Chicago Marathon Training

I'm currently wrapping up week four of my Chicago marathon training, so I thought I'd put a few details here so I don't forget.  This is my second Chicago marathon (I ran it in 2006 with Sol in the freezing cold) and eighth marathon.  Yikes.  We're almost to double digits, people.  Didn't see that coming.  I meant to get a picture of me running to post but I forgot, so your picture for this post is my DailyMile stats.  As you can see, I've only taken 2 days off in the past 4 weeks... which I didn't realize until just now.  Slightly concerning.

I'm doing my best to take this training as seriously as possible--I really do want to qualify for Boston still (even though I have to run a 3:35 now!) and don't want to regret not working my hardest for 16 week and missing it by a minute.  I'm following Hal Higdon's Advanced I training plan--he had a promo code a while back so I actually purchased the one specifically for Chicago.  I may have gotten ripped off... oh well.  My other big change is that I joined an actual running group.  They meet at 6:30 in Arlington for long runs on Saturdays.  I think this will be great for me--it's so much easier to run around other people and it will force me to get up and go early while it's a little cooler.

I'm running 6 days a week and trying to do some sort of strengthy thing twice a week.  I also might try to sub one day for cross training.  I've done a spin class at SIX IN THE MORNING twice which makes me worry about my decision making skills.  Ear-ly.  I'm occasionally running before Sol goes to work or after the boys go to bed... taking advantage of the summer daylight and trying to beat the heat.

I also joined a training group that I do my long runs with on Saturdays and track workouts with on Wednesdays.  The jury is still out on whether I think it was a good idea--it's mostly beginning runners but I think no matter what I'll be glad to have a group to commiserate with when I'm running those 20 milers.

I'm pretty sure I need to do a better job of stretching and eating things that are healthy.  But I'm really proud of how much I've been running and sticking to my schedule.  Let's all hope it pays off!