Getting Back to a Routine

Last Chance, pre-race

I hit the ground running at work this week. I thought I'd ease back into it, but within a half hour of walking in the door things were hopping. I guess I should have expected it - it is a college and the new quarter started Wednesday. It is actually nice to get back to a normal routine - Riley is back in classes, and Eric and I are back at work.

We are also getting back to our normal running schedule, including getting out the door by 5:15 am for a run. We were both a little laid back during the holidays - running later in the morning, sleeping in when we could. I took Monday and Tuesday off after the marathon, went out for a slow five yesterday, and again this morning, then ran 3.5 at the track tonight. I'm feeling pretty good - I am very tempted to run 10 miles on Saturday with Rick, Jenny and Melissa. However, I think the second run today convinced me I should stick to my original plan of five Saturday and five Sunday. I'm not too sore or tired, but my legs reminded me of last weekend's high mileage. I'm going to err on the side of caution and go easy this week, and start the ramp up again next week.

Thank you for all your birthday wishes. I turned 49 - my last year in this age group. One nice thing about being married to an older man (Eric is 50), is that by the time I get there, it doesn't seem like such a big deal. What does seem like a big deal is that Web will be turning 20 this weekend. I cannot believe that I am the mother of a 20 year old. For heaven's sake - I was 20 myself just a couple of days ago! And then next month Riley will turn 18! Kind of hard to believe. Of course, my Mom and Dad think it's hard to believe that their second child just turned 49...so I guess it's all relative.

Now, on to the next two months. No marathons on the schedule, yet I want to maintain my mileage. I am planning to run one loop of Capital Peak on the 20th of this month for 17 miles . Then I think I'll do two loops of the Lake Youngs ultra in early February for 19.2 miles, and one loop of Hagg Lake a few weeks later for 17 miles. Then maybe I'll try to get together a 20 miler in early March. And that will carry me to the next four marathons. I'll do the same kind of between marathon training I did for the last four: 18 to 22 miles midweek, 15 to 21 on the weekends. That will give me a range of 33 to 43 miles a week. I'll try to do alternating long runs - like a 10 miler one week and a 16 or higher the next, then drop again. What do you think? Are those long runs enough for mileage maintenance?

Running to the finish. Two Maniacs.