In limbo

Things are whirling in my brain, which is why I'm sleeping like crap.

I'm in that limbo of feeling ready to take on a marathon Right This Minute, to Wait A Minute, Am I Really Ready?


Pez was still a bit sore on Monday, so to be on the safe side, I bagged my recovery run, and rode my bike instead.   I went into PT, and Michelle asked me where I ran for my 18 miler.  After I told her I did the whole thing on the treadmill without stopping, she looked at me, and said if I could do that right now, I'm ready for the  full 26.2.  I kind of agree with her.  I was ready to be finished at 18, my feet hurt, but I could have done 8 more, I just wouldn't have been very happy about it.

But then she suggested that I forget about doing any more really long runs, to focus on cross training as much as possible, and do shorter runs.  Her concern is that, now that Pez is healing, I don't want to aggravate it any further, and possibly bruise it.

It makes sense to me, but it scares me.  I don't belong to a gym, and the pool is closed for winter.  I was planning on running 20 miles this weekend, then start to taper off.  But now I might stick to maybe 13, then taper the long runs.

And here's why:

• Last September I ran a marathon, then stayed active through the winter with exercise DVD's, and the treadmill.  
• I ran outside starting in February, on very hilly roads, which ended in May, with a 10 mile race, where I PR'd by 8 minutes.  
• Then I sprained my foot while walking Frank, and took a few weeks off while I healed, then eased into my new custom orthotics.    
• Then I started biking, swimming, and running, training for my first sprint triathlon, in August.
• I took a week off, then started an 18 week marathon training plan. 
• I hit all my runs, cross trained, but about a month ago, Pez started acting up, and I missed a 16 miler, and a 17 miler, while I rested for a week. 
• I've been modifying my training plan, had some great runs, and a confidence boosting 18 mile run.
• I know there are training plans out there that max out at 18, although the longest run on mine is 21 miles.

That said, I realize I have a solid base.  

At this particular moment, Pez feels fine. 

So I think I'm going to take each day as it comes, although this is the first time I'm not following my training plan to a T, especially at this point in the game. 

Which is where the nerves kick in.

But I'll keep on stretching, doing exercises, and using all of these:

33 Days.......