Day 16

Daily distance: 3.02
Weekly distance: 3.02
Training distance: 60.45 miles
Pace: 8:17
Time/Temperature: 11:30 a.m. 45 degrees, party cloudy
Weight: 147

I was shocked when I completed this run to hear her day that I completed it in 25:02.  I honestly had no clue that today was going to be a fast run or that I would have a 7:30 minute mile!  I was so excited and shocked!  Perhaps the three days of trail running this weekend really did assist in my cross training speed work.  Running on the road today was like running on a feather.  I felt so good being able to heel strike and get in my normal gait and extend my stride.  I didn't have to worry about tripping and smashing my face.  I was able to enjoy my music and just run it appears run fast.  I got my shoes in the mail from my parents last evening and being in them helped a lot too.  It was just a great run.  I am excited for my training.

I listened to my "Amber's Peace" station on pandora today.  The feeds that came through my earphones were contemporary Christian and R&B.  The last song was a great piano song by the Piano Guys.

There was a specific time at the end of 2013 and the beginning of this year that I longed to run because of the closeness I felt to my precious Lord while doing so.  I was thinking about Him today on my run and just how much I love Him.  How He has been present in every second of my life and how He just blesses and blesses and blesses.  I am blessed to have the closeness with my Savior to understand that all blessings come from above and not all bad things do.  Satan rules this Earth and is constantly looking to steal, kill and destroy all that my Father has for me.  I feel deeply sad for people that get that all messed up.  That believe that the Lord of the Universe would ever try to steal from them, kill them or destroy them.  I get so sad that people won't get to know their Savior so that they can personally and intensely understand that He is the All in All and loves us all so much.  I feel that He has just taken over my runs as our date time.  *smiles*  That He knows it is time that He has me all to Himself.  No kids, no job, nothing else to distract me from Him and His love for me.  And sometimes when I get done with my run I just collapse on the ground with all the awesomeness that He has showered me with during it.  

  I run because it is a passion. I run because I deal with depression and anxiety and it is better medication than drugs. I run to hurt, to show myself that I do have feelings and they matter and that I matter. I run to remind myself that I have control over something in my life. I run to cry. I run to smile. That at least this ONE thing...no one else can alter. I run to show myself that I don't need to ever quit. I can keep going forever. I run for the Lord to talk to me and love on me, which he always does. I run to show the Lord that I care about myself. I run for my life.

~My facebook

January 30, 2013

Day 15

Daily distance: None
Weekly distance: None
Training distance: 57.43 miles
Pace: N/A
Time/Temperature: N/A
Weight: 146

Today was cross training day!  I decided to spend my lunch doing anything but working out and then decided to spend my evening with my sons.  So I didn't get my workout in until 10:30 p.m. and I just wasn't feeling it.  I did it, but I am not sure my body got any benefit at all from it.  I knew throughout the day too that it would be like this.  If I do not workout prior to a certain time of day (prior to 8:00 p.m.) then it is basically worthless for me to even try.  I rarely have the energy to put towards it after that time.  It is the same for me working out too early.  Anything before 7:30 a.m. and I am almost worthless.  But I made sure to put in the movement to stay consistent.  I have spiraled and quit training all together before just from missing one planned workout.  I did 30 minutes of BodyRock.  

I had a spot that came up on my heel over the weekend and I was worried about it.  I went to the podiatrist and it turns out that it was a splinter of some sort that I had never felt that had been buried under my heel callus.  The joys of being a runner!!   The doctor even commented that my feet looked like runners feet.  What a compliment!!  

My nose is congested and I have a prickly throat.  I am praying that I can fight this off so that nothing interferes with my training. 

Day 14

Daily distance: 5.32 miles
Weekly distance: 28.43 miles
Training distance: 57.43 miles
Pace: 12:07
Time/Temperature: 12:30 p.m.., 57 degrees, overcast/drizzle
Weight: 146

Homeless village under Brainerd Rd.

HEART RATE/PACE RUN

I didn't know if I would do the five miles that my training plan wanted me to do.  I felt like I was tired from yesterday's trail run.  I determined that I would at least do three and I ended up doing all five.  I still wanted to take it easy, so I decided to make it a heart rate run.  I kept my heart rate between 120-140 the entire run.  It was slow and easy.  I would like to do this again every couple of weeks to see if my mile pace increases over time with my heart rate remaining the same.  I ran the levee in Chattanooga.  It is very well maintained!  I really enjoyed it.  Other than where I had to go under Brainerd Road.  I wasn't prepared to come across a homeless village.  It was a bit scary for me and very sad.  Just this weekend I was talking to a friend about how my current living situation isn't where I would like for it to be at this point in my life.  And then today I run through this village.  I was humbled and prayed for the people and families that live under this bridge and in the tents along the levee.  I also asked forgiveness for me being anything but grateful for the wonderful peaceful and warm house that I am able to have.  I don't know how these people got to this point in their lives to live under a bridge, but I pray for peace and a brighter future for them if that is what they desire.  

I am very happy that I have cross training tomorrow and get one day off of running.  On to week three of training!  

Day 13

Daily distance: 12.11 miles
Weekly distance: 23.11 miles
Training distance: 52.11 miles
Pace: 13:12
Time/Temperature: 8:30 a.m., 40 degrees, overcast
Weight: 147

 

Today was a great run!  My legs were already sore from yesterday's run/hike and I was not looking forward to attempting 14 miles.  It is typical though that on those days, when my legs are just a tiny bit tired, that they warm up faster.  I ran with two girls the first five miles.  We kept a wonderful pace and had great conversation!  I really like them and running with people is still very new to me that it puts such a new dynamic on my runs.  At mile five the trail curved and went steeply down the side of the mountain.  We ran a few miles at the bottom of the mountain and then curved again and went directly up the side of it, landing back on the top trail to finish up the last mile.  We didn't get a full 14 because one of runners IT band was hurting and we didn't want any injury.  It was exhausting and wonderful.  I really had a great time.  I wore a friends shoes (remember I left mine in Florida).  The ones I wore are trail shoes and I didn't think I could tell the difference too much until around mile 10.  My ankles were very sore.  It felt like I had been ice skating.  And the soles and toes on my feet felt a bit tingly at the end.

The rest of the day was simply fabulous too.  My daughter wasn't feeling good in the afternoon so I cuddled with her on the couch and rested.  That is always lovely.  And then my evening was wonderful.  Just a great day.  Thank you to all the players that took a role in making it a good one.

Day 12

Daily distance: 3 miles
Weekly distance: 11 miles
Training distance: 40 miles
Pace: 10:18
Time/Temperature: 12:30 p.m., 45 degrees, overcast
Weight: 147

Guild-Hardy Trail

It was a gorgeous day for a trail run today!  I ran three miles then walked an additional five.  The three running was very difficult because it took about a mile to warm up and the entire first three miles is a gradual incline.  I am happy with the pace!

I am running this same trail tomorrow.  I am diverting from my training plan again, because tomorrow should be a 5 mile marathon pace.  And Sunday should be a 9 mile run.  Instead, I am running 14 miles tomorrow (that's the plan anyway) and will do the 5 mile pace run on Sunday.  I am looking forward to running with my new group of trail running friends again tomorrow!  

I was running in my old shoes today but thankfully I didn't slip.  The part of the trail I ran was not too steep so the tread didn't mess me up to badly.  I took my dog Austin and he really enjoyed the outdoor activity as well.  I decided to wear my heart monitor for the first time in months.  It was good to monitor my heart rate again.  I would run until I hit 180, then walk again until it lowered to 150.  It was really neat to see the progress from months ago on my recovery time.  It would take less than one minute for my heart rate to lower back down and that is a drastic improvement.  Concrete improvements like that can be very motivating!  I am enjoying the cross training that the trails are giving me.  I can feel it in my legs and that is exhilarating.

"Barring some medical problem, most people can run, but they are not motivated to do so.  Even if they want to start running, it takes courage to put on running shoes and step out on a sidewalk for the first time in front of friends and neighbors.  A lot of potential runners never get moving, out of fear of looking foolish.  They lack self-confidence.  They fear failure." 

Marathon - The Ultimate Training Guide

Hal Higdon

I have told countless people that anyone can run barring medical problems.  That if you can walk, you can run.  You may not run as fast or as far as other people, but you can run and you can get the same pleasure from it as us "runners" and before you know it, you will be labeling yourself a runner too.  Our bodies crave the movement, innately.   I have posted the link to the event that I am running tomorrow.  There are shorter distances available.  The group that is hosting the run has various runs throughout each week.  Please feel free to take a look and join the group.  I would love to welcome you and run with you.

Chattanooga Trail Runners

Day 11

Merry Christmas!

Because today is Christmas, I decided to swap my training day with tomorrow and take today as a rest day.

See you tomorrow!

Day 10

Daily distance: 5 miles
Weekly distance: 8 miles
Training distance: 37 miles
Pace: 10:35
Time/Temperature: 2:30 p.m., 50 degrees, drizzling.
Weight: 149

I didn't feel good on my run today.  I was angry when I left on it.  First, I left my running shoes and my arm phone holder at my parents!  Then my children let the dog out and he came jumping in on my when I was in the car, ripping out my earphones and I lost the little black part.  So I had to go inside for another pair because I couldn't find the little soft black piece now (this little piece was found in my hair much later in the day by my son).  When I got inside the house, my son had broken baby Jesus in my nativity scene.  I love my nativity scene and he knows not to play with balls in the house.   My children and I didn't get back home until three a.m. in the morning and I was tired.  It seemed like a lot of stuff was stacked against me on this run.  Not to mention the increased weight on the scale.  I am not shocked at the four pounds gained while at my parents, but I am stumped a bit overall at the weight gain.  I trust that it will come off if I remain diligent on my plan.  I am carrying now almost 15 pounds more than I did this time last year and I can feel it in my runs.  After today, it will be become one of the main focuses in my training.

I did have music though today!!  I decided that I needed to calm down rather than get pumped up.  I listened to my "Amber's Peace" station and it played mostly calm instrumental pieces.  It was soothing.  I ran 2 miles out, then around a track a few times, then 2 miles back.  I was happy to be done with it.  Some miles we just have to hammer out, plain and simple.  I am trying to determine if I want to take the chance and go on a long trail run that I was looking forward to tomorrow with my old running shoes that have no tread.  I have been looking forward to going.

I am encouraged today though, as I get ready to wrap the last of my children's presents and soak in the softness of the pretty lights and the feeling of Christmas that my Savior does live and is present in my life.  I am looking forward to spending the morning with my precious family and reading them story of His birth.  I am also looking forward to their smiling precious faces as they open their gifts.

Day 9

Weight: unknown
Daily distance: 3 miles
Weekly distance: 3 miles
Training distance: 32 miles
Pace: 10:34
Time/Temperature: 10:00 am, 50 degrees, hard rain.

We looked at the weather today and saw that it would be raining all day. So I took the opportunity to get out in it. I hope that it will be in the high 60's, low wind and full of sunshine on race day but often that is not how it goes. I honestly don't mind running in the rain. It feels very refreshing at times.  When I run in the rain I use a lot of imagery of things just being washed away and left on the pavement behind. I try to focus on all the various sizes of raindrops that hit me in the face and roll down out of my hair. When the temperature outside is right, it feels so cool to have your skin be hot and have cool raindrops on it. It is runs like today that also remind me that non runners are missing out.

Today I was incredibly sore from yesterday. The workout I did yesterday had a lot of lunges and squats and it felt like I was running on lead poles. I didn't feel like I even got warmed up the entire run.

I am currently reading the book Marathon by Hal Higdon.  Last night I read about the history of the marathon. I also read about how most runners hit a wall around mile 20 because we run out of our glycemic store at which time we have to start burning fat which is not as good of an energy source. That was really interesting to me. I knew something like that happened the last time I ran 20 miles. I went out on that run unprepared. I ate my jellies and drank my gatorade all by mile 15. Luckily, there was a gas station where I was running and was able to stop in for a banana and another gatorade. For me during that training run I immediately hit that wall right around mile 15. My skin started to tingle and I started to feel faint. Thank goodness there will be refreshments stops regularly during the marathon.

Day 8

Weight: Unknown
Daily distance: No Run
Weekly distance:
Training distance: 29 miles

Each Monday during training is cross training.  Today I did a 45 minutes HIIT video from You Tube.  It was a good workout!

There is really no other big new of the day. 

Looking forward to tomorrow!

Day 7

Weight: Unknown
Daily distance: 8 miles
Weekly distance: 29 miles
Training distance: 29 miles
Today's pace: 10:23
Temp and Time: 50 degrees, Noon, Light rain

“There is the truth about the marathon and very few of you have written the truth. Even if I explain to you, you’ll never understand it, you’re outside of it.”
Douglas Wakiihuri speaking to journalists

 

 

 

For the third run in a row I had to run in silence.  There is no service out where my parents live and I have no songs saved on my phone.  These last three runs with no music have shown me a few things.  For one I think I may go mentally insane if I have to run in silence much more.  I know there is limited sane things that my mind can think upon while treading out step after step of pavement.  Another thing I have noticed is that my runs are much more consistent and even faster without music.  I don't really care though because of the first point.  I would rather run a few seconds slower and not go insane. 

 

Today the weather was horrible.  It was cold and drizzling almost to the point I would call it raining.  My mom drove me somewhere 5 miles out and dropped my off and I got lost on my way back.  Thankfully she was available to call and come pick me up.  She lives out in the boonies and while I was running I kept thinking I was in The Walking Dead and that I was going to run in to a "herd" of zombies at any moment.  There was no one around.  Perhaps 3 cars passed me the entire 80 minute run.  In my delirium I just knew it was after "it all went bad" and I even got my switch blade out at one time and pretended that I was ready for action if a walker were to show up. 

 

 

I also pondered in my barely sane exhausted bored state of running that I needed to actually make my marathon play list and put it on my phone.  I will have to save my battery for my gps while running and if 8 miles of silence put me on the edge of insanity, 26.2 surely would push me over the edge.

 

I noticed also that I was starving and decided that I would have some fresh peppers, pasta and turkey salad when I got done.  I was so happy to be done!  8 miles is nothing typically, but goodness I was bored.  I had to wait on my mom to come pick me up and I was drenched and cold.  I did come home and make that salad, which has since given me nasty reflux.  Peppers....but they were good!

 

I am happy to have week one of training done!  

Day 6

Weight: Unknown
Daily distance: 5 miles
Weekly distance: 21 miles
Training distance: 21 miles
Today's pace: 11:02
Temp and Time: 55 degrees, Noon, drizzling

Each Saturday in my training I am to run at marathon pace.  I am not sure what my pace for my marathon is since I haven't ran one.  But I have ran the full training distance of 20 miles on occasion and I typically end up with around 11:20.  So I entered that as my pace when I registered for my marathon.  Today I could not go any slower.  I kept trying and I felt like I was walking.  It is very hard to run marathon pace when you are only doing 5 miles. I found some words in an article today though that resonated when why this is important.  Because training your mind to endure that length of a race is very important as well.  And be it 3 hours or 6 hours, that is a long run.

Five Pillars of Wisdom

"Three hours slow is better than two hours fast." –PETER GAVUZZI

If you are training for a marathon, Gavuzzi's words of wisdom are certainly worth consideration.

Many of us attack our long runs at a pace that's slightly too fast and end up running 15 to 18 miles, when 20 to 22 conducted at a slower pace might be smarter. Sometimes it makes more sense to slow down. Some coaches suggest your long run training pace might be nearly 1 minute per mile slower than your planned marathon race pace. (That means a 3-hour marathoner might be close to 8 minutes per mile during a long training run.) Remember, for the marathon especially, training the mind to be out there for a long period of time is almost as important as training the body. And slowing down your long run pace – but staying out on the course longer – does just that.

 

 

I did not have enough to eat prior to my run. I had only had two eggs and a sip of water.  It would have been even harder to run slow had I been appropriately well nourished. 



Day 5

REST DAY

Weight: 146
Run: none

I am so thankful that there was no run today! I am exhausted. The mileage over the last 5 days has not been too much but my mindset is in training mode which sucks more energy
from me.  Also with it being Christmas week I have had hundreds of things to do on my to do list. Therefore a rest day was definitely needed.

I am on the road tonight and was able to stay away from fast food hamburgers. I got a salad instead. It was really good but hard to eat on the road.

Day 4

Weight: 143
Daily distance:  3 miles
Weekly distance: 16 miles
Training distance: 16 miles
Today pace: 9:46
Temperature and time: Around 45, drizzling, dark, 5:45 p.m.

I did not get to run over lunch today so this evening it was.  I was excited though because I got to use my new head light.  Don't I look all fancy?!  I was nervous at the same time because I was running on a 55 mph road and it was going to get dark.  But I dressed and went on out!  It was cold and drizzling.  The head light was great though!  I like it.  It is very bright and I can slant it up or down.  One more piece of gear I have accumulated that makes me feel more and more like a true runner.  I take off running and GPS is horrid out here in the country on a dark drizzly night. Within minutes my battery is down to 30% and I knew I wouldn't be able to make my three miles if I didn't turn everything but gps off.  So I ran in silence tonight.  I used to do that all the time so it felt good.  My splits weren't as on target tonight as yesterday, but my overall time was 30 seconds faster.  

The pit bull down the street that mauled the only other runner on my road is back at home and wouldn't you know it, they had him out of the cage!  So I had a stand off with him, but it appears that he is now behind an electric fence.  It still scared me.  As cars went by I would move my head so they could see my head light.  I thought I was doing them a favor, letting them know there was a little runner on the road.  But then this one lady comes to a complete stop and waits for me to arrive at her window.  All sorts of thoughts entered my head as I neared this stopped car, I'm sure you can imagine.  But then I hear, "STOP F****** BLINDING US!"  So...my bad.  I guess that I wasn't using my head light correctly.  Or she is just in a really bad mood and feels some sort of self hatred that she is driving in the car and not out herself on a cold rainy midnight dark run.  Who knows.  But I am so sorry cars for blinding you!  I will read up soon on running heal light etiquette.  

I then came home and completed 300 mountain climbers and 50 burpees.

I ate decent today.  Only a few pieces of chocolate.  I ate a bento box for lunch with shrimp tempura.  Yummy!  I ate pumpkin and pork stew for dinner.  Yummy!

On to rest day tomorrow!!

Day 3

When I was running today I decided that I would blog my journey in training for my first race marathon.  I am using the intermediate 2 training schedule by Hal Higdon and today was the 3rd day of training.  In his book Marathon he suggests the importance of keeping a training journal.   Each day I will give some stats and whatever else crosses my mind along the way.

Weight: 145
Daily distance:  5 miles
Weekly distance: 13 miles
Training distance: 13 miles
Today pace: 10:07
Temperature: Around 55, little wind, sunny

The run felt very good today.  Each mile I increased my pace starting at around 11 minutes and ending at 8:30 minutes.

I listened mainly to dubstep remix on pandora.  I am excited to drop some of this weight.  I wish there wasn't so many treats around these next few weeks.  It is a struggle!

I am going to be running the Nashville Rock n Roll Marathon.  I am told it is very hilly!  But that there is a lot of support and it is a lot of fun.  There is live music at every mile.  That will be great!  So how did I get to this point?  Since this is my first entry I will tell the story.  One of my lovely fantastic friends gave me entry to this race!  She knew it was a passion of mine and a goal of mine to run a marathon race this year and an ultra next, so she just gave me the entry fee.  It knocked my socks right off my feet!  And all my other girlfriends are planning on coming with me that weekend for a weekend full of fun!  God has blessed me so deeply this last year with the most amazing friends!  What is fun about it is that Hal Higdon's training program is 18 weeks long and the marathon I chose (prior to knowing this) is 18 weeks away.

Here we go!  Feel free to follow the journey with me!  Comment with suggestions and questions!