Week 15

Never in my life have I done a harder run, never. My 22 mile run yesterday was so exhausting, I just didn't know I could feel like that. It was a cold and very windy day and I had to run about 6 or 7 miles straight into that wind on a wide open road. I just kept promising myself with every step that it would get better and then it never did. I, of course, didn't wear gloves because I thought that it would warm up instead of get colder as the day progressed and I thought my little hands were going to freeze off. They got so numb that when I got to one of my water stops I couldn't open the water bottle. I had to go behind a sign, stick my hand up my shirt for awhile and wait for some feeling to come back. I'm not sure exactly why I did the whole 22 miles since I was so miserable, but I did. I did it, 22 whole miles and I did it at about an 8:38 min/mile pace. Actually that is not that slow even though I felt like I was moving soooo slow. It was just a hard run, I did several miles uphill and then with the wind, so I just keep telling myself that there is no way that my marathon will be that rough of conditions right?? I mean I just have to hope that it won't be windy and that maybe the sun will make an appearance. This Texas weather has just 3 weeks to warm up because it is cold and rainy with no sings of stopping.

The run did have its good times too. It started off well, I kept really good pace the first 9 miles or so and felt really good. I got a late start because Baby C slept in so it was nice to have plenty of time to eat and get ready. But those last couple of miles i was rethinking the whole marathon thing, I mean if its windy and cold what will I do? I know how horrible it will be! I walked in the door and just wanted to fall on the ground crying (which I came pretty close to doing) but A Bear had to go to work right away and I had to immediately start taking care of the baby. I had to feed him and get him dressed and play with him. I didn't know if I could do it but it all worked out. I feel like this is my hardest post, where it sounds like I don't love running anymore... I do, I love what I'm doing and still love running, it was just a really hard run. And man are my legs feeling it today. I'll rest tomorrow and see if I can get some feeling back. But I am getting so close, just 3 little weeks away, just 2 more Saturday runs and then its game time. I can do it, I just need to push myself a little bit longer and then I'll be there and I just have to tell myself that it will be amazing. I have worked too hard for too long to give up now on the home stretch because i had such a difficult day. It was just one day of many days of running and I have had many, many more fabulous runs along the way. Just gotta keep going, 15 weeks down, 3 to go!

Worn Out

That's how I felt this morning on my run. It was like I was seriously forcing myself to put one foot in front of the other. I was so hungry and just felt weak. It was good to go out and get my three miles for the day done. Plus I didn't do anything else after I got back. I didn't do any ab work, I just stretched out and iced my shins. When I got back I was just so hungry, maybe I should eat more before I leave. I think since I pumped and fed baby C before I left that it kinda took more out of me than usual. Hopefully there will be time this afternoon for a nap because I have a very big day ahead of me tomorrow. I can't believe my 22 mile run is just one day away. What will I do if I feel like I did today tomorrow?? I mean I barely made it through 3 miles, 19 more, there's no way. I guess its just all about mentally preparing myself and physically preparing myself by eating more. I'm going to have pasta for dinner and then I'll make a late night snack and go to bed early. Then tomorrow morning I'll eat a banana and peanut butter and maybe part of an energy bar or something. I already have my GU, I just need to plan out my route and drop it off.

Josie was in good shape this morning, she is my motivation some days, seriously. I mean this morning after I finished feeding baby C I would've gladly just stayed cuddled in bed with my little family but there she was, sitting patiently, waiting to go. I just hate to let her down when I know how excited she gets to go running every morning. It sure is nice to have such a diligent running companion.

Moving downhill

That's how I feel now that I have my Wednesday run behind me, like I am finally moving downhill for the week. And after my long run on Saturday I will finally feel like I am moving downhill on this whole marathon training. After Saturday its just 3 weeks away, that doesn't sound so bad, does it? Today my run went well. Josie was in good shape today and still had a lot left in her to pick up pace of the end. Its weird because just today I was telling A Bear how I am getting run down and injuries are starting to provoke me, but Josie, she remains unphased. She never gets hurts, she doesn't have to ice anything and she's ready every morning for more. What is she doing differently from me? Well a few obvious answers, she is younger than me, an animal, and she is much stronger than me. But also, she rests all day if she needs to. She eats only healthy dog food that we give her (and occasional scraps she finds on the ground), I mean her treats are liver for goodness sakes. The girl is in impeccable shape. I think its good to take a few cues from her, more rest, eat healthy, no treats. Maybe then I wouldn't have aching shins and be icing my knees. Well its certainly something to think about...

Back to the grind

Well I feel like I am getting back to normal again. Today I got up early to do some speed work. I did 4, one mile repeats at an 8 min/mile pace. I felt good and felt like I kept the same pace up for all 4 miles. I did an easy 4 miles yesterday and so I am off to a good start for the week. My shins are still bothering me some so I am going to be more diligent in icing them. I just have such better days when I get up and get my runs done with early. I know I need to be careful these last few weeks so that I stay injury free. I would be so disappointed if I went all this way only to get injured the last leg. I hope that alternating between my new shoes and my old shoes isn't affecting my legs, I know old shoes can be a major injury causer in shins and knees.

I've been reading a lot in my running magazine this week trying to get motivated to push myself these last 4 weeks. I know that if I can make it through this week then I'll make it to the end, I just need to keep reminding myself that. At night when I go to sleep I just keep thinking, 22 miles...22 miles... Well at least I have The Biggest Loser to look forward to tonight, that always gets me motivated. :)

Week 14 or what should've been Week 14

So I ran 12 miles this week. 12 whole miles, it was not a good week. 12 miles is how many I was supposed to run today alone and instead it is my weekly total. I just seriously lacked motivation this week. And I had family in town and we stayed at a fun water park hotel and I just wore myself out. By the time Saturday rolled around I didn't want to get up early. A Bear had meeting all morning and by the time he got home I had no desire to get ready and run 12 miles in the cold. The weather was awful, just awful and with no treadmill, I just didn't want to do it. I have got to recommit myself for these last 4 weeks. I am just 4 weeks away now, I am getting so close. I have to keep going. I've worked too hard for 14 weeks to give up now and not push myself to the finish. This coming week is my 22 mile run. Its going to be cold this week and some rain, 22 miles is not going to be easy but I can do it. I can make it through. I think I am going to drop my cross train this week so I can keep my legs nice and fresh all week. I need to recommit myself to eating better too. I had a rough weekend, well last two weekends I haven't eaten very good so I need to keep eating healthy and no sugar on the weekends too. I feel like I am aware enough with my body to know what to eat the night before a long run and the morning of. The Gu has been working really well for me. I just need to keep going and take good care of myself. I need to start icing my legs and knees as they have been bothering me some. I can do it, 4 more weeks!

One of those days

Today was one of those days, you know, where everything is just crazy and you end the day exhausted. It started off with Baby C waking up early and me never going back to sleep. Followed by a rough day for the babe. He just couldn't nap very long and never really gave me much of a break. So I head out to go running and at this point, Baby C is wide awake with my husband, and I take Josie. We start out on a cold morning and I'm thinking, "man I did not dress warmly enough." I have been so spoiled with warm weather lately. Then about a quarter of a mile into it Josie spots a rabbit and she's off. Well no big deal right, that happens everyday, several times. Well she some how wrapped her leash around the tire of a SUV in a driveway and got it stuck under there. I climbed under the car, I pulled with everything I had, I could not get it out. I probably made it worse. I tried for about five minutes before realizing it wasn't coming. There were no lights on in the house and I didn't want to wake anyone up so I just grabbed Josie and walked her home. I was so upset when I got back and A Bear was nice enough to tell me to still go out for about 30 minutes. So I settled for a 3 mile jog and got my bearing back. I went back by the house and no one looked awake still and then when I drove by this afternoon the car and leash were gone. I'm not sure exactly what house it is but hopefully I can find the people who live there and see if they know anything about our leash. Days just don't go as well when Josie doesn't get her run and everything. Mondays, mondays, always playing harsh games with me...

Week 13

Phew, I made it through week 13, my toughest week so far. I actually did my long 20 mile run yesterday so that we could run in a 5K today. I was tired during the 5K but felt surprisingly well. I mean that doesn't mean that I didn't take a 2 hour nap this afternoon and go to sleep early but it went well. I ran the 20 mile run in about 2 hours and 50 minutes, which meant an 8:27 ish min/mile. I felt good, I really did. I had 3 water breaks and GU stops and that really kept me going. I got thirsty around mile 18 but I'll remember that for next time. I did some hills on this run which was good for me to do and get some practice in. The weather was fabulous and so that helped a ton. I was so happy to get it done because the weather today has not been so great. My weekly total is 40 miles! That is a big jump since I usually only do about 30 a week. I tried to stretch out for awhile on Friday and today so hopefully that will help with the tired muscles. I can't believe I made it through the 20 mile run, it just hung over me all week. It is so nice to have it done with. I can do 6 more miles right? Its just 6 miles, after 20 it shouldn't be that bad. It will be nice to have a recovery week to look forward to get back into it. In two weeks I'm scheduled for a 22 mile run. I'm not sure if I'll do the whole thing but we'll see. I am getting ready for this thing to come!

Today we ran a 5K benefit run and had such a fun time. A Bear did great and ran the whole thing. He really enjoyed it and is talking about running another one at my marathon and doing a triathlon this summer. It is fun to see him excited about it and it makes me more excited about my marathon thinking that he will be working hard for a race the same day. We figure he can still come and meet me several times during the race and run the 5K. I feel so guilty that we didn't take Josie with us on the run, she would've loved it and been the most in shape dog there, but we were worried she would go crazy with all the people. We could tell that she could smell the betrayal on us when we got home. I thought we would push Baby C in the stroller but my mom ended up keeping him for us. It was fun to having a running partner and to race each other to the finish line. I could get used to this...very used to this. :) 5 weeks to go!