Great Run!

I just got back from a great run with Erica. She is such a trooper. It was her first 13 mile run and she did it with a head cold!! Considering this was just a "practice" run, we finished in under 2 hours. I feel great and am really looking forward to going out this afternoon to watch Michigan. GO BLUE!!!

Andy just asked me what I was thinking about...I told him, "I just ran 13 miles like it was nothing." How cool is that?? I love this running nonsense!

You Know It's Bad...

When your own mom tells you that you're no fun. My mom suggested getting together for dinner tomorrow night with me and Andy but I told her I couldn't go out because I was running on Saturday morning. She said I was 32 years old and no fun....which is pretty much the case lately. I would love to go out tonight actually after this horrific week of work, but I'll be running for the second time today at 8pm. This is the last night practice run for RTB. We have a meeting next week to tie up loose ends, and then we leave town the following week. I'm really getting excited!

As for running, mileage has been good this week but my back has been a little sore. I'll be taking tomorrow off, which is my last day off from any sort of activity until the marathon...Unless my body decides to tell me otherwise. Saturday I'm running 13 miles, which will bring me to my total goal of 37 miles this week. After last weeks 18, 13 should be a breeze.

Leg Assignment

I got my leg assignment for RTB. While it wasn't one of my top 4 choices, I'm ok with it. I got leg # 1 which means I'll be starting and all 11 team members will be there to see me off. My night run is also short and may not even fall during the night but closer to sun rise, which would be beautiful. After I'm done my third leg, I'll have a lot of time while I wait for the other 11 runners to finish up, but hopefully I can get some rest during this time and not come home completely exhausted!! My schedule is below:

1 - 7.8 miles with a -690 elevation change (difficulty = moderate)
2 - 3.8 miles with a +110 elevation change (difficulty = easy)
3 - 9.3 miles with a rolling climb of +400/-400 (difficulty = hard)

After my run on Saturday, I feel much more confident that RTB won't leave me in too bad of shape for PDR the next weekend.

I'm shooting for 37 miles this week, with 2 runs on Thursday and a long run of 13 miles on Saturday.

Now That Was a "Long Run"

I just got back from an 18 mile run and have a new respect for the "long run." I started off running with someone from the club but at about mile 9, I picked up my pace and ran the last half by myself. This was a great test because I had no ipod and no one to talk to...exactly what it will be like for the marathon. I felt good through the run and ate the cliff blocks along the way. Mile 16 is where it really hit me and I started to feel the blisters on my feet with each step I took. I finished strong though and can't wait to do it again!

As I'm typing this, I just thought, "I can't believe I just did that." A year ago, I never would have even thought about running 18 miles...

Nothing To Do With Running

I'm happy to say that we successfully sold our house in Michigan. Closing just completed and everything went smoothly. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted now that this is over with. Finally, Andy and I have nothing hanging over our heads and we're ready to settle into a HOME in Pennsylvania!!!

Oh, and I can't wait to get new furniture...bye, bye ugly blue sofa!!

Another Way To Look At It

It would take nearly a half hour, going 60mph, just to DRIVE the distance of a marathon.

Not much going on right now. My mileage is good for the week and I'm taking tomorrow off completely. I'll be heading out early Saturday morning for my first 18 mile run. I'm actually looking forward to it...wonder if I'll still feel the same way afterwards. Not only is it my first real "long" run, but I need to use it as a test to see what kind of food I can handle during the run. Each long run is suppose to be a test to see what food works well for you and what doesn't. This is the part of running that completely overwhelms me. Up until this point, I just ran. I didn't need to worry about what to eat before or during a run, but now that is extremely important and can mean the difference between making it through the marathon and pooping out. So, based on advice and reading, some things on the list to test out: Gel/Gu, fig newtons, raisins, honey, different sports drinks...ugh.

RTB Team

Here are some pictures of the RTB team from our night practice run last week. Next week we'll be doing another two a day on Thursday with one of the runs being at night.

Great Weekend!!

With all the running, I've definitely cut back on my social activities on the weekend and have made my long run my top priority. Andy has been so supportive of me and I can't thank him enough since this really affects him, too. We spent this past weekend just the two of us, holed up at home doing a puzzle and watching the Olympics. It was such a great weekend!! Here's a picture of our accomplishment!

As for running this week, I'm shooting for 35 miles with a long run of 18 miles on Saturday.

Peace Valley Park

Today the running club met at Peace Valley park for the monthly "traveling" fun run. Peace Valley has a 6 mile path around the lake and after running the club provides coffee, Gatorade, fruit, bagels, sweets, etc. Erica, Victoria, Steven and I ran 2 loops then Steven and I continued for another mile before turning back. So total I ran 14 miles today and feel great about it. My body is tired and my back is a little sore, but once again, I know I could have kept going. The 20 mile practice runs still scare me and should be interesting, but each week I'm starting to think that maybe I can actually do this...

Running in the Dark

The RTB team met up last night for a practice run in the dark wearing our "gear." People were looking at us like we were crazy! I'm really glad we did this because running in the dark is a lot different than running during the day! I'm a little sore today and I think it's from being tense while I ran. The whole time you're looking at the ground right in front of you staring at the little circle of white light produced by your headlamp. It forces you to change your stride and take little steps because you only have a second to react to a hole, etc.

The team seems like a lot of fun and there are a few first timers this year. So I'm not the only one that doesn't have a clue as to what's going on.

Tomorrow is Another "2 A Day"

Not much new is going on. Today is an off day of running so I spent my time at the gym this morning lifting, taking it easy on my legs. My knees have been feeling a little stiff since my long run on Saturday. Tomorrow I'm running twice again, for a total of at least 10 miles. My second run will be with my RTB team at 8:15pm. We're meeting up and wearing our gear for a run in the dark!! Although I'm not a fan of running after work, it will be fun to get together and run at night. If I get 10 miles in tomorrow and then a long run of 14 miles on Saturday, I will hit my target of 34 miles this week.

Oh, and to answer Andy's question...a "PR" is a personal record. Also referred to as "personal best."

Feel Good!

I just got back from my run with the running club. I'm so happy I found them because there is no way I could have done 12 miles without company. It's so nice when you have people to talk and laugh with along the way. While it was a long run and I was feeling it, when it was all said and done, I finished really strong and know I could have kept going. This was my longest run since the half marathon in Dec. 2007 and looking at my time from today, I know I can beat my half time of 1:51:20. With my casual pace today I could have matched that easily, so hopefully I won't be too beat up for PDR and I'll be able to get a PR. Well, now it's nap time...I earned it!!

Not so fun

In order to prepare for RTB, I ran twice today. Not so fun. I ran 6 miles this morning and really struggled. I can usually go a lot further in the morning, but today I just didn't have it. On top of it, I'm not feeling great and I think that had something to do with it. But I managed to run another 4 miles when I got home from work. I'm really not conditioned to run in the evening at all, but I kept a 8.5 minutes/mile pace through a hilly neighborhood which I was happy with. A hill workout probably wasn't the best choice for my second run, but it was a good workout. Best part of all this...I'm taking tomorrow off from running and I get to sleep in...till 6:15am! Woo hoo!

What am I thinking??

I was surfing the web and reading about people's experiences with marathons when I stumbled upon this. Needless to say, I'm more than a little nervous...



A marathon by its nature is an endurance race that tests and tries the body, eventually taking it beyond its breaking point. Once Glycogen stores are depleted, and electrolytes are burned up, and proteins that the body possessed are consumed, to continue the body converts any sugars that remain into lactic acid, and starts to consume muscle, fat, and anything else it can feed on. But a marathon isn’t over until you reach a distance of 26 miles 385 yards. At that point the body is -well- broken. It doesn’t appear to matter what your level of conditioning. At the end of the run, you are broke; spent. From about mile 20 (officially referred to as “The Wall”), what draws you toward the finish line is the residual effects of months of long training runs, the confidence gained as a result of that training which says that in spite of what your body has been telling you for the last several miles, you can do it, and then ultimately shear strength of will that you muster up from somewhere deep inside. Even elite Marathoners are broken and rarely will even go for more than a walk to the car for nearly 2 weeks after a race while the body heals itself. (taken from http://marathonersrant.wordpress.com/)

200 Miles in 24 Hours!

Well, after a lot of thought and anxiety, I've decided to run the Reach the Beach Relay in September. The RTB relay is the longest running relay race in the United States. The relay starts at the Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire. From there, each member of my team will run 3 legs covering 200 miles through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, past fields, lakes, mountain top vistas, and the occasional covered bridge. The relay ends along the Atlantic coastline at Hampton Beach State Park NH.

I have been thinking about this race for months and originally declined the offer to join the team. For one, I'm petrified to run though the night and be attacked by bears and it just seemed like something out of my league. I'm also registered for the Philadelphia Distance Run (half marathon) the following weekend and was hoping for a personal best. However, after hearing stories of RTB veterans, I realized that this is something I should not pass up. It's not often that someone gets to say they ran through the mountains of NH wearing bells on their shoes so they wouldn't be eaten alive and spent 4 days in a van with 5 smelly runners! In all seriousness though, it's a chance to experience something very unique with a great group of people who have similar interests. I know it's going to be a race of a lifetime.

This changes my training a little over the next few weeks. Since I'll be running 3 times in 24 hours (~20 miles total) I need to start running twice a day a few times a week. Guess that means I'll have to stay up past 8 pm.

Here's the link to the site if anyone is interested. http://www.rtbrelay.com/

Getting Started

The training kicks into high gear tomorrow!! Today is exactly 16 weeks until the Philly Marathon. As of right now, my base mileage is 30 miles a week and I'm nursing a back injury. If I follow the "Basic Marathoner" schedule, I'll start upping my mileage this week, peak at 45 miles a week, then taper right before the race. So, that's where I'm heading...this is how it started...

Always interested in athletics and working out, I went through some periods in my life where my health was the last thing on my list. From partying, smoking, being 40 lbs heavier, depressed...I've completely turned my life around. Today, after my husband and family, staying in shape is my number one priority. Some think it's an obsession, and they are right...but running and working out have been the best thing I've ever done for myself.

I realized how much I liked running when I started "training" for the Las Vegas 2007 Half Marathon. I use training lightly because I didn't really know what I was doing or getting myself into. But, after finishing with a 1:51:20, I was hooked! A little over a month after the race, I joined a local running club. Heading out for my first Saturday Fun Run, I was a nervous wreck. My husband said I was like a kid on their first day of kindergarten. Thank goodness he convinced me to go because this group of runners have become a huge part of my week and I have made great connections and friendships.

So after the Half marathon and a few other competitive runs, I decided to sign up for the Philadelphia Marathon on 23-Nov-2008. It's all I can think about and while I have so much doubt in my capabilities, I'm determined to prove to the insecure part of me that I can do this. I never considered myself a runner, and some days I still don't, but I know I won't give up and that I have the strength and endurance to get through this.

I'm going to keep this journal as a means of keeping me going over the next few months. I know it's going to be rough, time consuming and exhausting but the rewards of crossing that finish line will be worth every ache and pain I endure along the way.

If there are any runners out there who stumble upon this, feel free to comment...I'll appreciate any advice and good wishes you have to offer.

Let's run...