On the Cusp of 200

I've pushed my legs hard, pulling back when I thought I needed to. This month, I topped 50 miles in a week once and 40 miles twice. Feeling good about the base I've built, I started to wonder if May would be my highest mileage month ever.  So I looked back.

My father, grandmother, and me back in the 70s.  It was also Christmastime.

Sunday, while visiting my grandmother's grave, I naturally thought about her funeral about 6 years ago.  Kim was with me- my significant other at the time and the wonderful individual who introduced me to running.  I'd only been running for maybe 15 months. Back then, I didn't log mileage or geek out over shoes.  But I'm certain my May total has surpassed anything I had done to that date.

I hit the Minuteman Trailway later that afternoon and headed east.  It brought back memories of runs of the past.  I did my first ever 18 mile run on this trail, with Mark riding his bike along side me. That was 2006, and I was in town to visit my grandmother for her birthday- the last we would celebrate together- and I was 4 months into training for my first marathon and TNT event.

Kim and me in Alaska, 2006.  First marathon and first Team in Training event.

When I reached the end of the Minuteman Trailway, I headed toward the Charles River. Apparently Memorial Drive along the river is closed off to car traffic on Sundays, leaving it open for pedestrians.  This was part of the May 2009 Race to Remember Half Marathon that I ran with my Warrior-mates.  It was my first half going solo, and while I did love running with Kim, it was quite meaningful to be able to find a new independent identity in my running.  It was somewhat symbolic, perhaps, of my life at the time, transitioning to a new life and a new me.  This was the year I returned to TNT as well.

Charles on the left, Memorial Drive on the right, goslings in the middle.

Before Sunday's the run, May's total sat in thirteenth place as far as mileage is concerned, right after August 2009, which my have been my only healthy running month of a frustrating fall season, and right before March 2012, during my ramp up to Ironman fitness levels and just prior to a rather stressful April which included the end of my 13 month relationship with Emily and somehow injuring myself with turf toe.  By the end of the 19 mile run through these Boston suburbs, May 2013 was seventh on the list, ahead of August 2011, the point at which my switch to midsole search was coming to fruition, and behind this past March.

Wow.  This past March ranks in the top 10.  As does April. And here comes May.

May is currently sitting in fourth place.  The months ahead are all from the glorious fall 2010 season of training. That season has been in my mind, a target for me to reach- no - surpass.  I've definitely approached things differently this time around, slowly building a hardy base. I'm still building that base and have only introduced pure speed and strength work into my routine a couple times so far.  Still, I know I'm not yet as fast, but I can feel the progress.  And after the Berkshire Trail 15k this weekend, hills, weights and speed, (oh my!) will become the focus.  I expect my mileage to drop in June because of this (and the 180 mile bike ride Mark and I have planned), which is fine.  High mileage has always just been a means to the end- that end being fast times.

With nine days left, I am 56.4 miles shy of 200.  Will I make it?  My calendar says yes.  But I will listen to my body and do the right thing.  I will not over train just to hit this arbitrary number.