Took this photo on a whim as I was running and I thought it turned out nicely.

We are one week away from the Chicago Marathon.

Saturday was the last long run - and there will be more lasts for this round of training this week.

Here’s what happened in Week 14 and then I’ll tell you more about it:

Monday: 4 miles, 10:45/mi

Tuesday: 15 minute Lower Body Peloton workout

Wednesday: 4 miles, 9:59/mi - modified intervals

Thursday: 5 minute core workout, 10 minute upper body, and some yard work

Friday: 5 minute core workout, 20 minutes on the bike

Saturday: 10 miles, with 6 at tempo - 10 miles, 10:26/mi

We’re following the typical final week of training routine - I’m overthinking the training - do I cut down? Do I stick to the plan? Do I wrap myself in bubble wrap so I can’t get hurt and just sit in the corner for a week? - but I’m also starting to fill my head with doubt a little bit.

Can I do this?

I know I can do it. I’ve done it five times before.

But what else is there to do for the next week other than catastrophize? (I suppose I could think positive thoughts but I guess that’s not how I roll in this situation.)

So this past week I cut down on the strength workouts - I still did workouts, I just did maybe half of what I have done in other weeks.

And instead of doing the 9-to-10 miles of intervals I had scheduled, I cut it down to 4 miles on Wednesday - a mile at tempo with a half-mile recovery, then a half-mile at tempo with a quarter-mile recovery, and then a quater-mile at tempo with a warm-up and cool down.

And instead of running on Friday, I decided to do a Peloton bike ride.

I have been looking back at previous training sessions and what I’ve done this close to the race and I think taking it easier and keeping my legs fresher can’t hurt.

I know I should trust the plan…but the reality is next week I’m running 26.2 miles on Sunday and I’ve done the hard work and what happens over the final 10 days isn’t going to make or break it.

I want to add here - because I kind of buried it in Wednesday’s monthly goal recap but I want to make sure it doesn’t get overlooked - I think one of the reasons I struggled through that 18-miler last week is I was coming down with a cold.

All of the other things I mentioned are still true - the heat, the dehydration - but I think they were aided (or not helped, depending on your perspective) by me not feeling 100%.

So I’m slowly recovering from that and feeling myself again. Hopefully that isn’t a factor next week.

Because the truth is I think this is about the healthiest my legs, feet, everything have felt heading into a marathon.

I’d like to keep that feeling for the next week, so I’ll be taking it pretty easy…a run on Monday, maybe on Wednesday, and maybe just core work on the strength days.

The hay is in the barn, as they say.

Next week we feed the horse. (I don’t think they say that.)

Total Miles for Week 14: 18

Total Miles Overall: 332.27