My Fuel is Here

I found two things that work for me...and it's a big plus that I don't have to choke them down: Sport Beans - cherry flavor with caffeine and Shot Blocks - strawberry electrolyte chews. I ordered them in bulk online (it was a lot cheaper that way). So, I am set. Seventeen mile long run this weekend. I am hoping that it isn't as terrible as my last seventeen.

Finish

"Runners just do it - they run for the finish line even if someone else has reached it first."

- Author Unknown

Week Seven

Week seven of my Marathon training was slow going. After my nightmare-ish 17 on Saturday, I took Monday and Tuesday off to try and forget about the pain and remember why I love running. It didn't take long and Wednesday I was back at it.

After another 14 miles today, I managed to knock out 39.5 miles this week! Other than feeling like I could eat a horse, I felt great this week. My YTD total is 250 miles exactly. What? What's that mean you ask? I think Mama needs me some new shoes soon...although I really can't justify it just yet. Maybe in another 200 miles.

Week eight is telling me to run 4 sixes...we'll see, I think if the weather cooperates I might try another 16 or 17 again.

Still chuggin along.

Snowy Long Run

The expression 'misery loves company' is meant for winter running. As I'm lying in bed on dark, cold mornings, it's a lot harder to talk myself out of getting up when I know I'm accountable to other people.

Jason Lehmkuhle, of Team USA Minnesota, runner-up at 2008 U.S. Half-Marathon Championships

It was snowing when I got up this morning. It wasn't supposed to do that. The past couple of days before it's been sunny and warmer...when I say warmer, I mean in the upper 30's. If I wouldn't have been accountable to Jamie, I think I would have put it off another day.

It seems that my training plan is a bit much. It goes up by two miles every week for my long run. Since I struggled so badly with 17 last week (which I was supposed to do 18) there was no way I was going to do 19 or 20 this weekend. It may mean marathon destruction on May 1st, but it's all trial and error here because I've never done this before...meaning used a training plan or run a marathon. So, we'll see.

For this run, I tried the Sport Beans and Shot Blocs...much better! I think I have found my fuel of choice. My stomach started giving me a little trouble at mile 12 and on and off until I got home (which is way better than it's been), but other than that, I felt pretty good the entire way. There were no tears and no thoughts of quitting. Although it would have been nice if it wasn't snowing so hard, or it wasn't so cold, or the wind wasn't blowing so hard, but overall it was a great run with Jamie. We finished 14.5 miles in 2:35:34.

Mind

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."

Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

Week Six - The Beating

This week was not conducive to running, at all. I was over scheduled and beat. Along with commitments I needed to keep, I worked three afternoons and then picked up a half of a shift today...which kinda screwed up my long run.



I think after today's long run, I will be boycotting all long distances...okay, maybe not, but it's nice to think that way right now. Especially with the way my calves are feeling. If you could see me walk, you would understand...or just plain laugh at me.



The only good thing about today is that I pigged out...and I enjoyed every minute of it. I had a bowl of cheerios, two bananas, muffins, a bowl full of brown rice with black eyed peas and a few veggies mixed in there, and a peanut butter and honey sandwich, and a hand full of raisins. It makes my mouth water just thinking about everything.



I got off to a really late start. I worked from 5:30-9:30A this morning. Got home and didn't really feel up to it. So, I played with the kids and laid on the couch and decided that this would be a 17 miler instead of 18. It was 1:30 when I decided to get my butt out the door and get this dreaded run over with...alone.



Running alone, at first, was wonderful. It was peaceful, quiet, and I could do some real soul searching. I have been having some stomach issues (again...I don't know what's up with me) so I decided to stay kinda close to home.



I was chugging along at a good 10:00/mile pace and at mile 3.5 is when it hit me. I ran the rest of the .7 home and took a potty break. My stomach was cramping and quite a mess. But, I had to do this. I tried to be quick and choked 1/2 a gel packet down...which would be it for the whole rest of my run...I had that and almost a full bottle of water (kinda bad, I was told).



Up until about mile 9, I felt better and was able to stay around a 10:30/mile pace. It was comfortable. I had to take another bathroom break...I was happy with my choice to stay close to home even though it was so incredibly boring.



Mile 13 is when I wanted to quit. I even broke down in tears several times (must of been quite a sight, but I was hoping my sun glasses hid it). I just did not want to go any farther. I was cold, wet, wind burned, and so sore. One of the things that kept me going was knowing that my sister, off in PA, was running a 17 miler today too...and I knew she wouldn't be quitting. So, I sucked it up and pretended I was running with my sister. I even put on the song that she says she listens to at the beginning of her run.



So, there I was for four long miles, freezing tears on my wind burned face, thinking of my sister, whispering to myself, "You are a runner, push through the pain,"and imagining myself crossing the finish line of my first marathon. I was a mess. But, I finished the 17 miles and got a picture to prove it.




It's the longest distance I have ever run at one time. It's the most painful run I have ever had and it didn't seem too victorious, but I finished.



I am dreading next week and hoping that my body forgets about the beating that it's just experienced (my mind too).



Please tell me that it gets better!

Realization

I came to the realization this past week that life as I knew it has ended.
I am in a committed relationship
with a very needy partner
it's a painful relationship at times
that takes up so much
and doesn't allow for long stretches of relaxation
I'm always up and going, it seems.
It's give, give, give
and what I get back is a couple of sore feet, sore knees, and at times a messed up tummy
on the weekends, this relationship pushes me to the point of exhaustion
I have signed my free time away by being in this relationship
I am training for a Marathon
I took my affair with running to the next level.
I don't see an end in sight.
Week six, baby!
Eighteen miles tomorrow!!!