Flying Pig Training Re-Cap: Week 18

Well, the marathon is over, and I know you're all DYING to know the outcome, but I must first post my final re-cap.  Week 18 of 18 - DONE!

Monday, 4/25 - Zumba
Tuesday, 4/26 - off
Wednesday, 4/27 - 3 miles in 30 minutes (10:04 average)
Thursday, 4/28 - 2 miles in 18 minutes (9:07 average)
Friday, 4/29 - off
Saturday, 4/30 - 2 miles in ~23ish minutes
Sunday, 5/1 - RACE DAY!  Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon - 26.2 miles in (wait for it ...)

I'd like to call this week the "proof that I can run fast(er) if I really, really try" week.  If I know I only have to run 2 miles, I can talk myself into pushing it to the point of almost puking.  Okay, maybe that's a bit extreme.  I was pretty out of breath after my two 9-minute miles.  I know this still is not that impressive, but for the slowpoke that I am, it was like sprinting!

The two miles on Saturday night were at a much, much slower pace - in fact, I didn't even time it.  It was more of an opportunity to loosen up in preparation for the BIG DAY, which was mere hours away.  Oh, and a good chance to catch up with this girl:

CLAIRE!

Oh yes, we wore matching race shirts for our little jog.  We ran with matching dogs, too:

My neighbors already think I'm nutty.  Oh well.

So with the last week of training under my belt, I was ready to face The Pig.  Overall, I completed approximately 82% of my plan.  I admit, it could have been better, but ironically, it was nearly exactly the same completion percentage of my Detroit plan (which was Hal Higdon's Novice 1, a total of 435 scheduled miles versus this plan's 460 miles).  That's a whole lotta training.

Eighteen weeks and 376 miles later, I was as ready as I'd ever be for the big day.  I'll be posting a proper marathon re-cap here shortly ... stay tuned!

2011 Flying Pig Training Mileage Stats
Scheduled (This Week): 7
Completed (This Week): 7 (100%)
Scheduled (Overall): 460
Completed (Overall): 376 (82%)

Short Runs Rule

With only 8 days until The Pig, I have been enjoying much shorter runs in comparison to a few weeks ago.  I already feel like I'm regaining some energy and am keeping my fingers crossed that this down time will allow the last of my aches and pains to subside in preparation for the big day.  I plan on doing my last long run of 8 miles tomorrow morning, but today and yesterday, I enjoyed a 3- and 4-miler, respectively.

The best part of short runs?  Having enough time and energy afterwards to take these stinkers for a walk:

Sure, they look sweet and innocent there.  But this is what happens when they have too little exercise and too much unsupervised time:

I love how Jugdish has that "We are in SUCH big trouble!" look on his face, and Susie's like, "Yup - worth it."

Lunchtime Run

Although the Mister and I don't really get too much into Valentine's Day (put it this way: I was going to buy him a card this year, but when I saw it cost $6 - SIX DOLLARS - I just came home and told him what it said instead), I felt a bit guilty for missing the evening due to Monday night Zumba.  So today, I thought I'd try to make it home at a more reasonable hour, and ran my scheduled four miles at lunchtime.

I am typically an evening runner - I try to get into work (which is a half hour away) by 7:00-7:30 a.m., and it is WAY too freaking cold to run at 4:30 in the morning, which is how early I'd have to start to make it happen.  Plus, who wants to get up that darn early anyway?  But today I tried the "lunchtime run," and I gotta tell ya, I was pretty excited.  I'm not too sure my co-workers were excited, given that it was fairly warm out (40 degrees F), and I did not shower afterwards (sorry - at least I used lots of deodorant!!), but it was so nice to get it out of the way today.

In lieu of an evening run, Jeff and I took the pups to the P-A-R-K (oh, I guess I only have to spell it when the pups are listening, huh?).  They were super excited and it made a slightly smelly afternoon all the worthwhile.

My babies:

Susie and Jugdish