Ready to Rock Chicago

Today was my last workout before Sunday's Rock 'n Roll Chicago Half Marathon. I did an easy 2-mile run and then went to my gym for a yoga class, and then rolled around on a foam roller afterward, working my IT band and trying to get knots out of my shoulders and lower back.

Note to self: Yes, running and doing your miles is the important (necessary) part of training for a race. But the other stuff definitely makes a difference. Next time you train for a race, do the other stuff - Pilates, yoga, swimming, weights, etc - at least 1-2 times per week. For a hot second there earlier this summer I looked like I was on the road to possible faint six pack. Then I stopped doing Pilates twice a week. I'm not on that road anymore. Plus my shoulders and back are feeling TIGHT right now. I don't think that will help on Sunday. 

Anyway. Back to the race. This will be my second half marathon. My first went OK, but certianly wasn't spectacular. I have run two longer distances since (15K and 10 mile). The 15K went worse (and was followed shortly thereafter by an introduction to a foam roller) but the 10 mile went really well. Still, this is only my second half marathon. I still have the first in the back of my mind. I still want to redeem myself.


However, I looked back at my training log from my first half marathon. I know I slacked. Like, really slacked. In the 10 weeks leading up to the race, I ran 92 miles (not including the race). I only ran 13.1 miles race week - that would be the actual race. I didn't run a whole lot prior to those 10 weeks before that race.

For this race, I've run 171 miles in the 10 weeks prior, plus I ran 10 or more miles each week for 9 or the 10 prior weeks. So even though I didn't stick to my training plan exactly, I did much better this time around.

So, and I hope I don't jinx myself, but I'm feeling really good going into this race. Plus, to remove any pressure I was feeling, I'm not going to push myself for this race. I'm running with my cousin, and we agreed to do an 11 min pace. If I pushed myself, I think I could pull off a 10 min pace. (Perhaps if I had stuck to my training plan exactly I could do 9:30. Oh well. There will be more races.) But I'd rather run with her. Plus I'm running an 11.5mi race in 4 weeks, and likely another half marathon 3 weeks after that. I'll push myself during one of those races.

Now all I have to do is get a good night's sleep tomorrow night (because I probably won't on Saturday night), go to the expo on Saturday, eat pasta, and then get up at 4am on Sunday.

I already have my post-race massage scheduled for Wednesday. I'm pretty sure I have like 50 knots in my back.