I wrapped up my recovery week from Saturdays race and have laid out my training plan for the remaining weeks prior to the Philly marathon on November 22. As I wrote the other day, I am getting the chance to adjust myself to colder weather since the northeast is in some odd type of 'deep freeze' ... believe it or not, there is snow falling just one county north of where I am. I can't believe that its the middle of October and the temperature when I left work was 35 degrees today (according to my car, and she doesn't lie). Its supposed to be cold this weekend as I head out for a 20 miler on Saturday, morning temperature at 38, and afternoon temperature at 42 degrees with rain, sounds like fun. The hopeful part is that I see in the 10-day forecast for my area, its supposed to get back to more seasonable temperatures next week (morning in the mid 40's, highs in the low 60's).

Thankfully I determined that I don't appear to have a head cold like I first thought earlier in the week, maybe just a little overtired from the weekend and suffering from allergies. It always seems that my allergies are the worst from October to December, but the good thing is that I have an appointment with my allergist next Tuesday, so i'll have to ask for a better antihistamine than I currently have. If he gives me it, great, if not, we'll just have to deal with it another way. This cold weather definitely doesn't help it all, but at least it helps drain my sinuses .. thats kind of gross, but it really does help.

So with five weeks to go until Philly, my approach is about the same that I did for Baltimore. I expect to do hillwork on Sundays again, speed work on Thursdays and a mid week long run on Wednesdays ... i'm not looking to train real hard because my body is starting to get tired (believe it or not). I've been going hard for over 5 months now. If I can maintain my fitness at the current level, thats good enough for me.. i'm not looking to PR, just looking to finish strong (like at Baltimore).

I'm still contemplating the spring marathon schedule .. however as I wrote the other day, I do expect to do the Ocean Drive Marathon on March 28th first. This one is just brutal and for the hard-core marathoners. I remember the first time I ran it, the air temperature was 40 degrees at the start and we ran in a 25 mph headwind for the entire race (4 hours) ... I can't even imagine what the wind chill factor was. I am then fairly confident that the Cox Sports Providence Marathon (in Rhode Island) will be marathon number two, which runs on May 2nd .. then just 5 weeks later, I will probably try the Gods Country Marathon in Coudersport, Pa on June 5th as the third. I'm not sure if i'll find a hotel for the last one, its way out there in nowhere-land...

I really am trying to not run the same marathons over and over again and to try something new, but I think i'm running out of options without getting on a plane.. I'm considering the Hartford marathon next year, and maybe, just maybe, i'll get accepted into the New York City marathon next year (makes me jealous for all those that got accepted).. I'd have to find a late marathon, but thats pretty far out and maybe I should worry about THIS year first, right? I only use Marathon Guide as my source to find marathons, so if anyone has any others out there in the northeastern part of the US to recommend, please send them along... i'm good for about a 4-5 hour drive from the Philadelphia area if necessary, I just don't know where else to look...

Anyway, tomorrow is a rest day .. then out in the cold over the weekend and I refuse, I TOTALLY refuse to pull out the running pants. I'll survive somehow...