I am with you. Hopefully all this junk is out of the air by Gmas. i have been so itchy and miserable. Do you take vit C? That will help your immune system cope with all the allergens. Be careful with the Claratin D, as I said in the discussions, it will make your HR race. Taking a Claratin alone though shouldn’t be a problem. Starting this weekend it is really time to back off and rest. You have done all the training now you just need to get extra rest to start feeling fresh and ready to race.

10 miles in 88 mins!! You’re an animal!! Do you do core work? I had a ton of hip/pelvis/low back troubles before I started pilates. I think once you have kids, like we have, you have to hit the core hard. For a long time i sill had that muscle separation in my abs from pregnancy–my youngest was 3! I started going to a class my sister in law teaches–she is a fitness guru and she taught me all the moves in the core videos. These are all designed for runners to help their weaknesses. Try doing them. After you watch the videos once, you will have them down and work out your own routine.

The training is not set in stone, you have to lsten to your body. If this is more specific quality work than you have done (the strides, interval reps, pace run) I don’t think you need to add miles too or an extra day of running. For the half, you can get along fine with one long run, you don’t have to do the medium-long run mid week if you feel like it is zapping you. I see you making great progress. consistency is key and to stay consistent you can’t overdo it on any given workout or week of training. You have experience and know your body. I can write training that is effective only to the point that you listen to the signals you are getting. After a great workout/run, the tendancy is to push the next day. You should do the opposite and feel like you are just jogging on the recovery day.

I’m so happy to hear the longer run went so well this weekend. I think the LR is the best indicator of how your fitness is progressing and you are right on track for a good half in terms of pace and distance at this point. You are smart to lay off when you aren’t feeling well. It has been a horrible winter for bugs hasn’t it? I have two kids also and I have been more sick this winter than I have in my entire life! My training has suffered too, but hopefully we are out of the woods now. It sounds like you are clipping along–no concerns right now on my end. Keep up the good work!

What a great pic! I am glad to have an experienced half and full marathoner in the class. You’ll have to share your experiences and insights with the class. Make sure you take the first few strides easy. Save the quick ones for he last two. You don’t want to push them; they should actually make your legs feel light and quick the next day rather than tired or fatigued. You know your body well enough from all the races you have already done what you need to get ready. I think this training works more specific systems that can help you get faster, but the training should always be seen as a guideline not something you have to do no matter what. I am always adjusting my training to accomodate my life, stress, stuff going on at home…So it looks like you have a great start..keep it up!

It looks like you are doing great! You said this is more running than you have done for a while, so it is great you are doing the intermediate training but just know I set that up assuming you were running about 25 or more miles a week or doing running and equivalent XT over the winter. So keep up the good work, but be you own best coach and listen to your body. If you stay healthy, you shuld be ready for a great race come Grandma’s weekend.