So Much Promise.

Running has been wonderful lately. Even though I am no longer training for a marathon, I am still running on a consistent basis.

And, my motivation for this glorious consistency is my wonderful, and new running friend! She lives just around the corner and is a motivated, ball of energy. She's awesome! Unfortunately, due to Josh traveling a teensy bit a few weeks ago, the holidays, and Michael's little illness; we haven't been able to run together on a consistent basis over the past month. However, I love knowing that she's here and that I don't have to run by myself so early in the morning anymore!

And, if my running partner happens to get sick or if one of her children are sick; I've a got a backup plan now!!!!! What is this plan, you ask??? A treadmill. Ah... That's right, a rat-mobile, planted warmly in our basement! This was a Christmas gift that made my heart sing with glee. I doubt that I will have the self discipline to really train long miles on the treadmill. However, it's going to be wonderful to have a morning back-up plan when the weather is bad or if I don't have a running buddy to meet.

So, this half marathon that I'm planning on running this winter??? I should be totally READY. No excuses this year. Last year I was full of em'!! I couldn't be happier or more thankful for my new friend or for the new rat-mobile.

Life is so good.

Pictures from the Marathon.

Marathon photos:


Just in front of the Capitol building, around mile twelve or so.

Bundled up before the marathon...

FINISHED!! Wahoo!! Check out the medals, they're HUGE.

Katie and Sharon just before the race...

Hope you enjoyed!

Where to start?

One week post marathon...

So. Obviously, I ran the marathon. On my main blog, I have a super long montage with pictures and commentary from the race.

I actually have a little video from the race that I'll try to throw on this blog in a few minutes, too. The video is from one of the best parts of the marathon, mile 19. At this point in the video I was approaching the bridge, which is known as one of the most difficult parts of MCM. I have found that part to be pretty spectacular, actually. So, be watching for the video this evening....

I haven't run one step this week, other than chasing the ole' two year old. My toes are feeling better, but are bruised badly under the nail. It looks like I'm going to lose at least two nails, possibly three. At some point, I'm going to head down to a local running store and chat with the owner about a new pair of kicks. It's time to switch from the Brooks Adrenaline, I'm afraid. Or, it might just be that I need to move up a half size.

My legs feel great. And, I feel fantastic, overall. I've gotten a lot of much needed rest this week, which has made me feel like a new woman. It will be interesting to see how my first post marathon run goes this week. I'm wondering if I'll feel winded or if my toes will begin to ache or if my muscles will hurt or maybe I'll feel incredibly well rested...Time will tell.

This morning was the first morning that I can remember in months that I have gotten up with the sun out. Seriously. For the past four months, even days I didn't run, I got up around 5 or 5:30. So, sleeping in this morning was a real treat.

The great thing about no longer training for the marathon is the freedom from following a schedule! I'm trying to plan a few running "dates" for this week and next weekend. Surprisingly, the running schedule interfered with these dates because of the mileage that I needed to get (or maintain) for the week.

Running dates and sleeping aside, I still can't wait to run another marathon. I'm thinking San Antonio would be fun OR Disney....There's no doubt about it...marathoning is addicting!

Enjoy the video...

News Flash to Kate:

Please note. You have not run the marathon, yet. Therefore, you are waranted to take off for a week before the marathon. That's not how you taper. You actually do RUN during the taper. : )

It's been a tough week, haven't done much running at all.

I'm going to run 3 or 4 tomorrow. And, then a short one on Saturday before I head out for the race with the girls!

The countdown is on, and I feel ready. I suppose...

I do have questions running rampant through my head...things like what do I wear? Should I bring my belt? Where can I meet up with Diane and Tom before the race? What should I buy at the expo?

Just thinking about the finish and the moments after the marathon makes my heart pitter-patter. I can't wait. : )

This time next week:

my running buddies and I will all be FINISHED with the marathon!!

That's a comforting thought; the nerves will have settled, soreness will fill our bodies, and our souls will be filled with the elation that ensues from running 26.2 miles. I just can't wait. I'm crazy, I know.

This morning I headed out the front door around 7:45 or so, which is much later than usual for me. As I ran past a big clock in town, the time read 8:08 and I thought to myself this is exactly what I'm going to be doing at this time next week: running!

The run this morning was glorious. The air was quite crisp, I actually wanted to turn back around and head home I was so chilled at the start. I kept on, though, and eventually warmed up. After running for about twenty-five minutes or so, I noticed a beautiful hot air balloon landing about a half of a mile away from me. It was a beautiful sight; the crisp autumn air accompanied with a blue sky and the glorious colors of a hot air balloon.

As always, I'm so thankful that I have been a healthy body to run all of these miles and witness such beautiful sights on each run. It's really quite a gift.

Seven Days to Go!

Oh boy. One week til marathon day!

I'm kind of throwing up in my mouth, if you will. It's just really hard to believe race day is just a week away.

Today I completed my last long run with some running friends. We ran about eight miles at a relaxed and easy pace. The weather was perfect, it was nice and cool.

Physically, I'm feeling great. No aches or pains, but I was pretty tired this afternoon. Tomorrow morning I'm planning on running four or so because I skipped a four miler this week. The rest of the week will be very do-able. Total, I will run about seven miles before race day. Not bad!

Like I've said before, the taper is the fun part. It does mess with your brain, however. This week, I caught myself thinking...am I really ready for a MARATHON? I've hardly been running, but I think I felt like that because the miles have been dramatically shorter.

Stay tuned, as there will be musings about the impending race throughout the week. Maybe I'll throw in a weather report for next Sunday, too. If you're lucky. ; )

Uh-Oh

I've got a sore throat today.

Awesome.

Must be catching Michael's cold. At least this is an easy week and I'm getting a cold well before the marathon.

No big deal, but I don't feel so good tonight.

Later~

Piece of Cake

Tomorrow is a quick four miles with a friend here in town. It'll be over before I know it....

I'm starting to obsess over the weather for race day, which is annoying because weather is totally out of my control. I would just like to "know" what to expect on race day. It's been pretty warm here and we haven't had rain in ages. So, I'm predicting lots of rain, temps in the 40s, and wind that you would not believe.

Just kidding.

No matter what type of weather we have on race day, I'm going to be so grateful that God has given me a healthy body, and the strength and determination to run 26.2 miles!

It's really quite amazing, if you think about it...

Two Weeks Til Race Day!

The time has come....

It's time to TAPER! ( I LOVE this part of marathon training---this is what I train for!!)

Wahoo!! A few short runs this week, a easy run next weekend, and next to nothing the following week!! YEEESSS.

The girls and I have been making our plans for the hotel, the expo, the pre-game meal, our race day outfits; it's just too much!!

Stay tuned for updates throughout the week.

(Oh, my foot...it's fine for right now. : ) )

My Right Foot.

So.

My right foot hurts. It has hurt for about a week now, actually closer to a week and a half. I'm starting to get concerned, actually.

Initially, I chalked it up to wearing this ridiculous, unsupportive pair of heels. That doesn't seem to be the problem, though. The pain has moved from the top of my foot down to the bottom.

I am going to take things easy for the next few days. I'll still run, of course, just not at a record breaking speed.

Speaking of record breaking speeds--(I kid, really)--I ran the 10 miler in an 1 hour, 21 min, and 49 seconds. That's fine, not fabulous, but fine. I've included a few pics from race day.

This weekend will mark the next to last pre-marathon-long run. It's hard to keep straight, I know...Basically, the marathon is just around the corner.

Ten Miles....

Tomorrow is a ten mile race for me. I'd like to get in around an hour and twenty minutes. We'll see. Don't know how I did in this race last year, maybe I'll look it up before bed.

I'll report back soon with a race report.

(The photo is from last year. I ran a 1:21 last year...)

Thank Goodness...

....for running dates!

Last night was a late one and I had to get up super early (4:30 am) to meet Diane.

The wake up time was ridiculous, I know. However, if we didn't have our little date planned, I never would have been able to drag myself out of the bed this morning for a solo run.

My running friends and I always talk about how grateful we are for one another. There are many times when we plan to meet at ghastly hours of the morning, without batting an eyelash.

This week I need to get in a five miler, and an eight miler before the end of the week.

My legs are still really sore from the 20 miler. It's kind of an out of body experience when my legs are this sore. It's like I'm walking on stilts or something! Sounds fun, right?

A Cross Post...

This is a cross post.... It doesn't have much to do with the little guy, but it does mention a k-h and her marathon training. Read on, if you'd like...

I've been deviating from "the sacred plan" lately, which, always irritates me. I'm a stick to the plan!, follow the rules!!, kinda person.

Last week's running did not go as smoothly as I had hoped. I managed to get in the two 5 milers and the 13 mile long run, but I ended up missing the 8miler. My plan was to run the eight miles on Sunday, even though we were at a football game about three hours from home the night before. Naturally, I just couldn't drag myself out of bed on Sunday morning. So, I skipped the 8 miles.

This week, I thought about trying to squeeze eight in on Monday and then do three 5 milers during the week. Didn't stick to that plan either... So far, I've done two 5 milers this week, however the plan calls for three and then a 20 mile long run on the weekend. The long run won't be a problem, and they usually aren't because of my running group. Tomorrow I can get in the five with a running friend. So, this week I'm on target...I just can't let go of the missed eight miles from last week.

Because I just can't let it go, I'm contemplating running just a little bit on Saturday to get in 40 miles for the week. Who am I kidding? I'd like to run 5 on Saturday, and that' s not "just a little bit". As long as I run slowly on Saturday, it shouldn't ruin the long run for Sunday....Except, well, Sunday is actually a 20 mile race. I know, how do you "race" for 20 miles? If I figure it out, I'll blog about it.

This is just a glimmer of what goes on in my head during marathon training. It's so annoying. Things used to be easier when I didn't have our precious baby, I had a shower in my office, and when I lived about ten minutes from the running group. I wouldn't change a thing about my life right now, though. I am so grateful for our baby, for my new teaching gig, and for our running-friendless home/neighborhood.

The two morning runs this week have been wonderful, however. The full moon is beautiful right now. It's so bright, I feel like it lights my little path in the mornings.

There are only thirty days until marathon day!! How did that happen??? And, after the twenty miles this weekend, it's all down hill. (Aside from the marathon, of course...)

Check out the RunHappy link to the right for more of this nonsense....

A Lack of Motivation.

Well. I've reached the "hard" part of marathon training. I'm TIRED. I'm tired of waking up in the middle of the night, worrying about missing a long run with "the girls". I'm tired of centering the weekends around getting a long run in. I'm tired of trying to manuver longish runs into my schedule during the work week. And, well...I'm just tired.

Tomorrow, I'm planning on meeting a buddy for a thirteen mile jaunt so that I can fit the long run in before the weekend starts. I'm actually looking forward to that run; even though I will be getting up at 4:00 am so that I can get myself ready for the day and get to our meeting place on time. Some people might think that's crazy...waking up at 4:00 am, running thirteen miles, and then teaching a bunch of middle schoolers the rest of the day; but the running high will get me through the day just fine. I have a feeling the exhaustion will hit around 8 pm tomorrow evening...

I skipped the 8 miler this week, so I'm planning on squeezing that run in before church on Sunday morning. That really shouldn't be too difficult, even though I'd rather be sleeping...

There are only, what...37 days left of this madness...

It's worth every complaint, though. There's nothing like finishing a three hour run with dear friends or just listening to the sound of your breath on a 5 mile run early in the morning. So, as tired as I am right now, I wouldn't trade the experience of training a marathon for a ten am wake up time, EVER.

Happy Trails....

~k.

A Bazillion Miles Later...

It's been awhile since the running blog has been updated, but believe me, I've still been plugging away.

This weekend I switched things up a bit because we're going to be out of town next weekend. So, instead of running thirteen miles, I ran close to twenty. What a gluten for punishment, I am.

My shoes have waaaay, way, way too many miles on them; which is causing some knee pain. As soon as I get my new pair, I'll be good to go again. The pain doesn't stay with me throughout the day, so it's really not that serious. It was pretty bad, though, on the nineteenth mile yesterday. It amazes me how important it is to run in good shoes. Anytime I get the slightest twinge, I know that a quick change of Brooks Adrenaline will take any discomfort or pain away.

This week, I plan on trying to run two five milers, a eight miler, and a thirteen miler all before Saturday. This way I can really enjoy the weekend with my family and not have to figure out how running plays into the schedule.

We'll see how this week goes! One more twenty miler and I'm over the marathon training hump! Honestly, once that run is finished, it's all down hill from there.

Thanks for checking in---

Felt longer than it was...

Ran four this am. And, it felt like fifteen miles, or something comparable. For some reason, I had major side stitches during the last two miles. I wasn't running too fast, didn't drink soda before I started (I kid...I never do that...; ) ), didn't pig out on chocolate chip cookies (Sometimes I do have a little treat before a run...)...Some runs are just like that, though. There's a good chance that I'm still recovering from the long run on Saturday and the long run on Monday. My back was actually sore yesterday morning, especially if I took in a deep breath or yawned? That's gone today, however.

Anyway, hopefully Friday's run will be better....

Sweet Seventeen.

Ran seventeen miles this morning. And, what a glorious run it was! No kidding. The weather was just GORGEOUS for running. In fact, it was just a teensy bit cool when we got started.

The loop that we ran was fabulous because we didn't have to back track or add on loops. That's always nice because sometimes it's hard to stay focused on the distance when you're running past your car a time, or two. I hope that we'll run the same course next week and then just add a mile somewhere during the run.

Honestly, I'm not even sore! My toes hurt. But, my legs? Totally fine! I barely feel like I ran! How crazy is that??? It's definitely due to the perfect pace, the weather, the gu, the water, the gatorade, and most importantly, the company!

This run definitely boosted my confidence and my excitement in regards to the marathon. And, I've also discovered that chocolate is definitely the best flavor. Oh, it's yummy! Trust me.

Running in Circles.

I'm happy to report that I had the fortitude to run eight miles by myself on my first day of school, with students. It was a humid, boring run; but, it felt so good to work off all of that nervous energy. I got started pretty early (like, 5:15); but next time I think I need to get out by five. My pace wa very comfortable, it was a solid nine minutes per mile. Not bad at all!

I ran a negative spilt, which is a very good thing to practice when marathon training. A negative spilt is when the second half of the run is faster than the first half. I figured out during the last marathon that I HAVE to run the first half slower than the second. And, I do mean I HAVE to. Not only is better for me physically, but more importantly, it helps me psychologically. When you're on the sixteenth mile, it's uplifting to know that you're only getting faster and stronger than you were on the tenth mile. That's huge.

While I was running yesterday morning, I ran into a woman I know and we've made plans to meet one another tomorrow morning. It will be so nice to have some company and to have a reason to get out of the house on time. Tomorrow's run is four, which seems so do-able.

During the run yesterday, I thought a lot about the marathon, which was a good thing...But, I have to admit, when you're finishing up an eight mile run in this hot, humid weather; you begin to wonder if you've really got it in yourself to run a marathon...

I try not to let these thoughts cross my mind because OF COURSE I can do it. It might not FEEL good and it's certainly going to be painful, but I know I can do it...

Trying to Fit it all in..

Our move last year sure did change my whole running plan. Initially, I thought that I'd be able to just meet my friends "whenever" to run because we moved only about twelve miles from our old house. And, initially, that scheme worked out fine, until I got so tired I could barely think in the evenings. I was getting up somewhere between 4:30 and 4:45 in order to run with my friends. Eventually the lack of sleep caught up with me and I got very sick with bronchitis.

So, I figured I'd run on my own in my neighborhood. That worked out okay until I scared myself with the newspaper delivery man. I thought that his patterns seemed a little strange, etc, etc, etc. So, I quit running by myself. Then I decided that I was brave enough to give it another go, and somewhere soon after that, this man popped up on a cul-de-sac out of nowhere. I got VERY scared that day and quit, once again, running by myself.

Move ahead to the summer and the early morning sunlight, I began, yet again, to run alone. And, I'm still feeling okay about running by myself...However, I'm encountering some obstacles. One, it's very dark again this early in the am. I haven't had the best track record of running in the dark by myself, as I have mentioned. And, two, this marathon plan calls for some pretty long runs in the middle of the week, anywhere between seven and eight miles. Because I've switched jobs this year, I can no longer use the shower that was in my office; which means I can't meet my friends on the day they do their long run. And, the indoor pool isn't open yet, so I can't shower at the pool after meeting my running friends, either. So, I'm going to be stuck (hopefully, just this week...) running eight miles, by myself. Or, I guess I could just not shower on the first day of school and just get dressed there? : )

It's funny that with the job change, I have experienced the most stress in trying to figure out how I'm going to run in the mornings. It's one of my top priorities, though...

Easy Eleven.

Today's run was a blast. We ran about 10.94 miles, approximately, of course...

There were four of us, one of whom has never run above ten miles or so. And, she did so well!

I felt very strong, despite the horrendous humidity. My toes, however, hurt! I'm thinking about finding a podiatrist for after the marathon.

This week the mileage goes up considerably. The mid-week long run is eight. And, what about the long one, you ask? Oh. Just SEVENTEEN. Ha. : ( I can preeetty much count on sleeping all of next Saturday afternoon. That's okay, though, the running high is certainly worth it; as are the sodas and junk food that will DEFINITELY follow as well....

Stay tuned! Things are starting to gear up around here for this marathon!!

Freedom: GONE.

Oh boy. I'm really missing the freedom of running later in the morning. I love the summer days when all I have to do is get home by 7:45 for J. to get to work on time. Now, if I'm not home by 6:30 and in the shower, I'm totally late for work.

This morning I got up around 4:30 am and met two friends around 5:15, or so. The run was fantastic. I'm feeling very strong right now. Actually, come to think of it, I haven't run since Saturday. Wow. It's been awhile! That must be why I felt so good today...

The break that I took means that I'm going to have to squeeze in three more runs by Sunday to get my mileage back on track. Tomorrow I'm going to try to do seven, Friday will be short-like four, and then Saturday will be the long one.

My body is holding up well, aside from the lack of sleep. The toes seem to be enjoying the anti-fungal medication....

I really do miss my freedom and the sunlight early in the morning.

Rendered Useless.

Anything over fifteen miles really takes a toll on my energy level for the rest of the day. And, well, it just plain hurts when you've been running that long!

Aside from that, yesterday's run was great!! At 5:30, I met five other runners. We did a five miler around town, and then I peeled off with two friends and we went to meet three other girls at 6:15. From there, we caught up with the first group, so all together there were nine of us! It gets better, though, from there we met one more runner. Once we got everyone collected, we ran about five more miles together. By that time, it was time for four of the original five to head back to their cars, so the rest of us did another five mile loop. Are you confused yet? We like to change things up a bit, I suppose...

I felt fine throughout the run. As usual, I spent lots of time calculating the distance and multiplying it by various speeds. I do this all the time! It drives me crazy sometimes...In my head, I knew that I needed to get in two hours and fifteen minutes, at least. So, once I got to that point, I just wanted to walk. My friends carried me through the last mile, or so...it was probably less than that...

My problem with super long runs usually isn't the running itself, it's what comes afterwards. It's like I go into shock from the strain on my body or something; my stomach cramps, my feet ache, I have chafing around my stomach from the fuel belt, I'm STARVING, and I'm very achy. I've found, though, that the more I continue to move throughout the day, the better off I am. So, chasing Michael, while it's exhausting, actually prevents me from feeling incredibly sore the very next day.

I am very, very thankful for my helpful husband after long runs, though. I wouldn't be able to run marathons if he wasn't such a help with our little guy.

What they don't tell you...

One of the worst parts of marathon training is the thrashing that my toes receive. I pretty much always get blisters underneath my toenails from the constant pounding that comes with each stride. During the last marathon that I ran, my big left toe had a monsterous blister underneath it that lingered around until after EASTER.

Right now, I am trying this fungal cream for my toes, which is so disgusting, in hopes that my toes will hold up better throughout the training. It seems to be helping, although I'm confident that I'll lose two or three nails before marathon day.

Maybe I'll go ahead and schedule a pedicure for the day after the race...That's something to run for, right?

Rambling Re Running...

The running reunion was great, if you've been wondering...

My friend, Tricia, was in town on Monday, as well, so we got a run in on Monday morning.

The nine miles on Sunday went quickly, believe it or not. After running at the beach for a week, this weather is absolutely delightful and great for running!

Tomorrow I need to squeeze in seven. My initial plan was to do that this morning, but I felt a little tired and unmotivated.

Those feelings quickly dissipated, however, as soon as I got started. I always assume that I'm running ten minute pace, even though I think I go a little faster than 10/mile, so I multiply the miles by ten to figure out the amount of time that I need to run for that morning. Since I skipped the seven miles and opted for four, I ran just shy of forty minutes today. I definitely think I went over the four miles because I was huffing and puffing at the finish of my run.

Next week school starts, which means that I am not going to be able to leisurely drink my coffee and read the newspaper before my morning run. Bummer. I've always got the weekends, though...

Fifteen on Saturday...UGGH. It's supposed to be very cool though, that'll help things!

More later..

A Running Reunion

This morning I am going to meet my old neighbor for a run, and I can't wait. She moved away a few years ago, but prior to her move we lived across the street from one another and we ran together all the time. Anytime she comes home we try to have a little running party, if you will.

This morning I am going to try to make this running reunion my long run. I'm planning on running nine today, since I wasn't able to get it in while we were at the beach. It should be a good run, simply because the humidity is not like 500%.

Even though I didn't do the long run at the beach, I did get my mileage in for the shorter/middle distance runs. The day that I ran seven was extremely difficult, with the wind and the humidity.

It's been a great running week, though. And, I am especially looking forward to seeing my old friend, I have missed her so...

Beach Running.

This morning I got up around six, made my coffee and got ready for another day of running on the beach. It was a HOT, HUMID run; let me tell ya. Yesterday was a little bit easier than today, mainly because a storm came through early in the morning, which cooled things off quite a bit. Today was a different story, however.

For the past two days, I have run to the "point" of the island. It is a beautiful, quiet peaceful place where the island actually comes to a "point". It's interesting to note how the island changes from year to year. When we were here in 2002, the point was almost non-existent. Thanks to a lot of work by the locals here, they have added sand bags and brought in sand to make the point wider.

Tomorrow I should do seven miles or so, and then I plan on taking off Thursday so that I can do my long run on Friday.

Today I did about four miles or so, yesterday's mileage was probably close to five.

Movin on up.

Yesterday, at 5:00 am (GOOD! MORNING!), I met some girlfriends and began a fourteen mile training run.

There is this soreness or tightness that forms in my legs on any runs that are longer than thirteen miles. The soreness that I fel on those runs is similar to the feeling of putting rubber bands on your braces for the first time. My legs can go further, but at the same time I feel like something is restricting them from moving faster; it's probably my mind, right?

I was on the move yesterday because of packing for vacation, and I'm finding that I'm totally beat this evening! The run and the early start time has taken it's toll...

Tomorrow I'd like to do four, but with the way I'm feeling right now...I'm not so sure that I'll be able to drag myself from the bed in the morning.

Feeling Good

This morning I registered for a 20 miler in September. Oh boy!!??!!

A number of my friends are running this race, as well. No matter how far the distance is, no matter what the elements provide, and no matter how fast we run; we always have fun together! So, even though my toenails will really take a licking and my legs will be sore and achy; I know that I am bound to have fun that morning! Somehow... : )

The run today went well. I went a little bit over the distance for today, but I felt great and didn't run too fast. Tomorrow instead of doing nine, I'm doing fourteen with some training buddies. We decided that since many of us are going on vacation, we are going to flip the long runs for the next two weeks. So, instead of having to do fourteen before I come home from the beach next week; I will just need to run nine. I definitely like that idea, even though I'm going to be beat tomorrow evening! (We're starting the run at 5am. Uggh.)

A Good Start.

Monday I missed my cross training opportunity: a swim with my friend who is training for a triathlon. I didn't get enough sleep the night before...the little guy was up for a LONG time early, early Monday morning.

Today, however, I got a great start for the week ahead. The plan calls for 3-6-3-9. Today I did the three mile run, but I added on a mile and a half because I was feeling so great. (Gotta love those runs!) The run today was a solo run, which was kind of nice. I pushed myself throughout the run, and I felt terriific after finishing.

It's going to be a week without much rest...we're leaving for vacation on Saturday, so I'm going to squeeze in the long run on Friday morning. Nine is totally doable, so I'm not too worried about feeling wiped out for that run.

A New Day.

Today's run was great. Much, much, much more enjoyable than yesterday's run. The humidity was not as bad, and the sun wasn't blazing hot. I hopped up and got my three miles in before seventy-thirty.

Surprisingly, I wasn't sore at all from the run yesterday, which is really great because we were running at a good clip. The only part of me that felt a bit tired were my arms. It's amazing how much your arms help you in a long run.

Tomorrow is going to be a cross training day for me. I am going to meet a friend to swim laps! As a child, I participated on the local swim team for a number of years, but I have gotten out of the habit of swimming laps.

Needless to say, tomorrow is going to be a real treat. Swimming should help my arm strength, which I need right now!!

Positive Vibes are FEW.

Today I did the "long run" of the week, which was about twelve miles.

I'd like to say that enjoyed every last scorching stride in this lovely July heat; but I didn't.

My legs felt tired from the get-go, which has me baffled because I haven't done anything out of the ordinary lately. (Except for taking a WEEK off...doubt that's recommended by old Hal.) I also got a later start, eight o'clock; which, is just WAAAAY too late to start a long run in July. Trust me. It's too stinkin hot at that point.

Under normal circumstances, I would have been finishing up around eight or would have been done for an hour or so; but my running buddy needed some extra sleep, so we got a later start. She'd meet me later in a heart beat, too~we're definitely in this together!

I will say that the problem with starting a run late in the morning at this stage in my life, is that by the time I'm done; the two year old is FULL FORCE ready!! to!! play!! and J. is exhausted by that point. If I can get home by eight, sometimes I can shower before the little guy wakes or if he's awake he's just a wee bit slower than at ten o'clock in the morning.

Like I said, the positive vibes are few today. I'm hoping it's because of the heat and not because I'm too out of shape to get myself ready for this race.

We'll see. Tomorrow I'm going to do an easy three.

Just for Amy!

(The photo is for my girlfriend, Amy. She thought it would make a great addition to the ole' running blog...And, she's right. Don't you think?)

Well, well, well...

Let's see....Skipped running on Tuesday. Whoops... I'm always so lethargic and lazy upon returning from a vacation!

However, today, is a different story. I ran about six miles with two of my friends. It was a wonderful run, coupled with the fact that the course was very flat. Surprisingly, I felt great. It's been a whole week since my last run, so I was counting on feeling poorly. The temps are low for this time of year, so that helps tremendously.

It looks like I'll be running for the next four days because of skipping the beginning part of the week.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to run three, but I'll probably do four. Friday, three. And, Saturday TWELVE. The miles are starting to creep up...slowly, but surely.

It's a sick thought...but I love the soreness that comes with long runs...the way my toes ache because they're blistered under the nail....I know, it's a sick thought, right?

Most Importantly... I *love* the way that I can eat the day of a long run...I don't hold back when it comes to "refueling"!

I'm totally addicted to this whole marathoning thing.

Been Awhile...

It's been awhile since I've been running!

In fact, I haven't been since last Wednesday...That's awhile, for sure!

Tomorrow, I'm planning on doing a three miler or so...

I have a feeling that my legs are going to feel weak and wobbly....we'll see. Hopefully, I'm wrong.

WOW. THAT WAS FUN.

Did the "long run" today, instead of this weekend. The program I'm using says to do eleven, but really I was shooting for nine this morning.

In my haze of exhaustion, I locked my keys in my car as I stepped out to meet my running friend. Grrr. So, the first part of the run, my mind wandered to thoughts of... what am I going to do? Get Josh to give me a ride? Run home, pick up more keys, and then run back? The plan was to run long today, anyway, right?

Instead of begging Josh for a ride, dragging the babe out of bed, and disrupting the household; I ran home after my friend and I did five and a half or so. If you're thinking you shouldn't leave your house unlocked, please know that I didn't...I locked the wrong keys in the car. My key chain is one of those that separates, so that I can easily carry my car key while running. That was the one that I locked in the car.

Anyway, I ran upstairs, grabbed the keys, and ran back to the starting point. This got me almost three miles, which was fine by me. It wasn't the eleven miles that the program calls for or even the nine that I was shooting for, but it was close enough.

Now it's time for a few days of resting these tired legs of mine.

Keep On, Keepin On...

So far my running plan for the week is working. Yesterday I was able to drag myself out of bed at 4:40am to meet my running group at 5:15 am. We did about six miles or so, at a great pace.

This morning I met a few running friends and we got in five and a half miles or so. The fog was really thick this morning, which always gives me the creeps! My legs are starting to tire because of not taking a day off. Today one of my running partners needed to walk because of a hamstring issue, so that made my legs feels pretty heavy. I have a really hard time switching between walking and running, sometimes. Today was one of those days when walking made my legs feel sore, achy, and heavy. And then when it was time to run again, my legs just refused to go any farther!

Tomorrow I want to get in my long run, eleven miles. I'd be content with nine, though.

Then I can take things easy on our trip! And, just maybe sleep in until seven am???

Right on Track.

Training is going well, I'm happy to report.

Last Thursday I did a solid five.

Saturday I did seven, which was a mile over what the training program calls for...

And, today, I did five and a half or so. Today was supposed to be a cross training day, but I couldn't resist running with one of my very favorite running buddies.

This week the program calls for three, six, three, and then eleven over the weekend.

We're going out of town, though, so I'm trying to bank some miles before we leave. Banking miles, or running back to back to back, probably is not suggested; but sometimes you've got to deviate from the plan. So, I figure today counts for one of the runs for this coming week.

I'm going to try to run for the next three days straight, with one of those runs being the long one. (Yuck.) This way, I can enjoy our trip and try to fit in a three miler on our vacation. We'll see if my body agrees to that plan. It'll appreciate the break on Thursday, I'm sure!

I'm feeling great and I am really enjoying the program. Hal Higdon really knows his stuff! : )

A Dirt Road.

I've been a runner, almost, my whole life. In sixth grade, I ran a decent mile. From what I remember my time was 7:49. My PE teacher suggested that I run on the cross country team. I went home, baffled. "What in the world is cross country, Mom and Dad?," I asked. They got excited, and told me that I should RUN! as a seventh grader. You see, my parent's, have four children. And, the more exhausted they could make us through exercise, the easier it was to get us to bed at night. (Right, Mom? Right, Dad?)

One of my very favorite runs in middle school was from the high school to a street in town. In order to get from point A to point B, we followed a dirt road through an apple orchard. How I loved that run! It felt so *far* and it reminded me of my Grandparent's and the orchards that my grandfather managed. Did I mention that I loved how *FAR* that run was??? (Four miles.)

Now? That trail is almost gone, except for a small loop. There aren't any apple trees, either. And the really sad part, you ask? A housing development now rests in the hills of that orchard. And, we live in that neighborhood.

Before any other houses go up, which will hopefully be awhile, I need to get out and photograph that trail.

Yesterday's run was heavenly. The morning light was breathtaking and the air had a crispness to it, which is rare for July. After the run, I found my in laws walking towards this dirt road. Naturally, I ran as fast as I could so that I could join them. This was the first time I had been on that trail since high school.

It's been a great running week. The program calls for 3 miles, 5miles, 3 miles, and then the long run, six. Not bad, for marathon training, right?? Many people have the idea that you start out with the super long runs from the get-go, with marathon training. Thank heavens, that is just not so! The mileage does jump up next week, but I'm ready!

Update on the long one coming... tomorrow!

Flapjacks!

Just read this am that doing "flapjacks " counts as part of the cross training for many marathon programs. The current issue of Runner's World has a great little section about various marathon training programs.

The great news about "flapjacks" is that I already do them; I just didn't know that they're called"flapjacks"! Before bed, as Josh is primping, I get in about four sets of crunches and four sets of push-ups. These are, flapjacks! Get it--you flip back and forth, just like a flapjack. Ah Ha.

I've tried to tell my former students that this is an easy way to fit in exercise at night...while you're watching your favorite TV show or movie, lay down and crunch those abs! You don't need any equipment, or a fancy exercise outfit...It's a quick and easy way to strength train. They say, that's hard to do when you're playing a video game. : (

And....If you're lucky, like me, maybe someone will taunt you with the Rocky theme song while you're doing your flapjacks. That always seems to tickle Josh.

My Dream...

...is to watch Roger Federer win a championship in person one day. My all time favorite sporting event to watch on TV is Wimbledon. I have been begging Josh for a few years now to go to Wimbledon with me. Although, I might settle for the US Open as a starter.

Watching professional athletes, like Federer and Nadal, motivates me and inspires me.

This morning, on my lovely three mile run, I thought about Federer and how phenomenal it is that he has won Wimbledon five years straight! That just amazes me. The drive to win, and the focus that it takes to accomplish such a victory; for five years in a row is an inspiration. And, to be so humble after such an incredible victory...(I am aware that he just might have another side, but he certainly is classy in interviews, okay?!)

And, since this is a running blog...

I haven't felt this good on a run in a long, long, long time! According to the Hal Higdon plan that I'm using, I only need to do three today, five tomorrow, and then three later in the week. Once I got started this morning, I just wanted to keep going; I felt strong and relaxed. Runs like that are an inspiration. Runs like that make you think that maybe Boston isn't out of the question...

Sporting a Skirt...

Running skirts are all the rage these days, among women runners. I've thought about trying out one of these running skirts, but I must admit that I'm pretty frugal. Some skirts are in the $50-$60 range. That's waaaay too much, especially if there's a risk of chafing. Youch! They are pretty cute, however. Maybe the chafing is worth it?

One of the biggest pieces of advice that I received before my first marathon experience, was to NEVER try anything *new* the day of the race. No new shoes, no new socks, no shirts, no shorts, no jog bras; on the day of the marathon. The main reason for this, is that many problems can crop up expectedly during the race. Problems like monster blisters, just ask Novak Djokovic about blisters. (He retired halfway through his match agaist Nadal yesterday.)

All this ranting and rambling is getting to a point, here. It's time purchase a cute, little running skirt for marathon day. If I'm going to wear one on race day, I need to wear my skirt on long runs! Choosing a color is going to be tough. Should I get one that matches my shoes? Or, do I go for basic black?

The nine miles went well yesterday. We beat the heat by getting out before the sun came up. My legs aren't sore at all, but I do feel a bit tired. That's probably Michael related, not running related tiredness.

Summer Sun

Got out a bit later than I was hoping for this am, and paid for it, somewhat. It's a treat to take my time in the morning and leisurely get ready for a run, but this also means it's usually a good degree, or two, or three warmer than if I began an hour earlier.
I did manage to get in a little over three, and I felt great throughout the run.

Tomorrow I'm jumping up to nine miles, but the pace will be easier to manage and I'll be with a big group of friends~~ that ALWAYS helps. : ) Next week's plan is similar to this week, but then the miles start to creep up from next week on.

The beginning of a marathon program is just like the first big hill of a roller coaster...click, click, click...And then, you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into!

I love it.

Peace.

My favorite ways to find peace:

1. Going to church.

2. Sitting or walking on the beach.

3. And, the most frequent of all, running in the morning. The earlier, the better.

The plan called for five today. Instead of trying to map out a five miler on one of those running web sites, I ran for a little over 50 minutes.

Overall, I am starting to feel better. My hurdle today was the humidity. Uggh. The air is starting to get thick and heavy, thankfully it wasn't extremely hot.

I enjoyed the run, though. Tomorrow I'm supposed to do three and then sometime this weekend, nine.

A Racing Debut.

This morning I helped a couple of my girlfriends who direct a 4th of July 5k. Along with the 5k, there is also a 100 yard dash and a mile run. And, guess what?

The age limit for the 100 yd dash is 2-5 years of age. I got so excited when I thought about our little guy running in a race. Josh says it's better that he missed it this year because next year he'll be able to beat a few kids. ; ). No pressure, Michael. : )

It was a very cute race to watch this morning, and there were a few two year olds participating!

Next year...

No pain, no gain.

Day Two.

Today was day two of marathon training, a short three mile run. That sounds do-able right?

Well. It is. And, it should be since this isn't my first marathon. But, I took off two weeks--the last week of school (stress and exhaustion got me...) and the week we were in Texas (the chips and salsa got me there...).

So, I'm struggling through each and every run. The past three runs have been tough, to say the least. My legs feel heavy, I've gotten side stitches, and I just feel WEAK. No wonder so many people don't like to run! If it felt like this all of the time, I'd question my sanity.

It just takes time, though. One day soon I'll get out there and a three miler will be a piece of cake.

Let's hope so, anyway! ; )