I think I lost the battle of being sick.

While I do feel better today than I did yesterday, I realize that the last thing that I should be doing is running outside today. It's raining (and is supposed to rain for most of the day,) and with a 14 mile run, I'll be outside for over two hours. Probably not what's best for me.

Missing the 14 mile training run does concern me - I have less than two months until my marathon, and the longest run I've done is 12 miles and that was two weeks ago. Factor in the fact that I skipped out on my 12 mile run last Sunday because of the Saint Patrick's Day Dash, I think that it's quite obvious why I'm concerned.

BUT . . .

Looking at my training schedule for the next two weeks, I think I might be fine. For the week of the 23rd through the 29th, I'm scheduled for about 30 miles of runs - a 14 miler today, and three short (two fives and a 10k on Saturday which won't be happening.) The week after, the 30th through the 5th, I'm only scheduled for 20 miles of runs - three days - two of 5 miles and one of 10. What I'm thinking is that I can keep doing what I'm doing and make up my missed 14 miler on the 30th when I am only scheduled to do a 5 miler, and then following Sunday, the 6th, that 16 miler won't seem too much further.

That's the plan at least.

So for today - I'm just going to rest.

Total milage for the week: 23.09
Longest run: 9.02 (3/20)
Races ran: 3/16 - Saint Patrick's Day Dash - approximately 3.58 miles

Mileage this week is off because of Sunday's race - I was scheduled to do 12 miles that day, so the idea would be to run the 3.5 mile race course, and when I got home, I would just do my 8.5 "missing" miles. WEll, that didn't go according to plan - I was so exhausted after this race, I didn't have it in me to go and run an additional 8.5 miles

Weight on Friday the 21st - 185.5 pounds - one pound less than last week. And for the record, I'm not actively trying to lose weight.

Today was the St. Patrick's Day Dash up in Seattle. This is one of two races that I've ran twice in a row - the other being the Furry 5k, also up in Seattle.

Last year when I ran it, I finished the approximately 3.32 mile long course in 30:34, which equates to a pace of around 9:12 per mile.

My goal this year was to beat last year's time.

I ran the course this morning in 30:32 - which is a mere 2 seconds faster than last year.

But . . .

This year's course was a quarter mile longer. So not only did I run further, but I also ran faster than last year. Averaged about an 8:32 pace - the first mile, the crowded mile, my time was a 9:27 pace, and then the next two miles were at 8:14 and 8:15 minute paces (the last half mile was 8:45 - I was starting to slow down.)

The race today was quite a bit different - the whole logistics of shuttling to the starting line is one big cluster. I was smart enough to pick up my race packet yesterday, which was good, since I missed my wave's starting time by about 20 minutes because of how long the line was for the bus. When I ran this last year, it was pouring down rain, so there were quite a bit fewer people running. Today the announcer said that there a little over 15,500 people running/walking.

Didn't experience any issues - my feet felt good (except I had my right shoe tied a little too tight.) I did survive running with a backpack though - since I was so late (I gave myself plenty of time, but didn't factor in the sheer numbers of people,) I wasn't able to check my bag, so I just ran with it. Wasn't sure how that was going to work - never ran with a backpack before, but it wasn't too bad. Won't be doing that again though.

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I'm now officially pooped - I don't think I'm going to do my "missing" 8.5 miles that I'm scheduled to do. Pushed myself quite a bit today.

Total mileage for the week: 29.41 miles
Longest run: 12 miles (3/9)

Only managed four days of running, but still ended up with my best week's total so far. That's what happens when your long runs of the week are 12 and 9 miles.

"Retired" two pairs of shoes recently - both of them were my free test shoes from Brooks - all the runs from the 10th on were using a new pair of "old" shoes (the old version, but still brand new.) My feet were slipping around in them quite a bit, so I had to re-lace them tighter and the slipping was solved. Of course, on Friday, after running in the rain, I noticed that my right foot (the ball area) is cracked really bad. Never had any feet issues like that before. So now I have some fancy medicated cream to put on my feet.

Weight on Friday: 186.5 pounds - a half of a pound less than two weeks ago.

Tomorrow's 12 mile long run will be a bit different - first thing in the morning, I will be heading up to Seattle to run in the 2008 Saint Patrick's Day Dash (approximately 3.5 miles from Seattle Center down to Safeco/Qwest fields,) and then later in the day I'll need to pick up those missing 8.5 miles or so. This race will be my first race all year, and the first race in almost seven months.

Today's run was my third longest run - ever. The only runs longer have been an 11.01 mile training run back in April of 2007, and then the only half marathon that I ran back in May of 2007.

Did 10.15 miles - and somehow managed to maintain a 9:50 pace - which included two walking/water breaks and one walking/water/fuel break.

After about 8 miles, I was starting to feel run down, but kept plugging away at it, and eventually made it back home. I had to find some distance on today's route since I severely underestimated just how far ten miles was.

I also learned about another area that can chafe while running - my collar bones on both sides were pretty chafed when I got home. I never noticed any irritation on the run, just when I finished. Guess that in addition to a new pair of shoes here soon, I'm going to need to pick up another stick of Body Glide.

Speaking of shoes - I do believe that it's time retire a pair of my Brooks - the second version of the test GTS 8's that I was given in June of 2007 to run in. After last week's runs, those shoes now have over 360 miles on them. The first pair of test GTS 8's have just a bit over 300 miles, so those won't be lasting much longer. I do have one pair of brand new GTS 6's that I'll be using here pretty soon, but I know that I'll need to buy a new pair here this month.

Oh - also registered for my first race of 2008 - the 2008 St. Patrick's Day Dash up in Seattle. I ran this race last year, and I've been itching to do a race here one weekend, so this was as good as any. Besides, the last couple of races I've thought of entering, I never got around to it. My only concern is that on the day of the race, I'm scheduled to a 12 mile training run. Might have to this run in two parts - 3.5 in the morning, and the remaining 8.5 when I get home.