Marathoning is like cutting yourself unexpectedly. You dip into the pain so gradually that the damage is done before you are aware of it. Unfortunately, when awareness comes, it is excruciating. -John Farrington, Australian marathoner

Two days until the marathon and this is the quote that comes up for the day. Great. Just what I don't want to hear. I'm so excited to do it anyway.

My feeling is that any day I am too busy to run is a day that I am too busy. -John Bryant

B: steel cut oats, tea

S: bannana

L: spagetti, apple, tangerine

S: tangerine, nuts

D: vegs, potatoes, chicken, brownie sundae

Ran on the treadmill today and watched the Office while doing so. It wasn't even really raining outside, but I wanted to see the new gym. I need to remember how much I hate running on the treadmill. 5 miles seemed like forever and it would have flown by if I had just dragged myself outside.

B: steel cut oats, walnuts, tea

S: string cheese, tangerine

L: spagetti, apple, tangerine

D: pizza slice, kale, bean soup

S: 2 brownies

Going to start blogging again...

So the idea that I would write down how my training for this crazy marathon was going. So much for that! Now I have less than a month left until the race so I'm going to work on logging the last month. This week I'll be getting my last long run in- a 20 miler! So it seemed appropriate to try to get back into writing this week.

For now, training is going so so. It's been stressful trying to make sure I get my runs in and doing all of my work. I've skipped quite a few runs, so I'm usually 5 or 6 miles behind on milege for the week. I've decided it's inevitable and I'm doing the best I can. I ran 12 miles yesterday at about 9:30 pace and felt pretty good. I could have definitly gone fast if I was actually in a race where I was not stopping at stoplights and things. I'm kind of curious to know if I could get under 2 hours in teh half...Guess that will have to wait until spring. I'm a little sore today, but I can tell my legs are definitely in better shape becaue I can walk today. I remember the first 10 miles runs were torture in teh beginning. I'm excited about teh 20 miler!

B: steel cut oats, tea

L: spag/meatballs, water, apple

D:2 tortillas with avocado, two cookies

We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.

“If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”  Motivation to actually do these miles for the marathon training?

Stadiums are for spectators.  We runners have nature and that is much better.
--Juha Vaatainen

"Cross Country - Finally a practical use for golf courses."

Sunshine is delicious,

Rain is refreshing,

Wind braces us up,

Snow is exhilarating,
There's really no such thing as bad weather,
Only different kinds of good weather."

"There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open."   - Nike

Fun in the mud on the XC course

Today was a great run!!

I ran with Kenya and Rachel in the rain on the XC course. Couldn't be any better than that. We did about 30 minutes and then dropped Kenya off. Then Rachel and I did 10 more probably a bit faster. It was supposed to be a cut down run, so I guess I kind of did the workout. Felt really good and I could have gone way longer at the easier pace if I had wanted to. Think we did about 4 miles. So much fun to splash in the puddles!

AND....Erin is considering running the Half in Philly. That would be so AMAZING!!!

I'm feeling ambitious for tomorrow and might try to run to the store from home or do a few easy miles before the group run to get my mileage up for the week. I'll see how I feel tomorrow.

B: puffed rice, milk, tea

S: cheese, peach

L: ziti casserole

S: animal crackers from the vending maching (sugar craving...what's that about)

D: carrot salad w/ walnuts and yogurt, mac and cheese with peas and corn

I don't think I picked up a water bottle today. So so bad! But I actually wasn't feeling as dehydrated as I have been the last few days.

From Yesterday:

No running today- I was tired from yesterday's workout. Climbed with Dan, Jude, and Lara. I did Alphabet Soup with no cheating! And I did a few 5.8+/5.8 1/2 with just a little cheating. The last climb I did was  full 5.8 and I cleaned it! No takes and no cheating!! That was exciting. I'm still gripping too hard and my arms are going to be really sore tomorrow. 

Food:

B: waffles, walnuts, tea
S: cheese and crackers
L: ziti casserole
S: peach, tea
D: 3 rice cakes, peanut butter, cheese
S: cornflakes, berries, pineapple

In my email this morning:

Tough times don't last but tough people do. 

Exactly what I needed after this weekend with my failed long run. 

Whew, tired.

Had quite a crazy weekend  and didn't run as much as I wanted to. We went to the zoo on Saturday all day and then ended up staying out pretty late on top of not getting much sleep the night before. So Saturday's "run" was being on my feet all day at the zoo and walking around Indy. I was pretty tired and didn't feel like running on Sunday (plus I had a killer dehydration headache). Yesterday I got in about 5 miles, which was half of what I had hoped. Oh well.

Today I had a great run. Ran with teh group and did fartleks. We ran the 6 mile campus loop with 10 fartleks 1min on/1 min off. Felt really good. I ran with a group of guys and Rachel so I ran way faster than I would have- 8:23/mile according to the map. Not sure about that though. I am super tired!

Food:

waffles, walnuts, tea

tea

cheese and crackers

yogurt

D: small portion enchiladas, carrot salad.  Still hungry, but I am tired.

Easy run

Today I ran with the group. Ran pretty easy on the way there with Erin, Rachel, Kenya, and Tali. Ran a bit faster on teh way back and talked to Shiva about climbing a little. That was fun, but I slowed down to wait for my group after a bit. Felt really good on the last hill.

Now home trying to clean up and my legs are tired. I think the mileage might be beginning to show. I'll be getting about 25 miles in for the week. Not bad.

Food:

waffles, walnuts, tea

cherries

rice, tuna, kohlrabi and greens

peach

eggs, potato wedges, cucumber

smoothie

No cheating on the fartleks

I didn't run at all yesterday, but climbed instead. Felt pretty tired and sore last night, but the only thing I really felt today were my forarms. Legs didn't feel tired, but I'm sure they still were. I did a few climbs without cheating at all. I think alphabet soup was supposed to be a 5.8. Did an overhang 5.7 too- I might have cheated once on that one....

Today 5 fartleks were on the schedule. I did 6 since the first one was right before a long break waiting to cross the bypass. I was tired, but felt like I actually did them all which was good since I've been know to cheat badly on this work out. Saw a baby bunny on the trail and ran through the fountain. A good run. I'm tired!

Food:

B: puffed rice, milk, tea, banana

L: ziti cass

S: 1/2 power bar

S after run: cheese and crackers (a new favorite post run snack :-)

D: greens, potato wedges, rice, beans

S: mango smoothie with protein powder.

Didn't drink enough again.

Mile Repeat Day :-)

Today we ran mile repeats with the group. Half marathon group did 2, marathon group 3. I did the 3 and felt great. Think mile repeats are one of my favorites, although maybe it's just because I always have good days when we do them. Slept from 10-6:45 (no alarm!) today and then left work at 2. Maybe food had something to do with it? Wish I could know.

Workout:

Ran to store from Dan's- 1 mile

1.5 miles to rail trail- 13:03 (8:43)- should have run this slower. If Jon and Ben are in sight, I'm obviously not going slowly enough!

Mile 1-  7:38- hit the halfway point around 3:00 I think. I was supposed to run these in 8:40 so I slowed down a bit. Felt really good.

Mile 2- 7:37- still feeling really good. The 2 minute break gave me pretty much full recovery.

Mile 3- 7:31- this one got a little harder, but I finished strong. It helped to have half the group clapping at the end. 

Cooldown- 2.5 miles-23:41 (9:28 pace). Ran this too fast too. We stayed with the group most of the time until the very end when Rachel and I slowed down to run with the stragglers. Running back was way hard. The last mile, I felt like I could barely move.

Total miles: 8

Total time:59:32 (without the first mile)

Food:

waffles, yogurt, berries, walnuts

yogurt, banana

rice and chicken

smoothie

gatorade and half power bar right after run

dinner- tortilla, mango

8.5 miles!

Yesterday Dan and I ran 8.5 miles. And on Friday night I climbed, which meant yesterday was a little challenging. Not too sore, but I could tell my legs were tired. Running with him was nice, but I probably would have taken it a little easier. Looks like it was about 9:30 pace. That run puts me at 19 miles for the week. Just where I want to be. Taking today off and then I'll get back up to 20 this week. Today is my day to make a training plan. Didn't eat well at all yesterday. Starting today with making sure I'm eating enough.

Food today:

vitamins

toast with jam and cc, tea, tea, banana, tea

string cheese, cornflakes and berries

pasta casserole, lettuce, carrots

Beginning is always the hardest part

I signed up to run the Philadelphia Marathon last week and have run a total of less than 10 miles since then...uh oh.

So yes, I did sign up for a marathon and I'm kind of wondering what on earth I was thinking. Mostly wondering that really since it doesn't seem in the least bit real that I actually plan on running 26.2. Probably just as not real as the fact that I'm starting grad school soon or that I'm leaving Bloomington in a month (from today :-( ) But instead of wondering what I got myself into, I'm going to start this blog and track this whole marathon training. November 22 is a long way away but obviously I must train for this one. After the disappointing half, I'm up for another half at some point- maybe Baltimore, but I' excited about the marathon today. Don't feel like writing much today after a long camping trip and work. Here goes the beginning of my marathon training log:

So to start off:

Food:

granola, tea, half waffle w/pb sandwich

leftover thai noodles and shrimp, apple

apple, tea

hard boiled egg

veg soup, english muffin with cheese

watermelon, cantaloupe, yogurt

Run:

I ran about 4 miles on Monday, which was the official start of the training group. Ran to the store with Dan, did short campus loop, and back to his house. I was exhausted from camping.

Today I was planning on running about 5, but cut it short at 2.8. Still trying to get the house back together after camping and have lots of things to figure out with housing and Laura. I'll be happy if I log about 15 miles this week since it's been a little crazy. I need a plan to follow.