Moved up to 9 miles this week. Didn't hurt nearly as bad as I thought it would. No walking yet, but took good breaks every 2 miles or so. Will probably try to add walk intervals next week.

The countdown is on; only two more long runs until the big race. I'm ready to get there and get it done. Hopefully next few weeks will be filled with solid training.

GPS says: 9 miles, 1:45:26, about 11:42 avg pace.

I'm going to need some new running shoes soon, and I hope they come with a new pair of knees.

As Garth Brooks said, "I'm much too young to feel this damn old." These long runs are getting brutal on my knees, but I'm hoping it's just my shoes that are to blame.

We had 8 miles again on Saturday and it was OK. Long, of course, and SO humid. I tried a new strategy -- mandatory rest every two miles with a refuel stop halfway through.

I think when we move up to 9 miles, I'm going to start experimenting with walk intervals. It's not realistic to expect to run the whole 13 miles, and I need to figure out to make it to the finish line with the least amount of pain.

6 weeks to go. Saturday's numbers: 8 miles, 1:34:29; about a 11:48 average pace.

Another week of training in the books. More schedule chaos, but like Nike says: "Just Do It." No excuses and a grand tally of 20 miles this week.

A "dropback" week, so only 6 miles on Saturday. Good thing, too, because I overslept big time, got a late start and ended up in my neighborhood. It had rained a lot the night before, and the sun came out about 1.5 miles in, so it was a steamy run. And it sure didn't feel like a "dropback." That extra 2 hours of sleep, though, was awesome!

Also, judging by the amount of "taste testing" I've been doing today, I probably could have stood to have bumped that mileage up -- by about, oh, 10 miles. :)

Numbers looked like this: 6 miles, 1:09:11, 11:31 avg pace.

OK week of training. Left knee getting a little achy, but not a detriment yet.

The five miles are beginning to feel a lot more manageable, provided I have enough distraction from the prolonged period on the treadmill.

The running group has gone to St. Francisville for the past three weeks for hill work, so I've been solo on Saturdays. Alternate plans and rain confined me to the gym for two weeks, but I finally got out this Saturday.

I tried out a new running route, semi in my neighborhood, and it was OK. I think it could become a standby. I've really liked running by myself, just worrying about my own pace.

I moved up to 8 miles this week, which is definitley a milestone worth celebrating. It hurt a bit, but not horrible overall.

GPS was wonky, so I'm estimating 8 miles in about 1:32 or so .... or an average pace between 11:30 and 12:00 a mile.

The schedule was not my friend this week. It seemed like something came up every day to threaten my workouts.

However, I managed to get them all in, with the loss of a little (lot) of sleep. No excuses.

It was my last week at the current mileage, which goes up starting tomorrow. I had hoped to savor those short distances, but as I said, working late, family outings, etc. made it a challenge. Just had to keep my feet firmly planted on the treadmill:

The Saturday run was held in St. Francisville this week, so I didn't make that, electing instead to run on my own when I got time -- which ended up being around 11:30 p.m. after I finished work. Not waking up at 5 a.m. was a treat.

It was a step back, so only 5 miles. I dreaded that much time on the treadmill, but the Olympics were on and they kept me from getting too bored. I particularly enjoyed a Nike commercial featuring a young, overweight boy trudging along a dirt path. Lol, I felt a sense of kinship as I plodded along at my own slow pace.

A minimum effort this week: 5 miles, just short of an hour, about a 12:00 pace.