• Miles: 0
• Cross Training Sessions: 2
• Strength Sessions: 2

Monday – Friday — 0

This week was a mess. My hip was bugging me on and off all week, so I played it super safe and didn’t do anything more strenuous than foam rolling and stretching for five days. I spent a significant amount of time rubbing my butt on a tennis ball. I didn’t feel it was serious enough to warrant a visit to the doctor, but I didn’t feel comfortable pushing it.

This week marked the return of the polar vortex, with the lowest temperatures in 30 years. I was cooped up indoors most of the week, it was unpleasant.

I also gave up caffeine this week with the goal of abstaining until race day. Wow!!! I really underestimated how addicted I am. I mean seriously, not just tired and achy, but straight up depressed. So unmotivated and just sort of irritated with life. Now it may be that some of that can be attributed to a lack of physical activity, cabin fever, taper madness, and nerves. But I sure do miss coffee. I think the lack of caffeine caused me to crave sugar, which led to a lot of indulging. Of course the crappy diet didn’t help things.

I definitely had some down periods through this training cycle, but overall I had at least 15 really strong weeks of training. I averaged 50 miles a week. Even my worst week ( the week of Christmas) still included almost 30 miles of running. I am lucky I made it as far as I did considering how hard I really pushed it for the first 12 weeks. This week was by far the roughest, emotionally/mentally, I think it was just a combination of factors. I am so close to the race and I’ve sunk so much into this, I’m just catching myself starting to unravel a little.

Saturday – 0

I did a bunch of rolling early in they day. Later, I hit the gym for a quick (very light, very easy) strength session followed by 40 minutes on the elliptical at an easy pace.

• DB Chest Press / 1-Arm OHP With Palm In
• Lying Rear Delt Raise
• Lying Leg Lift On Bench / Lat Raise
• 2-Arm DB Row

My hip was hurting so bad in the evening, worse than it had the whole week. It usually doesn’t hurt, per se, but more feels kind of tight. I had taken it so easy the entire week, I couldn’t figure it out. I started googling symptoms and freaking myself out. I started thinking about dropping down to the half, or even backing out of the race entirely. I was nearly crying. I was an all around mess. I think it was just the culmination of a really bad week.

Sunday – 0

Well, Saturday was so bad I almost considered dropping out of the race. Sunday I woke up feeling great. No tightness, no tingling, no nothing. I don’t know what the deal is here but I’m so glad it feels better and I hope it stays that way until after my race. I hit the gym again but kept it super easy. I did some strength work and 40 minutes on the elliptical.

• Alternating Cable Lat Pulldown / Bent Over 1-Arm DB Row
• Pec Dec / Overhead Triceps Press
• Hanging Leg Raise / Weighted Side Bend