What's up?

So, if I'm being honest with y'all (and myself)... I'm having a hard time, lately. I'm in the middle of an "awesome run" drought. I haven't had one of those runs where you just feel like you could run forever without stopping... where you don't even realize that you're running wayyy faster than you should be... in 2-3 weeks, I'd say.

I've been slow. REALLY slow, lately. My runs have been generally sluggish and the last couple of times I've done intervals and hills I've struggled to get through them. Gone are the days of ripping through a mid-week run with 8:30 splits... I'm lucky to get 9:30 splits in.

I'm exactly a month from the marathon and maybe it's not a big deal. Maybe it doesn't matter that I'm not getting the times I want, but I'm still getting the mileage I need? But... it's definitely a shot to my ego. I don't know what it is... I've looked over my training log to try and see if I can find something there that I can point to and be... "ohhhh... that's why." And the only thing I can think of is general marathon training fatigue?

Here have been my last few weeks mileage totals:

3/9/2009 — 3/15/2009: 41.5 Mi
3/2/2009 — 3/8/2009: 55.6 Mi
2/23/2009 — 3/1/2009: 53.8 Mi
2/16/2009 — 2/22/2009: 53.6 Mi
2/9/2009 — 2/15/2009: 36.6 Mi

And this week I'll end up with around 57.

I realize, that for me, these are some pretty significant numbers. Previous to this training period, I've only had one other 50+ week, ever! But, I do have a good base and have worked my way up to the mileage I'm at now.

I'm not really worried... I'm just going to continue to get the mileage in and hope that the running mojo finds me again soon... (preferably on April 19).

In other related news... thanks for the tips/advice about the gels, etc. I picked up some Shot Blox on Wednesday night (strangely enough, the local running store didn't have these. I had to go to REI. Which, kinda sucks as it's out in the 'burbs). I got 2 of the Margarita ones (I'm hoping the extra sodium won't be too gross. I once tried the Powergel Tangerine flavor that had 2x times the sodium or something and I seriously gagged, between the consistency of the gel and the saltiness... ummm.. yeah, 'nuff said. I sent a pretty hilarious text to April after that run) and one Cola one. I didn't realize they came in such a long package. I guess I'll have to break them down and put them in ziploc baggies to carry them. Here's hoping they work out tomorrow morning!