I was surprised at the temperature difference in just a two day period between Thursday morning and today. On Thursday, I was so dehydrated and hot (and running without a shirt) and yet today I had a long sleeve and a short sleeve to start with, and never shedded the top shirt. September weather in the Northeast is really strange sometimes, but expected. At least I’m getting the experience of the heat and the cool because you never know whats ahead as the season moves ahead.

So I got up at 5:30am today to head out for my 22 miler around 6am, which got tripped up slightly due to my Ipod shuffle not working, which I’ve now declared as having officially bit the dust .. it seems to have been struggling to keep working over the past several weeks. Now it just turns on, and won’t turn off .. or it won’t turn on at all. Then it won’t connect to my computer or anything anymore either, so its time for a new one I guess… It seems that every August-September, I lose one of my mp3 devices … Anyway, with my Sirius Stilleto dead (also an mp3 player), now my Ipod shuffle dead, I ended up having to head out with no music at all, an actual first for me. I can’t say I didn’t like it a little bit, but i’d prefer my tunes .. it helps me run better.

I managed to keep my 9 minute mile pace for the most part, completing the 22 miles in just under 3 hours and 15 minutes. I felt pretty good at the end, tired, but not totally wiped out. I didn’t do the same course i’ve been doing since I felt the need to mix it up a little. I think I was getting too comfortable with just one long course, which is never a good thing, so this course had some uphills and some downhills, so I think it prepared me well for the race in two weeks. My right foot is a little sore under the ankle, it doesn’t feel like anything serious, so we’ll just rest it up a bit. I’m finding that the more I keep to a reasonable running pace, the better I do.. that along with the water and fuel seem to be making the difference.

I’ve decided that I may not do another 20 miler next weekend .. I guess its going to depend. I really have doubts about running 20 miles just 7 days before the next marathon, so I think we’ll scale it down to a 14 miler and just start to taper at that point. I expect to get another tough week of training in though, with more hills and speedwork just to keep me on my toes. I’m not sure yet if its helping at all, but it all comes down to the Baltimore Marathon in two weeks time to see if its helped. Depending on how the week goes will decide next weekends plan.

Well I gotta go rest my foot a bit, and take my daughter to soccer. Great, I get to run around more this afternoon with her, thats about the last thing my legs need, but its fun…