Grandma's Marathon Training: Week 9

Meant to post this yesterday, but yesterday got all jacked up. So I'm going to TRY and keep this short and sweet, but that's tough since it was such a KICK ASS WEEK.

On the plan:
M - 4 easy
T - 9 tempo
W - 4 easy
Th - rest
F - 9 tempo
Sa - 18 easy
Su - cross
Reality:

Monday: 4.1 windy sucktastic miles at 10:03. Felt hard. Hate wind.

Tuesday: 9.15 FUN miles at 9:46. I met up with Kim and Sara and ran a part of the DesPlaines River Trail that I'd never run before. I was feeling pretty tired, but the company was outstanding, so the miles ticked off quickly.

Afterwards, we had dinner at Red Robin (yummmmm) where Kim told the waitress it was almost my birthday, so they sang to me and gave me ice cream. WIN. It was such a fun night! :)

Wednesday: 4 easy miles with Sarah, who wasn't feeling well. Her allergies were killing her, so we stuck to 4 (10:39 pace).

Strength class was more medicine balls and core work. It didn't feel QUITE as hard as the week before, and I wasn't nearly as sore afterwards.

Thursday and Friday: Rest

Saturday: 8.37 miles at 9:12 - the Take a Step For Kids 10k and warm up.

Sunday: 18 birthday miles at 10:38. I woke up (for the gazillionth time that night) to thunder and screaming (the screaming was Julia). I was nervous that this run wouldn't happen, but the storms moved out just in time. I met Kim and other club people at the Millennium Trail for a birthday run! We had humidity, and hills, and gusty wind later on in the run, but my stomach behaved, and other than getting really tired towards the end, this went really well.

Afterwards, Kim had organized all kinds of birthday treats for me! It was the perfect way to spend the morning, and I was enormously grateful for their company, and they went out of their way to make me feel special. It was great! I am lucky. And sunburned, but that is because I am a dumbass.

The rest of the day was spent lounging with my family, and we went out to Red Robin (yummmmm) for my birthday dinner where I got sung to again and more birthday ice cream. Perfect. On the way home, John and I sang Prince's version of "Kiss" at the top of our lungs and embarrassed the hell out of our kids. Awesome. It was a great day.

Week Total: 43.62 miles.