Waxing Poetic about my Bad-a$$edness

I am terribly behind in posting.  So sorry - as I know that people all around the world are waiting in front of their computers for an alert that a new post has come.

 Part of this whole endurance training is preparing you to keep going when everything in you says to stop.  I think the reason "normal" people get into it - is not to WIN - but to REMEMBER.  There isn't much in our lives that takes us to the brink of what we can bear, and I think that there is something innate in humans that craves that sort of thing.  We live pretty cushy lives - at least here in the US.  We are far away from the "survival mode" of our ancestors - and there is something sad about that.  Living is hard, and I think that we forget that.  So, maybe we need things like this to remind us.  Granted, it is manufactured - but it's something.

We'll start with my 7 mile run on Wednesday the 16th.  It was ludicrously early in the morning, dark, cold, and rainy - AND my audio book putzed out about half way through the run.  Frustrating!  But, I got through it - that was key.

The 15-miler on Saturday was something.  I felt good almost the whole way.  Thanks to a lot of good tips and encouragement from friends, I felt really prepared.  For food, I went with a couple of Stinger Honey Waffles, and some Margarita flavored Shot Blocks I got really tired after 13 miles, but when I saw that 14 mile tick by on the Garmin - something kicked in.  Going further than I'd ever run before, it became exploration - of me - of my resolve.  It was getting to know a different Me- a Me that could run for 14 miles.  That probably sounds weird... and I'm not very good at explaining it - but it was doing something that even I didn't think I was capable of doing.  It sort of makes me rethink other things that I don't think I am capable of doing.

Last Wednesday, I had an 8 mile run - another character builder - 19 degrees!  The water in my water bottles froze!  So, I'm proud of myself for doing these uncomfortable things - because it's not in my nature.  I'm proud that maybe my nature is beginning to change.

Tomorrow, I'll do my 16 mile run, and then begin a step-down week, to 12 miles next weekend.  Then the week after that, that long run jumps up to 18 miles!  We are getting close!  Only 7 weeks from tomorrow!

10-mile run on Saturday; 20-mile Bike on Sunday!

We had an unseasonably warm weekend, here in the great state of North Carolina!  Sunny and in the 70's both days!  It was nice to see so many people out getting their fitness on, on our new greenway trails!!  Lots of doggies too!!

The rest of the week was pretty good too.

• Monday, I had an almost record setting 3 mile run - just under 10-minutes per mile.  Remember: I'm slower than molasses in January, so don't expect any crazy fast times.  
• Tuesday, I broke out my Fluidity Bar.  I bought this thing several years ago, and really loved it - but for some reason stopped using it; I think I got married, and it was in storage for awhile - I have no idea.  As a side note, my sister-in-law, Heather, said about it "that looks like something you see in a yard sale."  I.e. - purchased in January for the resolution season, sold in July when the Resolution has no hope of coming to fruition.  ha!  Anyhow, I broke it out, and remembered how much I really like it!  So, I've decided to incorporate that into the training for my core and general strength training.  
• On Wednesday, I was able to get my lazy carcass out of bed to get in a 6.6 mile run before work!! Whoo-hoo!  
• Thursday, I had planned to do 4 miles before work, but I was not feeling so great so slept in, thinking I'd get around to it that evening...but, kept feeling a little less than good - so Arjay and I just ordered Chinese and called it a "Do nothing but watch Numb3rs on Netflix Streaming" night.  Good call.
• Friday was an off-day.  
• Saturday 10 miles!! I'm pretty pleased with that run altogether - I ran at an 11:30 pace - which is much faster than my training runs are supposed to be, based on heart rate - but my heart rate kept steady at about 158 - a little high, but not by as much as the pace would suggest.  
• Top it off with Today's 20 mile bike-ride, and I think I had a pretty good training week, all things considered.

An interesting note: I gained 2 lbs this week, which seems odd, given the activity level, and the fact that I haven't changed my eating that much...so, weird.  Also, went to give blood today, but got the big "No Thank You," onaccounta my iron being low.  So - steaks on the grill it is!  With a side of steamed spinach.  YUM!

Goal for this week:  all training runs in the morning.  I'm very nervous about Saturday - it will be the farthest I've ever run - 15 miles!  I'm taking it out to the trail on which the marathon will actually be run.  So, that should be interesting!  If I am still able to type after that, I will tell you how it goes!  

Half-marathon on the books!

Happy 2013!

I’m excited about the New Year, particularly my biggest challenge of the year – aside from the resolution to make my bed every day –the marathon challenge!  The Marathon is 10 weeks from today! Yesterday I completed the ½ marathon distance – 13.1 miles.  Since it was a training run, and not a “race,” I did it more slowly than the other 2 actual ½ marathon races I’ve done.  But, it still H-U-R-T!  I finished the distance in 2:41:41 – about 12:21 min/ mile.  My heart rate kept nice and steady, and the pace was at the bottom edge of what these long slow distances are supposed to be – so, I felt pretty good about that!

The training during the week is getting a little longer, so my challenge now is to make sure to find the time to do it!  I’m still REALLY struggling with the morning run.  I need to schedule these on Wednesday mornings, since the distances are much longer that I can do just in my neighborhood (I need the long greenway) -  but it is just so darn hard to get out of the bed on these cold mornings!  So, pray that I get a little more motivated on Wednesday mornings – I would sure appreciate it!

As the runs are getting longer, I’ve started listening to an audio book, instead of music – I’m really enjoying the 1^st book in the “A Game of Thrones” series.  However, I would like to try to start using those long runs for a thinking time, but I have found that a little O.C.D sneaks in, rather than peaceful meditation.  I’ve discovered that I’m a step counter.  Ugh.  Not like the total number, more like the rhythm.  As I’m going along, all of a sudden I notice I’m counting rhythm in my head – 1,2,3,4…1,2,3,4.  Once I realize I’m doing it, it really gets annoying – because I’m trying to stop and think about something else, and that just focuses my mind more on the counting – a real conundrum.  So, I have to keep occupied with the audio book, until my neurosis calms down.  

Here is what this week looks like, training-wise:

Today: cross training

Monday: 3 miles

Tuesday: rest

Wednesday: 7 miles

Thursday: 4 miles

Friday: rest

Saturday: 10 miles