I’ll be adding a bunch of miles of Framingham streets with my long run…but this week it will be on Sunday.

(Sunday Paper, Year VIII, Issue 38)

Believe it or not, three weeks from today is the Chicago Marathon.

So, I regret to inform you (or I am thrilled to tell you, I guess, depending on your perspective and enjoyment of running content) that the next three weeks (more, probably, I guess, since I’ll be writing the recap afterwards) will be almost entirely (one last parenthetical to tell you I’m done with the parentheticals) marathon related.

And as of this morning, I’ll also be running on Sunday mornings until the marathon.

It’s a circumstance that was more forced upon me than by choice…but it might actually work to my benefit.

As you may or may not know, I’ve been doing my long runs on Saturday during this training session.

But Saturday morning (yesterday) there was the threat of some bad weather thanks to Hurricane Lee, so late in the week I put in the back of my mind that I might have to have a plan B if Saturday doesn’t look great. (Like a toddler, I do better with change to my routine when it is anticipated.)

Saturday morning I was up around 5:30, I took a look at the radar, and it didn’t look great. I worried I might start in no rain and then get dumped on for the majority of the 20-mile run. (Oh, that was something I should point out. This was a big run - the 20-miler. So we’re talking four hours out in the elements, probably.)

It looked like the rain would be present until noon, so I went back to sleep.

Around 8 I was up and checking the weather constantly to make sure I made the right decision, and it rained on and off. It was never really bad, but it was definitely enough rain that I don’t think I would have been a happy runner.

So I figured Sunday wouldn’t be a bad idea for the 20-miler for a few reasons. One, the fact that there would be only the 20-miler, the 12-miler, and the 8-miler - 3 runs - before the marathon means minimal routine disruption if I just shifted my long runs to Sundays.

Also, the marathon is on a Sunday, so I am actually creating a new routine that has me running long on Sunday like I’ll do the week of the marathon. That can’t be bad.

The only bad thing about this is I had such a good week of running that I was excited to carry that momentum into the 20-mile run on Saturday.

It was really the best I’ve felt all training long.

But maybe instead of the three runs this week setting a tone for the long run…the 20-mile run will set a good tone for this upcoming week…and the rest of the training period beyond.

What I’ve Been Enjoying

Listen. I’m happy football season is back, I’m happy the Jets defense doesn’t look like it missed a step…and I’m not enjoying a player being injured. I am just appreciating that it is beyond hilarious that Aaron Rodgers got hurt within five plays of his Jets career. There is an internet thing (I don’t know if it could be called a meme because it’s all text, but nevertheless) that takes a situation and points out how said situation could be blown up with “______ has the chance to do the funniest thing ever.”

That meme doesn’t need to exist anymore because I think Aaron Rodgers did the funniest thing ever.

Of course it’s also sad, because he was the difference-maker for the Jets this year. I don’t know that I can take another year of careful quarterback play to not mess up the game for the defense. It’s so frustrating.

But the Jets are 1-0, and we’ll get a good sense of how Zach Wilson will be in 2023 this afternoon against Dallas.

In the meantime, speaking of memes, I made this one:

Again. I take no joy in anyone’s injury.

But it is so darn comical that this happened. (Only to this Jets fan. I wouldn’t recommend going up to other Jets fans and laughing at them. I also would not recommend you do that to me.)

Just know I recognize the unbelievable (but 100% believable) humor.

Notes

*You know I’ll let you know how the 20-mile run went when I write next week. The Sunday runs are probably going to affect Sunday Paper publishing. Not sure if some of them will come out on Saturday…we’ll figure it out.

*You’re hopefully seeing this while I’m out on the run. My plan is to post the link on my way out the door.

*We did it! Thank you to everyone who helped me reach my fundraising goal for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Team RMHC is approaching $2 million for this fundraising period, which is amazing. If you still want to contribute, you can do so at this link.

*Next Sunday Matt Sucich is in Boston. We’ll be there. 5pm show for sure. Maybe even the 8. Check out the website for ticket information if you’d like to join us.

*There will be plenty of marathon training updates the next few weeks at the Instagram …like the story behind the picture at the top of this post. But of course you can follow along with all social media sites at the links below. Thanks!