Week 9

9weeks down, I made it through the half way mark. This was a great week to have a recovery week. I felt nice and relaxed all week and my 11 mile run today was fabulous. I did 4 with Josie and she was great and then I dropped her off and finished with 7 more at an 8:30 pace. I felt really good. It was nighttime so I was surpirsed that I enjoyed it so much. A Bear had to work and so it didn't work out for me to go until late but I felt really good and had no stomach problems. I went on a little different route and I liked switching things up a bit and staying closer to the house. It was dark and cold when I got back but it was a good run. I really enjoyed this distance, its funny that I could feel so comfortable at such a long run in such a short amount of time. I didn't have any leg cramping and didn't have any soreness after. This run brought my weekly total to 27 and I ran all 5 days, good for me! Now I just have that 17 mile run coming up next week hanging over me.

Running Christmas

Merry Christmas! And what a running Christmas this was for me. Not only did I do a slow 3 mile run this morning, I got just about all running presents. I guess this is what happens while you are training for a marathon. My parents got me running shoes and socks, A Bear got me a water bottle, Itunes card for new music to listen to while I run, a beautiful jogging stroller to take Baby C with me running, and my in laws got me some running clothes to make it through these cold winter months. I love every, single thing that I got and can't wait to try it all out. Of course I need it to warm up before I can take this little guy out in the cold but my new running clothes work great and are keeping me toasty warm. I just need hat and gloves now I think and I will be set...but I can wait. I can't believe its Christmas already, I remember thinking if I can make it through Christmas training for this marathon then I can make it to the end. Tomorrow is my half way mark run so if I can make it those 11 miles then I think I can make it to the end of my training, at least that is what I keep telling myself. :)

Christmas Slump

I have felt so slow this week. Not to mention the unusual cold weather and SNOW we got there this week. I have felt better than last week though. Its funny because I felt like my legs never recovered at all last week and were still tired for my Saturday run and then this week they have felt better even though I ran farther. Its kinda weird but I have needed my legs since we have been so busy with all our Christmas stuff. I do feel like all the ice cream, cookies, and goodies have caught up to me on my runs. I have been slow but that's okay because this is what a recovery week is for. Josie has been kinda sluggish too and especially interested in all the trash on the ground and trying to slide on the ice.

I did do a 4 mile tempo run on Tuesday and felt great. I kept a little over an 8 min./mile pace the whole run and felt really good. Its funny how much faster I am without Josie and also how much faster I felt like I got finished eventhough I only finished a few minutes before I normally would. It has been nice to sleep in a little also since A Bear took time off work for Christmas.

Week 8

So I finished out my 8th week of training today with a 15 mile run. I ended up finishing with an 8:37 min/mile pace overall. I could tell that I had started out fast. Josie was in great shape and didn't slow me down one bit. She was actually pulling me along for part of the time. We tried out a new route today and it took us through a new neighborhood. I really liked it and liked trying out something new. The only thing about changing up my routine is that then I don't know my mile markers. But I had a great run and I felt really good. I knew at the end that I still had more in me. I was tired and my legs were definitely tired the rest of the day but I had fun. I was going to meet up with some women to run but I ended up getting a late start and so I did it by myself. I do okay by myself, I don't really mind it. I just think about what I need to do and listen to my music and focus on the run. Its kind of nice to take a break from everything else going on.

So today brought my weekly total up to 29 miles. 29 miles in 4 days, that just sounds like so much to me. I am looking forward to this week. It is a recovery week and I can tell that my legs could use some recovery time. My knee has been kind of hurting when I get back from my runs. It doesn't hurt while I am running but is bothering me after I get back. I should probably start icing it. I didn't have any power bars or anything today when I went out so I packed some dried blueberries and snacked on them along the way. I think it worked out okay but I want to try out some different stuff to see what I like the best. Well this finishes up 8 weeks of training. 10 more to go!

Forget Friday

So I have been having the hardest time getting myself motivated to run on Fridays lately. Friday morning comes and I convince myself that I will work out later. But then later never comes. I end up never doing anything. Its been fine since I have been doing long runs on Saturday and its kinda nice to rest my legs the day before but I know I need to get out and do my quick 3 mile run those days. Next week, I'm committing myself to doing my whole training schedule as it says. All the days. I can do it.

Feeling the burn

I went out for a slow 4 mile run this morning and I am feeling the burn from my 14 mile run on Saturday (Not to mention the all day shopping and busy night). My hamstrings are bearing the burden. I kept a slow pace the whole time but made it through. My running partner was a little distracted, its trash day, but she was in much better shape than me! Here's hoping I can spend some time streching out today because I need my legs.

Week 7

So another week has come to a close and today I finished it with a 14 mile run. Wow, 14 miles, that is the longest I have ever run in my life. It was a long ways but I felt surprising good. I thought I was keeping pretty good pace but I think I only ended up with a little under 9 min./mile pace. It was a cool day but not too cold so that was nice and the wind wasn't too bad. I also got to do a little bit of some hills so that was good too. I ran about 4.5 miles with my running partner and she did great and then finished the rest alone. I took half of a Clif bar with me and munched on it thoughout the run and that worked out good. I had a lot of fun running and was excited when I made it back. Today's run brought my week total to 28 miles. 4 Days of running, 28 miles so that is a lot for me. I'm excited because I have found lots of people training for this marathon or the half marathon so it should be fun! These long runs really give me motivation and encouragement that I can do this. My right knee cramped up a little after I stopped to drink some water but it went away, but other than that I seem to be staying pretty injury free. I am going to try and do some more streching so that I make sure and stay nice and limber. :)