Why I No Longer Deserve an Award. ZERO MILES.

I knew that I wouldn't have a chance to run tonight since Nate had an 8 O'clock meeting to go over his essays. So I was planning on going on a run this morning, but my buns just didn't want to get out of bed. So count me for a big fat zero today.

Why I Deserve an Award. 4 miles.

I really didn't think I was going to get a chance to go to they gym last night. Nate was looking over essays with some Harvard Grad friends and then at 7 was going to do church stuff and then I thought back to working on essays. I was in my jammies, laying on the couch, watching wife swap waiting for Lost to come on, eating a whole bag of sour patch kids, when Nate walked in at 8:30pm and asked if I was going to the gym. I really really didn't want to, but I got off the couch changed and to the gym in no time! I was so proud of myself. It would have been so easy not to go.

Luckily, I had charged to ipod and put a couple new songs on it to distract me. I happen to land on the same treadmill in the backrow in front of the TV too. Score. So the run itself wasn't so bad.

There isn't one workout that I do that I don't think about the upcoming marathon at some point in time. Last night I had chapped lips and as a consequence started to think about whether or not I would have space to carry chapstick with me during the race. I started to think that if I didn't have any and my lips were chapped, I would start yelling out to the crowd,"Does anyone have some chapstick? I need some REAL BAD!" Then someone would find some and hand it to me. Then I would tell them, "Thank you so much, I'd kiss you, but my lips are chapped................and I'm married!"

Yes folks, I really dream up stuff like this while I'm running on the treadmill!

P.S. For some reason the spellcheck will not work! Do not judge me on my lack of spelling capabilities!

7 super long miles

Last night I couldn't post about my run because my husband was working on his essays when I got home. Anyway, I hadn't looked at my training schedule yet and thought that I had a 5 mile run, but when I looked at 7pm, I saw 7!!! What! So I quickly got dressed and told Nate he would have to put the kids to bed because I was losing the desire to get my buns to the gym exponentially by the minute! It was bad enough that this run was going to be on the treadmill, but on top of that I was going to have to do it WITHOUT my ipod! Uggggh. I had decided on wearing my new blue pair of Nike shorts with the undies built into them. They are shorter than any other pair I own so I was feeling a little self conscious. I knew I needed a treadmill in the back row so no one could look at me while I was running. And because what if they happen to be a bad pair of shorts that would get all caught up in my thighs while I run, that was the other reason I needed to be in the back. When I got to the gym, all treadmills were full! Super lucky for me, one in the back right in front of the TV opened up! YES! The sonics were playing, not too excited at the beginning, and I was hoping that American idol would come on at any second since I requested it at the front desk. No such luck. The first mile I just kept telling myself, just get through the first mile that one is the hardest. I still wasn't feeling better by mile two. Then I was telling my self that once I got through half of the run, 3.5 miles, I would walk. I knew at some point I would have to turn the treadmill off and restart it at some point in time since it only goes for one hour. By the time I got to 3.5 miles, I was finally in a groove and decided to go with it. At mile 6 I had to turn it off and restart since I was at 60 minutes. Too bad because the last mile was torturous as a result! But I made it and that all that matters!

P.S. The shorts worked out fairly nicely. The built in undies didn't give me a wedge and they didn't ride up my thighs. :)

4.3 miles- Elliptical Style

I have decided to cross train on Mondays as well as Fridays until my body feels better after long runs. I went on the elliptical for 45 minutes and did 4.3 miles. Doesn't sound tough, but I did get the best work out I could. I had that baby cranked up so it was tough to do. (Well, only a 10 out of 20) My heart rate was up the whole time, so that was good. I also did some ab work.

9.65 miles

*****Warning******* Whining in the following post********* Warning**********

Today was not a great run. It has me feeling very nervous. First of all, it was freezing!!!!! So stinkin cold this morning. My knee and arch on my left leg/foot were hurting almost immediately. My arch pain went away, but the knee just got worse. Apparently my right leg felt left out and my hip started hurting and my ankle. What the heck is up with that! I felt like such a gimp. I was scheduled to run 9 miles today, but my friend/training partner Debbie was scheduled to run 10. I figured I would run 10 anyway. No biggie. But I felt like I should listen to my body and stop when I did and meet her back at the car.


The cool thing was, we found a new running spot. It was at Marymoor Park in Redmond and there was a nice wide paved trail that went on forever. It was went right next to the Sammamish River. We actually saw two beavers! And we did see a deer leg... so gross.

Afterward, we stopped at Footzone to check out fuel belts. I think I'm going to try and find one on Ebay. Also, I decided on getting some inserts for my shoes, and I hope that solves ALL my problems. (I didn't buy them yet, but I am soon. Instead I bought a cute new pair of shorts) I really hope the inserts do the trick because next Saturday's run is 14 miles. Holy Crap. That will be the longest I've ever run. I need to quit looking ahead at the calendar. Too late. I noticed that today's long run is the shortest I have until the Sat. before the race. Double Holy Crap. Excuse my language. (My Grandma would die if she knew I wrote like that......I'm just trying to keep it real!)

Oh, one other good thing. I got a new pair of undies last night that I tried out today and they were great!!!! In case you are wondering they are Jockey brand, microfiber, bikini cut, color:white. Too much info? Never. Just ask Debbie, she'll tell you I don't believe in too much info!!!! Especially today. Anyway...... tomorrow, REST!!!

P.S. I skipped yesterday!!

5 Miles

I was able to run outside today which was nice! A little cold though. Spring can come at ANY TIME! I think I must have a sign on my head that says Information because it seems like just about every time I run somebody asks me for directions. I'm such a good neighbor kind of gal. :) I think I need to find some flat land to run on and soon. My calves/achilles tendon are not feeling great. Hopefully this won't be an issue.

4 Miles

I skipped Monday and Tuesday of this week in hopes that my body would be feeling perfect by today. I ran 4 miles on the dreadmill, I mean treadmill today. Certainly things are achy, but nothing too bad to complain about.

It is Official.

I have paid my registration money. Come hell or high water I am running the Salt Lake City Marathon on April 19th 2008. I have been loosely following Hal Higdon's 18 week Intermediate 1 plan for this marathon. I am in my sixth week of training right now. I wanted to start this blog so I could have a journal of this experience of training for a marathon. This will be my very first marathon!