7/10/11

Training schedule says I will do: 14 miles


I actually did:   15.03 miles*

*19.78 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting 3 miles for running uphill for a total of 6 miles, 1 miles for sweating through underwear, pants, sports bra and shirt, 0.25 miles for 80+ degree weather, and 0.5 miles for traveling more than 10 miles. 
 
Days to go until the marathon: 77


Miles to go until 1000: 700.05

I was pretty nervous about this run because I didn't really run at all during the week, plus I didn't leave for it until after 9 am and it was pretty warm and sunny.  And about 0.25 into the run I realized I had forgotten to take my prophylactic ibuprofen.  But all things said, it was a decent run.  Yes, I got hot (and sunburned), and yes, I was in some pain over the last half of it (which I think was related to the heat as much as anything), but this was the farthest distance I have ever run which felt like a good accomplishment.  I walked when I needed to (about 3 miles total, I'd guess) which is ok with me.  I will be fine even if I walk half the marathon.  So I feel like I'm back on track after my doubts of late.

Oh, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers played during this run! :)

7/4/201

Training schedule says I will do: 11 miles

I actually did:   10.66 miles*
 
*14.16 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting an 2.5 miles for running uphill for a total of 5 miles, 0.5 miles for sweating through sports bra and shirt, and 0.5 miles for traveling more than 10 miles. 
 
Days to go until the marathon: 84

Miles to go until 1000: 721.08

I felt pretty good about this run, until I got home and discovered I had been supposed to run 11 miles, not 10 like I thought . . . grr . . . this is especially frustrating BECAUSE I felt so good, I easily could've done 11.  Oh well.

Despite the fact that I clearly can't read, this was a good run.  I don't know if it was the new shoes, the fact that I started at about 5 am before it got hot, the fact that I didn't work all day first, the fact that I drank gatorade the whole time, or some combination of the above, but it was a WAY better run than last week.  I still had some pain, but I also think that a lot of that is mental (duh, you are probably saying), because all it took was some motivating tunes to make me forget I was hurting.


Happy 4th of July!!

6/26/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 15.5 miles

I actually did:   13.79 miles*
 
*18.915 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting an extra 1.5 miles for working all weekend before running (not actually in the bonus system, but Aubree-approved), 2.5 miles for running uphill for a total of 5 miles, 0.5 miles for sweating through sports bra and shirt, 0.125 miles for darkness, and 0.5 miles for traveling more than 10 miles.  That's a lot of bonus miles!
 
Days to go until the marathon: 91

Miles to go until 1000: 739.6

Ok, this run kind of sucked.  To be specific, the first 9 miles were fine.  The rest sucked.  This weekend was a little crazy in that I was working at the hospital.  I worked 12 hours each on Saturday and Sunday, and started my run after getting home from work Sunday night.  So, I was fairly tired from working but determined to do my long run this weekend because I didn't get it in last weekend due to a patient in labor.  The first 9 miles were fine, and then it all went downhill.  Every inch of my lower half started to hurt, including my calves which completely cramped up (which was new for me).  By the time I got near home, it was clear that I had miscalculated my distance and would not be doing 15.5 miles, but it was 10:15 (by which time I am usually in bed), dark, and I was hungry and in pain.  So I just went home.

This run was fairly discouraging because it was so hard, and I once again started to doubt whether I could run a full marathon.  But since then I have thought about it, and talked to friends, and here are the lessons I have learned:

1.  Don't run more than 9 miles after working a 12-hour day.  This one really should've been obvious to me.
2.  Don't wait until 2 hours into a run to start drinking Gatorade.  Again, probably should've been obvious.
3.  Don't run at dinner time in the summer, unless you have recently eaten.  The smell of others' barbecues will make you hungry.
4.  Perhaps even the kick-ass music on my ipod is not enough to keep me distracted and interested on such long runs.  (I have since downloaded podcasts of Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me for my next long run.)
5.  Maybe it is time for new running shoes.  (I ended up getting new shoes 2 days later.)

I am determined not to give up on running this stupid marathon and I am hoping my new shoes will propel me through the next long ru

Update

You may have noticed that my posts are fewer and getting posted all at once recently; I have been swamped at work and not much free time at home, so posting has been harder.  So, I think I'm not going to try to post for every run anymore and just do it when I can.  Since I think there is exactly one person who reads this on a regular basis, I don't think anyone will be too sad, but I just wanted to make the announcement.  I promise if I have any earth-shattering thoughts I will post them.  Until then, happy running!

6/14/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 40 minute run

I actually did:   42:15 minutes/3.99 miles

Days to go until the marathon: 103

Miles to go until 1000: 760.34

I felt relatively fast on this run, which was nice, I don't feel fast very often.  I still don't feel like I've exorcised the demons of that bad run from a couple of weeks ago, but I am hoping that I'm on the way.  My next long long run is scheduled for 6/25, and hopefully that will go well.

6/11/2011

Training schedule says I will do: OFF (but tomorrow's long run is supposed to be 12 miles)

I actually did:   11.58 miles*

*13.58 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting an extra 1 mile for traveling uphill for 2 miles, 0.5 miles for sweating through 2 layers, and 0.5 miles for running 10+ miles

 

Days to go until the marathon: 106

Miles to go until 1000: 764.33

I thought a lot about college on my run today, for good reason: my best friend (who I met in college, and who is Aubree of the famed Aubree's bonus mileage system) is coming to town today to visit for a few days.  Included in our itinerary is an 80's themed bachelorette party tonight.  It's going to be awesome.

As I was thinking about college, I was thinking about whether I'd want to do it again (now).  Honestly, I don't know.  Sometimes I think it would be great to take more classes just to learn stuff.  For instance, I feel fairly ignorant about US and world history (not on a Sarah Palin level, but not where I'd like to be).  But college classes are also a lot of work.  And sometimes I'd like to have little to no responsibility, but then I'd miss my husband and son.  And I'm fairly certain, no, make that certain, that I could not drink like that anymore and feel fine the next day.  But it would be nice to live near all my friends again.  I guess it doesn't really matter where I end up in this decision, since re-doing college is not really an option.  Good thing I have some great memories, and some pretty embarrassing pictures, to tide me over!

6/10/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 50 minute run

I actually did:  Took the day off, because I'm doing my long run this week tomorrow.