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I just ran 8 miles at a moderate pace. Nothing spectacular, nothing too slow. Temp was between 66 and 75. BIG difference from the last several weeks. It was a decent run, especially considering I haven't had a long run in ages - maybe since the marathon in early June? Well, I know I did run an 8-miler on the cruise.
Anyway, I think I've figured out the whole motivation thing. Running in the heat is hard. Just plain hard. Running in the heat with no signs of improvement is downright demoralizing. Week after week after week. And it's worse when it actually feels like you're moving BACKWARD with the progress. Makes me not want to run at all, although I know because of my health and my goals, I have to.
So I have to put myself in the mindset I was on during the cruise. I have to run. That's it. I have to run 6 days a week, if not daily, and I can't think about it, I just have to do it.
A good day's run for me is 6 miles. However, in burnout/lack of motivation mode I'm doing 3 miles a day with 20-30 minutes on the elliptical. I think that should be sufficient for both health/weight and the long term running goals (is September long term?). Seems to have worked for me this week, anyway. Oh, and 4 miles on the days I run home from work. I figure a bonus mile is always good. :)
Plan for next week:
M - 3 mile run, 20 min E (upper body)
T - 4 mile run, 30 min E
W - 4 mile run, 20 min E (upper body)
T - 4 mile run, 30 min E
F - 4 mile run, 20 min E (upper body)
S - 10 mile run
I'm 143.8 at this moment. I'm not going to weigh this week. Period. Ha, ha. No really! Not going to weigh... | |
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Last night - another decent run! 3 miles in 25 minutes...omg, YAY! Unfortunately I'm not able to use my Nike+, so I don't have any exact times, but 25 minutes!!! I'm thrilled, but also stumped as to what the issue has been the last few weeks. I'm thinking it's heat, because when I got back from my run last night - it was only 88 degrees. Still warm, but I guess the difference between 88 and even 94 is enough to make that much of a difference?
Still, I'm worried about maintaining fitness for my longer runs, I don't want to 'lose it' on the long run goals, but I also really don't feel like doing any long runs right now. Maybe on Saturday I'll tackle 10 or 12 or 15 miles, don't know yet.
Did another elliptical workout last night - it was a 20 minute arms workout and it was HARD! Planning a 4 mile run today, and another 30 minute elliptical workout.
So far with all the workout changes, the weight is still holding at 145-ish. I would like to see 140 someday soon, but I guess I'm still not willing to bend over backwards with either diet or exercise to make it happen.
The boss leaves tomorrow for an extended vacation - yay. One kid is with his dad, the other is busy with football practice, and just being a kid in the summer, Eddie and I are busy with work and home life, and that's that! | |
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My second and third layouts from the cruise...  I started this layout on the ship in one of the scrapbook workshops. But the supplies and techniques were so basic, they just weren't my style. The only original element here from the cruise workshop is the title and the base paper.   A real peso!  This page idea also came from a cruise workshop, so the colors are a little bright for my taste, and the whole page is a bit busy. But I love the idea of scrapping directly on the daily planner, and I love the use of so many photos (since I have literally HUNDREDS to scrap from this trip).  The little tiny planner comes out of the envelope, and...  You can still open the main planner to read what's inside! | |
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I finally ran under 9 minute miles again - FINALLY. I think it's been weeks, maybe a month since I've run that fast? The sad thing is, it was only a measly 3 miles, but hey! 3 miles in 26 minutes...whew! I'm just glad I finally did less than 9 minute miles, after trying for so long. Heat or not, it's been very discouraging.
To fight burnout, I did get the elliptical machine. POOR EDDIE - so many screws and...stuff. He got it all put together tonight, after several hours. So tonight was my first half hour workout on it, after my half hour run. Burned over 300 calories in half an hour and I FELT IT in my legs. So that's good...I'd like to keep up the fitness in my legs while I'm cutting back on the running.
There is also an 'upper body' workout. Oh yeah, I need that. | |
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Ran 6 miles today in 93 degree heat. For the first time in a couple weeks I actually felt like I was running at a decent clip. After mile 3/4, though, it started getting much harder. And when I finished - a disappointing 58 minutes. :( Not sure what's happened to my speed??? Is the heat zapping it out of me? For literally weeks on end, though?
I am sooooo sick of running. I'm going to get an elliptical this weekend and start training on that, also. Definitely not going to STOP running, but I'm going to cut way back. Well, I've already done that, but without an acceptable substitution.
My goal is an hour of cardio per day, whether it's on the elliptical, the road, or half and half. I'd also like to do some Tae Bo 2-3 days per week to tone up my arms. I'd also like to keep one long run per week, between 15-20 miles (15 miles would be *so* hard for me right now, I haven't done a long run in ages), but there's no way I had time this weekend.
Not sure what this will mean for my fall marathon, and the handful of other fall races I want to do, but if I'm so burned out I don't work out at ALL, isn't that worse? At least I know the elliptical will help maintain my running fitness (to a point), and getting out there and running will hopefully help me keep what little speed I've got.
Hoping for a decent speed workout (3 miles), a long run, and a moderate 6 mile run per week. The rest to be supplemented with the elliptical. | |
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The first COMPLETED page from our cruise! Not sure about the style on this one, it's not really my norm, but how do you do the vintage thing for a CRUISE? Anyway, it's DONE! And I have a million more to go (Eddie took almost 1500 pics!!!).  A close up of the Top 10, which are actually not really in any particular order, cause EVERYTHING was *so fun!*  And a couple close-ups - I *love* that little Royal Caribbean credit card!!   | |
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Here are the rules:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you 5 questions of a very personal nature.
3. You will update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them 5 questions.
See next post for my questions/answers! | |
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Yesterday I ran the 2 miles home from work in 99 degree heat. No problem. Talked to Dakota for a bit, then headed out for another 4 miles, still 99 degrees. Hot, but no real issues.
Today I postponed running for so long, despite not having to really be anywhere or do anything today, that I ended up heading out in 101 degree heat. I thought well, Michelle can do it, and it's not as if I'm a heat newbie, I should be fine, I'll just take it slow.
First two miles, no problem.
Third mile, not so fun.
Fourth and fifth mile, I was dead set on stopping to walk, and was thinking of cutting short at 5 miles, until a decent song came on the ipod.
The last mile was SO HARD.
More a matter of will than anything, and I forced myself on.
Made it home ok, had some gatorade, some water, and jumped in a nice, cool shower. Which I had to turn off after about 30 seconds so I could sit on the floor in the shower and...rest. I felt like I was going to pass out, and like I just needed to SIT DOWN.
So I rested for a minute or two, showered (never before has a cold shower felt SO GOOD!), and then flopped on the bed. I was wiped out for a few hours, but pretty much recovered to normal.
I lost 3.4 pounds of sweat in the 58 minutes I was out running.
I totally feel that running in the heat is ok, as long as you acclimatize your body to it, and learn to recognize the warning signs of heat exhaustion or other serious issues. Today I learned that when every step starts to seem impossible, and when I get to the point where I'd like to cry, go home, or both, I should really just go home.
There is no way I could have done any more than 6 miles in this heat.
I guess somewhere around 100 is my limit, based upon distance and exertion... | |
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After successfully running every day on the cruise (36 miles that week), and running at least 7 miles 5 days last week (36 miles that week - and waking up *early* every morning to do it!), I am utterly exhausted, and sick of running.
Last week wore me out so badly, waking up as early as 4:30 a.m. on some days. By Saturday I said screw this, and didn't run for three full days. If you know me, you know that's a long time. Too long.
I thought I might go back to running after work this week, since the early morning stuff made me far too fatigued to think that's a viable workout time. But the temps are in the upper 90's to lower 100's here, so running after work is not really sounding too tempting, either. And - if I try and wait until the sun goes down, more often than not I just decide at that point to skip it altogether. So - mornings are my best option at this point?
Finally yesterday morning I FORCED myself out of bed, only had time for 3 miles, but successfully knocked them out. Same thing this morning - out of bed at 6:00-ish, only time for 3 miles.
One other problem - since the marathon June 1, I have only had one or two really FAST runs. In fact, I've been running close to 10 minute miles, which is Way. Too. Slow. But - being burned out and not really caring if I run at ALL, I guess slow runs are better than none? However, this morning, I wanted to see if I COULD still do it, wanted to FORCE myself to do it... 3 miles in 26 minutes - woot! Yes, it's only 3 miles, and I doubt I could keep the speed up for even 5 miles, but at least I'm not totally dried up yet.
And that's me this week. Trying to figure out how to balance the heat, exhaustion, an overfull schedule with:
1. How little can I run and still maintain fitness and weight loss?
2. How little can I run NOW and still nab a PR at the marathon in October?
3. How little can we run and still finish the half marathon (FINISH) in 3 hours in August?
4. How far does a NORMAL person run on an average day? | |
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Well, we are back from the cruise, and I can't even begin to describe what a WONDERFUL time we had!!! Talk about being PAMPERED, or, more like waited on hand and foot! I loved, loved, loved being on the ship, and the boys had a great time, too! Mexico was fun (and hot!), and we had the *most* fun going horseback riding on the beach! Eddie and Phoenyx were the only ones brave enough to go snorkeling (wild tide), but they have stories to tell of their adventure! The food on the cruise was just *amazing* and we ate like kings and queens! BUT - I was able to work out every single day (running on a swaying cruise ship - FUN!) and only gained a 2 measly pounds, which are already long gone. I put in a total of 38 miles last week, and am working on 50 for this week. We are just busy, busy, busy - trying to get caught up at work, and caught up at home...
I am soooooooooooooo ready for the next vacation, and seriously thinking cruises ARE definitely the way to go!!! Next up on the agenda: EUROPE!
(Ok, yes - that would be next year.) | |
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 I cracked up when he said this!!! How perfect - definitely wanted to remember this! Page is simple, sweet, and to the point! | |
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Last week went *super* with my 'experiment' to see how quickly I could recover from the marathon. ACTIVE recovery - running every day! I started with 2 miles on Monday, and added a mile each day to my run...lots of aches and pains the first two days, and after that things got gradually better. By Friday I felt well enough to run TEN MILES! I felt totally normal, other than my pace still being quite a bit slower. Not at ALL worried about that, just thrilled that I am back to normal so quickly! Today is a 'lazy' day, but even though I'd planned to run and didn't, I still ran 27 out of the planned 28 for last week. Yay!
This week is very ambitious, yes, but I'm anticipating because of our busy schedule, weddings, last day of school, and trying to get out of here on Sunday (cruise - woot!), I probably won't be able to make all these miles. But hey, this is what I WANT to do this week...might as well put it in writing and give it a go!
M - 7
T - 5
W - 7
T - 5
F - 7
S - 15
S - 5
50 miles! Woot! Would feel great to get that many miles down, since NEXT week will be on the cruise, and even though I plan on running every day, I'm not sure how realistic that is, or how many miles I'll actually be able to get in... | |
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Just a few of my faves....  The potty line - eeeeek! This one actually went pretty fast, though AND - there was toilet paper! Yay!  SO not awake here...we got up at 3:00 in the morning to dress and drive all the way to SD.  I LOVE this running tattoo! Maybe because I was ahead of schedule every time I checked it? Regardless, it was very useful, and I'd like to have one for the next race, too, even if I have to buy it...  Here's where I started.  I took just a few pics as I ran, and most were not that great, or blurry. I missed a few great shots because I am too focused on time and goals to actually stop and take a proper picture! But who can resist the Elvi??   Sprinting for the finish!! Whoo-hoo! I *never* have enough energy left to do that, but this time I did. :) | |
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Yesterday was the first day I was able to walk downstairs normally - yay! So...about 4 days after the marathon. Yesterday was also the BEST run thus far - very close to normal! Still a few aches and pains in the first mile, but after that the only thing I really noticed was lingering leg fatigue, which is still to be expected. Still, despite that my pace was more in the 'normal' range, as I finished 5 miles in under 10 minute miles. Whew. Getting there!
Feeling extra bloated today for some reason, but I think it might be the salt in the Hamburger Helper last night (yeah, total gourmet!), and the mineral water I drank. I was super thirsty last night, so drank a lot of fluids. So...I think I'll do 7 miles tonight instead of 5, see if I can drop the water level a bit, since tomorrow I won't have time to run much more than 2 or 3 miles.
Some mild pain in my left knee, which disappeared after the first mile yesterday, but which I can still feel going up and down stairs. Just keeping an eye on it, on the lookout for any post-marathon injuries, as I know I'm more susceptible for another week...
We have just been SO busy with weddings, editing images, creating albums, running here and there for errands, kids, end of the school year stuff, etc. Everyone is a little stressed out right now - I'm just hanging in there, waiting for vacation...tick, tock...tick, tock...
I *really* just want to relax tonight: kick back with some munchies and wine, and SCRAPBOOK. But I have things to do first, as always...running, proofing a couple albums, making dinner for the kids and extra kids (sleepover tonight) - wonder if I will have enough energy or be too tired AGAIN? Seems like I have been beyond normal tired this last couple weeks. | |
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4 mile run last night - it felt great! Yes, same aches and pains from the marathon, but most of them subsided after the first mile, and then things just felt good. :) As close to normal as I have felt so far this week! Still very, very slow - I finished in 41 minutes, but it's good to feel normal!
The pain in my left thigh has minimized quite a bit today. Tonight I'll run 5 miles, and continue to keep the speed at a comfortable pace until sometime next week.
Happily, my weight is holding steady right now, too, even with the decreased mileage and intensity. I dropped quite low after the marathon, but am back to around 144, which is a good, solid weight for me right now - not complaining!
Eddie went running on his OWN last night, at 11:40 p.m. and ran for over an hour! Now that's good, that means he actually WANTS to run, and is not just doing it for me.
I think that's what it means, anyway. | |
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Have run (very, very slowly) the two days following the marathon so far, but with some pain. To be expected, yes, but I have a mysterious pain in my left quad that has me wondering. I'm hoping it will gradually go away, with more easy runs and a bit of time, but I'm also wondering if it had something to do with that crazy 3 miles worth of slope on the freeway on Sunday?
I doubt it's anything too serious. Tonight is a 4 mile run, very slow again. | |
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After the last marathon, I took a day off before I started running again, this time - no break. We did 3 miles tonight (supposed to be 2, but we decided to run to the post office) and, well - ow! My upper left thigh really hurt, it took quite some time (3/4 of a mile?) to settle into a decent rhythmn before it loosened up. Everything sorta hurts right now, which is interesting. But - one thing I didn't expect was my chest, which was very tight and sore, making it difficult to breath at first, and then just sore after I loosened up. But I just found a comfortable, steady pace (approximately 11 minute miles), and settled in. Things felt better after they got loosened up and fluid again.
Tomorrow morning, 2 miles. I think by Thursday or Friday I should be somewhat normal. Slow, but normal.
I have a super black blood blister on the end of my right third toe - looks like it got singed in a fire. My poor pedicure lady - every time I go for a pedicure I've got some icky/weird problem with my feet from the running. But I wonder if she knows how much I rely on her services to keep my feet looking decent??? | |
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Finished up last week with a total of 54 miles (yay!) 26.2 of which were the marathon. Training goals for the future: run a comfortable 7 mph pace; run a few 60 mile weeks, possibly one 70 mile week in training for an October marathon; run the next marathon in 4 hours; most immediately is training with Eddie to get him through his first half marathon in August. So considering I should be in recovery mode for a week, and trying to get Eddie back in running mode after too much time off, here's what I'm thinking for the week: M - 2 mile run (slow)
T - 3 mile run (slow)
W - 4 mile run (slow)
Th - 5 mile run (moderate)
F - 5 mile run (moderate)
S - ?? maybe 2 miles easy
Sun - 7 mile run (moderate-easy)
28 miles total Am feeling a bit of pain at the front of my left shin, so if that doesn't resolve after the next couple days of easy running, I may re-evaluate. | |
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The race yesterday went SO well – I was soooooooooooo pleased with my time and performance when all was said and done!!! This race started amazingly early – 6:30 a.m.!! Not bad for runners staying in the San Diego area, but we had to wake up at 3:30 and drive there…ugh. I’m not sure I was even awake by they started with the national anthem… There was the usual mob of people, porta potty lines (the lines went pretty fast, though, and there was actually toilet paper!!) starting corrals, and just a SEA of runners when we finally lined up for the race. I started in Corral 9, and hit the starting line approximately 4 minutes after the start, but Eddie tells me it took 13 minutes for ALL runners to cross the starting line! The first few miles were not a problem – just dodging lots of people, trying to find a clear spot to run, and enjoying the scenery! We were downhill for a bit of time at first, past the zoo, past balboa park, and the pace seemed easy, even leisurely. I even had a few seconds to text Eddie and take a couple pictures! I was expecting the hill at mile 7, but the elevation map made it look like a HILL. It wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t *that* bad, it was just an moderate upgrade for about 2 ½ miles. And then – down again – wheee! I took full advantage of EVERY downhill, trying to “bank” time for myself since I know my typical race is gung ho for the first 2/3 and then slowing to a crawl for the last bit. I made the halfway mark at about 2 hours!! Was starting to get a little tired at that point, but still able to push it, and still going at a decent pace. I had a pace tattoo on my arm (goal of 4:15), and would check my pace with each passing mile. I was consistently 5 minutes ahead of schedule, and at one point as much as 8 minutes ahead!! That was a great boost for the ego, and gave me motivation to keep my pace up! I was relieved at mile 16 – only 10 more to go and I started counting down at that point… The sports drink was RED this time – the best flavor! BUT – I was a little concerned about sloshing on my lovely pink shirt, and/or trashing my shoes. I walked at a fast pace each time I stopped for sports drink, but was able to pick it right back up when I was done. I ate (slurped) 4 power gels along the way. There were 150 running Elvis impersonators in this race!! Not sure how the tradition began, but this is apparently THE race to run if you want to run in an Elvis costume and pompadour! I passed one Elvis group (about 4) who were actually pushing a radio and speakers and blaring out Elvis music the entire way! I also kept pace with 2 other Elvis dudes, and I think they finished about 3 minutes ahead of me… There were over 26 bands at this race (definitely more, I just lost count at some point), and the crowds were great! There were cheerleaders, people with signs, cowbells, and even a group of male cheerleaders with balloon boobies and wigs! There was only one or two spots along the route where there were just a handful of people watching, but…a couple moments where nobody said a word. The crowd wasn’t cheering, the runners weren’t talking, it was dead silent. Kind of eerie. Around mile 20 things started getting hazy and I went into the ‘zone.’ That was the point where I really just wanted to lay down in the middle of the road and rest. I was all about counting down the miles at that point, focusing on the beat of the song on my ipod, head down and concentrating, and staying deep into the zone. When I hit a song with the perfect beat on my ipod, I listened to the same song 5 and 6 times in a row, as I knew I could just focus on the song to carry me through the next couple miles. Hooray for the “back” button! I think the sun started shining around mile 18-ish, but there was one stretch of bike path that was just SO long and SO hot. Not fun at all, and although the scenery was decent, I really just wanted to get OFF that path, and get some water and shade! I think the bike path ended somewhere around mile 22. Despite the heat (or what FELT like “heat” to me), I didn’t see hardly any runners down, just one or two towards the end who were getting medical attention. Most of the runners I saw on the side of the road were all GUYS and they were all PEEING! Hello! Porta potties??? As I mentioned, my typical race “strategy” is a great pace for the first 2/3 of the race, and then a slow death the last 1/3. But thanks to my pace tattoo, at mile 24 I saw that I was still ahead of schedule, and still had a chance at beating my PR!! So I actually picked up the pace a bit, God knows how I did that, and ran pretty strong for the final two miles! Thank God there were few, if any, hills towards the end, and I was actually praying for more, more, more downhills! When I saw the sign for the last half mile, I knew it was going to be SO CLOSE if I wanted to beat my PR, so at that point I actually started sprinting! Well, if you can call running full out at the end of 26.2 miles sprinting! I ran AS FAST AS I COULD GO, and actually passed several people on that last little strip (there were also one or two people who sped past ME, though!). There were huge crowds lining both sides, so I couldn’t see where Eddie was at ALL, and just focused on making it to the end. I ran across the mats at 4:10:08!!!!! My last marathon attempt was 4:31, and my fastest was 4:09:15!!! So I beat my last attempt by a long shot, and was only 52 seconds off from a personal best!!!! After the race the runners were shuttled through an area just for them – I found myself barely moving, shuffling my feet along, in my own little world. Thought maybe I was moving too slowly until I looked around and saw everyone else doing the same! THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS RACE was the hand towel dunked in ICE COLD WATER that was handed to me first thing after finishing – I can’t even tell you how good THAT felt, and I think ALL marathons should do the same!!! Not only did it cool me down quickly, but I also used it to wipe my hands after eating an orange, and I used it to wipe all the sweat and salt off – what a welcome relief! So they handed us that lovely soaked towel first, then a medal around my neck, then put my shoe up so the chip can be clipped off, then over to this area for a quick photo, and then massages in that area, and tables of sports drink, water, snacks, bagels, oranges, etc., and then finally out into the crowds! I am just ECSTATIC with my time yesterday, and it’s also a great predictor for Long Beach in October, because that course is “flat and fast,” so I know I’ll do equally as well, and maybe even break 4 hours!! I’m pretty stiff today – mostly my thighs and calves, but that’s to be expected. I did have some serious stomach pain all day yesterday – I guess that’s what happens when your insides get jiggled for four hours straight, but most of the pain is gone today. I’m going to ease back into things today with a 2 mile run with Eddie, and that’s that! Now on to training for the next event! Next up: Eddie and I are running America’s Finest City Half Marathon in San Diego in August – TOGETHER!! | |
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Not much updating lately, just WAY too busy. Both home, work, and the wedding scene - crazy busy!
This week I was hoping to hit 60 miles (26.2 of those being the marathon on Sunday), but we shot an open house on Thursday, and I was too tired to run 3 miles afterwards. I have been soooooooooooo tired all day today (4 hours of sleep), so I ran the 2 miles home and then skipped the other 3. Tomorrow no running at all, and Sunday is the marathon. So I should finish the week at 54 miles, which is still not bad. And I've got all summer to hit 50-60 mile weeks. I'd like to see one or two 70 mile weeks, but that might be pushing it since I've been so lax about running the last few weeks.
Would also like to hit some 7mph runs before the year is up.
Not really too nervous about the race on Sunday, unless I let myself think about it too much! I'm very relaxed about whatever time I might finish in, but I'm also pretty sure it should be better than 4:31, which was my last attempt. I would take AND LOVE 4:20! Just a tad worried about that 3 mile hill, which I have heard others describe as a 7 mile hill - ??? The course description looks like only 3 miles to me, so I'm praying. But putting that into perspective, the Redlands Half Marathon I just ran was 7 miles UP (the first half) so this is only half of that. Surely I can handle that, just push though, and then make up some time on the short (1 mile-ish) downhill?
Also a little worried about the super early start time (have to be IN SAN DIEGO by 5:00 a.m. to catch the shuttle to the start line, and I think the race starts at 6:00 or 6:30), and the fact that I have to sit, FREEZING no doubt, for an hour or more all by myself, with nothing but my iPhone to keep me entertained. With a late wedding the evening before the marathon (we probably won't be home until midnight or 1:00) and then waking up at 3:00 to make it to San Diego in time, I'm worried about the sleep factor, but hoping that my training and body will just take over.
Ah well, regardless, I WILL HAVE FUN!!! This is the Rock n' Roll Marathon, after all, the race I have been wanting to run since it's creation some 11 (?) years ago. I finally get to run it!! Hoping that the legs don't chafe too much (I should wear shorts, but I just LOVE the running skirt look so much that I will wear a running skirt again!!), and that I can just PUSH THROUGH those last few miles, which is where I know I will have the toughest time mentally.
I wonder - seriously. Do marathons ever get easier???
The cruise is in exactly two weeks. I'm beyond excited now, I NEED to get away, I NEED the rest! I will, of course, keep running during that week (I'm excited to run the track on the ship!!, and will encourage Eddie to do the same), but at least there will be no work, and no wedding stress, and no daily life stuff... | |
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feeble_knees's journal
