Yesterday we finished the last 20-mile run before marathon day in three weeks. I wanted to average under 8 minutes a mile. At 10 miles we were at 7:53. Unfortunately, a storm was rolling in. When we turned around, we were hit in the face with 20 plus mph winds. The rain felt good on the 65 degree afternoon, but soon we were soaked, running the last eight miles with soggy shoes. We gave up trying to keep it under 8 minutes a mile and ended up running an 8:10 average.
We felt incredibly exhausted and sore at the end of the run and wondered how in the world are we going to run 7:27 miles for 26 miles on race day? Right now it doesn't seem possible, but hopefully, after a few weeks of tapering, we will have fresh legs.
After the run we tried drinking chocolate milk. We keep getting reports that chocolate milk is the perfect recovery drink--it has just the right combination of proteins and vitamins to speed healing. When you're dehydrated and your throat is dry, chocolate milk isn't the easiest thing to get down.
Today I'm feeling tired but okay. No severe aches or pains. Monday we'll run some kind of speedwork, take it easy the rest of the week, and race at the Webark 5K in Glendale, West Virginia on Saturday. In two weeks we'll do an easy 13 miler and then fairly easy runs until the race.
Before you know it we'll be standing at the starting line. The day of destiny and time of testing will be upon us! Have a great running week . .. . . . . Joe C. Ellis
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