Big Day

Today is the big day, and I am up early. I guess I am a little excited and a little nervous. The weather should be good: sunny, low 70s. Perfect conditions compared to last year, but I feel unprepared. I ran according to the training schedule and only missed one day. I weight lifted when I could, but still the last two weeks of runs have been hard. I have had to slow down or walk from time to time. I'm worried that this year's time will be worse than last year's, and that makes me nervous. Last year I had no PR, so anything I ran was good. Now, I feel I need to do better. I really need to just relax and have fun. No matter what I am happy. I raised a good sum of money for the American Cancer Society, and my entry fee for the race goes to the Hole in the Wall camp. I'm not running to win, just for the fun of it. So here goes nothing!

Missed Day

First off, I am a terrible blogger. I have been so busy with training, end of the school year activities, and Memorial Day that I have not had any extra energy to stay up to blog. But that doesn't mean I haven't been running. I skipped my 6 miler on Memorial Day--we had two parties and a parade to go to! I figure, missing one day won't keep me from finishing. And I'm not really worried about my time, so if it takes me a little longer that's okay.

I'm up to 11 miles for my long run and a 6-mile run two days a week. I've skipped a few weight lifting classes, again because my schedule just hasn't allowed it. I'm hoping I can go next week. The weather has been working with me too, so far. It's hot, but not unbearably so. I had to do today's 6-miler on the treadmill at the gym, since I had the kids with me. That was a little boring, but it just makes me that much more excited to run on the road again.

Three weeks to go, and then I'm running the Half. I can't wait.

10.2 miles

The mileage is creeping up there. I ran three time this week, and Saturday I was scheduled to run 10.2 miles. I ran 10.59 and then walked 3.5 miles, because I ran too far from home. Had I taken a cell phone with me, I would have called for a ride home, because I was that tired. But instead I walked. All together I burned about 1,114 calories according to my iPod. And I guess it's getting me ready for the 13.2 I'll soon have to run. When I look at the splits, I ran mostly 8-minute miles, which I'm pretty happy with. Though, the terrain was mostly down hill and flat. I walked up the steep hill home. :)

Rest and Recovery

Mother's Day weekend was supposed to be my rest days. I didn't run, but I did a lot of yard work. All that digging, pulling, lifting, and pushing left me very, very tired and sore. So sore, that when I'd breathe, cough, or sneeze I'd get a sharp, stabbing pain in my back that radiated around my left ribs. I spoke with a friend who is a physical therapist, and she thinks I pulled a rib muscle. (I thought I was going to die, and I've got a pretty high pain tolerance.) So, while I've kept up with my running, I did skip the weight lifting class and the blogging. I've also laid off the yard work. Thankfully, it has started to feel better...just in time for the 10 miler tomorrow.

Miles this week: M=5; W=3.4; F=2.4

Technical difficulties

My rain run gave my ipod a little trouble. It wouldn't record my run on Friday until about half way through it. So, even though I ran 5 miles, it only logged 2.5 of them. I guess it's good to unplug and run without being attached to electronically logging them, but for some reason I feel like if my ipod didn't record it, then it's like I didn't even run it.

Fun Rain Run

Monday was a four mile day. Today was a foul weather day. Five miles, in the rain, without any rain gear equaled a really fun run--especially when "Insane in the Membrane" came on my iPod just as the sky opened up. At first, I tried to out run the rain. But, since I was only halfway done when the first drops fell, I figured I may as well relax and enjoy it. I could hear my sneakers squish with every step, and it was impossible to stay out of the puddles, so I stomped through the river of rain and smiled at the cars as they sped by--splashing even more water my way. By the time I returned home, I was drenched. Water poured off me on to the kitchen floor, and I had to ask my daughter to bring me a towel, but I can't recall a more fun run!

8 Miles

Wednesday I ran 5 miles. Friday I was supposed to run 8, but I miscalculated the mileage on the map, and ended up running nearly nine miles. The good thing about running far from home is, you are forced to run or walk back (as opposed to the treadmill where you can just stop.) To make it more interesting, I ran on the roads to the nearby trail. Ran the trail. And then ran back home. I walked the last mile, so all in all it was 10 miles. So, well see how it holds up on the next run.