47 days to go - No rain!!! Woo hoo!

It literally has been feeling a lot like Seattle here the last few weeks. We have had more rain in October than any other October on record! So it was a welcoming site today to actually see the sun. I was shocked to see it, but oh so happy to not have to run in the rain tonight. Running in the rain is not all that bad, but running in the rain at night would kinda suck! I think I would be really cold, plus you can't see very well in the dark and I would be afraid to fall down. It happens! Anyway, wasn't the best run I have had, but after the long break between runs, I think I get rusty come Tuesday. Who knows...that is my logic today and I am sticking to it!

Daily mantra:
Rain, rain go away! Thank you for staying away today!

Daily miles:
4

50 days to go - holy toledo batman!

Wowsers - today was the biggest day yet! We ran 10 miles!!!!! Holy sweet honey iced tea!!! I was really ready for it...I was more excited than scared and I was fearless! I ran with confidence and a purpose and I really enjoyed the run. I kept my pace consistent and ate my GU when I needed it and stayed hydrated. The whole run my body felt great, then BAM...mile 8.5-9, I hit a wall! All the sudden my body felt like a wave of fatigue just fanned over me and I was like, DAMN, I think I need some GU or something. So we took some more and drank some more water and walked for a round of intervals and sure enough, we perked back up and voila, we were back on the horse and running up the last hill to the finish line. Once we passed the hill, we were on the straight away, Debra said to run on ahead if I wanted to, but not today...I just ran it in slowly to the finish. I was so happy! I did 10 miles!!!! Wow, ME, I conquered some huge number, I RAN 10 miles in 2:15! It wasn't my goal time of 2:08-2:10, but you know what, I am not winning any medals for my time anyway. I am happy finish and see the end of the journey.

After my run, I took my Saturday afternoon nap for 2 hours and was nice and rested for my 2 mile walk for Light the Night...which is also for Leukemia and Lymphoma. So technically I did 12 miles today altogether!

Daily mantra:
Just DO it!

Daily miles:
12

52 days to go - not a good day

I was supposed to do my 4 miles today, but instead had to scramble and get the house ready for a showing! I HATE having my house on the market!!! HATE it...but when I get a call, I have to drop everything and get it ready. Sure, my house is supposed to be spotless at all times with and 18 month old and a 4 year old! Yeah right...that is why I get an hour before showings. Sometimes I really which I had more than an hour though!!! Needless to say, this threw my whole day of and I had to play catch up on work and by the time I could run, it was too late...so I called it a day. I will make it up on Saturday :)

Daily mantra:
Shit happens

Daily miles:
0

53 days to go - Rainy runs are fun

I got the rare privilege of running my 6 miles all by myself in the rain! We weren't talking a little mist...it was raining...and I was running in it!!! Yep, it was rather amusing I am sure to watch me run in it. I did it though...I set out to do it and I did it. Oh, don't get me wrong I was talking myself out of running all day. I was polling my Facebook friends....do I run 6 at the gym or 6 in the rain. I got a mixed reaction, but mostly everyone said that I would be really die hard if I ran in the rain...so I did!!!! You know what, I think I got good karma points for it, because I went and played Bunco and I WON!!! I never win...but I did that night. Coincidence? Maybe...but I am going with good karma on that one :)

Daily mantra:
Just keep swimming (literally)

Daily miles:
6

54 days to go - Gym miles suck

I had to run at the gym today since my regular sitter - aka GEE - was flying home from California at run time. The gym was so HOT I just couldn't stand it...but I ran anyway. I wanted to quit because I was just miserable...not miserable because it was hard or I was hurting...only because I was so HOT! I really need to give my gym an earful, it usually is a lot cooler in there and did I mention that I hate running when it's HOT?! None-the-less I did my 4 miles in a pretty good time. I am staying consistent at 12:48 pace...I can live with that.

Daily mantra:
Run outside when you can!

Daily miles:
4

57 days to go - longest run yet!

Today was my longest run to date - 8 miles!!! I was kinda scared, but I knew I could do it. It was pretty cool when we started out. I felt good though throughout the run. I kept thinking to myself...YOU CAN DO THIS...DON"T GIVE UP....YOU CAN"T QUIT! It worked...I finished my 8 miles in 1:48...that was my goal and I did it!!! I wasn't even sore afterwards...couldn't believe that either! It's hard to believe I started out barely able to run 2 miles.

Daily mantra:
Don't quit

Daily miles: 8

59 days to go - Thank the Lord for running buddies

Tonight I usually would have run on the treadmill at the gym - which I HATE - luckily for me, my running buddy Debra was free and was able to meet me at 5:30. A night cold front came through during the night, so the weather was nice and cool again, great for running 4 miles in. We started out with a bang, we reached the first mile marker in 12:30...so we were starting off with a good pace. We got to mile 2 in about 25 minutes, so we were still at 12:30...we stayed pretty much on track the whole time. I think we slowed down a little on the hill from hell on Glen Oaks and then we were back up and running full speed ahead from mile 3 on. I was checking my watch and watching our time. I am still trying to break 50 minutes for 4 miles. We sprinted the last of the way in to finish with 50:51!!! 51 stinkin seconds off my goal. Maybe next Tuesday I will do it. My ultimate goal I think it to run 4 in 48. I want to do a 12:00 minute mile so bad. I am pushing myself harder each time to do it. I like to challenge myself and will keep doing so until I hit my goals. I had to fill out my paperwork and out down my estimated finishing time, I out down 2:55 based on my current speeds. Hopefully I will beat the estimate and finish sooner. Either way, I WILL finish the race! I can already see the medal around my neck. Will I win a price? Nah, not even close...will I feel like I won a million bucks?! You better believe it!

Daily mantra:
I got my eye on the prize!

60 days to go - Gotta fit in my run

I had a million errands to do during the day while the kids were in school. I had barely an hour to run 4 miles. I ended up running 3.37 miles in 43:14. I had a hard run, it was still really humid and hot. I was very hot and flustered. That was the first time in a LONG time that I was completely flushed and beet red when I finished my run. Exhausted, I ran in, showered and managed to pick up my kids on time! Whew...I knew I had to hurry...so I pushed myself faster and faster. Sometimes it might be a little too fast.

Tonight we had our recommitment meeting and party. I was really excited to go find out about all the race day details! Not to mention, it was a chance for me to get out the house and hang out with people that don't have germy toys in their hands and sticky fingers all day! I was relieved to hear about all the details...it is now really sinking in...I AM running in a marathon and I somehow became the team captain!!! I think I am a good leader and am already thinking about signing up for the winter team again next year as a mentor :) This running thing is addicting...I am dreaming about running too. I dreamt last night that I was running and then a group of us stopped to stretch and some reason we all took off our shoes and then the next thing I know is my shoes are gone and all that is left is a shoe for someone with a club foot and a giant orthopedic heel and the other shoe is tight and way too narrow for my foot. I managed to still run with the bad shoes and finish my race. Maybe that is some sort of omen that no matter what crap gets thrown at me, I will finish my race, I will finish what I started and I will never give up! I am going to take it at that. Sounds good to me :)

Daily mantra:
Dream about running faster next time

61 days to go - Just beat me with a wet blanket!

Good grief, all I have to say is that running when it is 100% humidity outside is not fun! It was a 4 mile run with the team tonight and I was so hot! I thought it was summer again, I literally felt like a I had a veil of wet towels around me! Despite being hot and sticky I actually felt good. The last few minutes I had a big burst of adrenaline kick in and I sprinted back to the parking lot! ME, sprinting!!!! Yes, you heard me right...I was trying really hard to break 50 minutes, so I pushed my hardest and RAN, FAST! Alas, I came in at 51:58...it was still not bad. I felt great afterwards. I was imagining me on race day doing that at the end! I hope it kicks in then and I sprint that hard and fast!

Daily mantra:
I will be faster tomorrow

64 days to go - Ok, where's the sun at?

Today was another 6 mile run with the team. I love Saturday runs! I never thought I would be happy to get up at 5:45 and run, but now I really look forward to it. I am starting to think that I like mornings (shhh, don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to uphold)! Roy and I were top fundraisers for another week! Woo hoo, it is such a great feeling of accomplishment to raise money for such a worthy cause! It makes me proud to be such a part of this. I know I seem to get sappy and sentimental on Saturdays :) We got off to a nice start, even though it was only 46 degrees outside and no chance of sun anywhere to be seen! We had an awesome run! I have the best running buddy, we have such a good balance, we keep on the same pace and she slows down when I do or speeds up when I do. It's great to have someone that shares the same determination as you and wants to be their best self, like you do. We got to a hill that has been our nemesis on our 6 mile run only to realize that we zoomed right up the hill without even realizing we were done with it! That was awesome!!! We did our 6 miles in 1:22 minutes! Staying consistent, week after week, even with the 4/1 switch. It didn't slow us down a bit! Oh, but it was so cold when we were finished, I was freezing for a good hour after my run. I had the chills and had to take a HOT shower and get all bundled up in a sweater to warm up. Man, I was COLD!

Daily mantra:
The sun is up there, I just know it!

66 days to go - Ouch that hurt

Today was not a good day! The kids have been sick all week and they have tested by patience. I have been busy all day and week with work and had to wait for late in the day to finally run. So at 10pm I headed to the gym and was prepared to run 4 miles on the treadmill. I get there and it felt like 80 inside so I knew that wasn't a good way to start. I ran for about 10 minutes and I just couldn't run anymore. I felt awful. I had a shooting pain in my leg that felt like a stab in my calf...I knew I was just better off stopping while I was ahead. I felt so defeated, but I went home, rubbed icy hot on my leg, iced it down and took Ibuprofen and chalked it up to a bad day. There will be lots of other run days and it's NOT the end of the world.

Daily Mantra:
There's always tomorrow

67 days to go - Great night run!

Tonight was another 4 mile run. I had my running buddy and we were both hitting on all cylinders. We ran faster than normal. We tried to pace ourselves to beat our time from our last 4 mile run. I wanted to break 50 minutes, so we started sprinting the last few minutes. We ended up at 52 minutes, but we still ran it faster the previous week. I love seeing myself improve and watch my time get better and my body get stronger. Endurance is a funny thing.

Daily mantra:
Run faster than last time

68 days to go - New week, new interval

Today was the day I went from 3/1 intervals to 4/1 intervals. I thought I was going to die, but I was a champ! I started running a lot faster than I usually do, I blame Stacy on that one...she is fast! I left my running buddy in the dark, fortunately coach was there to run with her. She was having a slower start than usual. I really thought I was going to die when I started running up the one big hill on the 4 mile course, I HATE that dang hill! I am not sure I really like the night running, but I have to do what I have to do. Gotta stay focused and determined and never quit!

Daily mantra:
Never give up

71 days to go - Pancakes were calling me!

This morning was our 6 mile long run. I had a great run today! I felt good, my legs felt good, I was running faster and faster. I kept finding myself pulling away from my buddy...sorry Debra...I will try to slow down a little. I just got my stride and got in a groove. The last 2 miles I could only think about the wonderful, fluffy pancakes and bacon that were waiting ahead for us. Who could quit then? No way, run girl, run! Next week the miles go up, which after looking at the chart, were supposed to have gone up this week. Oops...it will be 4, 4, 4 and then 8 - that is 20 miles! I am going to start getting into the longer and longer runs...October we are scheduled to run 94 miles! Holy moly, mother of meatballs, that is a lot of miles!!!

Daily mantra:
Just smell the pancakes

73 days to go - What hill?

Ran 3 miles tonight in my neighborhood. Not too eventful...it started out a strong run, but then my legs just started aching. Damn hills, I hate you!!! There are also many hills on my path that I took. Why does Stonebridge have to be so hilly? At least I had my new Ipod to keep me company. Just gotta stay consistent, gotta stay consistent. Why is it so much easier to run with my buddy? I logged 3 miles in 40:08, which is 12:49. Stayed in the 12's anyway.

On a good note, I finally lost the 5 pounds that I gained when I started running! Woo hoo, I actually am down a pound from my starting weight now. You want to know why? I started eating more!!! Apparently my body was hoarding everything, because I was still eating the same amount of points that I had been eating before all this running started. Now I think I know what I am doing and I hope the downward trend continues.

Daily mantra:
Just keep running, just keep running

74 days to go - Hump day running

Tonight was our 4 mile run. The hump day run, the long run in the dark. I felt good, no pain in my knees, no pain in my legs. I started off faster than I normally do, I am trying to push myself to stay in the 12's. I got a new Ipod and headlamp for my hat so I was all set! The tunes were jamming and I was running. I kept at a good pace until the dreaded hill on Glen Oaks. I HATE that hill. Of course my watch always beeps me to run right when I get to the giant, looming hill! I liked having my light, it made me feel safer I guess. My time wasn't too bad...I ran 4 miles in 54:00 flat...that is 13:38...didn't stay in the 12's, but I am not fretting it. There is always tomorrow. When we were done running, my body felt great and I was full of energy. Love days like this!!!

Daily mantra:
Running is group therapy

76 days to go - Ooh, I am getting faster

Tonight I ran on the treadmill, I did my 3 miles while Roy was home watching the Cowboy game. I had to run on Monday, because we had our Silent Auction on Tuesday. I had a great run! I went in with the goal of doing 3 miles in 36 minutes, I fell short and ran 3 miles in 38:02. That is a 12:41 mile! I have been stuck consistently in the 14:30 minute mile range. I guess I broke free. I hope!

Daily mantra:
Just keep pushing