Training in Montana

4 miles this morning. 50 degrees, hands cold on the out but warmed up on the back. It's definitely getting to that gloves-maybe time of year. After the marathon I don't know if I'll keep running in the morning or switch to lunchtime like I did before summer. We'll see. The run felt okay, but I'm concerned about a couple spots on my body and I'm hoping that they're nothing. Saturday at football I tweaked my groin stepping up onto the stands a little too high. I've got a history of a groin problem - likely the right adductor muscle. I normally do weights a few times a week that fixes that groin problem, but since I haven't been to the Y all summer I haven't been doing weights. I did some today after my run and hopefully I'll fix the groin. Next issue is behind my right knee I've had some twinges of very minor muscle pain. I iced it last week but it wasn't too bad. Feeling it more today, but oddly didn't feel it after Saturday's long run. I'll ice it tonight and hope it's nothing. Then as I was heading home this morning I had pain in my right big toe, like I'd stubbed it. I've never felt pain in that toe, so I'm hoping it's just taper madness setting in. I've heard that all these aches and pains creep up in the last couple weeks and hoping that all the above is just that.

AP: 8:35

5 decent miles. 42 degrees at start so wore gloves and arm warmers (socks) and life was good. From doing 3 sets of squats yesterday my thighs are sore! It's a good sore and will fix the groin issue. I'll do some more of those tomorrow. Felt good on the run. Ended up going faster than I maybe should have, but I'm just running what feels good, not trying to push it, and being wary of injury. My sleep is whacked and the marathon is a ways out. I'm guessing it will be that way until it's over.

AP: 8:40

4 miles, 40 degrees at start.  Bought a pack of cheap white cotton gloves at Harbor Freight - perfect for cool temps. I got them to have a throwaway pair at the St. George Marathon but right now the temps are looking like 60-65 for the low, so I'll need an ice pack, not gloves. The run went okay, but I am tired. Tomorrow's my day off anyway but I'll take a couple or three off. I don't know if it's the sudden aches & pains or if I'm not getting enough sleep (likely culprit) but my motivation for running is pretty low right now. I don't know where it went - it was here on Saturday - but right now I just want the marathon to be over. I've gone from being nervous to being annoyed.

The aches and pains are a weird thing for me. I've heard that it happens during the taper, but thought it wouldn't hit me. My right calf gave me minor aches months ago but during the last 10+ weeks I haven't heard so much as a complaint from really anywhere on my body. In the last week behind my knee is hurting (possible lower hamstring), in yesterday & today's runs my right calf complained a bit, and my right big toe has complained a time or two. I feel like I'm suddenly falling apart right before the big event. I think I'm going to ice, ibuprofen, and imbibe in some sleep (had to keep the alliteration going) and not get up early for a few days and see how I feel. Even for Saturday's long run I might just go for a long walk. We'll see.

Is this normal? Note I am not asking am "I" normal - just is this normal before a marathon for which I've been on an 18 week training plan?

PM - took the Boy Scouts on a 5 mile "hike" around a park on the Yellowstone River. It has a gravel path but is not a typical park - it's very wild and a no leash area for dogs. We did 2 loops then walked back to the truck in the dark (with flashlights) and got our requirement done for 2nd Class. Yay. Now on to figuring out the 1st Class thing they didn't finish at Scout Camp - doing a 1 mile orienteering course. Hmmm.

After a good day of rest and a nice Kam-Allie pep talk, I was ready to hit the road today. Still feeling a few weird aches and pains, but I now know to ignore them. I will do a bit more icing than normal this week and I'm ready to roll at SGM. Good news on the weather front - looks like a bit of a cold front is expected next Saturday, but little chance of rain. 44 at the starting line, and St. George high of 88, so will hopefully only be in the 60s when I finish - hoping to be done about 10:20 or so. Temps are trending towards normal instead of staying high like they are right now.

Ran without the Garmin today - will try and do that all this week. No need to know my times - just need to log some miles.

8 miles this morning. A bit warm at 61 but still very decent. We're having a heat spell. I left the Garmin at home so I just ran. It felt really good not to worry about speed or anything else - just listening to the iPod. No aches or pains. Yay.

I'm debating whether or not to run with an MP3 player. I always do during my runs, but I never have during my races. Do you run with one or without? In what ways does it help you/hinder you?

1 week baby! Things are looking good.