My Personal Pittsburgh Marathon 2009 Training Blog by cs15217

The Goal: According to my training plan, I was supposed to do an 8-mile speedwork, incl. 4x1600 @ 6:51 w/800 jogs.

The Result: Ran 2.0 miles in 14:46 at 7:23 mins/ mile.

The Splits: 7:52, 7:03.

I was supposed to do 8 miles of speedwork at the CMU track. When I got there I just didn't feel like running. It was hot and sunny and I have two 20 milers behind me in these past 3 weeks, so I don't feel the need to kill myself tonight.  Additionally, I've read different schools of thought on how to handle your final 3 weeks before the marathon.  I've read that the second 20-miler is your "graduation."  I've also read that these final 3 weeks are the time to scale back on mileage and speed in order to start healing all those little tears and bumps and bruises along the way.  I know I'm not a fast marathoner, and I'm more concerned today with getting to the starting line refreshed, because I've felt beaten down ever since the beginning of Week 11 or 12, basically.  I miss the feeling of being able to step out my front door and just go flying down the street.  It's a strange feeling at this part of marathon training - you know you're fit, you know you just broke off a 20-miler, yet you're so beaten down that you're slow.  So I want some of that spring back in my step.

Also, if you look at my Philly training, I tanked the same exact speed workout in Week 14 last time around too...