The Final Tune up was Brrrrrrrreight!

Well, my friends, today was the final tune up before running the Philadelphia Marathon.  My final long distance run was a short eight miles, but the temperatures were extremely cold; this temperature will be similar to the start of the marathon next weekend.  When I left the house, it was in the mid-30s and a bit windy.  During my run, my fingers had become cold and even breathing on them could not warm them up.

I began my run with two layers on top (including a long-sleeve shirt), my gloves, high socks, and leggings to keep my lower body warm.  Even when running, my body can still feel cold, especially when the wind is blowing heavily.  After running along the river for the majority of my training, I have grown accustomed to the wind blowing either at me or moving me forward.  Along the Schuylkill River, the wind never seems to be blowing sideways (East to West) but always blows forward or backwards (North to South).  When running along the river during the marathon, I will hope to get a nice tailwind running towards the Art Museum and finish line.  I know I can run the first leg of the second half of the marathon against the wind, but I could use a little assistance when finishing.

8 Mile Running Route (Credit to MapMyRun.com)

My eight-mile route took be down the Schuylkill Banks to the South Street Bridge, and back along the Schuylkill River Trail to the Columbia Bridge.  The Columbia Bridge is about a mile north of the Girard Street Bridge and is right before the grandstands for rowing regattas.  Once I reached the Columbia Bridge, I turned around and returned back across the Spring Garden Bridge and back to the friendly, warm confines of my own home.  This route is the typical eight-mile run I have done throughout my training. 

The last time I ran eight miles as part of my long run was in week four of my training.  I remember that run vividly:  I had gone out the night before, had work at 7:00 am, then went on my run still a bit hungover.  After that run, I had bad stomachaches and cramps for over a week until they finally went away.  A nursing friend of mine believed that I had a bad case of gas that had stemmed from what I ate prior to my run, which included ice cream and other junk food.  This was before I was taking extremely good care of my body and carefully watching what I was eating.

Early Morning Philadelphia Skyline (Photo taken by Micah Sokolsky)

With less than a week left before the Philadelphia Marathon, I feel prepared and ready to run the full 26.2 miles!  I tentatively have my running outfit picked out, but it will likely change day of depending on the weather.  I would prefer not to wear the leggings, but if Mother Nature wants it to be freezing, then so be it.  I will still be ready to take on the challenge!