Running Jewelry

I got this bracelet from a friend back before I got pregnant with my youngest. It was a really special gift: a bracelet with both my kids' names on it separated by their birthstones. I even wore it to the hospital when I went to have my youngest so I could glance down at my wrist and remember my sweet babies. It doesn't have my youngest on it, but I am thinking about wearing it during my marathon...and maybe I will write Collin's name on my wrist with permanent marker.

Which brings me to why I am telling this story:

I am not really a jewelry person unless the piece of jewelry means something. I never take my wedding rings off because they mean something incredibly special to me...I often fear losing them. I hardly went anywhere without that bracelet because it meant something to me.

While looking through my last Runner's World, I got to the back where all the running ads are. I saw one for running jewelry and decided to take a peak. I found this...and I want it. I love shoes so I thought the shoe with 26.2 and then Hope, Persist, Believe. What do you think?? My Golden Birthday is just three days before my first marathon, so maybe I will use some of my birthday money. I just think this is too big of a deal not to do something. The medal is fine and all, but I can't wear it to the grocery store, to work, or to church...ya know (and if you do, more power to you!)?

P.S. One month until my birthday!!

Week Twelve

Twelve weeks of this stuff and my body is really feeling it. This week was a tough one. I wasn't motivated and my hip was (is) killing me. Whopping total for this week was 19 miles...yeah, major fail. This weeks combined total of mileage was supposed to put me over 400 for my YTD total, but I guess I will have to wait until week 13 to hit that...I am so close. I think I just need to start my period and I will be okay...I have such a hard time training around this time of the month. Anyone else out there??

I am really looking forward to a marathon practice run on April 10th. They are opening up the course and it will be nice to get a feel for it and check the area out.

I have also started to give my play list some thought. I seriously need to switch my music up a bit and add some new songs to the list. I am running way more than I ever had before and some days my music actually annoys me. Some songs that really used to pump me up and motivate me now bore me.

Oh, and I need to get a new pair of shoes. :-)

"Old Blue"

*Here's something more personal than just how many miles I ran today, how many I have run this week, what I am eating, or how much pain I am in...*

Something *big* is happening this coming week.

I got my double jogger when my baby boy was 8.5 months old and my little princess was 23 months. It was "my sanity on wheels"..."the nap mobile"...the "what Mommy does when she's had enough". To have two kids fourteen months apart, I had to do something. Instead of taking up drinking (I am seriously just kidding), I chose running.

I looked forward to my "me time" every morning at 10AM. That two and a half miles was just enough to get me through the day...or at least until nap time. It was because of that blue double jogger that I slowly regained myself and found a passion for running. It taught me that it was okay to take time for myself...take time to take care of myself...take time to "be" by myself. Even though I wasn't alone it was a half hour of peace where I could pretend that it was just me and the open road.

Well, my kids are older now and my oldest two can ride a bike faster than I can run. Not only that, but I have taken my running to a new level...a level that is not conducive to pushing 100 or so pounds down the road. So, it's time. It's time to close a chapter in my life. A chapter that I enjoyed very much, but I am enjoying the present one even more.

This coming week, I am going to load my two toned blue double jogger in to the back of my van and deliver it to someone who is at the stage that I was once at. And even though I am selling my sanity on wheels for far less than it's worth to me, the worn out wheels, faded fabric, and torn foam on the handle bar is proof that I got good use out of it.

I have been running forever as far as my kids are concerned. They know as soon as I change in to my workout gear where I am going. I lace up my shoes and now head out by myself...solo. Gone are the days of pushing two (and for about a year, three) toe heads around in my blue jogger, answering their questions and pointing out the scenery to keep them distracted. They were my first little running buddies. But hopefully, because I have made running a part of our lives, one day we will lace up our shoes together and I will no longer be pushing them but be running beside them.

So, maybe I will take "Old Blue" out for another lap or two for old times sake...or maybe I will just keep the memories just the way they are.

Twenty Miles

It was a long time coming, but yesterday I completed a twenty mile run.

Jamie and I decided that it would be best if we went out to the trail so that we wouldn't be tempted to stop by home and never go back out for the second half. It was a gorgeous day and the trail was beautiful and peaceful. We did an out a back. The first ten miles we completed in about 1:44 and they felt pretty good. It was a comfortable pace. My hip started to really bother me on the way back, but it was nice knowing that we were headed back and the only way we could get home is to keep going. The second half was a little slower than the first but once I saw the end in sight, I forgot all the pain and sprinted to the finish. Twenty miles completed in a little under 4 hours.

My stomach felt pretty good on this run. I chose to only bring along a breakfast bar to eat at the ten mile turn around...I wish I would have brought more to eat along the way. I have never been more hungry or thirsty after finishing a long run. I came home and ate a pancake, a piece of toast, an egg, and a half of a kielbasa!

This twenty miles has gotten me really excited about my marathon. Don't get me wrong, the run was both painful and wonderful all at the same time...but the longer I go, the more I know I can accomplish this goal...I think I am going to look at this race as two tens and two 5Ks. One more twenty and it's time to start cutting back.

Week Ten ~ Completed

I feel like I am back. This week was a good training week for me. I stayed right on course. Yesterday, I went out with Jamie to attempt out long run in terrible weather (rain and wind). I can handle running in the rain, but when it's cold and windy, I would rather not. So, we managed 9 miles and called it a day. We were hoping for better weather today...I was thankful that the rain had stopped and it was slightly warmer, but the wind was worse. Wind, I have discovered, I just can't do wind. It's fine when it's at my back. I pick up the pace and feel like a real running rockstar...turn the corner and it's all over. So, we got in another nine this afternoon. One of these windy days I would love to just run with the wind at my back until my Garmin says I have gone the distance I set out to go and then call for a ride home. Anyway, I was determined to get my 18 in today no matter what. So, I went out this evening for another 9 at the gym. Might I add, on the way to the gym I have to drive by the Dairy Queen that has opened back up for the season...talk about torture!!! I want a blizzard already this year!

Mileage for this week: 38 miles...I have almost hit the 400 mark for this year!

Foods for Injury Recovery...

I thought that this article was worth the read over at Runner's World. Check it out.

Good to Know...

I received another Marathon email from the Wisconsin Marathon (that I will be running on May 1st). My heart skips a beat every time I get something from them, like it makes it that much more real or something. Well, I was happy to see at the end of the email that had written that in case we were to need emergency medical attention that we would only have to be taken 2 miles down the road to the nearest hospital...so much more comforting.

My foot is feeling much better. Stretching and taking it easy has seemed to have done wonders. I am sticking to my training schedule this week and hope to finished my long run this Saturday victoriously.

I did what I like to call "Fast For me Four" last night and finished four miles in 37:54. I have enjoyed running outside without all of the layers...and the snow. C'mon Spring!!!

My favorite 10 miles...

I remember when signing up for my most favorite race, The CRIM, felt like I was signing my life away. It felt crazy to think that I would be able to run a 10 mile race. It was 2008, and I was new to this long distance racing stuff. The longest I had gone was 6.2 miles and that felt like death to me. Funny what you can do when you become crazy addicted! Ten miles seems like a welcome relief...like fun...like something I know I can do. I have big plans for The CRIM 2010. The city of Flint: I actually look forward to seeing you again...and that blue line too. On August 28th, 2010, that's where I will be, right outside of where I said "I do" (maybe that's why I like this race so much).

Pain, pain, go away...

It seems as if all the signs and symptoms are pointing to plantar fasciitis. I guess I only have myself to blame for this one. Maybe the logical thing to have done before running 12+ miles was to stretch for a good amount of time...oops...lesson learned...really this time. I had the same thing happen to me last year before The CRIM...guess I forgot how bad this hurt.

I still haven't run yet this week and it's *killing* me. It's been months since I have been off this long. My plan is to try another long run on Friday and see what happens. I need to get back. I think I am at a critical point in my training and I have come too far to be skipping days now.

The weather has been gorgeous this week. With the sunshine, warmer temps, and blue skies, I am getting more and more excited for the warmer weather and my first Marathon. I wanted to quit running after Sunday (well, not really, but it's just what I tell myself after every crappy run), but I am back to my senses and want this too bad.

So, my dear left foot, are you with me or not? Because it looks like you have no choice...you either start cooperating or come Friday, I am taking an anti-inflammatory drug and running on you anyway. You have rested long enough. It's time to snap out of it.

Big Fail

My long run on Sunday felt everything but victorious. To sum it up, it was painful. I did something to my foot earlier in the week. Couple that with stomach issues and I was a big nightmare. It was only because I had Jamie with me that I ended up making it 15 slow miles. It felt like a big fail.

I am still in a lot of pain and haven't run since. I am hoping to be able to get out there by the end of the week, but that doesn't seem too promising. The only thing that makes my foot feel better is standing barefoot in the snow. So, over the next few days I am going to try a couple of things...but, maybe I am just going to have to stay off of it for a week or so. There is almost nothing worse than not being able to run.