It’s been a pretty uneventful training block. Just lots and lots of slow miles. And more slow miles. And more slow miles. I never thought I would be tired of running all the miles, and I’m not really. But my legs, hips, and feet are. I haven’t run this much mileage for this many consecutive weeks. My last marathon block had a three 70+ mileage weeks. This block has had lots more of them. And I’m starting to feel it in places. Both my feet are starting to hurt and my right hip has been bothering me on and off for almost two months. Granted I have a small toddler who I carry around on my left hip (a lot) and I think that may have something to do with it. I think I may be out of alignment, but I’m afraid to “get fixed” before the race in fear it could create other problems. 
I think I may have metatarsalgia in both my feet. For it feels like I’m stepping on rocks after I run 20 miles. But I’m not a doctor, so I could be wrong. Really just hoping I don’t have stress fractures. I have been stretching and foam rolling and heating/icing and soaking, but I think I need to a little break to get everything back to normal after this ultra. I never thought I would say that. I LOVE RUNNING and can’t picture my life without it. I run to stay sane staying at home with three little boys. I love them to death, don’t get me wrong. But I would yell a lot more if it weren’t for running. It makes me a nicer Mom. Thinking about not running for a couple weeks gives me severe anxiety. I don’t really know how I’m going to cope yet, but I know that’s what my body needs. I want to keep getting after my 2019 goals…mainly the marathon. So in order to do that, I need to be rest up. One step back, two steps forward, right?
I have contemplated pulling out of the Long Creek 60k this weekend. I’m scared that racing 38 miles on trails is really going to wreck me. I’m afraid I’ll be so wrecked, I won’t be able to start my next training build (my priority). Well, maybe I’m stupid, but I decided I am going to toe the line on Saturday. On one condition: I listen to my body, and if it tells me to stop, I will. So I may drop, depending on how I feel. But I have begun to do everything in my power to make sure I’m as ready as I can be on race day. I have begun subsitituting my runs for aqua jogging sessions, heating, soaking, stretching, hydrating, and eating lots of carbs and nutrient dense foods. My hip and feet already feel better. I plan to do that for the remainder of the week and think hopeful positive thoughts and maybe I’ll make it through the race Saturday. And maybe I won’t. But it will be okay either way. I’d rather stop now and have a successful summer and fall season, than push through this race I am not prioritizing. 
The next few weeks will be pretty slow for me. Next week will be a walk/aqua jog week (I like aqua jogging because of its low impact and its transferability to running). The following two weeks will be reverse taper weeks, slowly getting back to my base mileage of 50-60 miles/week. Depending on how I feel, of course. If my feet and hip are still bothering me, it may mean more time in the pool and more of a focus on strength for now. Either way, I will make it work. Think positive thoughts for me!
-S
MARATHONING MOMMA 