Woke up at 4 am full of energy.  Got lots done this morning including a strength workout.  I'm having a PWO shake waiting for my body to stop shaking long enough to go get my run in.   After the run, we're going to my favorite breakfast joint for pecan waffles.

Nutrition:
Target calories 1900-2100
C300-325 P100 F40-55
Actual 2314
C295 P102 F77

Now that the run is over, it doesn't seem so bad, but I was miserable out there today.  Waited too long to go out and I honestly just wasn't in the mood to get it done.  Felt like I should have been in the office, didn't eat well before I went out and instead of just having a banana or a gel before I started, I grabbed a bottle of gatorade.  Not my first choice when I'm running. Definitely prefer sipping on water. Anyway, I was in a oh woe is me mode, but I told myself I had to follow the intervals.  Didn't matter how slow I was, I had to get it done.  So I'll give myself a big pat on the back for not caving in to the negative thoughts floating around in my head.  You know, the running part didn't feel so bad, it was just the mind stuff that was bringing me down.  Tomorrow, I'll get it done in the morning and be in a much better mood doing it!

5 miles today.  Going to slow it down a little and keep the heart rate down.  I was doing a little reading last night on taper and it reminded me that my goal is to go out, create some awesome great marathon memories and cross the finish line.  So glad I read it because I was starting to get into that "how can I plan every second of the marathon to get my best time."  I'm going to have a better (and probably faster) experience if I relax, have a great time, and just stop worrying about how fast or slow I am.

Nutrition is starting to feel much better.  Have been doing some great reading the past few days.  I love getting obsessed with nutrition again!  What can I say, I love playing with numbers. 

Nutrition:
Target calories 1900-2100
C300-325 P75-100 F40-55
Actual calories 1970
C316 P97 F49
 

My legs felt SO GOOD!   I did this run using my R1:10/W1:15 intervals and I can't believe how fast it was!  I wanted to use the timer because this is the time in my training when I start trying to figure out how to be faster than the training I've done all year and I start adding workouts and pushing too hard.  Now granted I pushed hard today, but I did stay with the run/walk plan and I know there is no way I can carry that pace through 26.2 miles... BUT it sure was fun to carry it through 3.   So my mind is going now to how to pace the marathon.  Want to do a little reading on this since I've heard that you should have different goals based on how many miles into the marathon you are and I certainly don't want to go out too fast and totally poop out at mile 15.  Would love to hear thoughts from you guys on this!


Finished completing my ironman questionnaire this morning.  Tried to have fun with it.  I heard Mike Reilly reading some of the info at the race, so I wanted to give it a little thought before I just mindlessly filled it in.

Miles drop back to 3 today.  I'm already getting the itch to do more, so by marathon time, my legs will be ready!   I did quite a bit of course review yesterday.  Since the campground is around the halfway point of the course, I've spent lots of time on portions of it, but there are a few areas that are unfamiliar and I'm totally lost looking at the course map. 

Target calories: 1900-2100 C300-325 P75-100 F50-55
Actual 1843
C274 P99 F53
1/2 HW english muffin, pb, banana
Oats, flax, pp, blueberries, supps
Banana (post run)
1/2 gr turkey wrap, redskin potato, asparagus, orange
Apple, 1/2 HW english muffin, cashew mac. nut butter
BBQ shrimp, redskin potato, lf sour cream, broccoli slow, rf vanilla ice cream w/strawberries & chocolate syrup

Pretty low key day planned here.  Upper body weights, some mowing if the rain holds off, a little cleaning, and a marathon course study.  Want to review the course and nutrition available on the  course. 

Relaxed yesterday afternoon and caught up on some tv recordings that I haven't had time to watch.  Finished off Top Chef Masters.  Love that show! 

Nutrition:
Target 1750-1950
C275-300  P75-100 F40
Actual 2000 C282 P123 F60

Had a great run this morning!  Executed it exactly the way I want to on marathon day.  Start off really easy and relaxed and don't push too hard.  I didn't use the interval timer on my watch.  Let my body (and the hills) decide when to walk and when to run, and it worked very well.  Didn't let myself get tired early on by running too long.  Took walk breaks early and often.  I ran a little longer on the downhills, but didn't let myself push overly hard.  Had a gel at 40 - 80 - 110 minutes, which was pefect timing.  I could feel my legs energize as soon as I had them.  I'm less than two weeks out now from the marathon and rather than get totally caught up in the Ironman excitement, I'm going to focus on the marathon for the next couple of weeks and enjoy the time.  I've worked hard for this and I'm very happy that I've gotten myself through the hard training days healthy and ready to hit the start line.  The marathon has been a LONG time coming for me, so I'm not going to gloss over it.  I'm going to savor and enjoy the next couple of weeks.   Reworked my calories for today.  I thought they seemed really high with my first calculations.  Revised below.

Getting ready to head out on my long run.  It's a little chilly out, so think I'll wait for the sun to come up.  Goal today is to take it easy, don't push too hard, and get some easy miles on my legs.
 
Had fun at the football game yesterday.  I love the start of College football season!  So much excitement in the staidum that you just can't get through the television.

Target calories: 3200-3400  2500-2800
C550 C450
P120 P100-125
F70 F42-55
This is where I have trouble staying on plan.  This number of calories seems like A LOT of food.  I'm going to pay attention to what I eat today and see how close it comes to target.

Actual: 2547
C456 P110 F57
%64-17-19

 Go Bucks! 

Let's play some football!!!! :)

Busy with office/house stuff here today.  Will get some upper body/core work in and might make it to the pool this afternoon.  Been working on putting fall/winter goals together and they're coming along nicely.  I feel a plan coming together.

Tomorrow is the first football game of the season and we'll be heading to Ohio Stadium for the game! It's supposed to be sunny and 82 degrees.  I love hot weather football!  Go Buckeyes!

Target calories today 1800-2100
C275-300
P75-100
F44

Actual: 1853
C253 P106 F58
%49-23-28