Closer than I think

I did my 8-miler today at lunch. It was a little stressful like the Branford run was because I wasn't *exactly* sure where I was going and I: A) didn't want to get lost and B) knew I had to be back at work. it's a pretty simple route, half of it being along the shore, but without many street signs I wasn't always confident I was on the right path. Now that I've done it I won't have any problems with it next week.

I really did like the route, it's pretty flat, there's a wide shoulder on the road, and the shoreline is gorgeous. Today was a little hotter than I thought it would be, I hope next week is cooler. I'm at the point in the training (and I know I'm not alone on this) where every run becomes a battle of wills. I'm not sure if it's my mind or my body (or both) that are resisting but it's taking a lot more effort to get out there. Today I had two nice little boosts though. There was a woman walking in the opposite direction and she yelled out "Have a great run today!!" That was a first. It was appreciated. Then I started seeing chalk messages on the side of the road, apparently for some guy Mark. "U can do it" may not have been written for me but I'll take the motivation from it.

I'm also officially at the point of training where stuff is starting to hurt. I haven't had one twinge of discomfort in my knees this whole time and now the last 2 days I've felt some pulling around my right kneecap. Also, the pain in my right hip joint is back. It's not terrible (yet) but I'm a little worried about it getting worse. This week works out where I can give myself an extra rest day and my long run is only 12 miles so hopefully that will help. I had to juggle my running schedule this week because it's brazilian blowout time again and I won't be able to get my hair sweaty or wash it for 3 days. So I'm doing Sunday's run tomorrow and that way when I go to my appointment on Saturday I'll be able to take Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of next week off and come back and do Wednesday and Thursday as my weekday runs. Consider it training for my hair. Because lord knows it needs it.

Also, I realized something today that I don't know how I didn't notice 12 weeks ago. It's not a 2-week taper, it's a THREE week taper. Which means I am only FOUR weeks away from it! Hot damn! For my long runs I do 12 this week, then 18, then 12, then 20, then 12, then 8, then the race. I was looking at the schedule and I panicked thinking I was off by a week but when I counted backwards from race day I realized I was where I should be. I just didn't take into account that the week leading up to the race is a super-duper taper -- my longest run that week will be 4 miles. Again, hot damn. I can handle that!