No-No's!

It appears that quite a few of the things I've done during my marathon training so far have been complete no-no's.

I shouldn't have tried switching shoes. The Brooks to Minuzo incident lost me a week of training due to the sore ankles and knees; not to mention the popping of the right knee. I'm so glad this didn't hurt me too much. It seems I'm back on track and was able to finish the 16 miles fairly easily this past weekend.

I shouldn't have been racing. First of all, I'm prone to injuries. Secondly, I did notice that the days after I raced, my regular runs were a bit harder.

I shouldn't have ventured out on a mini-long run during the week without knowing the path. This was a no-no because, as I've mentioned, last Wednesday's run was a bit rough as the path was...errr...ummm...crap! I've determined that uneven surfaces are not good for me...again, prone to injuries. For my mini-runs, I really need to find a route that will take me on flat asphalt and that is safe to run on.

I stopped strength training. I think I should be incorporating this into my routine...at least a few times a week. But time has been an issue and strength training hasn't been a priority. I was at the gym yesterday cross-training and had to use the 10 lb weights for my bicep curls. A few (?) months ago, prior to becoming completely engrossed in running, I was using the 15 lbers. Hmmmm... :( I have 10 lbers at home...I just need to use them! And find some leg exercises, probably squats or lunges, to help strengthen my quads.

I have found the perfect pre-long run energy source. For my last two long runs, I've been drinking Genisoy Protein Powder with milk. I drink three-four heaping scoops with a cup of water and a cup of milk before I go to bed. Then if I wake up, I have two scoops with a cup of water. In the morning about an hour or so before I run, I have the same combo as before I go to bed. This weekend, rather than drinking an entire bottle of water with a Zipfizz, which is my normal pre-run drink, I had a 5-Hour Energy drink instead. I think the less water made for less bathroom breaks. ;P And I wasn't thirsty - stopped twice and got some water at the rest areas along the route.

I wonder how far along I'd be if I hadn't been making all these mistakes. I just can't wait to cross the marathon finish line.

So no more no-no's for me! ;)

Week in Review.

I really need to be more diligent about posting entries... Seems my marathon training is cutting into my blogging time.

Speaking of which...Tuesday I ran an 8K (5 miles) - came in 3rd in my age group with a 0:42:06 overall time and 8:28m pace. And yesterday I ran 16 miles in 2:50:00 - 10 minutes better than my 15 mile run last weekend! :) I had myself completely stressed out about yesterday's long run. I was up until midnight the night before. Woke up several times during the night with an upset stomach...I swear I lost 5 lbs! But hey, at least I didn't need to make any stops during my run! LOL!!! Sorry, but there's always a positive side to everything, right? I was so freaked that all I kept saying to myself was...what have I gotten myself into? Nothing like talking yourself into a tizzy, right?

My marathon training is really going to start ramping up. I'm a little nervous about getting in the mini (ha!) long runs during the week. I'm using Hal Higdon's training plan for the novice and so far, so good. This is the beginning of Week 12. I just need to find a place where I can run 8 - 10 miles on asphalt. My last 8 mile run on Wednesday was awful. I took a path and it was really bad around mile 4 - my knees and ankles hurt like the dickens afterwards. Guess I know trail running is out for me! ;P I'll have to see how traffic is, maybe I can get a stick on deflector and run against traffic on the shoulder when I'm not on the path???

Wow...six more weeks to go until the marathon. WOW....scary and exciting!

On a different note, Paul is back in town. He met me on the road around mile 8 yesterday with his roller blades which was very nice. :)

I have to say that I'm feeling a little uneasy about our relationship. Part of me thinks I expect too much, but a part of me thinks that I deserve what I expect. I dunno. I do know that we are two extremely different people in many ways including the way we communicate. I think that is what is on my mind the most...communication. It's key and part of the foundation of all relationships. I guess I'm just frustrated with the past several weeks - him being out of town, his not being able to commit to plans/times, not really talking to him (we talked, but we didn't really talk), the incessant texting vs calling... I guess it just leaves me with the feeling that I am not that important...but then he does things that surprise me.

::sigh:: I could say more, but I don't need to be negative. Positive, positive, positive!!!!!

Guess I'll go ponder things while I'm cross training at the gym. Nothing like a good workout to clear the mind! :)

Alone

I'm really missing Paul. He's been gone almost this entire month for work. I've seen him maybe three days...

I'm tired of being alone...

I'm lonely.

1/2 Marathon Plus

Got up this a.m. and went out and ran 15.2 miles. It was under 70*F and I was wishing it was even a little cooler towards the end of the run. This run was soooo much easier than my 10 and 12 mile run in 90*F heat!

The marathon is only a few weeks a way. I'm pretty excited. :)

I'm pretty dang proud of myself. I completed my longest run yet...longer than a half marathon!

Goooo Brooks!

Ran four miles down the path today...after taking three days off.

So far NO PAIN!!! :)

I love my Brooks Defyance...so much so, that I may just sleep with them tonight!! ;P

From here on out, it's Brooks all the way!

Gooooo Brooks!!!!!!!!

Knee Pain - New Shoes or Runners Knee???

Okay, so I'm training for the Detroit Marathon (my first) and so far (knock on wood) no injuries or pain even after my long runs - longest was 12 miles in 90* F. I've been very careful about my training as I stress fractured both ankles, at the same time, last summer by too much running on pavement.

I have two pairs of Brooks Defyance - love them. Wanted a new pair of running shoes, so I thought I'd try the Minuzo Wave Riders. The fit and feel of the two shoes - completely different.

Sooo...I ran four miles in the Minuzo's on Thursday; it was hot and humid, but my time was pretty good. Something was off. The run was hard and I felt like I was struggling...but again, time was good, so I just chalked it up to the heat. No pain after the run.

Took Friday off - rest day.

Yesterday, Saturday, I ran a 5K (on pavement) in my Brooks Defyance. I came home changed and decided to put on the Minuzo Wave Riders for a long, slow run – 8.86 miles. I felt like could feel every step of the long run, but I was feeling really good. No pain during the run.

After the run, I did a couple hours worth of errands, then relaxed for the rest of the day. Around 9:30 / 10 p.m. I noticed something odd with my right knee. It seemed a bit stiff and hurt every once in a while when I walked. Uh, oh! I did a little self diagnosing research on the web, popped a couple motrin and went to bed.

This a.m. got up and knees were throbbing ever so slightly. Iced them about 10 minutes.

Of course I’m freaking out because I don’t want this to be an injury like last year. I’m hoping it’s the new shoes and praying it’s not runners knee.

Falcon 5K - Rocked it! :)

Had a 5K yesterday a.m. - 0:25:09 overall with a 0:08:05.7 min. mile average!!!!

First mile was the quickest at 0:07:41 - who'd of thunk I had it in me???

Running Fool

Let's see....

Woke up Saturday morning and it was raining. I was bummed and a little relieved. I had an 8K (5 mile) Race Saturday a.m. which I almost didn't go to until Paul called me a "fair weather runner"! That was it and off I went. I barely made it there, to the bathroom and the start line...but I did it. It started pouring and didn't stop the entire race. Pouring rain...and I had a 13 mile run on Sunday to do...wonderful. Partially why I didn't want to do the race. But I'm sooooo glad I did! I placed first in my age group!!!!! And I averaged 2 seconds better per mile than I did at the 5K! ALRIGHT!!!! 0:41:28 overall with an 0:08:21 m mile.

Sunday got up, took a cat nap and then headed out for my long run. It was already 78 deg F when I started and over 90 deg F when I finished two and a half hours later. I ran 12 miles in the blaring heat and unforgiving sun. WTF was I thinking???? Should I mention that I started out by jumping into a puddle and shimmying myself over these metal road barrier things to get passed a flood in the road a mile into my run? Can you say die hard?!?! Or should I say lunatic???? Hmmmm....LOL!!! The rest of the day, Sunday, I was done in.... Five bottles of water after the run and I was completely exhausted. Overall for the week, I was over the schedule by six or so miles, so I didn't feel too bad doing one less mile on Sunday.

Monday I was still tired. Not sore - thankfully - just tired. A day of rest.

Today I ran three - that's all that was on the schedule! Tomorrow seven, Thursday 4, rest Friday, long weekend run of 10. I also have a 5K race on Saturday, so I'll get in an extra three for the week.

I'm really starting to think that 10 minute miles for the marathon in October is very attainable! :)

Yikesers!

(Possibly TMI for some!)

Today I went to the dentist to get my permanent crown. Afterward, I headed over to CVS and got a 5Hour energy drink and a Cliff bar since I had a six mile run to do. Mowed both down on the way home...

Got home, changed, let dogs out and headed up to the path for my 6 mile run.

Started running...

About a half mile into the run, I have to go to the bathroom. There are no pit stops anywhere on my run except two and a half miles out...

I really have to poop! I'm barely jogging...but I'm jogging to get to the rest area which I know is a ways away.

I run past some construction...over the fence I see a Port a Potty. Heaven! Alas, I figure it's too dangerous to try to get over the fence and head over there.

It's getting really bad...I'm wishing I had a Depends! I actually go off the path and find I am surrounded by poison ivy...NOPE! Don't need any bugs flying up my butt or an itchy ass! ;P Back on the path I go...

Finally, after almost two miles, relief in sight!!!! The rest area!!!

I bolt (okay, maybe not bolt) over to the rest area and pray that the doors are unlocked. They are!!! I go in and find there are no doors on the stalls. I DON'T CARE!!! Relief!!! I get up...nope...back down I go... Ugh! Sweat is pouring off me, even though I was only jogging, and I'm wishing it was over.

I get back on the road and finish my run. Three and a half miles of blissful running!

I will never, ever have that combo so close to a run again. What a disaster!!!

All I can say is...Yikesers! LOL!!!!

Obsessed & Lovin' It

I've really lost it…or rather I've become completely and utterly obsessed with running.

 

I now find myself weighing how an invite or whatever is going to impact my running schedule.  I have an invite for Wednesday evening…but I'm thinking I'm going to decline because I have to run (get it…I HAVE to… ) 6 miles Wednesday evening.  This weekend there is a festival going on I've been wanting to go to and now I'm bummed because I can only have a couple beers Saturday night because I have to run (get it…I HAVE TO… ) 13 or 14 miles on Sunday.  Friday night I can't (get it…CAN'T… ) do anything because I have an 8K Race on Saturday morning.

 

Yuppers, completely and utterly obsessed. 

 

But I'm loving it!!!! :) :) :) :)

I AM...

Boy, I took today off from running and I've been going stir crazy. I went and got my number and shirt for this Saturday's 8K, then I stopped by my sis' house. I know I needed a day off, but OMG...I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...will be running. Friday off. Saturday 8K. Sunday 13 miles.

I'm a little worried about racing Saturday and the long run on Sunday...but I know I CAN DO IT!!!

I know I can do it because...I AM a Marathon Runner! Okay, not yet, but soon!!! :)

Too Much to Ask?

I just want someone to hold me and tell me everything will be okay. That everything will work out the way it is meant to. That they love me...

Why does it seem as if everything is so difficult...

I just want to be happy...and not alone...why does it seem like it's too much to ask?

I don't think it is...so I'm just waiting...very impatiently!!! ;P

Extraordinary

I don't want to settle for okay and nice...

I want extraordinary.

When Paul gets back I need to see if he wants the same...WITH ME...because I really do like him...

Extraordinary...I deserve nothing less.

Magic - Real or Illusion?

I think this about sums things up...

“Love can sometimes be magic. But magic can sometimes...just be an illusion.” Javan

125 Minutes

That's how long it took to run 11.08 miles today...

The plan was to run 10 miles today in training for the marathon. I've never ran 10 miles and I was a little tentative about it when I started out. I was hoping for a call or text good luck from Paul...but I never got one.

Run, run, run...I ran down the road... Everytime I was feeling tired or discouraged, I would tell myself - "you're a marathon runner, you can do it!" Apparently it worked! ;)

I stopped to get some water around mile 4 - in and out of the rest stop on the road. Mile 5 seemed to go on forever... I stopped at mile 6 and mile 8 for some water, too. I walked maybe a minute or two around mile 8 (which turned out to be mile 9)...

When I got to end of 10 and saw it took me 125 minutes I was a bit discouraged...12 minute 30 second miles...bah!

I got home and mapped the run...turns out instead of 10 it was 11.08 miles! 11 minute 17 second miles are a bit easier to swallow! :)

125 minutes...

That's the amount of time I had to contemplate my current relationship...

A couple posts back I said how I wasn't sure how long I was willing to wait for Paul to catch up... A lot went through my mind today. It hasn't been all rosey as of late...and I haven't really written about it because a part of me thinks that Paul may still be reading this and I've been trying to keep our personal life off the blog. But I can't help but write tonight because I keep feeling like he is pulling away and I can't help but feel like I'm some sort of after thought....there's the kids, work, softbalf, golf, the house...and then there's me. I just feel very unsettled about things...

Here it is 9:30 pm and not a single peep from him today.... I know he has a signal because he texted me last night. It's very disappointing to me. He knows how important communication is to me. And I'm tired of making excuses for him about being busy or wrapped up in the kids or the house or whatever. It takes two minutes to text and just as long to call for a quick hello.

It's funny (okay, not really)...there is a pattern that keeps repeating... I get unhappy, we talk about things, he modifies his behavior to make me happy, then I start becoming unhappy because he starts reverting to his old behavior.

125 minutes...yup. :) and :(