I'm pooped. And I hurt. And I probably cried a teensy bit today, all of one or two tears, they were present around mile 16. I'm not trying to whine, just trying to be honest. And I'm not gonna lie, I was nervous about the 18. I was still sore from my 16 and the hill last week and feeling a bit of burnout on everything this week. I was certain this run would be fugly. BUT.... yes there is a but. Good news, It wasn't fugly.
To my amazement my time was faster than my 16 miles last week, I have a feeling that was thanks to the fact that I just wanted to be done running. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the Kansas wind wasn't too horrid. It did provide some resistance on the six miles we did right into the wind, but other than that it wasn't bad.
Katie and Jenn had to do nine miles and I only ran four before they showed up because I was so tired this morning that my body felt heavy so I took it easy. Those first miles alone weren't easy, miles one - three were rough for me, I was tired and my legs were aching, but after mile three they finally loosened up. After those first four I set out with the girls to do 14 more. They ran about 7.5 miles with me, and I'm so glad they did! They helped me keep my pace up. I peeled off from them with 6.5 miles left.
I was carrying sport beans (I just can't get past the consistency of Gu) and finished off one and a half pakcages total during my run. I also managed to finish off an entire 32oz. bottle of PowerAide through those 18. After I left the girls I just wanted to have those last miles over with so I pushed through sore legs and finished pretty strong, but was spent after I finished. I went home and took an ice bath, stretched and surprisingly feel a little less sore than after my 16 last week, but I'm still pretty sore.
I kept reminding myself this is the price I have to pay, these miles count for something and that kept me going. I ended up running those 18 in 2:44:37... a pretty big victory for me.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
best part of my day...
Sleeping in, snuggling with the dog, having the house to myself and getting a gigantic, delicious mocha!
I plan to get in a four mile run at some point today, it will be nice and easy since I have my 18 tomorrow afternoon and am sore from hill work last night (more on that another day, because yes we actually do have one hill in this city, just the one though). Luckily I'm meeting the girls tomorrow and they will do the last nine miles with me, no more lonely running. Plus they can help me keep my pace for the last half of that run when I'll likely feel like sitting on the path and crying.
I plan to get in a four mile run at some point today, it will be nice and easy since I have my 18 tomorrow afternoon and am sore from hill work last night (more on that another day, because yes we actually do have one hill in this city, just the one though). Luckily I'm meeting the girls tomorrow and they will do the last nine miles with me, no more lonely running. Plus they can help me keep my pace for the last half of that run when I'll likely feel like sitting on the path and crying.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
just like prom...
Today I went to what was the equivalent of my running prom, all dressed up fancy like. Okay so I can't say for certain that today's run was just like prom, because point of fact I have never been to a prom, or any school dance, or really any dance period (until I was in my early 20s and started going to wedding receptions that had music). I grew up in a very conservative homeschool family, dancing, music, the whole lot of it was pure evvviiieeeelllllllllll. Don't you worry, I would sneak in some of 'the rock music' every now and then and would dance quietly in my bedroom alone. Come on, what nice homeschool girl hasn't rebelled in such a horrendous way!
My point is that I broke in my running skirt today, and I wore it with my new hot pink running tops (yes plural, it's just how I roll people, I am 30 now after all). I felt so dressed up just to be running. And around mile three my run even asked me to the prom after party, I'm sure he was assuming I would put out. I quickly corrected my presumptuous run and let him know I'm a nice post-homeschool girl and it takes at least three dates and a bevy of martinis to get me to put out. Plus, doing that on prom night is so cliche... right? Because seriously it's not like I would know.
So despite the fact that the running skirt clearly hasn't caught on in Kansas yet (I gathered that from all the confused looks I got from other runners and random people at the park) I was really pleased with my attire. I wore it proudly! Seriously it was like I was some sort of odd side show in my fancy runnin' clothes. You really would have thought I was wearing a prom dress for my run. I have to admit I did feel I a tiny bit flashy and self conscious at first, but I got over it and decided I officially love that skirt, especially combined with the hot pink tops.
I would have taken a picture of me in my running prom outfit, however, Ed is out of town and Milo doesn't have opposable thumbs. So I'm giving you the next best thing and offer you a picture of the prom outfit sans me:
So despite the fact that the running skirt clearly hasn't caught on in Kansas yet (I gathered that from all the confused looks I got from other runners and random people at the park) I was really pleased with my attire. I wore it proudly! Seriously it was like I was some sort of odd side show in my fancy runnin' clothes. You really would have thought I was wearing a prom dress for my run. I have to admit I did feel I a tiny bit flashy and self conscious at first, but I got over it and decided I officially love that skirt, especially combined with the hot pink tops.
I would have taken a picture of me in my running prom outfit, however, Ed is out of town and Milo doesn't have opposable thumbs. So I'm giving you the next best thing and offer you a picture of the prom outfit sans me:
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
eight weeks to ‘M’ day….
Less than eight weeks now and I will run that first marathon that has been eluding me for years now thanks to injury. I’ve been a blogging slacker and I apologize to all 12 of you who read this! I’ve had a bit of a week or so and have taken the stance if I can’t write something nice then I won’t write at all. Frankly I just wasn’t in the mood. But now I will blather on and on and on all about me and how I run, so hold on and enjoy.
Last week I decided to do all my runs alone and try and push to see what I could do. It paid off and I learned what I needed to know. I can push myself to run faster and further. I’ve only been back to running since the first week of January because of my injury, and I haven’t had times I’m happy with yet, so last week boosted my confidence and helped me feel like I might be able to finish that little OKC marathon!
On top of that I had a spectacular 16 mile run on Sunday. I have previously done all my long runs with Emily and Kristen the running lawyers, but I was solo this weekend, just me and the Zoo Park 4-mile loop. The 16-miler was a milestone for three reasons: it is my longest run to date, it is the same run last year on which I acquired my evil-was-on-crutches-for-five-weeks-metatarsal-stress- fracture, and it was my fastest long run in the history of me!
The first four miles were brutal and lonely, I ran all four thinking to myself how can I get through three more laps of this four-mile route. I will be here forever. I am going to die in the middle of the Zoo Park, no one will know, and the monkeys are going to come and find me and steal me away to eat me as a snack. I’m doomed. Luckily I made it back around to the parking lot in tact, no being stolen by the monkeys. I stopped for some Gatorade and Watermelon Sport Beans (thanks to my sister Kris, she sent them as a birthday present, I highly recommend them) and something in me kicked into gear and I hit negative split after negative split for the rest of the run. I was stunned, and confused, but happy to be hitting my stride and feeling great! I finished those 16 strong and like I could have kept going.
I got home took an ice bath, stretched and proceeded to go stuff my face full of delicious taco pizza at Knolla’s with Ed, trying to replace the 2000 calories my Garmin says I burned. It was a good day. Cheers to marathon training, my friends.
Last week I decided to do all my runs alone and try and push to see what I could do. It paid off and I learned what I needed to know. I can push myself to run faster and further. I’ve only been back to running since the first week of January because of my injury, and I haven’t had times I’m happy with yet, so last week boosted my confidence and helped me feel like I might be able to finish that little OKC marathon!
On top of that I had a spectacular 16 mile run on Sunday. I have previously done all my long runs with Emily and Kristen the running lawyers, but I was solo this weekend, just me and the Zoo Park 4-mile loop. The 16-miler was a milestone for three reasons: it is my longest run to date, it is the same run last year on which I acquired my evil-was-on-crutches-for-five-weeks-metatarsal-stress- fracture, and it was my fastest long run in the history of me!
The first four miles were brutal and lonely, I ran all four thinking to myself how can I get through three more laps of this four-mile route. I will be here forever. I am going to die in the middle of the Zoo Park, no one will know, and the monkeys are going to come and find me and steal me away to eat me as a snack. I’m doomed. Luckily I made it back around to the parking lot in tact, no being stolen by the monkeys. I stopped for some Gatorade and Watermelon Sport Beans (thanks to my sister Kris, she sent them as a birthday present, I highly recommend them) and something in me kicked into gear and I hit negative split after negative split for the rest of the run. I was stunned, and confused, but happy to be hitting my stride and feeling great! I finished those 16 strong and like I could have kept going.
I got home took an ice bath, stretched and proceeded to go stuff my face full of delicious taco pizza at Knolla’s with Ed, trying to replace the 2000 calories my Garmin says I burned. It was a good day. Cheers to marathon training, my friends.
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