Fool Me Twice...

I've gone from "never" to "maybe...eventually" to "yes, definitely"...I went ahead and signed up for the Go! St. Louis marathon this week. I wanted to do one in Lawrence, KS, but even though the registration cost was higher for St. Louis, I figured it would all even out when you took into consideration the cost of travel, lodging, etc. What I didn't think through too thoroughly was the time...Right after I signed up, I tweeted that training started in January. Not quite, math whiz. Training for an 18 week program would have started last week. As it is, I'm planning for the average 16 week plan and starting next week. Next WEEK!

On one hand, I'll be very glad to have a regimen to follow again. I've been a terrible slacker in the running department since the last marathon. Seriously, my longest run has been a little over 10 miles...once. Usually they top out around 8. Part of that, though, has been the ridiculous cold (combined with my simultaneous distaste for the treadmill). Starting next week, there can be no more excuses, and more than likely, there will be many a run on a cold, dark winter's morning/evening that has to take place at the good old gym on the treadmill. Gotta to stop whining and do it. Hopefully, being on the treadmill will make me more likely to sprinkle in all the speed and tempo work I should be doing.

Another goal for this training cycle: not to slack off on the strength training. When I do it regularly I experience far less joint pain b/c the muscles in those areas are offering more support. That, and who doesn't want to be ripped just a little. I also have a month of unlimited classes (via LivingSocial coupons) for the boxing gym that I need to use at some point...Should I try to mix that in for cross training sessions? Will I still be able to get my money's worth?? Decisions, decisions.

So here I go again...Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I know what I'm signing up for this time...I just hope I can find the same level of motivation I had last summer. I'll have some blog fodder at the very least!

What's your favorite marathon training plan? 

I'm looking for alternatives to the Hal Higdon one I used last time.

My Relationship with Running: The DTR

In case you've never heard the acronym, the DTR is the "Define the Relationship" talk. You know, the awkward one that must be had at some point in most romantic relationships. "Am I your girlfriend?" "Are you still seeing other people?!" You get the picture. Running and I have been going steady for over a year and a half...No, that sounds too prim...Running and I are all wrapped up in each other in a nauseating Twilight-ish kind of way. If I had a notebook, I'd write our names together in a heart. We've shared some ecstatic highs and wallowed in a few down and dirty lows. But, after the marathon, I felt like running and I needed to have the next level DTR--"Where is this going?"

 I've heard people say you have one of two marathon experiences. Either you say, "that was great, and now I don't ever need to do that again" or "That was great--when can I do that again?". In that moment, when every step jarred up my body through my aching feet, I thought I was in the former group. In fact, as B. and I staggered back to the hotel (ok, I was doing most of the staggering), I said, "Oh god, don't ever make me do that again--ever!"

I felt like I'd learned many things about myself that day on the race course, not least among them, that perhaps I was less of a marathoner than a half-marathoner. I resigned myself to capping my races at 13.1. That's still  a challenge after all. It would make me no less hard core. In fact, I could focus on getting faster...get below 2 hours.

In fact, during training I'd had thoughts even more adulterous, usually while those double-digit runs were languishing on. While I adored running, while running would always be very important to me, I really missed life before the relationship was so intense, I thought. I missed regular flings with the bike, the elliptical, yoga, strength training. I mean, I barely even got to see them socially anymore. Gosh, running was really cramping my style! I imagined conversations that went something like "It's you, not me." But, alas, plans had already been made, the money already spent, the announcements made. I had to stick it out.

Then, a day or two after the race, as the aches and pains wore off, the itch returned. Maybe since this marathon experience hadn't been all I'd hoped, maybe just maybe I needed to give it another try. Then this month's Runner's World showed up with an article about how everyone hates those last 6.2 miles and how to get through them. That got me thinking maybe it wasn't my own ineptitude that made the last bit of my marathon experience suck--maybe I was normal. Maybe I was meant to be a marathoner.

So, I've become that girl--the one who waffles back and forth over her relationship. ''He's a lot of fun, but he's so high-maintenance." "Well, I don't know if he's the ONE, but he's sooo great!" It's not fair to running. I really need to figure out what I want out of this relationship. So, here goes...

Running,
You know I adore you. Really I do. And, I know we'll be together forever. But, I also think that sometimes we spend too much time together, so perhaps we need to work on cultivating our individual interests. I need to be able to spend some time with my bike, in yoga classes, and most definitely with my weights. I'm just friends with them...I don't love them like I do you. What you don't get is those things will totally strengthen our relationship!  In return for your patience, I promise you 3 days a week, and I promise to make those 3 days really count. I'll let you show me this "speed work" thing b/c I know I'll enjoy you that much more if I'm not so freakin' slow. And, I'm not placing limitations on the lengths we can go together. 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons...Is another full marathon in our future? Maybe. You never know. We make a pretty awesome team!
Love,
Cherry Blossoms

So yeah, this is my plan going forward:
1. Cut down to 3 days a week running (1 speed work, 1 tempo, and 1 long run)
2. Get back into strength training (I completely stopped toward the end of marathon training b/c I was so exhausted).
3. Finish getting to my healthiest weight. I gained about 5 pounds during training,  only a couple of which I can claim to be "muscle".

Once I feel like I have a handle on those goals, I'll figure out what's next as far as races go.

Anyone have experience with or know good resources for figuring out the whole speed work thing?

I'm a Marathoner!

Where to start? It was a whirlwind weekend full of emotion...I guess I'll start at the beginning.

Friday, we arrived in Chicago around 2:30 and took the train to our hotel. I'd reserved a room at the Hard Rock Hotel through the marathon website back in February. On a whim, I printed the confirmation email before we left, just in case. Good thing. The girl at the desk first couldn't find us in the computer; then she found us but had us down for checking in on Saturday. I whipped out my handy confirmation email and showed her what was up. We got our room.

After we checked in, we walked to the expo to pick up my packet. In retrospect, I should have done a lot less walking this weekend prior to the race. But, I  couldn't stay in that tiny room bored all weekend. The lines were nonexistent, and I had my packet and goody bag in no time. We walked around and collected freebies and tried some of the free samples. I also found my name on the Nike Wall (okay, B. found it):

 While we were waiting for the bus back from the expo, I heard someone make the comment about the high temp for Sunday being in the high 80s. Last I'd heard, it was going to be in the 70s, which was going to be hard enough. I'm just not a good runner in very warm weather...I tried not to think about it too hard and just hydrate.

Skip ahead to Sunday. I actually slept pretty well the night before, but of course, I shot out of bed when my alarm went off. The night before, I'd bought a mini wheats individual serving at the Walgreens next door and crammed the milk for it into the mini bar. I was dressed and had a full tummy by like 5:45.

When I walked out the front door, there were hoards of runners streaming toward Grant Park. Since there was plenty of time, I stopped off at Starbucks for a coffee. I kind of wished I'd gotten iced coffee because it was warm and a little muggy already. Once at the park, I stretched a little and used the portapotty (my favorite). I stood around in the start corral chatting with other runners. It was surprising how many people around me were doing their first race as well. The gun went off at 7:30, and around 8:02, I finally stepped across the start line. As soon as I started, I realized all the hydrating meant it was already time for a bathroom break. Can I wait...another few hours? Probably not. Stopping was definitely not part of the plan, but I stopped at mile 3 and wasted 5 or 6 minutes in line for a portapotty. The first few miles up to Lincoln Park went well. It was getting hot, but at least there was a breeze and quite a bit of shade.

 I got a great boost around mile 9 when I saw B. and one of his college friends on my way out of Lincoln Park on the way back to the city. I was surprised to see them b/c I'd told B. not to worry about trying to find me on the course. I figured that with all the spectators I wouldn't even see him. But, there he was filming me on his new Flip and waving. Gave me a little rush of energy!

Even though it was rapidly getting hotter, I was staying hydrated and made it to mile 10 in under 2 hours, which was on pace for me. Then thing started going down hill. By the time I made it to the half marathon point, we were leaving the downtown area, where there was lots of shade b/c of the buildings, to areas farther south where it was all concrete and blazing sun. By the time I hit the aid stations around mile 16, the event alert level had been raised to high. The announcer at that station was telling people to slow their pace and advising "novice runners" to consider dropping out of the race due to the conditions. My first thought was "Crap, I'm a novice runner, I think" followed by "There's no way in hell I'm quitting unless they physically drag me off the course." I kept going. The next few miles were increasingly harder, and I found myself doing a combination of running and fast walking. I passed a bank sign that showed the temperature as 96. 96! How late in the fall does one need to schedule a race in the Midwest to avoid the heat?!

I was running through Chinatown when I saw B. for the second time. He asked how I was doing. I answered that honestly I was doing pretty terrible, that my time goal was shot to hell but I was going to finish. I was doing a combination of walking and running when around mile 22 my left quad started cramping. I'm not sure why--I felt like I was staying hydrated--but I've never had a cramp there before. Given the choice of running dragging that leg behind me and walking stiffly, I chose walking stiffly. Up until this point, I'd done pretty well controlling my emotions, but now, the prospect of walking 4.2 miles in pain was too much. I was walking as fast as my leg would allow trying not to ugly cry. Happily, I held it down to a few quickly swiped away tear drops. I took solace in the fact that I was far from the only one having a hard time. I saw people from the seeded corrals walking hours off their expected finish times, runners sitting on the curb, and others heading to the medical tents to throw in the towel. At least I was still moving.

After a couple of miles, I started walk/running again. There was no way I'd be finishing in even the high end of my time range goal. Then I saw the mile 25 sign. Screw it, I thought, I'm going to finish running hard. Then, I saw the 1 mile left sign, followed by 800, 400, and 200 meters. I flew up the last hill and turned down the straightaway to the finish. I ran across the finish line triumphantly. I'd just done something that a year and a half ago, I'd never even dreamed of.

I collected my finisher's medal and made my way to the reunion area to find B. When he hugged m and told me how proud he was, I immediately burst into tears. No one tells you how emotional marathons are. I felt like I'd put every bit of myself into the endeavor, and I felt drained! On one hand, I was fiercely disappointed in my performance. Even though all the training plans said that first time marathoners shouldn't go into it with time goals, I'd trained super hard and just knew I could do it within this range I had in my head. Not achieving my goal time, even in the face of brutal weather conditions coupled with the fact that I'd had to walk some made me feel like I'd failed (at least partially). On the other hand, I knew I'd just completed a quest that I've been preparing for and thinking about for many many months. I'd finished what I started even in less than ideal circumstances. Yes, my time was about 10-12 minutes slower than the slowest time I'd hoped to have, but I'd given it my all. At no time did I walk when I could have been running. Given the circumstances, I did the very best I could do, and for that I'm unbelievably proud of myself.

I have to say--I'm incredibly grateful for the support I had from B. throughout training and during the race (He's 1 in a million)! You guys too--thanks for reading my journey and giving me advice and support. There will be another post soon with more about my feelings about the accomplishment of  marathon running and where I'm going from here (as soon as I wrap my own head around it).

Final Countdown!

I woke up to this in my Google Reader this morning:

I've watched that countdown go from 200 days (no kidding) to just 2. Insanely excited would be an understatement! Our flight leaves in just a couple of hours. And, in a little over 48 hours, hopefully I'll be able to call myself a marathoner (you can do that after just one race, right??).

Best of luck to everyone else running this weekend!

It's Official

My official bib number for the Chicago Marathon arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon. I'll be runner 10458. My new luck number! It all seems so much more a reality than it did even a few weeks ago. I'm officially into the first week of taper (not so different from a step back week), so all I can do is hope I'm ready. It makes me nervous just thinking about it. If I feel this excited and scared now, I can only imagine what race morning will feel like!

Yep, I'm Still Alive...

Thought I'd check in so you all didn't think Saturday's 20 miler had been the death of me. Just a few thoughts for you on this Wednesday:

1. I made it through 20 miles, no problem. It wasn't quite as transcendent an experience as the previous week's 18, but I did it, in a decent time, with no injuries. Can't ask for more than that. Why did I do 20 when I was only scheduled for 19? I know at least 10% of running is mental. And, for me, knowing that my longest pre-marathon run was scheduled to be 20, left me wondering how I'd feel about knowing there's 6.2 left when I hit that point on race day. For me, knowing there's 5 or even 4 miles left will seem more doable. See, it's all mental. So, next weekend when I'm supposed to do 20, I'm going to aim for 21-22. Just to make myself feel better. Of course, I'll listen to my body and stop sooner if things feel out of whack.

2. I had a small epiphany around mile 18 on Saturday. My feet hurt, my knees felt like they didn't want to bend any more, my legs felt heavy. The light bulb moment? What no one bothers to tell you (or me, anyway) is that marathon training isn't just about training to be able to cover the distance. It's about learning to deal with discomfort (not "ouch, something's not okay" pain, just the normal "I'm sick of running" fatigue and soreness) and to keep moving.

3. Cooler temps = faster legs? My splits have gone back to normal in the past couple of weeks, even a little faster some days. So, it's either the cooler weather, or my fitness level has made another (unexpected) jump up. Either way, I'll take it! Anyone else in the Midwest loving the advent of fall?

4. B. and I, in a moment of rare spontaneity, booked a couple of last minute tickets and spent Labor Day weekend in Chicago to hang out with one of his college BFFs. It was a whirlwind weekend of fun, friends, and food. It was exactly what I needed to recharge. Plus, in a flash of brilliance, when I signed up for PTO from work on Friday, I also signed up for Tuesday off. So, instead of getting back to the grind yesterday like the rest of the world, I took one more leisurely day to get things back in order around here. Amazing.

5. The day we returned from Chicago, I read a disturbing news story about 5 separate attacks on students at the university near our house. A couple were robbed, and a couple were robbed and sexually assaulted. The attacks had taken place mostly between midnight and 2 a.m., but I often start my long runs just a few hours later while it's still twilight. Luckily, the police caught the guy yesterday. Still, it was a sobering reminder to be vigilant.  I'm pretty paranoid about stuff like that, so I'm hyper-aware of my surroundings. I hope to project a "way more trouble than she's worth" vibe to anyone with bad intentions. B. tried to get me to buy pepper spray. To me, that seems like more trouble than the good it might do. What, would I run with it in my hand? I already carry a hand-held water bottle. If I kept in a belt, that would be ridiculous: "Hold on, sir, while I access my pepper spray...okay, you can resume your attack; I'm ready."  What do you all do? How do you plan for your safety while out on the road?

Have a wonderful short work week!

Force of Will

I ran 18 miles on Saturday (18.18, if you want to get technical), and it was unbelievable. I won't bore you all with yet another blow-by-blow run report, but let me just say it was a one in a million run. There was no walking, my legs felt a-mazing, my splits were back to normal, and I wasn't even tired until the last mile. And, I went out just hoping not to end up with a bloody knee again!

While I was running, I had plenty of time to think...back to about a year and a half ago when I first started running, how difficult even short treks were then, and how much endurance I've built.  If anything, the experience of running and training for long distance races has taught me about the power of, well, willpower. I've come to believe that (barring devastating disability or disease...and sometimes even then) you can train your mind and body to do almost anything with enough determination and patience. Most of the non-runners who find out about my marathon goal will say something to the effect of "there's no way I could do that." And, I tell them, sure you could, if you really wanted to. Most people don't really want to run a marathon (which is totally fine and understandable--do whatever activity floats your boat). But the point is, you have far more potential than you give yourself credit for. Trust me, the former non-runner who will rock her first marathon in 5 weeks.

Like I've said before, achieving your goal takes determination and sacrifice. Nothing worth having is free, right? But, for every ounce of effort and sacrifice I've put into my goal, I've gotten back more in the form of confidence in what I'm capable of. The following apply specifically to things I've learned while getting healthy and then in training, but I've found I now believe them to be true in other parts of my life, too:

• I'm not so stuck in my ways that I can't make drastic positive changes in the way I live.
• I'm much stronger than I think I am.
• I can keep going even when my mind says I want to quit or not start at all.
• I'm no longer intimidated by the enormity of my end goal--all I have to do is what's required right now, this minute.
• If I genuinely want something, I'll do whatever it takes to get there.

I won't get into cheerleader mode on you, but I think those 5 bullets apply to pretty much everyone. There's nothing you can't accomplish, health and fitness related goals or otherwise, if you decide that's want you want for your life. Give yourself the chance to surprise yourself--b/c I guarantee you, you will!

Ruminations on "17"

The week leading up to my planned 17 mile run was a rough one. My banged up knees were recovering from their trip from the bike to the pavement last Sunday. They were definitely in working order, just a little sore, but I took it easy on them just in case. Then there was the heat warning that stretched from Monday-Friday where heat indexes were in the 110's and above. Because of this, I made the decision to hold my long run until Sunday morning as the temps were supposed to be about 10 degrees cooler.

It was not. At 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, it felt like 87 degrees according to my weather app. It was still very dark, and I anticipated that I'd get about 5 miles in before sunrise, which would be a good thing. And, I was off...

Mile 1: I see a bunny rabbit crossing a major road...in the cross walk. Street-smart urban wildlife!

Mile 2: Stomach issue rears its ugly head, and I plan to stop off at the nearest Starbucks to use their restroom. I discover that Starbucks isn't open at 5:00 on Sunday.

Mile 2-5: Stomach settles down. Decide to wait until I reach the park at mile 5 to take my first nutrition gel just in case.

Mile 5-8: It's nice to see human beings again now that I'm on the park path. About a mile of the park path has been bulldozed out to be replaced. I, following one of those fellow human beings, ignore the detour sign and end up doing a little cross country running in the grass along side the muddy remains of the path. Note to self, follow signs, not people.

Miles 8-10: At a bathroom stop, as I'm pulling up my CW-X stability tights, I realize the seam in the inner thigh has begun to disintegrate and there's a  hole. The same thing is happening on the other side, too. Good thing I paid extra for high quality gear. I begin composing my letter to the manufacturer.

Mile 10-13: I'm daydreaming about when I'll be done and at home stretching...My shoes feel literally water logged. Not kidding, I hear sloshing...I'm sweating that much. I don't let that stop me from stopping at McDonalds for a Powerade to refill my water bottle. I hand the cashier my $2 from my Spibelt. It's also water logged. She looks at me like I'm the nastiest person alive. Guess I should have put it in the plastic bag with my phone.

Mile 13-15: I'm celebrating having only a couple of miles to go and only one more big hill. I'm trying to hold my arms away from my body b/c the Body Glide has worn off and I'm chaffing big time. I mentally note that the sidewalks are in terrible shape and I need to watch it so I don't fall. Seconds later I bite it big time. Face plant into the sidewalk. I leave the better part of the skin on the heel of my right hand on the concrete and tear a hole in the knee of the aforementioned tights. I sit on the sidewalk momentarily, teary eyed, half hoping no one saw my clumsiness, half hoping someone will come out of their house and give me a band aid. No one does.

Mile 15-16: I limp along, bleeding profusely from the hand, calling B's cell phone repeatedly (he promised to leave his ringer on in case I needed something, but he's not answering). I realize the iPhone touch screen doesn't work touched with wet fingers. B. finally answers. Turns out his ringer was on but the volume was down. I tell him where I am and keep walking in the direction of home. He meets me at exactly 16 miles. Yes, I'm counting that last mile even though I walked it.

Conclusions:

1. Choosing not to be disappointed by being a mile short. I said when I started that I was doing a hybrid of the novice 1 and novice 2 training plans. Plan 1 said 15, Plan 2 said 17. I was in between.
2. Before my own feet got in the way, things were going pretty good. While being tired may have played some role in the fall, I won't allow that to make me think I can't do this!

Goal for next weekend's workout?

1. No bleeding!
2. Get into a good head space despite a couple of difficult experiences.

Questions I need to answer:

1. What's the etiquette for entering businesses or making purchases while sweating like a pig?
2. Can I still try to get my tights replaced for the defective inner thigh seams now that the knee is shot?

Here's to a better week this week!

Oooooh We're Half Way There

Nothing like a little old-school Bon Jovi shout out on a Monday morning! This is start of week 10 of training for the Chicago Marathon. 9 weeks down, 9 weeks to go--half way there! Last week was a "step back" week and looked a little like this:

Week 9
Monday - rest
Tuesday - 3.5 miles (aforementioned toe issue was bothering me so I stopped early)
Wednesday - Sick
Thursday - 4 miles
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 11 miles
Sunday - bike ride (cut short by a crash)

It was weird that 11 miles, once a big deal, felt like a short run. I returned home with all kinds of energy and proceeded to do some work after cleaning up as opposed to falling back into bed immediately. I'm psyching myself up for the next two weeks of mileage push 17 and 18 mile runs. I'm feeling confident!

All of that was momentarily called into question yesterday. I took my bike out to Grant's Trail for a little cross-training bike ride. It'd been almost two weeks since I'd had the opportunity to take Ruby out, so I was excited for a nice relaxing ride. I was enjoying the hot breeze in my face and the general lack of traffic on the trail when a kid, probably 10 years old, came riding towards me. Moments before he reached me, it seemed as though he decided to turn back in the other direction without looking to see if anyone was coming. He started to turn directly into my path. I yelled, braked, and swerved to no avail. Just off the trail on my side was a gravel parking lot with concrete parking stops. The combination of hitting one of those with my tire and the kid slamming into the side of me sent me off the bike and onto my right knee and wrist in the gravel. The kid and his bike landed on my other leg that was still straddling the bike. The kid was terrified but okay. His knee was scraped but otherwise he seemed okay. Although no parents were anywhere in sight and he wasn't wearing a helmet. Seriously, parents, manage your children. I asked him three times if he was sure he was okay before he sped off. My knee, on the other hand, was scraped and bleeding all over the place. Some nice people I'd passed earlier caught up with me and stopped to make sure I was okay. I was shaken and dripping blood but the scrape wasn't deep. And, my bike appeared to be in working order. So, I rinsed off the blood using my water bottle and headed back for my car. I could already tell my knee was swelling, so I decided to call it a day.

I showed up at home bawling, not so much because I was in pain but because I was afraid 9 weeks of training could be screwed up by one bike ride. Fortunately, I don't think that's the case. This morning, my knee is a little sore and swollen. The thing that hurts worst is my lower back...I feel a little like I've been in a minor car accident, scraped and sore in weird places but otherwise okay. I think I'm still going to do some light strength training this afternoon and my runs for the week as planned unless some new pain develops. Having a bike crash has been my biggest fear (right after accidentally catching a bug in the mouth...no, seriously I think about things like that). It sucked, but it could have been much worse. So, next Sunday, I'll suck it up and get back on the proverbial horse...er bike.

Happy Running!

Small Victories, Blisters, and Pestilence

Better late than never, a report on Friday's run...Friday's 15 mile training run was AWESOME! No, I'm not being sarcastic. It seems my feelings of death during the 14 miler the previous week were due to the intense heat, not my inability to run. I left extra early on Friday morning with the expectation of getting in about 5 miles before the sun rose. The weather was uncharacteristically cool and even the humidity was bearable. My legs felt unbelievably fresh and light. The best part was that the when sunrise rolled around, it turned out to be an overcast, gray day. No direct sunlight! There was a soft breeze, and at certain points in the run, it sprinkled a little. And, 10 miles into a 15 mile run, a little rain is a welcome treat. I wasn't breaking any land speed records for sure. I took it slow and stopped to fill my hand-held water bottle at every fountain I encountered. Between mile 10 and mile 14, there aren't any fountains, so I stopped at Starbucks, dripping with sweat in line with people in suits, to buy some bottled water. Girl's gotta do what she's gotta do! Somewhere around mile 12, I became conscious that the seam of my sock was rubbing against toenail of my second toe. I crossed my fingers that I wasn't getting a massive blister and kept going...I finished strong. Tired, but so happy that I didn't feel horrible like I had the week before.

When I got around to checking out my feet, there were blisters in other places, but no rubbed spots around the cuticle of my second toe. It was tender, so I wondered if I'd managed to bruise it somehow. I didn't really think any more about it until Saturday evening when I took my shoes in the hotel room. My toe was throbbing under the nail. I grabbed some nail clippers to see if maybe the pain was from the nail poking the skin or something. On closer inspection, there was a huge blister under my nail. Just regular, not blood blister. I drained it, but my toe was still really tender. The only way I can really describe it would be a strange pressure under the nail near my cuticle. I ended up wearing flip flops for the rest of the trip. It was a great trip by the way...Here's a picture of me with my mom and sisters when we arrived at our hotel:

This morning was my first attempt at running since the problem started. The toe wasn't bothering me when I got up, so I decided to go ahead and run without figuring out how to wrap it with gauze and athletic tape. OUCH! Running up or down hill was extremely uncomfortable. I will definitely put some padding between me and my shoe for the next run. Hopefully this clears up quickly (and my toenail stays ON)!

Another experience from this morning...I had a flashback to the scariest summer of my life. I was around 5th or 6th grade age when one summer the area I lived in experienced a visit from the 7 year cicadas (ugly flying bugs the size of golf balls). They were gross on their own, swarming all over bushes and trees, but they joined forces with some other variety of cicada (13 year maybe?). I lived in terror for the few weeks that they were around. I specifically remember going to the local library and my mom having to force me from  the car because the bushes near the door were covered in the little beasts. A few weeks later, they were nothing but a bunch of shells stuck on trees and bushes. What does that have to do with this morning? While the experience of my childhood was a plague of biblical proportions, I believe they're baaaaaack. I encountered 7 on my run this morning. Seven! They would be sitting on the sidewalk looking like dead leaves until my feet got near them at which time they'd dive bomb my head. So, there were also 7 flailing dances and screams like a little girl on my part. I went so far as to make a detour to the other side of the road to avoid a particularly large one after it didn't seem phased by the stream from my water bottle. At least it was early...I think only a couple of people saw my performance. Nature...gotta love it.

Anyway, this week is a step back week in my training plan. Mid week runs are the same length, but my long run is a mere 11 miles on Saturday. Ah, relaxation!

Any readers have tips or tricks to avoid blisters and toenail trauma? Please share!

Giveaway Winner and Mental Preperation

First things first: The winner of the Gaiam Yoga Therapy Balls is:

Comment #3 from Jules! I've sent a note to the email address you provided. Just reply with your mailing address and your yoga massage kit will be on its way! Thanks for playing!

So, as I mention on Monday, this week's training schedule was moved up a day since I'm going on a girls' weekend road trip with my mom and sisters on Saturday when I'd normally do my long run. I'm off work tomorrow, so 15 it is. Today, I'm hydrating and mentally preparing. I'm also thinking of trying to leave the house by 5:00 instead of 5:30. That way I'd be around 5 or 6 miles in before the sun is even fully up. With any luck, I'll be showered and back to sleep by 8:30. My legs and hip have felt great this week, so I'm hopeful that tomorrow's run will restore my faith in my marathon-ing potential!

Week 8 Marathon Training
Monday - 4 miles (10:51 pace)
Tuesday - 7 miles (11:14 pace)
Wednesday - 4 miles (11:21 pace)...Is it me or am I getting slower as this thing goes on? Didn't think that was possible. Then again, the heat and humidity have been insane.
Thursday - Rest
Friday - 15 miles (scheduled)
Saturday & Sunday - walking doing touristy stuff/shopping and maybe a trip to the hotel fitness center.

Surviving 14...Barely

Saturday was scheduled to be my first "really long" run. I'd never run 14 miles before--the half marathon in May was my previous farthest run ever. So, in that way I was kind of excited to break new ground. I did everything I could think of to prepare. I ate a little extra at breakfast. I packed extra Hammer gels, cash in case I needed to call a cab, (kidding...mostly), and iPod in my Spibelt belt (first time using that piece of gear on a run). On the other hand, I was less than thrilled about the conditions I'd be facing. StL was under a "heat warning" last week, and the expected heat index for Saturday was around 111F. I was out the door by 5:30 a.m. to beat the heat. I'd have been out even earlier, but the sunrise wasn't until 5:50-something as it was and I'm not super comfortable running alone in the dark.

And, let me tell you, it was HOTTTT! Yes, before the sun had even risen, it was 86 degrees with 70%+ humidity. But, I was practicing positive self-talk, "You can totally do this--You're so much stronger than you think!" The first 5 miles were actually pretty good. Yes, it was steamy, but my legs felt good, I was staying hydrated, and the thought that I was about 1/3 done didn't phase me. I was super annoyed that my belt, though it did not bounce, would not stay down on my hips no matter how snugly I fastened it...

Then, I think I made a poor decision from a mental perspective. At Forest Park, instead of running clockwise around the park as I usually do, I decided to go counter-clockwise. Doesn't sound like a big deal. In fact, it actually gets the hills out of the way sooner. But, it also put me on the less shady side of the park when the sun was well up and blazing. Not to mention there are multiple water fountains in the park that are barely working (water dribbling out in a way that can't fill a water bottle) or not working at all. By the time I made it back to my starting point in the park about 11 miles into my run, I was feeling it, and not in a good way! Note to self: don't try new things on long runs. Stick with the familiar.

I took my last gel, chugged some water, and set off for home. The way home is uphill. Since I took up running, I've discovered my neighborhood is in some kind of hole. The route I chose was fairly shaded, but I couldn't get over my exhaustion. I took several walk breaks on those last 3 miles. What really killed me was the couple of blocks where I was directly in the sun. I had on sunscreen, but it seriously felt like my skin was going to go up in flames. When my Garmin finally beeped for that 14th mile, I stumbled to a walk and hightailed it for the house.

Once inside, I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was fuzzy around the edges, and throwing up wasn't out of the question. This was followed by chills. Not good. I splashed water on my face, grabbed some Gatorade and an oatmeal cookie and laid on the floor for awhile before I stretched out. Within an hour, I felt okay again. But, wow!

The difficulty of that run really shook my confidence. Not in that I don't think my body can handle the mileage. I feel like 14 wouldn't have been such a big deal if the conditions had been better. But, I'm concerned because temperatures aren't going to get any better until late September at least. Can I still get my long runs in with such heat? I can leave early, but let's be honest...I'm a SLOOOOOOW runner. 15+ miles is just going to take me awhile. So, inevitably the sun will be well up and hot before I'm finished. I don't want to feel like that every weekend. I thought I was going to black out (and/or sit on the curb and cry for awhile). And, without a gym (still renovating from fire/flood), I don't have a treadmill option readily available. It's outside or nowhere. My next long run is Friday (moving up all my runs by a day this week b/c I'm going out of town this weekend), and just being honest, I'm scared! And, dare I say it, what if it's freakishly hot the day of the marathon...a random blazing hot day has been known to happen in October in the Midwest.

I'm looking for a way to get back into a positive mental state. But, not by being blindly optimistic. I need a plan. Ideas? Have you felt like giving up during training? How'd you overcome it?

**Don't forget...You still have until midnight Wednesday to enter my giveaway (click here to enter). There are currently 0 entries, so your chance of winning is pretty darn good.**

3 Down 15 to Go

Another solid week of training! I've been able to wake up early on days I run for the past three weeks. This is a major accomplishment for me. In the past, I've never sustained early rising for exercise for more than a couple of weeks. Then again, I've never tried to run this often in this kind of heat (105 heat index several days last week!).

Biking is also going great. My gel padded bike shorts were a godsend! The bruising is...still there but less noticeable. And, it's unbelievable how much it loosens all the muscles that running makes tight. My left hip has been an issue since I first started running. The more weight I've lost, the better it's gotten. But, after a long run, or several days in a row running, it still gets very tender. The foam roller helps, but the bike is like a miracle. When I went out biking this morning, it was pretty sore. 50 minutes later, it felt like new.

So, if you recall, a few posts ago, I was contemplating how to eat to fuel my high level of activity. I've been trying to eat healthy and spread the calories around throughout the day. When I started this, I was 8 pounds away from my goal weight (as I have been for like 3 months). According to my calorie calculator, I'm supposed to stick to 1,200 a day. Some days this works. On days I do a long run or if I do a run and strength training or an extra bike ride, it's just not enough. I get light-headed and tired. I won't pretend all my eating choices have been perfect since then (hello, frozen custard last night), but I'm up 2 more pounds. It's super disappointing to step on the scale and see that. I feel like I'm looking more toned and muscular, but the numbers don't lie (and I don't want to make excuses b/c that's what got me where I was before). I'm constantly starving lately and craving bread and trail mix...Any other long distance runners have advice on handling the ravenous appetite that comes with it? I just want to reach my goal already!!!

I'm taking a couple of days off this week going into the holiday weekend--And, oh do I need it! Lots of physical, mental, and emotional stress lately. If I don't check in before, Happy Fourth!

Re-Epiphany?

If you recall, a few months ago when I was doing the volleyball thing, I was astounded that, although I thought myself in good shape, the quick pace of play during our first couple of games left me huffing and puffing. And, I was sore in places I thought were strong...

Fast forward to yesterday on my first real bike ride since I was a teenager sans driver's license. Five minutes in, I was breathing like I'd been doing sprints! What the heck?--I had wheels. I thought this was going to be easier than running. But, I was really feeling it and in a different way than when I'm out running. Completely different places on my legs were burning.

I rode around my low-traffic subdivision for a few laps to get the hang of things before taking the "secret passage" from this neighborhood into a local park. I rode around there until I felt brave (I needed to practice turning right without swinging out wide. Left turning was no problem--guess I'm not an "ambi-turner"). Then, I ventured onto some city streets, although I still limited my time on high-traffic areas. There were LOTS of hills on the route I took, but I made it up all of them but one. In the end, I rode a little more than 6 miles in my first 40 minutes out.

Fast forward again to yesterday afternoon. OWWWW! I'd completed my ride in a new pair of bike shorts (complete with the padding that feels like wearing an adult diaper). This helped a little, but apparently I'm in for some pain until my butt toughens up. I'll spare you the details, but let's just say there are bruises and that sitting in my desk chair today is a challenge. My back is also a little sore.

Nevertheless, I went for a run this morning before work (I had to shuffle my training schedule around due to some work stuff), and my legs felt great. None of the stiffness that I usually experience on my first run of the week.

Moral of the story? Cross-training is awesome! I got a great workout yesterday that apparently loosened the muscles I'd used on my long run Saturday. I'm hoping this combo of exercise working muscles in different ways will leave me with the badass thighs of my dreams! Stay tuned.

My New Toy

I mentioned awhile back that I wanted a bike to use for cross-training days and that B. advised me against the cheap-o Target bikes. So, I've been saving my pennies, and today I went to adopt my new pet:


I was going to call her Red Robin until someone mention that it sounded like the burger joint I hate...Tossing around names like RedRum or something Cardinals related. I think I need a few more miles on her to figure out a really good nickname. I'll let you know!

More about the bike in a minute...First, the running portion of our story:
I hauled my ass out of bed at 5:20 this morning to get ready for this week's long run, just 9 miles, nothing new or crazy. But, I wanted to get out early to beat the 100+ degree heat indexes forecasted for the late morning/afternoon. I had the worst attitude when my alarm went off. I was sound asleep for once, cozy, dreaming. It was very cloudy and dark, and I'll be honest, I was hoping for it to be raining when I looked outside so I could postpone until tomorrow...It wasn't raining. So, I made myself get dressed, eat, and head out.

And, I'm SO glad I did. The humidity was insane (something like 92%), but it was pretty cool, in the low 70s the entire time I was out. Plus, my legs felt amazing today. The course I had mapped out for myself had several small hills, some of which I generally walk part way up on long runs. Not today, baby! My allergies were also firmly in check, leaving me to breath normally without all the huffing and puffing that's been the norm the last few weeks. I wasn't moving particularly fast, but my pace was unusually steady (something I've been working on). The best part was, I felt like I could have gone much farther without any problems. Overall, week 2 of training was amazing.

So, after I got cleaned up for the day ahead, I asked B. if he had time to take me to a local bike shop Big Shark where he got his bike and help me pick something out. The sales guy was great. They didn't have the bike I'd found on their website in stock, but he showed me other similar models and helped me determine what style and size I needed for my frame. I got helmet-ed up and took a couple of different bikes for a spin around the block. The red Marin was the second one I tried, and I didn't have the terminology to explain why, but it felt great to ride. They tuned it up for me and added a couple of water holders. B. and I also got a double bike rack, so if we bike on the same days we can go together.

When we got home, I took her on another spin around the neighborhood. In addition to being shiny and beautiful, she's also fast! I felt like a little kid zipping all over the subdivision. But it was SUPER hot, so I didn't stay out too long. Hopefully, I'll get a longer ride in tomorrow. On my short ride, I did, however, discover two things: 1. They aren't kidding about the value of getting those padded bike shorts. Ouch! 2. I don't remember the bike hand signals for turning. Might be something worth brushing up on before my next ride, eh?

Who knows, this could become my next great fitness passion. Could this be the future?


Marathon Training - Week 2:
Monday: 50 minutes circuit training
Tuesday: 3.12 miles (10.42 pace)
Wednesday: 5 miles (10.52 pace)
Thursday: 3.02 miles (10.34 pace)
Saturday: 9 miles (10.49 pace)
Sunday: bike riding & yoga!