Contemplating my training…

 Each workout I complete is one step closer to the marathon.  Each run is adding up to train my body to run, and run long.  At the end of 10 miles yesterday, my legs were tired (and I was hot!), but I wasn’t completely drained.  I had the energy left to finish at a good pace.  Maybe I had to focus on running more than at the beginning of the run, but I didn’t have to put all my effort into moving my legs. 

Looking back to how I felt after long runs when training for the half marathon last year, I can tell I’m training better and finishing my runs with more reserves.  I’m also enjoying the longer runs more.  Whether that is a result of better training or a mental adaptation to long runs, who knows…

The runs in September and October are the runs I am most concerned about.  My mileage in August peaks at 13 miles.  This is a distance I know I am capable of running.  I know my legs have run that far and survived.  It is when my runs get beyond that mileage that I must really trust that my training schedule will work.  Those last 2 months are when the mileage really begins to build up, and I can only hope my body will be ready to handle all those miles.  At least at that point the weather will have cooled down…