"sorta long" run (4)- Wednesday

Wednesday: Today is a 4-mile run, up from 3 the first two weeks. Your mileage on this midweek "hard" day will continue to build along with your weekend mileage. Olympic marathoner Julie Isphording refers to this type of workout as a "sorta long" run. This sorta long run is positioned in the middle of the week to be more or less equal distant from last Sunday's 7-mile run and next Sunday's 5-mile run. That gives you a chance to recuperate between and rest before. -Hal Higdon

I am thinking back to the "sorta long" run during my Austin marathon training. I must say that this was my hardest run of the week. Yes, harder than the Saturday morning long runs. It seemed to always catch me off guard. My mind in the middle of the week never seems to be ready for a "sorta long" run. By week 6 this middle of the week run becomes 6 miles, the 7, 8, 9 and 10! The week of the 10 is also the week of the 20 miler. I look forward to the 20 miler way more than the 10!

Last night's run was hard. It felt like I was running inside a locked oven. Hot just doesn't cover it! It's HELL! But when it's over, it's Heaven. I always come back feeling strong. I've proven a lot to myself. One could never doubt my dedication. Training in the Texas heat is all heart because it's just plain HELL!

I now know why my friend Jen told me she reached her all time lowest adult weight while living in Florida training for Chicago! How can you not? The more you sweat, the more you burn!

The thing I am trying to get used to right now is the hunger i constantly feel. When I am on a consistent training plan, I spend most of the day starving. It's hard to eat all the time and do it healthy. Last night i went to bed on a small meal. At 3am I was wide awake STARVING! Needless to say i went downstairs for a bowl of cereal. My body is just trying to keep up!

Tonight is a 3 miler and then since this is recovery week, Saturday is only 5. This is my least favorite weeks of training. I don't like recovery weeks. I like high mileage weeks. I like living on Advil and ice packs and ice baths. It's way more exciting!

Pain is your friend because it pushes you to the finish line and nothing gets better than crossing THE MARATHON finish!