One Month Out...

Wow, guess what is supposed to happen a month from today??

THIS!!

Um, GULP!

How am I feeling about it?  Well, nervous for one thing.  Today I started looking over my training plan(s) to see how I feel about where I am.  Honestly, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried I'm under training a little for my marathon.  I made up more than one Runner's World Smart Coach training plan (there's varying degrees of difficulty) and have been using them as a guide, but I've been making changes as necessary, doing it my way, and not following them 100%.  I think my long runs are definitely in good shape, but my mid-week runs and cross training might be less than where they should be at this point.

Reasons?

• Time is a huge one.  I honestly DO NOT KNOW how people fit in 8 mile runs during the week.  I just don't feel like I have that much time to run on weeknights!  I can put in around an hour of running (which usually translates to about 5 miles for me), but much more than that is difficult by the time I get home and everything else I have to get done before I go to bed!  Plus, this time of year (holidays) there is so much going on that it's a struggle to fit everything in.  Case and point- tonight I am cramming in my run tonight since I have a million things to do before my family gets here for our Christmas weekend tomorrow.
• I prefer not to run every day and try not to run two days in a row if I can help it.  I have noticed that giving myself a day off in between runs helps me a lot and seems to be keeping me injury free, so I try not to stack runs back to back.  The problem is this often means I only get in two runs (usually about 5 miles each) during the week and then my long run on the weekend, so I'm usually just doing three runs total a week.  Is that enough?  I'm not sure.
• It's FRIGGIN freezing outside lately (sub 35 degrees!!) and normally I have to run outside, in the dark, in the cold on a weeknight.  I have been giving myself a break and calling it a success if I can get in 4 miles or so while contending with those difficult weather conditions.
• I've had a cold for a couple weeks.  I've been on the fence about whether to push myself while kind of sick or not.  I'm definitely afraid to make things worse.

So there you have it.  I am hoping that the "weak" weekly running will not be as huge a factor as the fact that I have been successful in getting my long runs in as planned.  I'm also hoping giving myself enough rest will count for more than an abundance of mid-week running, but I don't know.  I think I would take being slightly under trained than over trained if it means not risking injury or burnout.  I totally kicked butt on my 3rd half marathon this past weekend and felt pretty great on that run, so I feel like I must be doing something right.

Now that I'm a month out, I have about two more weeks of what should be "hard" running before the taper kicks in, so I think I'm going to try and ramp it up a little if I can.  I also need to try to do more yoga/cross training/strength training if I can.  Reading Emily's post reminded me that this is also essential to being a good runner.  Ramping up my training may be difficult with my family visiting this weekend and Christmas next week.  I'm going to do my best though!  I need more hours in the day!!!!

I welcome thoughts and feedback from seasoned running veterans (which I know many of you are!!), so please let me know what you think!