3

planned on running my 6 tonight, but didn't have time to get it in before it got dark.
a good run on a cool night. 10 days to go.
having a little taper madness.
nervous and excited at the same time. feel prepared and yet not prepared at the same time.

4

beautiful day today - 63. it has really cooled off here and definitely feels like fall. i'd like it to be cool for the marathon, but not freezing and please not hot. i'm not asking too much, right?!

i felt great tonight. i can tell my legs are getting rested up. i ran faster than normal (close to 9 min. miles). i think it is because i am antsy w/running less and thinking about the marathon coming up. hard to believe it is only 11 days away! i started packing a few things into my suitcase already.

i need to make a trip to goodwill to get some warm clothes i can put over what i will be running in, then when i warm up i will toss them to the side. i already packed some gloves that i can wear at the start, if i need to. and, i started making my list of the 26 people i will be praying for.

i'm still feeling some pain in my toe, which makes me a little nervous. if it hurts for 4 miles, i can't imagine what it will feel like after 26.2 miles! BUT, we'll just see. maybe it will get healed up enough by then. i'm not going to worry about it. i will just run w/what i am given on october 11th. you never know how you are going to feel, no matter how you have trained. perfect training does not equal a perfect race. and, my training has been good, but not perfect. the goal is to finish and have fun! i do have a number in my head that i would like to finish in, but i'm not going to let it make or break how i feel about this marathon.

12

12 this morning w/amy biking next to me. felt pretty good today.
it was the last time that amy will go with me on a long run. it has been soo nice to have her by my side on so many long runs. we usually talk the whole time and have gotten to know each other
so well during this training season. it is so fitting that she is coming to chicago with me to cheer
me on to the finish! i'm getting so excited. lots of details to figure out still, but it's coming together.
i'm working on my playlist and my list of what to bring. looking forward to some amazing italian food in chicago! and, really looking forward to seeing my friend amanda! we met through blogs almost 4 years ago and have so much in common. it's going to be so much fun to hang out together and be there together when the race starts.

week 16 is done.
week 17 will be nice and easy - 4,6,3,8
week 18 - marathon week!

8 & 4

8 yesterday. 4 today. felt pretty good for both.

reminded again this week that i can not do anything on my own. i need God's help in everything.
if in all this running, i am not running toward Him..none of it matters.
if in all this running, you are not running toward Him..none of it matters.

5

week 16 - tapering begins - 5,8, 4, 12
feeling some pain tonight, but nothing i couldn't run through. funny how a 20 miler can feel better than a 5!
i think my body is ready for the tapering.

20

whew! i finished week 15 - 40 miles total!
today was the longest - a 20 mile run. i started running at 7 and was done within 3 1/2 hrs. including a pee break and water stops. i feel better than i have the entire time of training!
it was a great day - perfect weather and i wore the clothes i plan to wear for the marathon and NO chafing! i bought a spibelt and i am in love with it. it is going to be perfect for my gels, phone, chapstick, some jelly beans, and whatever else i decide i must carry.

21 days!

5

5 miles.
really wanted to skip this run today. i just wasn't feeling it. but, i did go and i'm glad i did.
love that she still wants to hug me even when i am gross.
here's to a great 20 miler on saturday. woo hoo!

10

10 today, just johnny cash and i. he is helping me get to the taper!

5

week 15 - 5,10,5,20. this is the hardest week of all. i'm determined to get it all in.

tonight was 5 miles. 80 degrees. thankful for the cold water my girls gave me when i got home.

14

14 done and my toe felt fine. that was a nice surprise!
this week will be 5,10,5,20. and then, Taper Madness begins! only 27 more days!


(picture from flickr)

painful 9

9 today. my legs felt great, but my toe throbbed and ached the last few miles.
it is really sore. my daughter accidentally stepped on it today and i thought i was going to cry.
not sure how i will run 14 on sunday. i'm going to have to get creative and bandage this up good.
i always buy my shoes bigger than what i need and my socks are dri-fit.
any advice? not running is not an option... and, i'm not very fond of this advice that i just read.

toes

yep, i'm having this problem again. hopefully it won't be too painful when i stand at the starting line in 30 days.

5

5 on a beautiful evening.
with a great song:


9 tomorrow and 14 on sunday to wrap up the week.

5

beginning of week 14 (5,9,5,14)
i ran 5 tonight. the first mile was pretty tough, so i walked a little. after that, my legs loosened up and i ended up having a good run.
i've been reading a lot lately about the benefits of drinking chocolate milk after a long run.
here is one, and another, and another...these are just a few. i found so many!
i think i will give it a try after my long run this week.

still

still pretty sore
2 days later and i am still pretty sore. i think i will try an ice bath after my next long run...

9 and 18

9 yesterday. slow and easy.
18 today. i thought my legs would be tired today, but i felt really good. only stopped to refill the water bottles in my fuel belt. i used 3 gels and that seemed to be enough for me.

getting ready for week 14/18. only 35 days left! getting excited!

5

5 miles on a beautiful afternoon. i love, love this weather. i'm really hoping for a great day in chicago when i stand at that starting line.

today i noticed that many people have animal statues in front of their house. i first noticed it because i got startled by one of a dog, sitting close to the sidewalk, that i thought was real. pretty funny!
my ipod battery died today, so looking for the statues occupied me. :)

38 more days!

4

66 degrees. ran at sunset. lots of people out tonight.
i am loving this weather!
my legs felt better tonight that they have in a long time, which was such an encouragement. i've had a couple times lately where i have just been doubting finishing another marathon.

so, today is a new day and it's time to step it up. only 39 days left!