Yesterday was my last long run before Saturdays race, yep, its this Saturday, just 6 days away. 12 miles was the scheduled training run. I ran 13. Only because of my WONDERFUL and AMAZING husband, Dave. Just when I think it's not possible to love that man anymore than I do, he goes and does something so great for me. Here is what he did.
Sunday was my running day and 12 miles would be the most I have ever run before. I was really apprehensive about the run. Yes, the weather was beautiful and I was feeling great, physically, but mentally, Iwas a basket case. I knew I would be at least 2 and 1/2 hours. How could I possibly do this? I forced myself out the door and went to my running trail. A third of the way into my run Dave showed up on the trail on his bike and rode beside me the whole way. He was telling me how proud he was of me, how strong I was and he was so impressed by my strength and determination. At mile 9 when I wanted to stop, he was so encouraging and just kept cheering me on. At mile 10 when I was starting to have a FULL BLOWN melt down he said to me "Hey, runners don't cry, and babe you're a RUNNER!" At mile 11 when I was ready to cry once more because the wind was getting even stronger and making me so tired I yelled out loud "please for 20 minutes, could you just not blow!" Dave made me laugh out loud because he said, "Now, that is something you will never hear me say."
That much needed laugh got to mile 12. I don't even care how crass his funny comment was. His smart ass comment did the trick and Dave got to mile 13. It took 3 hours, longer than I had hoped for,but I finished. I didn't stop.
Dave has been so encouraging and supportive through this whole training thing. He is,without a doubt, my brightest light.
I found out the other day my sisters are driving the 4 hour drive to Moab to be there for me at the finishing line. Can you believe this? I am just feelin' the love from all of my family and my friends. I sometimes post on Facebook proud moments for me with my training, even my FB buddies offer words of support and encouragement.
I feel so blessed to be lucky enough to have all of these wonderful and loving people in my corner and in my life. I can never say my thanks enough!
No matter the out come of Saturdays race, I feel like I have already won, and won BIG!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
10 miles...check.
Oh my goodness!!!! I did it! I ran 10 miles today and I feel GREAT!!!! Well, except for my glutes, they are SORE! But I still feel super great and super proud and well, just all around super! My time was about the same as all my other runs so that makes me feel good. It's all coming together. The race is 7 days away, I still want to get 2 more 10 mile runs in, I think that would be the smart thing. My glutes and legs are pretty sore. Just a tired sore no injury, so as long as I feel good Sunday I will be at it again!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
I'm baack!
Mantra: I AM doing this
Well it's been almost 2 weeks since I have been able to run. I caught the most horrible upper respiratory infection from my darling yet germ infested son. It kicked my ass! We went to Mexico also for our vaccation and the plan was to get 3 moderate runs in. I was actually very much looking forward to the morning beach runs. I even packed my running gear! But, too sick to run. I am all better now. Which is good because the race in next Saturday. Oh my GOSH , in 9 days the BIG event is upon me. (insert squeal here) I don't even know if that is a squeal of delight, fear, or a moderate combonation of both! I haven't even run more that 8 miles. I am 2 weeks off my schedule.
I did have an amazing run yesterday morning, ran my best time ever. 7 miles in less than 75 minutes. I am running 10 tomorrow. I know I can do it. I just do! This isn't my ego talking either, it's just me having faith in myself and in knowing that I have conditioned my body to run this half marathon. I feel really super good.
I will imediately post all details about tomorrows 10 mile run.
Here is to tomorrow!!
Well it's been almost 2 weeks since I have been able to run. I caught the most horrible upper respiratory infection from my darling yet germ infested son. It kicked my ass! We went to Mexico also for our vaccation and the plan was to get 3 moderate runs in. I was actually very much looking forward to the morning beach runs. I even packed my running gear! But, too sick to run. I am all better now. Which is good because the race in next Saturday. Oh my GOSH , in 9 days the BIG event is upon me. (insert squeal here) I don't even know if that is a squeal of delight, fear, or a moderate combonation of both! I haven't even run more that 8 miles. I am 2 weeks off my schedule.
I did have an amazing run yesterday morning, ran my best time ever. 7 miles in less than 75 minutes. I am running 10 tomorrow. I know I can do it. I just do! This isn't my ego talking either, it's just me having faith in myself and in knowing that I have conditioned my body to run this half marathon. I feel really super good.
I will imediately post all details about tomorrows 10 mile run.
Here is to tomorrow!!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Set Back
I absolutely LOVE taking care of my little family who has all been sick with nasty cough, fever, head ache, and gawd awfull congestion. I will gladly make late night runs to Walgreens for cough medicine and Sudafed. Make 3 meals if thats what it takes to have my boys have their own "comfort" food. Make orange juice or ginger ale runs. Go up and down the stairs numerous times a day to bring the boys their drinks, food, medicines, their favorite movie, anything that they might need.
All I ask in return is NOT TO CATCH THEIR CRAP!!!!! It should just be good Karma to not catch their germs. I mean have I not earned good Karma for being an excellent "nurse/mom"?
So here I am coughing out of control while blogging. What I should be doing is lacing up my runners and running my "training scheduled" 10 mile run. I have to cross that off my list. It's what I feel will be my biggest milestone so far. I need to get "that monkey off my back", if you will. That is how I feel about though.
Hopefully I will feel better to run tomorrow. I ransacked my rx cupboard and found 2 days worth af anti-biotis, a huge "no no" but I am desparate!!!!
So heres' to "Good Health" and I need it tomorrow!
All I ask in return is NOT TO CATCH THEIR CRAP!!!!! It should just be good Karma to not catch their germs. I mean have I not earned good Karma for being an excellent "nurse/mom"?
So here I am coughing out of control while blogging. What I should be doing is lacing up my runners and running my "training scheduled" 10 mile run. I have to cross that off my list. It's what I feel will be my biggest milestone so far. I need to get "that monkey off my back", if you will. That is how I feel about though.
Hopefully I will feel better to run tomorrow. I ransacked my rx cupboard and found 2 days worth af anti-biotis, a huge "no no" but I am desparate!!!!
So heres' to "Good Health" and I need it tomorrow!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Flip-Flop
Mantra: Run STRONG!!!
Yesterday the plan was this: To run 9 miles. On the treadmill, not ideal but with the wind ( I really really REALLY hate running in the wind) that was my plan. 3.78 miles into my run ....out went the power! I thought for sure it would be right back on so while waiting a couple minutes I swept the kitchen floor and dusted the family room coffee table. Still no power. So I windexed the french doors, fridge, stove, and cloroxed the kitchen sink. Still, no power. It was off for well over an hour. I really wished I would have just bucked up and went running my last 6 outside. But I didn't. When the power did finally come back on my running mojo was no longer there. I did do some core work and hey, got some extra house chores done. 9 miles for sure tomorrow! Right? Nope.
Instead of running 9 inside today and 6 outside on Friday, I flip- flopped my running schedule. The weatherman says its going to snow 6-12 inches on Friday. And today was GORGEOUS!!!! No wind at all. A little chilly, but a couple of miles into my run and I was wishing I didn't wear my 2nd jacket. it truly was an ideal running day. My time was off a little, didn't go as fast as I had hoped but all in all I would say I had a really good run.
The 9 mile run is still looming over me. I really wanted that completed YESTERDAY!!!!! 9 miles will be the longest distance I run so far. I'm not gonna lie, I am a little anxious about it.
I read this quote today on Facebook (love the Facebook) "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go"---T.S. Eliot
So, heres to Friday and my first ever 9 mile run. It's really only 1 little mile longer than 8.... Right?!?!
Yesterday the plan was this: To run 9 miles. On the treadmill, not ideal but with the wind ( I really really REALLY hate running in the wind) that was my plan. 3.78 miles into my run ....out went the power! I thought for sure it would be right back on so while waiting a couple minutes I swept the kitchen floor and dusted the family room coffee table. Still no power. So I windexed the french doors, fridge, stove, and cloroxed the kitchen sink. Still, no power. It was off for well over an hour. I really wished I would have just bucked up and went running my last 6 outside. But I didn't. When the power did finally come back on my running mojo was no longer there. I did do some core work and hey, got some extra house chores done. 9 miles for sure tomorrow! Right? Nope.
Instead of running 9 inside today and 6 outside on Friday, I flip- flopped my running schedule. The weatherman says its going to snow 6-12 inches on Friday. And today was GORGEOUS!!!! No wind at all. A little chilly, but a couple of miles into my run and I was wishing I didn't wear my 2nd jacket. it truly was an ideal running day. My time was off a little, didn't go as fast as I had hoped but all in all I would say I had a really good run.
The 9 mile run is still looming over me. I really wanted that completed YESTERDAY!!!!! 9 miles will be the longest distance I run so far. I'm not gonna lie, I am a little anxious about it.
I read this quote today on Facebook (love the Facebook) "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go"---T.S. Eliot
So, heres to Friday and my first ever 9 mile run. It's really only 1 little mile longer than 8.... Right?!?!
Friday, February 18, 2011
One Foot in Front of the Other
Mantra: I just gotta run.
Some runs are so much more enjoyable than other runs. In general, I love running, pretty much always. But some runs are just more challenging than others. It's not always easy to find that steady pace that just carries me through the miles set for that day.
I read this on another blog that I LOVE "There are days unfortunatley, that I do not run as far as planned, but then there are days I go further". Running for me is such an eb and flow thing. There have been days during this training period that I simply just ROCK at and then days where half the distance I normaly run seems so far away. But I do it. I complete the days run, and I go right back out the very next time.
Running is my "happy place" I enjoy it even when it sucks or I suck, I still truly, cross my heart, enjoy it! I have seen gorgeous sunrises and spactacular sunsets. I have seen foxes playing. I saw a family of skunks scurrying off the trail, and until that moment I had never once given a skunk any thought other than P-U but baby skunks chasing their mama ....so so cute. I was lucky enough one day to see swans just lazily going up the river...It was beautiful. I love running near water so I always get to see ducks and geese. In the spring when their ducklings are swimming with them, well, I just simply love it. It's never old to me. So far my most favorite sighting was the day I was out running late Fall. A snow storm was coming in that evening The sky was so dark it was a deep deep navy blue. The sky was promising to let loose a fury of a snow storm. I had to hurry if I wanted to get my run in for the day, so about 4 o'clock I hurried out. I took my little running buddy, my boxer, Josie. Running around the bend on the lake was probably 2 or 3 HUNDRED seagulls (I swear it was that many) my little boxer noticing all of those little white birds,that she so desparatley wanted a "play date" with yelped and all at once those white birds took flight. The contrast of the dark navy blue sky and the hundreds of white birds! Oh my! I was in my very own snow globe! It was so amazingly beatuiful I didnt once consider the huge possibility that at any given moment I could have been a canvas for all of their bird "droppings". I was in AWE! It was truly such a gorgeous sight! And it was all around me. Like I was an actual part of a beautiful piece of art work. It still gets to me just thinking about it now.
How could I not love running, when this is what happens, when I simply put one foot in front of the other.
Some runs are so much more enjoyable than other runs. In general, I love running, pretty much always. But some runs are just more challenging than others. It's not always easy to find that steady pace that just carries me through the miles set for that day.
I read this on another blog that I LOVE "There are days unfortunatley, that I do not run as far as planned, but then there are days I go further". Running for me is such an eb and flow thing. There have been days during this training period that I simply just ROCK at and then days where half the distance I normaly run seems so far away. But I do it. I complete the days run, and I go right back out the very next time.
Running is my "happy place" I enjoy it even when it sucks or I suck, I still truly, cross my heart, enjoy it! I have seen gorgeous sunrises and spactacular sunsets. I have seen foxes playing. I saw a family of skunks scurrying off the trail, and until that moment I had never once given a skunk any thought other than P-U but baby skunks chasing their mama ....so so cute. I was lucky enough one day to see swans just lazily going up the river...It was beautiful. I love running near water so I always get to see ducks and geese. In the spring when their ducklings are swimming with them, well, I just simply love it. It's never old to me. So far my most favorite sighting was the day I was out running late Fall. A snow storm was coming in that evening The sky was so dark it was a deep deep navy blue. The sky was promising to let loose a fury of a snow storm. I had to hurry if I wanted to get my run in for the day, so about 4 o'clock I hurried out. I took my little running buddy, my boxer, Josie. Running around the bend on the lake was probably 2 or 3 HUNDRED seagulls (I swear it was that many) my little boxer noticing all of those little white birds,that she so desparatley wanted a "play date" with yelped and all at once those white birds took flight. The contrast of the dark navy blue sky and the hundreds of white birds! Oh my! I was in my very own snow globe! It was so amazingly beatuiful I didnt once consider the huge possibility that at any given moment I could have been a canvas for all of their bird "droppings". I was in AWE! It was truly such a gorgeous sight! And it was all around me. Like I was an actual part of a beautiful piece of art work. It still gets to me just thinking about it now.
How could I not love running, when this is what happens, when I simply put one foot in front of the other.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
If at First you don't Succeed.....
Mantra: Try Try again
My speed has not really improved theses last 6 weeks. I cant seem to get less than 11 min miles. I have been discouraged by this. Until I thought about some other improvements that are just as important.
Running 5K has been "my thing" for several years. To pepare for the half marathon I needed to double my miles,and my body tried to rebel. A little. After 5 miles my knees were sore all day and into the next. My calve muscle got a small tear which resulted in pool of blood that caused a lump that required a steroid injection and doppler ulta sound to rule out a blood clot. All is fine. At mile 6 still the knee pain, but only the day of, not the next. Mile 7, chest pain so intense I went to the E.R. All is fine. I owe 3000 bucks, but my heart is just fine. Mile 8, ahhh, and on my 40th birthday, I did it! I ran 8 miles in 95 minutes. So great, right?
I COULD NOT WALK ALL DAMN DAY LONG! Litterally! I hobbled to my birthday lunch. Barely. BUT the next time I ran 8 miles, I could walk just fine! No more knee pain, leg pain, chest pain, nothing, nada! THATS improvement! THATS progress! I have been conditioning my body and its working!
6 weeks left until the half and my goal is to add 1 mile a week to my runs.
It is tricky with the air quality here, so I have been relying on the treadmill for training. I know its not the same. I am running on a incline. It does help, but just a little. Going outside today and, fingers crossed, I am hoping the incline has helped.
Boy, I am loving this. I really am. I LOVE how my legs feel strong. I love that I keep trying. I love that on discouraging running days, my resolve strengthens and I get right back out there. I am going to run this half marathon, maybe not as fast as I would hope, but I feel, without a doubt, my little legs will carry me all 13.1 miles. I will finish the race and I WILL finish STRONG!!!!
My speed has not really improved theses last 6 weeks. I cant seem to get less than 11 min miles. I have been discouraged by this. Until I thought about some other improvements that are just as important.
Running 5K has been "my thing" for several years. To pepare for the half marathon I needed to double my miles,and my body tried to rebel. A little. After 5 miles my knees were sore all day and into the next. My calve muscle got a small tear which resulted in pool of blood that caused a lump that required a steroid injection and doppler ulta sound to rule out a blood clot. All is fine. At mile 6 still the knee pain, but only the day of, not the next. Mile 7, chest pain so intense I went to the E.R. All is fine. I owe 3000 bucks, but my heart is just fine. Mile 8, ahhh, and on my 40th birthday, I did it! I ran 8 miles in 95 minutes. So great, right?
I COULD NOT WALK ALL DAMN DAY LONG! Litterally! I hobbled to my birthday lunch. Barely. BUT the next time I ran 8 miles, I could walk just fine! No more knee pain, leg pain, chest pain, nothing, nada! THATS improvement! THATS progress! I have been conditioning my body and its working!
6 weeks left until the half and my goal is to add 1 mile a week to my runs.
It is tricky with the air quality here, so I have been relying on the treadmill for training. I know its not the same. I am running on a incline. It does help, but just a little. Going outside today and, fingers crossed, I am hoping the incline has helped.
Boy, I am loving this. I really am. I LOVE how my legs feel strong. I love that I keep trying. I love that on discouraging running days, my resolve strengthens and I get right back out there. I am going to run this half marathon, maybe not as fast as I would hope, but I feel, without a doubt, my little legs will carry me all 13.1 miles. I will finish the race and I WILL finish STRONG!!!!
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