Amazed!!

Well another week completed means that the marathon is in 7 weeks from today!  Sunday completed my 10, so week 11 started on Monday.  Monday was push-ups only because I was a little nervous of knee pain after think of the previous week, I did 50 push-ups.  Tuesday I decided push-ups would be enough and I did 30 push-ups.  Wednesday was a night of very high winds and cold winds at that.  I stopped for batteries on the way home, ate dinner then went down to the treadmill.  How can I continue to do my work and worry so much about others that I pitch in and get myself behind without anyone even noticing the sacrifice I had made!!!! I managed 7 treadmill miles with 30 push-ups, it was good to really think about how I would tackle the next day, lock myself in the office and get caught up.  Thursday was scheduled for 5 but honestly I had to force myself out, I felt tired and very irritated! Work weighed heavy on my mind.  I laced up and started out and hoped my run would help me clear my mind and shake it off.  I ran the first 2 miles with bricks connected to my shoes (at least that is how it felt). I turned at mile 2 and headed home walking for about .25 mile then slow jogged to the house.  My mind cleared like I knew it would.  Friday is a rest day! Yippy Yippy, today was great day for rest and a great day to eat :) the first time in a long time I ate lunch and felt full! I honestly thought in my head, tomorrow I will have energy because the food I ate today!  Plans were leave the house at 6 am and head to Stephs house.  We had pizza Friday night, homemade on wheat dough, I ate 2 squares and 2 slices and went to bed by 2215 after drinking tons of water.  The alarm went off at 0530 and I jumped up and got dressed, brewed coffee and put a half of bagel in the toaster.  I had time for coffee and my bagel with peanut butter and I headed out, I was nervous because my stomach felt upset (I hate to eat in the am) and I knew my last long run wasn't a full week ago.  Steph and I drove the route to leave waters and we were back and heading out at about 7am.  Excited/nervous not sure which but the run started! I felt plenty warm and the air was light.  First stop mile 3 was powerade and 5 chews.  Mile 4-6 is my favorite on the run we talked the whole time and it felt great.  Mile 6 we stopped for water and again I ate 5 chews.  My energy was good, heading to mile 9 was uphill and I listened to eye of the tiger :).  5 more chews and water.  This time starting to run we both felt stiff, we decided we stop for too long to eat and drink.  We will eat leading up to the water while in motion and stop only to drink.  Mile 11-12 was uphill and I nibbled on the 5 chews.  Water break was quick and was ok, my left foot on the bottom hurt like a blister.  The next 3 miles were good! I had good energy and felt great!  I started feeling sore in my feet, calves and knees just before mile 15.  5 chews in motion and water at mile 15, I could see the last mile.  Mile 15-16 was good but uphill, I was tired but mostly sore.  We did it, 16 miles in 2:59:50 average pace 11:14mm!!!! I feel good today (Sunday) not sore and managed 6.5 bike miles on the stationary bike.  My week was 41 miles with 109 for the month!  Bring on week 12.

Week 10, my longest run to date 14 miles

Hard to believe that I only have 8 weeks until the marathon, even harder to believe I've done 10 weeks of training.  My first run of the week was Tuesday March 18.  It gets dark at 7 pm so I knew I had time to get it done after work.  I got home and the oven was preheated and dinner was going it.  Darn it what should I do?  I really want to do 5 miles.  It was 5 pm, I chopped up some veggies and threw them in to roast with the pork, I also boiled some water for rice.  How am I getting out?  Dinner was done at 550, if I sit to eat I would not have time for 5 miles, if I don't sit to eat I get the mother of the year award for not joining my family.... Well as selfish as I am I went out... I fixed plates for everyone and started out the door.  Nolan says "where are you going, you're not eating with us?" I explained that I needed to run, he said can you make cookies when you get home? I smiled said yes and out the door I went.  My run was the 5 mile rec field loop, it was awesome!  I got home preheated the oven, jumped in shower, then baked the promised cookies.  I might have thrown in a little, I can't use the treadmill tonight, I did 10 this past weekend on it and I hate it.  My second run was Thursday, another 5 in rec loop.  I wanted 8 but after Tuesday my heart wouldn't allow it.  Weekend long run is 14 miles.  Stephanie is sick with a cold but feels ready to go.  We decided to go Sunday morning.  I set alarm at 545, got up had coffee and 1/2 bagel with peanut butter and 1/2 banana.  After driving our waters out to mile 3, 6, 9, and 12 we were on the road by 730ish.  It felt great! Our pace was planned around 11 with walking water stops, we walked further than usual during the stops as Steph felt yucky.  Our water break pace kind of set us up for a slow overall, but it was good.  I felt strong all the way to the end.  No pain, breathing was fine.  I can't believe I did 14!!! I can't wait for 16 :). My biggest issue now is hunger and chills.

Week 9 done....Strong mind!

9 weeks of Marathon training complete.  The beginning of the week had me very worried.....  I finished week 8 on Saturday March8th with 12 miles.  I knew there was a storm coming this week so I decided that Sunday March 9th I would start my week with a 4 or 5 miler.  I started out at about 3pm and at mile one my knees hurt and my legs felt like bricks, I should have turned but I guess I am too stubborn.  I ran to mile 2 where I turned and headed home to make 4, at mile 2 the adrenaline kicked in and I was running good.  4 miles done and I was pleased!  It was time for bed and while stretching out my legs something in my left knee caught me.  Owww my left knee hurts.... All night my knee hurt, it was tight and the anterior part hurt.  Oh gawd what will I do?  I am allergic to NSAIDs so I decided Monday night I would heat for 20 minutes then ice for 20 minutes.  Tuesday morning still a little sore but honestly so much better, I was able to walk stairs, no deep knee bends but that's ok!  I decided that I would rest until Thursday then I would try a run.  Wednesday night the snow started, we lost power and it snowed and snowed and snowed.  Thursday morning we were buried in snow! At least 16 inches of snow! I was working from home so during my lunch break I was going down to the treadmill I had a goal of 8 miles.  8 miles done on the treadmill, slow with push-ups every 1/2 mile, I managed 120 push-ups and 8 miles and felt great! No knee pain, whoop whoop!!!! Saturday with the roads still nasty from the storm we decided to do our 10 miles and do 14 next week.  I did my 10 on Saturday on the treadmill, average speed 5.3, with water/fuel walk breaks at mile 3, 7 and 8.5.  The power flickered at mile 2.75 which almost caused me to fly off the mill.  Accomplished 10 miles on the treadmill, this week showed me my strength, I will do this, my mind and body has never felt so strong.  To top it off Willie believes in me too, he makes me stronger!  I welcome week 10!!!!!!

Week 8.... Abandement issues

Week 8....am I really training for a marathon?  I asked myself this on most of my runs this week.  I started my training week on Sunday this week, so Sunday-Saturday is my 7 day week.  I prefer to start on Mondays but I wanted to make it a 4 run week not 3 and to run in Saturdays and Sundays are my favorite.  Sunday was 3.1 miles in 32 minutes..... A little quick for me but apparently comfortable.  The second run was a 4 miler on the treadmill.  4 miles with 50 push-ups in the basement watching breaking bad.  Thursday March 5 would be my 6 miler.  I was at work at 0650 for a 7am meeting so I planned an early dismissal so I could squeeze in 6 miles before dark.  Watching the clock all week I knew that 6 miles (little over an hour) that to stay in daylight I needed to be on the road by 440 at the latest.  I had my work done so I was out by 1530 right on time to be home by 4 and on the road by 0415, plenty of time for my 6!!! Ethan sent me a text "can you pick me up at school" I said yes and told him I was in my way, that I'll text when I get there.  4pm I'm at the school a little behind schedule but still doable.  I wait and text Ethan for 15 minutes!!!!!! I'm like so angry my time is too short already!  Finally I get him and of course a friend to drive home too and we are off.  I finally get home at 435.  Change my clothes and stop at the basement where Willie was cleaning, help him for a bit and I am finally on the road at 450...I wear reflective gear just in case.  The 6 miles was so sweet! Easy, fast and awesome.  I was in the dark for the last 1/2 mile, but honestly my speed was great!  Only one run for the week left, my 12 on Saturday.  Today was my 12 miles, Steph and I ran from here to Levant store.  We first went to drop off a car then left waters at mile 8.5 and Caravel MS which is mile 5.  Mile 3 we got stopped by 2 barking, growling dogs.  It was very scary but we didn't get bit.  Couldn't wait to get to our waters...... Up to the school we go....water? Water? Water? Gone!!! No water! What? The cleaner must have picked them up off the steps, our next water was 3-4 miles away.  At mile 7 we hit a small wall, thirst was really kicking in but we managed to make it.  Water stop then awesome jog to make our 12 miles.  Our average pace 10:55, next long run we will change it to a 14 from 13 and plan to water/fuel every 3 miles.  Crazy to think we have 10 weeks left.

Seriously week 7 is done!!

The thought of these longer runs on the treadmill make me lose my get up an go.  I decided I would do what I can to avoid treadmill this week.... My running week started on Tuesday Feb 25th with a 6 miler.  I've been watching the clock all week studying the time of darkness, with my road without a running shoulder and some snow banks still leaking into the road, any night running is out.  I got home from work Willie had started a chicken in the rotisserie so I was comfortable leaving for my run.  I went up Fuller for 2 miles then down and up Damascus for 1 to make the out and back equal 6.  Wednesday was 30 push-ups.  Thursday I had time after work for 5 miles just getting home from my run at dusk.  Saturday is my 11, the plans changed last minute so I went by myself, an out and back.  I had 2 pair of pants, 3 shirts and a hoodie, the temp at 8am was 1.  I had my Gatorade chews with me so off I went.  I headed up Fuller rd at 3 miles (homestead lane) I ate some chews, then started jogging towards the middle school.  I got to 5 miles and turned around from fear of dogs on the corner, I ate more chews and started jogging again.  (I only walked while eating). I felt warm enough but with the neck up my shoulders felt tight and I was uncomfortable.  Mile 7 was my best and I headed towards Hermon up the fuller road making it possible to reach 11 miles at the bottom of Damascus rd.  Mile 8 thirst kicked in... Omg I was so thirsty!!! The snow banks were so dirty, I tried kicking the dirty snow to find white underneath.  I only found a couple tiny ice chunks, seriously I needed water, my mouth and throat was so dry, I could hear every stream as I jogged down the road.  I walked  around mile 9 and ate the last of the chews, thirsty thirsty thirsty!!!! I finished my last two miles strong.  Got home and felt great with the 11 done, the temperature was climbing and the boys were ready to go snowboarding!  March 1st, 8 days and clocks change!!!! My legs felt a little tired but not really sore until my fast 5k tonight.  Week 8 will be 4 runs so I did one tonight.