Yesterday kicked off the annual MRT Mileage Challenge (MRT = Marathon Race Training forum on RW).  The challenge lasts 10 days, from Dec. 24th to Jan 2nd. The top guys end up with around 200mi, so most of us aren’t in it to win it, but to have some fun and offset holiday gluttony.

Last year, I entered as a non-caring participant, taking 3 days off midstream thanks to a combo of foot ouchie (the precurser to ultimately operating on my shoes), a couple planned rest days and a blizzard, so my results were totally uninspiring, but I didn’t care, it was just fun to be in the game.

This year, I’m workin’ it! Not with an eye to win though, I’m not that suicidal.  But I have ramped up the mileage ahead of schedule, only because I’m 100% and also, I made a deal with myself that if anything starts to hurt, I’m out.  Thus, I’ve left my ego at the door pacewise: however slow I need to go to remain fresh through Jan. 2nd, is what I’ll do.  I’m also being religious with the foam roller and stretching, plus I have a sports massage this Wednesday.

So-oh…this weekend was kind of massive and magnificent in an “Oh yeah, that’s who I am, that’s how I run” way.  On Saturday, I ran 17mi, which I haven’t done since August.  It wasn’t planned, I left the house thinking 10-12mi, but as the miles ticked off, it became inevitable, I had no reason not to.

After the run – both last night and this morning – I was thrilled by how great I felt (surely due to the conservative pace, 8:55 avg).  So today, I was ready to roll again, getting up early enough to manage a double, though I only got 5 hours between runs since getting murdered after dark requires too much recovery time.

The first one was a slow and steady 14mi, but the one I just finished, an 8-miler, was a complete surprise.  You’d think it’d be my most tired one, but blow me down, it averaged 8:18/mi…my best easy run since the injury.

The only negative things from the weekend were:
1. Forgetting I chafe at the top edge of my sports bra (must. remember. Bodyglide)
2. Chafing in places I don’t usually chafe (that was just plain nasty)
3. Improper hydration. I haven’t had to think about that in months but both yesterday and this morning I was thirsty with 4 miles left to go, which sucked.  I actually stared at this one guy swigging from a water bottle, imagining myself asking for a drink.  The only thing holding me back was knowing my face was encrusted in spit and snot.

The “Turn This Baby Up To 11!” Week In Review
I purposely held back on mileage Thurs and Fri to allow for acting stupid for the Challenge and as you can see, I did (with no ill effects, though).  This coming week will definitely be portioned out more sensibly.
Mon: 6
Tues: 8
Wed: 11
Thurs: 8
Friday: 7
Sat: 17
Sun: AM:14, PM:8
Total: 79 mi

And with that…baby, I’m back.

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