Looking back, looking ahead W6/W5

There are only 33 days left until the race. 33 days, people! That's less than a dog's pregnancy! Less than football training camp season! Less than five weeks!

The correct response to any panic concerning race day is, of course, to go out and buy more running gear.

Isn't it adorable? Say hello to my cute little water belt. It only has two eight-ounce bottles of water, so I won't be running any 20-mile training runs in July with it or anything, but assuming I start out hydrated, I can easily do six miles with 16 ounces of water. And the little zipper pocket is perfect for holding...

Gels! OK, this is how you know I have become a total running geek. I saw these gels and snatched them up because they're new flavors I haven't tried yet. Vanilla! Orange! Hey, you could mix them together and pretend you're having a Creamsicle!

And yes, I got some more Injinji toesocks. They didn't have the cute stripey ones so I decided to go with pink.

But the most important item I bought yesterday was this:
It's a magnet. It's going on my car once I actually run the race, but for now, it's hanging out on my refrigerator--which is a really good place for it, and not just because it's metal. Every time I want to open the door and get something to eat, I see those numbers and think, "Is what I'm about to eat going to help me do 13.1 or hurt me?" It's a constant reminder that as hard as I've worked since December, these next few weeks are critical. I have to eat as well as I can, get plenty of sleep, run mindfully, stay away from sick people, and listen to my body to make sure I get to the start line.

I did 12 miles on Saturday, so I KNOW I can finish this race. I'm not worried about that. Heck, if I had to make a time estimate, I'd guess in the neighborhood of 2:30, plus or minus ten depending on the weather and how I feel that day.

Oh, and for a final dose of ice-cold "Oh my God this is really going to happen, I am actually going to run this race and SOON" reality, I now know my bib number.

9680.

Kinda gives me the shivers.

Anyway, let's have a look at the report card for this week:

What was I was supposed to do in Week 6? Did I do it?

• Tuesday: 4 miles NOPE (Day 2 of injury recovery)
• Wednesday: CROSS-TRAIN NOPE (Day 3 of injury recovery)
  
• Thursday: 4 miles YES!
  
• Friday: CROSS-TRAIN NOPE (I was just plain bad--no more skipping Pilates!!)
• Saturday: 12 miles YEAH, BABY! *fist pump*
• Sunday: 4 miles NOPE (Are you kidding me? I could barely MOVE when I woke up!)

My God, I don't think I've ever had so much red all over the schedule! I ran two days this week and did no cross-training. Boo! (And still covered 16 miles. Whoa!)

What's my schedule for Week 5?

• Tuesday: 4 miles
• Wednesday: CROSS-TRAIN
  
• Thursday: 6 miles
  
• Friday: CROSS-TRAIN
  
• Saturday: 8 miles
  
• Sunday: 4 miles

Week 5 is a cutback week. Dare I say it? It looks kinda easy. But never fear, there are all sorts of mileage increases in store for next week!