This Week's Long Run

Coach BB wanted: 9 miles
I delivered: 9 miles

My long run on Saturday was 9 miles which was the longest I've done since the half marathon. Looking at my training plan, I feel like I'm on a roller coaster creaking very slowly up the hill. The long run mileage just keeps going up and up and up-10 miles next week, then 11, then 12 until it  hits 15, then one week down to 11 and then back up to 17. Yikes!!! And my runs keep getting longer during the week too, at the end of April I have to do two 9 mile runs during the week! So this week's "long" run won't seem so long once that happens! 

Unfortunately this week I didn't see any wild animals or even other runners during my run. My iPod shuffle konked out at mile 3 so I was without music for most of the time. I don't run with music during the week because I like to be able to hear cars and wild dogs coming so it's a nice treat for me to listen to it on the weekend long runs. It's one of my motivations I use to get myself  pumped and psyched for the longer slogs. But without it I just cruised along and tried to get my wild ragged breathing under control. 

I'm excited to be officially in the throes of marathon training! 16 weeks to go until I toe the line in Rio! Call me crazy but I really like the structure of training with a plan and having the giant goal at the end to motivate me. Matt talked to a Brazilian woman at his work who has run the Rio marathon before (and is doing it this year!) and she was super positive about it which makes me very excited! She said it's a beautiful course and there are tons of spectators (if it's not raining) and that it feels easy after training at our elevation (3000 feet). I needed to hear that and I'm looking forward to talking to her more about it! 

Hills this week on Wednesday with Coach BB. Hopefully she won't make me jump up and down and almost pee myself again...

My best T-rex imitation