Yes I Do and maybe another?

Funny the way your mind can play with you!  Funny how running plays with your mind!  So yesterday was my 20 miler, actually did 20.29 miles.  To be completely honest yesterday I was thinking gawd....I need to do that again and add 6 more to that?  This morning my thought was 6 more miles? That is only 2, 3 mile runs no big deal... Tonight my thoughts are... I can't wait to do that again :) 3 weeks!!!! Yippy!!! Training wasn't that bad :) I'm totally doing this again!! Those are my thoughts however.... I told Willie to never let me do it again.  My quads are stiff but not that bad, ankle feels only slightly sore, the biggest complaint I have is my taste buds are messed up from the Flovent I've been taking for my asthma flare.

Week 15, 20 miles! there is no crying or yelling during running!

Wow!  The long runs are officially done, taper time!  My plans this week were to run in Levant during Tuesday night baseball and then a small run later in the week.  Baseball was Monday not Tuesday so I only had 1 day rest from my 14.  Mondays run was hard because I was tired, I got 3 road miles and 2 parking lot miles with several walk breaks.  I ended up pacing 11:39 mm for 5 miles.  Miles are miles no matter how you look at it!  Peepers were better than the music on my iPod. My next run was Wednesday with an average pace 10:51mm, it was a quick 3 miles after dinner.  Wow my stomach was not good! Tacos and then a quick run do not go together, I was not able to do more that 3 or I would have sh*t my pants or puked.  The thoughts going through my head getting ready for today was crazy!  Friday I went to Riteaid before work to buy stuff for my nurse forum on the "patient/family portal" which by the way went very well!  The comments and support was great!  I bought a large Powerade for my beverage of choice for the day.  Friday morning I got a text from Steph that she had an emergency and will not be with me on Saturday, honestly felt so worried about her I thought about canceling my run as well.  Then I heard my moto in my head "I run those those who can't, I run because I can" I would go through with it because I need to.
Last night we had subs for dinner and went for a ride to camp.  The smell at camp made me so happy, ahhhh summer smell!  There is still ice on the lake and it is April 25th, we didn't stay long just enough time to measure some stuff and drop off a tub of clean sheets.  On the way home Willie stopped at Danforths and I bought a 6 pack (of Gatorade:)). I had small snacks into the night and drank a ton of water, I didn't get to bed until 11pm but if I get out late it is just me so it's fine.  Today I woke up at 530, ate my usual and had a cup of coffee for the ride to map my run and drop of waters. I will start at my house go up Fuller, down Irish and towards Levant school and to the store.  Then I will go down Lake road to pine tree road to fuller to home, 21 miles exactly!  I left drinks every 3 miles and decided extra chews at mile 15 so that I had room for my phone.  First mile I felt good, new tunes, new clothes and it was chilly out.  I ran steady without pain.  I drank the entire drink at mile 3.  Music was nice, I played "human" twice in a row, beautiful song.  At mile 7ish I passed a couple walking, tried not to startle them but did anyways.  Song mamba no5 started....wow awesome running song, I felt like dancing it was awesome!!!! I walked briefly at mile 8 1/2 then jogged to my drink but carried it to mile 10 where I would be on Union Street and walked and drank then.  I starting jogging again towards the store and tossed the bottle in the trash, then I paused my watch and went in to pee, real quick in and out and started jogging.  Down the lake road, it was a nice road not hilly and quiet with very little traffic, actually maybe no traffic.  Around mile 11ish the song "your going to miss this" played and I cried, I almost hyperventilated and my airway felt tight, I talked myself down and took so deep breaths.  Mile 12-13 was a little hard, I was lonely.  Half marathon time was 2:21:30, my personal best! Jogging was good from mile 13-15, I met up with another runner just as mambo started again so I was smiling and tossing my hands around (she probably thought I was crazy, I wanted to yell "I'm at mile 15 out of 20") but I didn't.  Mile 15 I checked my phone and had a text from the coach "practice at 10 at the school".  I called Nolan and told him. He told me he wanted to nap and wasn't going!  I told him I would like him to go and I hung up.  Mile 16 my guts hurt, bathroom? Puke? Not sure but I felt awful!  That goodness it passed around mile 17, I walked a hill at mile 17, it was the hill at horseback road, running after that was tough, I was tired and slow, but not too crampy, I told myself that I could walk again leading up to mile 18, which is around Irish rd cross.  I jogged half up the hill and then walked to my 18 mile drink, I saw another runner and again wanted to announce my mileage.  I called Willie and let him know I had 2 miles left and he could come towards me in like 30 minutes. He also told me Nolan went to practice, I told Willie "I can't wait to see you". Jogging was slow but steady, I walked briefly at mile 19 (hill by Christies".  1 more mile! I was jogging good, I felt strong, no real pain, I was singing loud and chanting.  Almost there!!!! I was cresting the hill to start down by the sand shed, I could see Willie in the distance, I was smiling ear to ear, when he got closer both hands went in the air! And I cried! I DID IT 20.29 miles 3:48:55.  Taper time! My legs cramped but only after I got home.  The marathon is going to happen and I am ready (do I want to run a marathon 26.2 miles?? I'm tired right now so don't ask)

Week 14 of 18

Busy at work, sore ankles, busy family, tired, honestly some excuse would be helpful.  I only did 2 runs this week a total of 21 miles.  Only 21 miles this week.... Now that seems silly to say :).  Time is slowly ticking away, one day I feel so confident and ready to tackle 26.2 miles, the next day not so much.  I'm a little worried about my right ankle so my week runs are getting cut short.
Tuesday Nolan had baseball practice so I suited up and took him to Levant.  I started running at about 7pm and I was able to secure 4 road miles in daylight before circling the parking lot.  It was raining a little and the peepers were out in areas during my run.  I felt strong, ankle was only slightly sore.  The first two miles were slow and I'm not convinced the GPS was working on my watch.  I did 6 laps to equal another 3 miles to total 7 in 1:16.  I can say that I felt like the cool mom the way Nolan waved to me as I ran up to the school soaking wet in a baseball hat with my hair braided.  The other moms were staying dry under their umbrellas :).
The next run wasn't until Saturday.  I got up at 530 ate my bagel with peanut butter half  of a banana and a cup of coffee.  I was at Stephs by 630 and we were on the road by 7 ish.  A water stop every 3 miles with Gatorade chews.  By mile 9 I was tired and ready to end the run but kept going, finished 14.04 miles in 2:39.  Hoping next weekends 20 will be better.  My right ankle is sore but otherwise good.  I am still amazed that I have almost completed the training.  I talk about the marathon daily.  I am hoping to get three runs in this week, the weather is warmer and daylight is longer.

No turning back after running 18 miles!

Wow, I've completed 13 weeks of marathon training!  It seems weird that all of a sudden I was like "I'm going to do it!" Got talking with Stephanie then the next thing we know we are 13 weeks in!  I booked our room and signed up for the Marathon this week, no turning back now.  Our last long run was last Sunday so getting the runs in during the week seems tough when we are planning the next long one on Saturday.  Nolan had baseball Tuesday night so I decided I would run in Levant again.  It was a very foggy night but spring was in the air.  My senses were in full gear, the sounds of birds, water running through culverts and the smell of pine, wow!  It was 2 down and 2 back with 1 in the parking lot.  A great 5 miles for Tuesday.  I did not run again until Saturday.  Saturday I was up by 0530, I had my coffee half of bagel with peanut butter with half banana.  I was at Stephs by 630.  I almost got pulled over as I drove by the anglers restaurant, driving 65, he followed me for about 6 miles, by the time I got to Stephs I had to pee so I went in for a second then we were on the road by 640.  I wore capris with a long sleeve top and a sun visor, Steph planted the drinks before I came which saved us great time.  We chatted the whole time!  First 3 miles were great except Stephs iPod died.  We ate at 2.5 miles our Gatorade chews and drank every 3 miles.  No music but we talked and talked about everything and anything just to talk.  At about mile 10 we talked about how we were actually doing it!  But really in all honestly our personalities would never allow quiting.  My right ankle was sore but tolerable, the bases of my feet felt fine after my mini pedi the other night.  Energy was fine, breathing seemed labored but there was no music so it might have been more noticeable going unplugged.  Our last water break was at mile 15, energy was good but stiffness when we stopped and started up again, we were able to shake it off.  We decided that if we stop to walk there is a very good chance the legs would seize up like the end of our 16 so we kept moving.  The last mile was uphill and a big uphill!! I was hot, energy was there but knowing it was the end I wanted to stop. I thought of all "my people" and fought through the last mile.  18 miles done in 3 hours 29 minutes!!!!! The last 0.25 walk to the house our legs seized up, walking was a chore, and it hurt.  It is going to be so important that we do not stop and walk for any length of time after mile 15 or the seizing will happen.  I felt very sore and tired all evening, my legs ached and sitting to watch TV was not comfortable, my legs felt jumpy.  I slept so good and today the day after my 18 miles, my legs feel strong, only minimally sore in my quads and knees.  My right ankle a little sore but I'm being very careful and not sitting criss cross.

Wind Burn!

What a week!!! I started week 12 on Monday March 31st (my Dad's Birthday).  Monday would be rest days, after a 41 mile week the previous week it was nice to do nothing!  Tuesday Nolan had baseball practice in the Levant gym.  So much snow still on the ground that mostly likely practice will be in the gym for the month.  Practice is from 7-8, after much thought about time it takes to get there and back over the frost heave roads I will stay there.  Darkness is about 730 so I figured I should run in Levant while Nolan practices.  I wore my reflective gear and headed down the road, I figured 1 mile down and back.  The first .25 of the mile was tough!  My right ankle hurt Achilles area and my knees and feet hurt, man I was feeling great but wow I'm tired.  I managed to shake it off and did 3 road miles, the last 1/2 was a little jumpy in the dark, I couldn't wait to get to the school.  I ran the 4th mile in the parking lot, I felt safe.  Wednesday I took off, and ran on Thursday.  On the treadmill I did 3 miles, it was tough, I felt tired!  Tired all day Friday and I took it easy on Saturday as well drinking water and eating protein.  Sunday is today April 6th.  I got up at 530, ate my 1/2 bagel with peanut butter and 1/2 banana, and my coffee.  I dropped waters off at mile 3, 7 and 10, Capri roaring waters :).  We started running by 640 am, it was chilly and very windy, my hat flew off.   I left my hat and we were off.  Down the hill we saw at least 5 deer.  We chatted and ran at control pace, got caught up on the week behind us.  Mile 3 was first water stop, waters were empty!!! The darn birds pecked the pouches, darn it what is up with our first water break!  Next water was mile 7, it was good and we walked a short distance.  Mile 10 again short walk 3 more deer, energy was good and I had no pain.  We finished 12 miles in 2:17, the wind was so bad, blow you sideways and back.  My cheeks are red in windburn.   Overall a good week.  I was more tired this week then anyother.  18, 14, 20 and 12 left for long runs, and to be honest 12 is not really a "long run". Crazy to say that huh?