Well, I did my second to last long run yesterday. This is really disgusting, but I almost found it fun. The more of them I do, the easier they get. Maybe because I'm getting faster, maybe because I'm getting the mental technique down? Who knows. I'll take easier.

I ran somewhere between 20 and 24 miles yesterday (I deviated from my 4 mile loop on the last loop, so I don't really know, and I ran out of water so I stopped and walked instead of pushing for the last mile). Faster than the last 20 mile loop including the extra miles. WTF? Whatever. Weather was sunny but chilly, between 35 and 40 degrees. Still hoping to finish under 5 hours, maybe down to 4:30 but I won't hold my breath given the terrain difference on the course vs. my weekly runs. Finishing at all will be great.

On my last loop, I went up a hill close to the beginning of the loop instead of one in the middle. I thought about repeating it, but that's where I ran out of water and headed home instead. I know the marathon couse I'm doing is hilly at the end, so on my next long run I will be trying to repeat hills a bit (that sounds brutal, long runs and hills... but you gotta do what you gotta do I guess). I have also been sprinting at the end of EACH loop for up to 1/4 mile to make a note of how that feels each time.

Mentally, taking the runs in 4 mile loops has helped me a lot. I think "just 6 1/2 loops" to a marathon instead of 26 miles. I set a goal for each 4-mile set, generally I have been doing "under 45 minutes" and considering the minutes I finish faster (which starts out 5, then degrades) as a "bonus" that I can "spend" at the end of the marathon if I am tired. So far I haven't been spending them unless I get rocks in my shoes, or have to stop to toss my gel packets in the trash, or have some other wardrobe malfunction. I mark off the loops as I get to them -- mile 4, I say out loud "that's one!" then mile 8, "that's two!" and so on. I am literally doing loops, but I hope this helps me when I'm doing the marathon in one direction as well. I will ignore my time until I get to 4, then check and calculate my "bonus" time.

Also, I have been practising visualisation. If I feel my face wrinkling or squinting in the sun, or if I am feeling tired or beat up, I loosen up my arms, relax my neck/shoulders, and imagine the "feeling" of success. I will visualise something that made me feel proud of myself (it can be simple, like someone laughing at a joke, or a nice meal with friends), and I will visualise the last time I crossed a finish line feeling strong (for me, very recently, at the half marathon -- even though I was slow, I sprinted to the finish and crossed feeling awesome). I also imagined the other runners this weekend finishing their races, which helped me imagine me finishing mine.

Now, I am a little torqued because my $85 CW-X pants are falling apart at the inner seams where we humans have thigh-rubbing issues. They have a hole in them, and one seam rubbed where it normally rubs against the other, except there was that hole thing, and now I have what can only be called Chafe City on the inside of my thigh. ARRGH. Any suggestions on how to fix them? I don't have a sewing machine, but I really love these pants. I wear them every time I run. Maybe I will wear something over the top of them after I fix them (shorts or something? light waterproof track pants?). HELP.

After my miles (and PB&J among other foodstuffs), it was time to put in our sprinkler system in the backyard so I got to squat over trenches and dig them out (already dug with a ditch-witch, but dirt had fallen back in), wrangle 1" pipe across the yard, screw in sprinklers, and fill trenches for about 4 hours. On the bright side, at least I finished my run faster than we finished putting in the sprinklers? My back is not impressed, but my legs just feel normally stiff, not extra stiff.

One more long run then it's taper time... Next week is a tame 10 miles, then my LAST long run of 20-26 miles (20 miles for "just want to finish" and 26 for "beginner on a mission" -- I usually divide the difference), then two 12 milers, then my marathon. It's coming up fast!!

Off to read everyone's race reports... I'll be back looking for advice on my cool pants