5

5 with the wind at my back. 63 degrees. beautiful. a good day.

finally broke 400 miles for the year. hoping to run 500, which means i must do about 2-3 on average every day. we'll see how it goes...

5

5 on a very sunny, but very chilly day. the first 2 miles were not good. i really wanted to stop. i just couldn't get my rhythm and i felt heavy. thankfully, it got better. the last 3 miles went really well and i was glad that i went today. i've been feeling unmotivated and kind of blah lately. i think it has to do w/this that i read about today:

Post Marathon depression is a common phenomenon for marathon runners of every experience level. The excitement of the marathon season is over and the intensity of preparation is behind them.

For some runners, there is a sense of relief and they welcome the opportunity to relax for a little while. For some, if there isn't something to replace all the hours on the road, the lull of TV boredom sits upon them. The sense of focus and purpose is lost.

Completing a marathon is a very emotional and physical process.

According to Dr. Suzanne McAllister, a former member of the New York Marathon psych team and a marathoner herself, "runners get accustomed to the endorphins kicking in when they run. It helps them to be happy. When the endorphins are no longer released you have a greater chance of depression setting in. Runners need to find a replacement physical activity if they don't plan to continue running."

i think this is definitely a real thing. i've experienced it in some form after every big race i train for.

6

6 miles today w/my friend carol. a chilly 42 degrees, but it felt good w/the sun out. i'm going to have to get used to running in the cold if i want to stay at the same level. it'll be a challenge. i don't like running on a treadmill, but i'm thankful i have the option. looks like the next week will be nice weather. hoping to have a good running week.

4

after 3 days off, i ran 4 miles today. my legs felt pretty good, but MAN it is freezing here! low 40's. sadly, it is almost time to pull out the treadmill. i'm going to run as much as i can outside, but it won't be happening in icy/blizzardy conditions.

i signed up for a 7 mile cross-country race at the end of november. i ran it last year and it was so much fun!

the 1/2 marathon...

yesterday was perfect weather for running.
i had my alarm set for 5:30 a.m., but woke up at 4:30. i couldn't go back to sleep, so i decided to just start getting ready. i ate a granola bar and drank lots of water. at 6:00 my friend carol came to pick me up, i grabbed my ipod and i was ready to go.

i always love standing at the starting line, so much nervous energy and chatty runners. and, what a blessing it is to be able to run. we overheard a man saying that he was 68 years old and running the full marathon. i was so impressed by him. i hope when i am that old, i am able to run that far.

during the first mile, i saw steve's parents standing on the corner waiting to cheer for me. i almost started crying. it was just one of those moments where i was so thankful. they have always loved me like i am their own child. for the next few miles i thought about how awesome it was that they were there.

around mile 8, i started feeling great. i picked up the pace quite a bit. from mile 8-11, i ran effortlessly and felt so good. i wish it would have lasted. by mile 11.5, my legs started burning (i think that's the only way to describe it). it continued for the remaining 1.6 miles. usually when i see the finish line i can force myself to speed it up, but i tried and i just didn't have much left.

overall though, i feel good about how i did. i think it was my best time ever for 13.1. and, i have definitely decided that the 1/2 is my favorite distance. it is still a challenge, but it doesn't invade my life with training as much as the marathon does. for this season i am in with little kids, i think it would be better for me to stick with the 13.1. i look forward to many more...

(i only have one picture from the race, but i still need to upload it).

1/2

tomorrow morning is the 1/2 marathon. i'm getting excited and a little nervous. part of me really wants to be running the full. in fact, i actually considered signing up for the full and running as much as i could and walking the rest. there are lots of people that walk the whole thing, so it wouldn't be strange to do it. however, i decided i will just run the 1/2 and plan on running the 26.2 when i've trained for it.

the marathon and the 1/2 all start together tomorrow. i love being at the starting line and just knowing that everyone standing there worked hard to get to that point...running in the heat, wind, rain, sun, and sometimes through pain. it is inspiring, especially when you see all the different types of runners - all ages and sizes.

stay tuned - i'll let you know how it goes.

3.5

3.5 tonight w/my friend carol. it was our final run of the week before running the 1/2 on sunday. it supposed to be 68 and cloudy on sunday, which will be perfect because it will be nice at chilly at the start. i felt great tonight and i'm so looking forward to those 13.1 miles. i'll be uploading some new songs onto my ipod tomorrow. do you have any recommendations on good running songs? i'd love to hear helps you push through the miles.

2 + 4

2 miles last night - a short and easy run.

4 miles tonight in the drizzle + 50 degrees. i think that is my absolute favorite running weather, but only when i am wearing shorts and long sleeves. i love when my legs are a little numb.
tonight was my BEST run all year! and, for the first time in a long time i looked at the world and could see beauty. for much of this year i have been overwhelmed by the tough circumstances that many people i love have been going through and sometimes i just look at the world and see so much ugliness. it is there, but so is the beauty. i listened to this song tonight as i ran and was reminded that there is hope. i have hope.


savior he can move the mountains. my God is mighty to save, he is mighty to save.

10

ran 10 today. ran w/the fuel belt, which is such a lifesaver on longer runs. i also love having a garmin and having the freedom to run where i want and still know my mileage. ahhh, it feels so good to be done.

only 8 days until the 1/2 and i'm getting excited now that i have completed a 10!

6

ran 6 this morning. a beautiful morning. felt great, hoping that means i've finally turned a corner...
looking forward to 10 on saturday.

5.5

ran 5.5 tonight and finally i had a good run! i felt like i could have kept going and my legs feel good. the 50 degree weather was perfect for running in shorts and long sleeves. i feel like a runner today.

9.1

ran 9.1 w/my friend carol today. the first two miles were tough and then it got a little easier. i still am feeling pretty discouraged because of how i have been running lately. last year when i was training for the marathon, i remember having so many runs where i just felt great and felt like i could go forever. i remember one of my 18 mile training runs in the rain and i felt wonderful. this year, i have not felt like that. i don't know what is wrong with me lately?! for the most part, i've kept up with my training, i'm not injured, the weather has been great, i'm not pushing myself too much...i just don't know what my problem is...i think one problem today was that i ran pretty hard yesterday, so i'm going to take the day off before my long run this week.

hopefully the 10 mile run this week will go better.

4.5

ran 4.5. there were times today where i felt great and lately it seems like there hasn't been enough of those moments. i ran some hills today, the route i've been running lately is pretty flat. 3 weeks until the 1/2. i'm looking forward to it and hoping for good weather and a perfect running day. ha - that's not asking too much, is it?!

planning on running 9 tomorrow.