Mojo up, mojo down...

Spinning today because I want to - and I have a bike reserved (a very hard thing to do at my Y). I did nothing more than walk yesterday, but I decided not to beat myself up over it. I will run tomorrow, or I will run Saturday for sure. I am not feeling lazy per se, just a little tired of training. I took the weekend off from logging food and now I am back at it after 2 failed attempts, Monday and Tuesday. I keep thinking that I will catch some magic weight loss feeling... Just a little fantasy I have... I think I need to step it up though and start actually working at it. Nancy reminded me of that this morning.

PS - I got my Marathon information packet yesterday! I am officially number 19205 ! WOW!!

Cross Train Day!

I am feeling pretty awesome after my 20 mile run. I was stiff Sunday, but this morning I hopped out of bed at 5:30 without a problem. Daisy Doodle and I walked a mile or so and here I sit drinking my coffee... only 1 kid is up and she's happily snacking on a granola bar with "ReadySetLearn" on TV. I am trying to organize my day and I just can't figure out how I will get it all done. I need to do a minimum of 45 minutes cross training. I could do my 3 mile loop with dog when my youngest is in preschool; I could go to the gym and do the elliptical... I HAVE to go grocery shopping in the biggest of ways... My fridge is EMPTY. I cooked the last of the eggs this morning, my daughter snacked on the last of the strawberries (the only fresh food in the house) and I have waffles, but no butter or jelly or surup. I have cereal, but no milk. Forget about lunch - and since DD2 ate the last granola bar, DD1 has nothing to take for school snack... My house is a DISASTER! I need to clean everything, change sheets, dust, vaccum... The bathrooms are disgusting and the laundry keeps reappearing... I want to take down the winter curtains, put the mittens and boots away and rake the yard...The minivan is in the shop today and I need to figure out how I will get to the garage to pick it up when its ready. Oh, and my hair is in desparate need of a cut and color...

It seems like when I have too much to do, I end up doing nothing.... Like sitting here typing when I could be getting a start on the cleaning, or getting some clothes together for the kids so we can get out of here and to the grocery store. I could be making a list for the store instead of just going in blindly assuming that we need everything (but we do). It's days like today when I could use a nanny, or a housekeeper, or a personal assistant...

I ran twenty miles yesterday...

Wow! I really did it! 20 miles... The first twenty of the Boston Marathon. Could I have done 26.2? Probably. I am not going to say that it was easy, but I really did have a good day. I was anxious when I got to the community center. I was bus sick on our way to Hopkinton, and my calf just ached for the first five miles. However, I ran really well - 9 and 1 the whole time, and I only started to slow on the last few hills - which are definatley the hardest of the course; outside of Heartbreak Hill. My time was 4:24... That's a 13:12 pace and right on track to finish in under 6 hours... my absolute ultimate goal outside of finishing. My friend told me that if you get in under 6 you get your name in the Boston Globe... oooooo.... famous!

I had my MP3 player, but I never turned it on... I think I just may leave it home on Marathon day. It was kind of nice to just focus on the goal at hand... When I got to mile 15 my coach said that the last 5 were the most important of training. I just tried to zone in on finishing... getting to 20 before 4:30... I did it! My sister is going to run the last 10 K of the marathon. She's the oldest and can get a little bossy, but I think its going to really help me stay on track til the end... I am a little worried...

I have dreaded the training days - going long - 16, 18 miles... but now I am excited. We've officially started the TAPER... I really am going to do this!

Women in Motion

I went to a seminar put on by BROOKs at our local running shop. It was great! I got a little mojo for my big Saturday run, and I bought a new - well fitting sports bra. I can't wait to try it out! I also met a girl who's looking for someone to run with - she belongs to a local run club, but she's slow like me... I am thinking about what to do post-marathon and this seems like a good way to maintain my base and hopefully get faster going into Tri season. Lots to think about / plan.

Yesterday I did cover my 3.5 mile hill course, but I took the dog. She's OK after the first mile when she doesn't have to stop and sniff and pee every other second..... you get the picture. I was just glad to have gotten outside - I was not overly motivated... Today was a cross training day - I did the elliptical for 30 minutes and then ran 1+ miles on the treadmill to test out the new bra - which, by the way, works wonderfully.

I am logging my food and will step on the scale every day for the next week . That is my goal. I know that with a little weekly tweaking, I'll be able to get my diet back on track and hopefully lose a few before the big day. Wouldn't it be great to be solidly in the 185 range? It would.

I am annoyed with this blogger thing!

I have tried to upload pictures all this week and my stupid computer locks up seconds into the process.... It is very annoying... Suggestions/Help would be appreciated.

I have 3-5 miles on the schedule today. It chilly out now, but I am going to try and knock these out while my youngest goes to preschool at 12:15... I figure I'll shoot for 3 miles on a very hilly course and if I feel the urge or have the time I can tack on another 2. I only have 1.5 hours - so I am setting my goals modestly.

I am confirmed and have my bib number for the marathon! How cool is that! Now I just have to get through 20 Saturday - and 12 the following weekend! TAPER BABY!!

Thankful...

I actually got on the scale this morning. I am THANKFUL... I am maintaining... I can move on from here and regain the control I lost a few weeks ago with regard to my diet. I will once again journal my food, eat mindfully and embrace my marathon training. I have just a few weeks left. On April 17,I run the marathon. On April 22, I turn 40. I want no regrets!

I just got back from SPIN class!- something I haven't done since December! I trained steady (at about 85% for me) and felt pretty good. I have sorely missed this class! My hip gave me some pain when I finished stretching, but I am OK now. Seems like every little ache and pain has me wondering "AM I INJURED?", which is my single biggest fear at this point. My left calf is still not quite right - (ever since the half) I hope I'll be 100% for Saturday's 20 miler.... The last of the LONG runs. Yes, it's only Tuesday and I am already obsessing....

Happy FREEZING SPRING!

One down, One to go...

Yesterday was tough, I will not lie. BUT, it is done and I am grateful. 16 miles of HILLS - the course veteran's say is tougher than the actual marathon - I hope they are right. It was NOT a stellar performance. I had a rough week psychologically, and I was sore from the half - still... I felt OK. I ran steady - went back to faithful Galloway - and was able to finish pretty strong. It took me a while though - 3:29 and a full 10 minutes longer than the last time. As expected says my coach. This week he's amended my training in prep for Saturday's 20 miler:

Today - OFF
Monday - swim or light cross-train
Tuesday - SPIN - Yeah!!
Wednesday - 5 easy miles
Thursday - easy cross train - elliptical?
Friday - OFF

Sounds pretty delightful and something that I will stick with for the week. I should be set for Saturday. PLUS - I bought some new stuff which should be in the mail by my Wednesday run so I can try them out - Race Ready shorts (the ones with the cool storage pockets in the butt) and a shirt and a hat that says 26.2. You know how good you feel when you are wearing cool clothes... my run will be awesome! (notice the positive talk).

AND - as for the weight? I haven't a clue. I STILL haven't gotten on the scale (what is wrong with me!) However, my marathon friend Sara, confided to me yesterday that she's gained 7 lbs just since New Years! How could I think that I would be any different? Though, according to my pants, I think I am at least maintaining...

Just keep going...

I had a SLUG week. I walked with the dog, but I did not run. My kids were sick, and while that seems like a convenient excuse, I just couldn't get to the Y (I would have been shot by the other mothers) and with my DH gone for the week on business, I didn't dare do more than walk the dog around the block while the kids were sleeping. I guess I could have run laps... I should have...

I ran 13.1 on Sunday, and tomorrow I have to do 16 miles of HILLS (big ones). I am off in a few minutes to get a couple of warm up miles back at the Y, but that's it. I don't know if running the half marathon gave me license to screw off, I don't know - but I really would like to. I have to get my MOJO back. I am really losing it in this last month of training. I have been EATING EVERYTHING - I HAVE NOT STEPPED ON THE SCALE - I FEEL FAT AND OUT OF CONTROL. Has anyone reacted this with 31 days to go? I am really kind of burnt on this marathon thing. Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow after I run.

Aches and Pains

I took the day off yesterday (aside from a medium sized walk with the dog). My left calf is really not well. It feels like I have a tennis ball wedged in the meaty part of my muscle. It gets slightly better as I walk, but I am not sure that I could take the pounding of a 5 mile run, so I may opt to hit the elliptical - or a longer walk with the dog. Rest, right? I am icing it too, and using my STICK. I need to NOT be injured for long - I have exactly ONE MONTH until the MARATHON!! I am getting crazier by the day!

Half Marathon DONE!

Weather was decent (a little windy, low 50s) but I just didn't have it in me for a PR. I did, however, run the whole way (no 9 run, 1 walk a la Galloway). I only walked to drink, but that's it. My finish time was 2:43:44 - but that's the official clock, my actual time will be a little bit faster - but NOT 2:34, my current PR. It's OK, I felt pretty good, and I got my first medal of the year (BLING).

Off day tomorrow, though I may swim. I didn't get to stretch after the race as much as I usually do, so I know that I'll be sore and the cool pool could be a help. 16 miles on Saturday, HILLS.

Off to the Mall?!

My neighbor is taking my youngest to gymnastics, so my other daughter and I are going to spend some time together. Let's just say that both kids are sick of going to the YMCA so that mom can run. If I am bored, I can imagine how they must feel. They are kept busy playing and such, but it does get monotonous - same old, same old. I asked my eldest what she wanted to do together and she chose going to the mall. Can I tell you how much I HATE the mall? I totally am NOT a shopper, so the fact that my kid wants to look at clothes and such at 6 years old is just baffling. It's her choice though, and we'll have fun.

I walked the dog 2 miles this morning and tried to jog a little with her. She gets the stitches out Saturday, and then we should be cleared for obedience training and MORE RUNNING. I think that she'll be a good jogger, once she learns to focus. I am going to walk her on the same loop tonight and then run 5 miles tomorrow. Saturday will be OFF and Sunday is the half marathon... I can just feel the anxiety building about the run (my usual obsession), though I hope the EXPO will be fun!

Cross Training

I went swimming yesterday for the first time in... 7 months? - Yes, 7 months. It felt awesome to do something that I feel I am fairly good at, and just zone out for a while. There are times when my breathing was hypnotizing... I followed my workout with a cold shower - on my legs, calves, glutes... I am still SO tight and sore from last Saturday and I really want to put on a good showing at the half marathon this Sunday. I don't know whether this cross-training will be good or bad for my marathon, but I REALLY am getting bored with all the running. I am thinking that I could sub out one of my weekly runs for swimming and spinning. I really REALLY miss spinning.

Today I walked with the dog and I'll walk with my sister and her new baby after lunch. I have a nice 3 mile loop planned and the weather is finally agreeable - sunny and 40s!

Monday - OUCH

I fully expected to run this morning. I mean I was/am still sore from Saturday, but I didn't know HOW much until I started running on the treadmill. It was as if my calves were cement - real cement dangling from my knees. I kept thinking - get to 9 minutes and walk, you'll feel better. I made it to 5 and walked; 15 and walked; 22 and walked. I never felt like things were warming up. By the time I hit 35 minutes and only a measley 2.75 miles, I decided I would call this a day and cooled down hitting 3.10 miles. Let me say that it never gets easy, and probably never will. I spent the remainder of my time stretching - something I think I skimped on after Saturdays run because I was too tired and too anxious to get home to the dog.

I will be back out tomorrow back on schedule - my thought is a morning 4 mile loop before hubby heads to work. I will ice tonight and hope that the workout will be more of a run than a walk. It's hard to feel that I am getting any better... 26.2 miles??? Are you kidding???

18 - DONE!!

I am back from the 18 mile run. The first 5 were great, the second five I started having foot pain (that kind in the ball of your foot that runs into the toes), the third five I felt better and the last 3 just really sucked. My goal was to finish in 4 hours and I finished in exactly 4 hours (no joke!) That's a 13:33 pace --- SLOW, but honestly it was 15 degrees when I started and the wind was blowing at a pretty good rate. I am just glad to have this OVER - you don't know how much of a psychological brick has been lifted.

Now I assess what's hurt. My feet are SORE - crampy mostly. My calves are MOOOOOing though only when I go up stairs. My cough is just awful - I really hope I don't have bronchitis - you know that raspy sort of - can't take a deep breath kind of cough?? Maybe it was just breathing sub-freezing air for 4 hours... I hope a hot shower will help, which is where I am headed now. Just needed the kettle to boil so I could make some tea!

Next week is the RUN TO REMEMBER on Sunday so I am SO good training-wise until 3/18 when I have to do the GRUELING 16 miler in Grafton... How can I even think about that now? I am erasing it from my memory for at least the next 10 days... REST and reasonable runs await!

Friday Freak out

My hubby is going skiing with his buddies for the weekend. My kids are going to Grandma's because I have to run Saturday morning, but I have the dog. I tend to obsess about something related to my Saturday LSD and this week its the dog. I haven't been feeling my best and I am concerned that it will be late afternoon before I finish my 18 miles. What's the worst that would happen? The dog craps in the house. That's it, so why do I keep thinking about this?

I am freaked about this running. I am letting it get the best of me. I am anxious. I will run this marathon, but I still feel that it is SO beyond me. I have so little time left. I know that I will be as ready as I possibly can be - I mean I have been about 90% faithful to my training schedule. I haven't missed a long run ever. Relative comfort at the finish line is what the coach has promised. That's all that I want... That and my sanity. Mental - It really is more mental than I could ever have imagined.

Speedy Recovery...

I was SO hoping for one. I keep taking that Zicam, but alas I am still snotty, my head is big and I can't take a good deep breath. I have been slacking this week - cross training Monday and Tuesday to ease through this illness, but today I got up (dog is at vet overnight) and I ran 5 miles. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't fast, but I did it and I am proud of myself for plugging away. I could have turned around at 2, but I did the 1 mile loop to make the five. I sure want Saturday's run to be better...

It has to be. My hubby and kids are going away this weekend and I will have the dog - recovering from her spay. I will walk her before I leave at 7, but then it will be 5 hours before I see her again... can she keep herself together and not pee/poop in the house? We'll see...