Week 18 of 20 Marathon training

Week 18 is now in the books and time has been flying.  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was dealing with dead legs in the first month of training.  Overall this has been a great week in training.  I struggled big time big at the start of the week.  The week started out with an off day on Monday.  On Tuesday and Wednesday I struggled through two runs.  I felt sluggish and like I was fighting against myself.  Thursday was a little better as I focused on some short speed intervals.  On Friday I was feeling a little ill.  I'll spare you the details why, but I forgot to eat dinner Thursday evening.  I can be a full on dork sometimes when I'm nervous.   I thought I would struggle on Friday's run, but I ran and felt better than I have in a loooong time.  Saturday was my last hard workout of marathon training.  I ran 15 miles in just over 2 hours 20 minutes and then hopped on the bike for a 30 mile ride.  I really like going for a ride after runs.  I feel it gets the hurt out of the legs.  I felt great this morning, which probably is a result of the 11 hours I slept and I got another run in this morning.  In the rain, of course.  So, I am now officially on taper.  I'll be dialing my runs back a lot over the next two weeks.  I will also do some cross-training on the bike if I can.  The biggest thing I do have this week is the Run for the Boarder on Thursday.  It is a Cinco de Mayo race that starts and ends at the Blind Pig.  I have never done this race before, but this is what I have heard.  It is a staggered start and you run with one other person as a team.  At the start you get a list of bars you have to run too.  There is no route, so it is up to the team to decide on the fastest route, which should be about 3 miles.  At each bar you do a task before leaving...chug a corona...shot of tequila...etc.  Also, you have to run with an item that is given out.  Usually maracas or sombrero.  It should be a fun evening and I am looking forward to it.  My long run of the week will be this weekend and it will be 6-8 miles.  Ooooo taper....your feelings of laziness and phantom injuries are almost here.

Running:  35 miles with a 9:22 avg pace   
              
Cycling:  35 miles outside  with an average speed of 18 mph.

Weight training:  2 sessions:  Bench 1x12 165lbs 1x8 185lbs 1x4 205lbs
                                             Incline Bench 2x12 120lbs 1x10 115lbs
                                             T-Bar Row 2x15 75lbs
                                             Close Grip Pullups 3x12 (Weight assisted)
                                             Military Press 3x15 55lbs
                                             Pull ups 3x15 15lbs


Weight training 2 sessions (workout 2)  :  Incline curls 3x12 25 lbs
                                           Preacher curls 3x12 80lbs
                                           Tricep pulldown 3x12 85lbs
                                           Reverse Tri pulldown (one arm) 3x15 45lbs
                                           Reverse Preacher curl (straight bar) 3x12 50lbs
                                           ABS


Calories burned:  Week 16:  7,695
Weight loss this week:  1lbs
Weight loss YTD:  12lbs