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| I'm just getting back into the long runs again, and it's been a struggle! These days I'm lucky to get in at least one to two midweek runs before the weekend. Every other long run, my right knee has been acting up, and I'd end up limping around for a day or two. I know I should get it checked out, but I guess I have an underlying fear that the doctor may tell me not to run (although I don't think it's anything at all that serious)! But, I'm glad to be back in the double digits, I ran 14 miles last weekend, and I'm scheduled for 16 this weekend, which I'll probably squeeze in on New Year's Day. Sadly, I have slowed down considerably...I don't know what goal time to have in mind at the moment for BM, hopefully I'll clock in under four, if hill training gets better. I have been focusing a lot more on hill training this time around. To be honest, I partially dread Boston. I haven't even booked any flights yet, although I did book a room a while ago. I'm happy that I qualified, but now that it's really happening and coming up, I'm not quite at ease with the training (not that it should be) and mentally, it's been a bit draining. My training schedule is a bit more intensive this time around, I don't have many cutback weeks, and I'm training alone. A few weekends ago, I got up super early and did a hilly twelve miler from my home to a trail and back. It remained dark for most of the run, and when I got to the trail, there were people popping out of the dark, and I really couldn't see much. That was a scarier run, and my knee acted up most on that particular run. But it's much better today... I really think this next one in Boston will be my last marathon...at least for a while. Not the end of running, that I'll keep up for as long as I can, I hope.  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!! Cheers to good health and great times! | | |
| On October 4, I completed my fourth and NOT final marathon...it did not go as planned!! I know every race is unpredictable and very different, and although I saw the weather forecast for rains, I didn't really expect it to pour, at least not until the race was over! It drizzled, it poured, there were strong headwinds and I was FREEZING, especially after the race, as I was waiting for my group to finish, but I am relieved to say that I did make it in time for Boston (although just BARELY by clocking in at 3:39). I was really hoping to get a time closer to 3:30, but 3:39 was the best I could do for the day. This race experience was entirely different from the prior year (same course in St. George, UT), I didn't get to enjoy the beautiful desert scenery, my shuffle skipped and stalled several times, the added weight from the rain tired me out much faster (my last eight miles were significantly slower compared to last year's final eight miles), I got hungry quite early into the race but didn't get to my sports beans 'til about mile 18 because my fingers were so numb, I felt the urge to use the BR into the second mile but held that discomfort 'til the very last mile, however, in the end, I have to admit, it was still a good race, a challenging one, and an accomplished one for me. Not only because I qualified, but because it was such a struggle for most of the course, and I'm happy to say I gave it all I could for the day. When I was down to the last three miles, I felt like I was running for my life at that point! I knew I didn't have any moment to spare, and in that last 0.2 mile stretch, I sprinted the best I could and knew I had just barely made it in time! Thank God! It's all so very surreal now, the race seems like such a blur. I had such mixed emotions once I crossed the finish line, such bittersweet feelings. But I know I can't complain, and I am happy about it now...must get ready for another marathon in April (although I haven't looked into any of the details yet, I don't even know if I'm able to register!), need to come up with a new training plan! Wish I could say more, but can't right now...but, here I come Boston!  | | |
| Down to the last two weeks of tapering! Finished my third long run last Saturday morning (another slow 22 miles)...broke in my new pair of shoes, which weren't feeling very cushiony at all! Hopefully it won't be much of an issue, but depending on how tomorrow's run goes, I may need to get another new pair...I think my body's tired, I probably shouldn't push it too much tomorrow, but I feel like I need to considering how slow the past 2-3 long runs have been (even though the third one was intentional). Well, yay for tapering...  | | |
| HILLY 22.2 MILES COMPLETED MONDAY MORNING! My last three outdoor runs were all quite hilly, will try to make a better effort about keeping that up until race day. It was NOT easy...but I'm sooooo glad it's over with! Monday morning's run really wiped me out for the rest of the day. The weather was good (pretty overcast although not cold), but I was still feeling sluggish and uneasy throughout most of the run. It was a slow one (avg 9:15)...makes me a little nervous that I'm not running at the ideal pace in preparation for SGM, although the course included many uphills, but still, I was hoping for a faster pace...I need to remind myself that this is how it was last summer too, or how I felt right before my fall marathon. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to break four hours based on my summer training, but somehow things worked out beautifully last October, and I couldn't have asked for better race conditions. So, I'll try to be more optimistic, and hopefully that same old race day magic will give me the little boost needed to meet my goal time (< 3:40)! One more twenty miler left in two weeks....that one I will intentionally be taking real slow (or will try to)...I just ordered a new pair of shoes, should get them just in time for that last long run! Family and friends (but mostly family) are telling me to end the marathons after this one...they don't see it as physically beneficial, both in the short and long term. I don't know how much longer I'll be running these marathons, but I'm starting to give it a little bit of consideration now...of course, if I get into Boston, that'll be on the "must do" list! Just something I've been pondering lately...not that I'd give up running entirely, that I'll have to keep up just about forever...I want to be like those gangster moms (one day) who run up and down those crazy hills with a stroller in one hand, dog leash and dog in the other.  haha... | | |
| almost...one twenty miler down, two more to go! The last twenty miler was run on less than three hours of sleep, and I started to feel that dizzying effect into the sixth mile, but fortunately, I shook off most of it by the tenth mile and somehow made it through pretty fine! It was definitely not one of my more pleasant runs, but it also wasn't one of my worst runs either...We started at five in the morning, and I already felt pretty warm in the first two miles, but fortunately, it wasn't a blazing hot morning like it had been over the summer, the sun held off its more powerful rays 'til the run was over with. I felt pretty good afterwards, no major aches or pains, just a slight muscle spasm in the last mile as I boosted the speed for a strong finish. I felt absolutely fine the next day, no soreness or tightness...I am amazed at how the body has gotten used to the mileage...that isn't to say my long runs are easy or comfortable, the struggle is still always there, just a bit more bearable than before. My average pace was slower than usual (just a little under 9:00), but I was okay with that for the day...what I really must start to focus on now are some hilly runs! I did one this morning, and it wasn't so bad. It was a short one (4.5 mi), but a good start for some hill training. More later, gotta go! | | |
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