Marathon Training: Week Twenty-Four (Final Week!)

The last week of training!  And what a light and easy week it’s been.  I’ve had a revolving door of these “phantom” injuries… irritations, I should say.  A reoccurring tight hamstring, an IT band that acts up sometimes, etc.  I’m looking for all of these things to resolve as much as possible this week.  Of course, this all seems to come with the territory in the running game.  (And we’ve always been told that weightlifting was tough on the body!)  Seriously, all seems well….

Sun – 3-11-12: Weights at the gym (#2 HST-style routine – 12-rep feature.)

Mon – 3-12-12: Another middle-of-the-night, 2-mile power walk through the hood.

Tue – 3-13-12:  Workout #1: An easy 4-miler with the group at a 9:44 pace.  And by the way, ALL of these Tuesday workouts have included a burning core workout afterward, although I believe I’ve forgotten to mention it on a few entries.   Workout #2: Weights at the gym (#2 HST-style routine – 12-rep feature.)

Wed – 3-14-12: Did another easy 4 miles on my own at a 9:38 pace.  Feeling strong, although I feel like I’m just starting to get warmed up at 4 now.  Last official run before the marathon.  Trippy!

Thu – 3-15-12: Weights at the gym (#2 HST-style routine – 12-rep feature.)

Fri – 3-16-12: A token 25-minute walk on the treadmill at the gym.  I know this was probably completely unnecessary, and will make absolutely NO difference whatsoever in what happens on Sunday. But, I just felt like I wanted to move a little and break a light sweat so it wouldn’t have been a full three days without any kind of running/walking.

Sat – 3-17-12:  Day off.  Also, I woke up this morning with my thumb “injury” notably better.  Feels like the tightness is starting to release a bit.  So weird it should happen out of the blue, all these weeks later, the day before the marathon.  Must be finally healing up some.

This is it, folks.  And a final reminder: I’m running for Kitten Rescue, my favorite cat/dog rescue group.  For those of you who’ve been able to contribute, thanks so much.  I really, really appreciate the support.  If you would like to contribute, please check out the following link.

http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamKittenRescueLAMarathon2012/fundraiser/BobbyRock

Donations in any amount are appreciated and will definitely go directly to helping out a homeless cat or dog, like Marco here.

Marco was found in a parking lot and turned over to Kitten Rescue at an adoption event.  He was just a kitten at the time, and he had such a severe eye infection that he almost had to have it removed in surgery.  Fortunately, after months of treatment from his Kitten Rescue foster mom, his bad eye healed-up back to normal and he was able to keep it.  But he wasn’t able to go to adoptions for 8 months.  Eventually, KR found him his forever home, where he is doing great!

Marco is quite a friendly, even goofy, character.  He likes to be cradled on his back, like an infant, which most cats aren’t into.   He’s also a fetcher: you throw his toy mice around the room and he will retrieve them for you.  Needless to say, his forever family loves him madly…