Looking back, looking ahead W21/W20

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I got several awesome running-related items, but they will get their own post. My mother loved her Team in Training shirt, and when I told her I was running a half-marathon for her, she cried and hugged me tight, and I admit, I got a little misty-eyed myself. She was genuinely touched. I'll try and post some pictures tomorrow.

Today is the end of Week 21, and Sunday marks exactly 20 weeks until race day.

What was I was supposed to do in Week 21? Did I do it?

• Sunday: 3 miles NOPE
• Monday: strength training YES!
• Tuesday: 2 miles YES!
  
• Wednesday: 2 miles NOPE
• Thursday: 2 miles YES!
  
• Friday: strength training YES!
• Saturday: 3 miles YES!

Well, I didn't manage the perfect week like I had hoped. I was in a car all day Sunday driving down to my parents' house, and on Wednesday my calves went into screaming revolt after all the downhill running I did on Tuesday. I managed a rather paltry seven miles and two strength training sessions this week. Today's run was exceedingly lackluster--I learned the hard way that a piece of pumpkin pie and a cup of coffee three hours beforehand are NOT sufficient fuel. I was struggling by the end of the first mile. Sad but true: I got through the last third of a mile by silently chanting "E-NER-GI-ZER-BUN-NY" to the rhythm of my footfalls on my treadmill. It was pretty horrible: 3 miles in 34:46 for a cringeworthy 11:35 mile pace. I did at least manage to put some incline (1.5%) into the run to make it mildly challenging.

Here's what I'm supposed to do in Week 20:

• Sunday: 3 miles
  
• Monday: strength training
• Tuesday: 2 miles
  
• Wednesday: 3 miles (this is a mileage increase)
  
• Thursday: 2 miles
  
• Friday: strength training
• Saturday: 3 miles (group run)
  

I am looking forward to next Saturday's group run and hearing how everyone fared over Christmas.

Things went well this week on the fundraising front. I am now over the $1000 mark, thanks to some wonderful people I've known since childhood (Jody, Amanda), an agility person who is also the best dog groomer you could ever ask for--endlessly patient and sweet with my dogs (Tynya), and a translation colleague I actually taught way back when who is now a respected, in-demand professional (Klaudia). Thanks so much to all of you for your support! I hope to do better next week and fill in more green.