56 miles....Soooo many more to go!

So I've completed three full weeks of marathon training and I am surprised to say that I feel great! The last few weeks have been strange weather wise--super hot, then really nice, then hot again. But I've been doing shorter runs on the treadmill on the days that are too hot to run outside and getting up early enough for my long runs to beat the heat. But other than the strange summer weather, the runs have gone well and without problems. My hip hasn't hurt nearly as bad as I thought it would (I think the new shoes are really helping) and I've been incorporating speed work into my training too, which I've never done before but I can already tell that it is helping.
Speaking of speed, last week I did my long run (9 miles) with my friend Anthony--who completed the Lincoln 1/2 Marathon in 1:40 (I think...) Well at least a good 40 minutes faster than me! So I was nervous to run with him for a long run since his usual pace is quite a bit faster than mine--even if he slows down! But I think it was really good to run with Anthony--he helped me keep my pace up and we did 9 miles in 1:27! That is probably the fastest I have ever run 9 miles! So thank you Anthony for keeping me going!
All in all the first 3 weeks have been great, but I'm honestly worried about the next three weeks. I have a few "vacations" coming up--4th of July we will go to Iowa for Jeremy's cousin Liza's wedding, then the next weekend we go back to Iowa for Jeremy's 10 year reunion, THEN I leave for Colorado for a week. So when am I going to get my long runs in? This weekend I'm supposed to do 11, 12 the next and then 9. I think I can squeeze my 11 miles in this Saturday before we leave for Iowa, but I'll have to get up SUPER early. Ok, so that's part of training. Ok I think I can live with that. But the next weekend I honestly don't know how I'm going to fit 12 miles in--the weekend is packed with reunion activities and a lot of eating and drinking...hmmm...anyone have suggestions? Should I do it early on Friday? Wait till Monday? Try to run as long as I can on Saturday or Sunday and call it good?

Then there is Colorado. The good news--I'll have lots of time to run. The bad news: Altitude. I'm not sure I'm "elite athlete" enough to start high altitude training yet! I remember trying to run last year when I was in Colorado and I wanted to die after about 5 minutes! I might just try to keep up with my runs during the week and take more walk breaks? I think I can do the long run on the Sunday after I get back--and after my high altitude training week 9 miles should be a breeze, right?

I'm proud of the 56 miles I've accomplished so far and that I have felt good. I am getting nervous for the upcoming weeks of vacation and increased mileage, but as long as I'm consistent I should be fine, right? Right? Well we will see!