it was so pretty up in the hills. The spectators that were out were great and we had so much fun thanking everyone and just being happy racers!
After we finished the climbing we went down a brutal downhill and then it was pretty much flat after that. Oakland really came out and showed their spirit during this race and it was so fun to experience it.
Running through the ring over fire (there really was fire!) 
I had so much fun running with these girls and just talking the whole time. My legs were tired from the first step but they got better as we went. Around mile 22.5 I called it a day and left them to finish up the full course. I ran to my car, grabbed a jacket and ran over to the finish line to cheer everyone on, where I finished off 23 miles for the day – my longest training run ever!
23.0 miles/3:33:19/9:16 avg pace
I met up with Kristin and Kerry and we watched all the full marathoners come in. It was definitely a fun day and I was so glad I was a part of a fun race and get some race day atmosphere into my training.
Totals miles for week 13: 66.5!
Not my biggest week ever, but my highest this training cycle. I am definitely ready for taper and ready to give these legs a break. Even though I didn’t get all the planned workouts in, I got the miles in and I know that counts for something. I am hoping they find some of their spring again soon!
I can’t believe I am actually tapering for the Boston Marathon now.
3 weeks to go!
Sounds like it was a good week! That is hilarious about the Ring of Fire! Were they playing Johnny Cash or Social Distortion around that part of the race? haha
I KNOW how you feel about being tired and tapering – I’m exhausted and SO ready to rest a bit before the big day. I think you did pretty good this past week considering the mileage so know that you have it in the bag!
I hear you about the weather! Almost there!
Congrats on fighting through to end your biggest week on high notes.
I think it’s more mental than physical and getting in all those tough workouts takes persistence that will serve you well in Boston. Great job!
Congrats on a great week! Now enjoy the easing back until the big day!
Your week’s runs sound awesome!
I was actually going to run Oakland…until I read about the hills…we don’t have those where I live, so I opted for a different race.
I’m in the taper period before my 1st marathon and I did a pretty low mileage training plan to be safe, but you are my inspiration to run a little more for the next marathon I do! …if I survive this one haha.
i’m sure you’re just ready for taper, you’ve been training so hard. at least now you can just enjoy the next 3 weeks and rest up!!
the marathon sounds like a fun way to get your long run in and a good way to kick off taper!
I feel you on the weather- you’ve had rain, we’ve had a COLD March. Yesterday we were running into a very strong, very cold wind for our long run (windchill of -20? not supposed to happen on March 27th!).
Hooray for the taper! Enjoy it, rest up, and start getting excited!
OMG you sound just like me last week! I was so DONE with running that week! Sounds like you managed to squeeze out some GREAT miles though-good work! Time to do some relaxing with your legs up on the couch!!
you are tapering for the boston marathon! bomb, lady! enjoy!!
This recap made me so tired and hungry for you! Ha.
Yay for tapering!!! I can’t believe Boston is in 3 weeks. I feel like you just started training for it.
Great work, bring on taper!!
It sounds like you listened to your body and did what you needed to do this week. You’ve done so many long runs this cycle! That’s amazing. You are ready for Boston!
23 miles for training.. simply awesome for you!! Good luck with the next three weeks – and the marathon!! I live in just north of Boston so I might come out for the marathon to watch!! I think it’ll be even more inspiration for my running…(I’m on Week 4 of 9 on the 5K training this week!)
Enjoy the taper….sounds like your body is begging for it!!!
6 straight weeks of 18+ milers? you’re going to eat boston for breakfast.
I thought I saw something about racing on fb, but you hadn’t mentioned it before so I wasn’t sure. I agree about banditing. I HATE people who bandit, BUT if you are taking someone else’s bib who has PAID to be in the race — it’s all good. And I agree about not finishing under thier name. I would have done the same as you.
As Meg would say: TAPER DANCE!
I really like your rationale on banditing, and think you made the right choice. Also, that ring of fire looks really fun to run through!
Fantastic!! 6 weeks without a break is HUGE! Congrats on making it through. Sounds like a fun day yesterday to wrap things up. Enjoy the taper!!
The topic of banditting is an interesting one. While I always thought it was dishonest to do, it makes total sense if someone can’t run the race & you do it in their place. I agree that if you DO bandit a race, you shouldn’t use aid, take medals, do any of the post-race stuff (unless you are running for someone who has paid for those services). However, I never thought about the “finishing” the race part. Last year I missed a race I had paid for because I moved to CA! I asked a friend if she wanted to run it for me and she jumped all over the offer. I didn’t mind since I had already paid and it was going to waste without her taking my place, but then little part of me got upset when she crossed the finish line under my name… about a full hour slower than what I would have done. I didn’t mind much because I’m just glad she was able to use it, but I kind of don’t like that there’s a time attached to my name for a race I didn’t do. It’s an interesting topic, and I think you did the right thing but not officially finishing.
Enjoy your taper!!!!!
Funny, I was at mile 24 cheering people on – I just missed you!
Congratulations!!
Congrats on the training week! Enjoy the taper!!!
Tappppppeeeeeerrrrrrr baby!! Woot woot!!
Enjoy my friend!!!
Sounds like a fun way to do a really long run!
I’ve been following your blog for awhile now, but I finally got one of my own so now I can comment!
It’s so amazing to watch (read) your journey in training for Boston. I’m learning a lot on how to train and to listen to my body, which I still fail at doing so.
Good job on your running this week. Tapering sometimes is the best part. (:
Congrats on the strong peak week and all those 20+ mile runs. Enjoy the next few weeks of taper!
Yay for the taper! I love when you post pics of the GGB! You are right – it NEVER gets old
You have done an admirable job making it through the Monster Month and through Peak Week. The bandit race sounds like a fun, no-pressure way to enjoy your longer runs before TAPER.
A friend of mine in DC used the race last weekend as a training run, too (she registered, but only did 20 miles)! I think it’s brilliant – you get the support & crowd distractions, but not the “stress” of the full race!!
I can’t imagine putting up numbers like that for a WEEK – keep rockin’ it girl, you’ve only got 3 weeks to go!