clocking some hours!

The last three weeks, we have started to increase our mileage, and it only gets more intense from here on out.  Our first real long run was 12 miles, then we did 12 again, and then this last weekend we did 14.  This is the farthest that any of us on my running team have ever run so it was a great milestone to share.  And what's even more encouraging is that we ran the 14 miles in a faster time than I have run all three of my half marathons!  I think this means I am improving...........  and isn't that real runners do?  Improve.

Here are a few images of my watch after each of the runs.  I look forward to adding more images as the time and mileage continue to increase!

                                                                         12 miler

                                         12 miler (and we improved our time from last week!)

                 14 miler (however, I forgot to stop my watch for a 5 minute bathroom break!)

I Peeked at the Schedule

Up until now, I haven't been looking ahead at the schedule.  I have been doing a good job of just working on one run at a time while only looking at the schedule one week at a time.  This way I won't get too overwhelmed.  Too discouraged.  Too scared.

Well....  I was feeling curious and wanted to know just how fast our mileage increased.

 So........  I peeked.

I slowly unfolded my schedule to see next week's long run - 12.  Not too bad, I thought.

I unfolded another line - 14.  Okay, I can do that.

I started to feel a little confident so I just unfolded the whole thing at once.

Not good.

Our mileage goes from 14 to 15 to 18 to 22.

Holy Freaking Moly!

That looks like a schedule for someone who is training for a marathon!

Oh yeah,  I *am* training for a marathon.

Reality set in.

I am overwhelmed.

I am discouraged.

And mostly,  I am scared.

I knew there was a reason I wasn't looking ahead!

Preparing for a Run

I am not a morning person.  I never have been, and I'm afraid that this late in the game, I never will be.  Needless to say, these 7:00 am Saturday morning runs have been very brutal for me because it requires that I am up at 6:00 or 6:15 in the morning.  I don't even get up that early during the week!  In order to make my morning a little easier, I have to set out all my stuff the evening before so it is readily accessible for me to put on, grab, and go.....

My list of items looks something like this:
Shoes
Socks
Running pants
Sports bra
Silk long john top
Long sleeve running shirt
Running jacket
Hat
Ear warmers
Gloves
Ipod shuffle
Cell phone
Hammer Gel
Water bottle #1 - water
Water bottle #2 - heed (electrolyte drink)
Water bottle #3 - recoverite drink

And here it all is, waiting for me in the morning!

Non Runner Making Runner Choices

One of the things I love about running is that you can do it anywhere.

All you need is shoes and dedication.

An interesting thing about my "non runner" self is that I always take my shoes with me when I go out of town.  I have intentions of running.....  but its the dedication factor that causes problems.  Its that non runner part of me that leaves the shoes in my suitcase and doesn't make it happen.

A real runner makes better choices.  A real runner makes it happen.  A real runner takes their shoes out of their suitcase!

I just got back from Texas, and it was a trip that fell over the weekend which meant I had to miss another Saturday run with my running buddies.  The good news is that I was in Texas with another runner friend of mine who is training for a 1/2 marathon so we kicked in the dedication, pulled our shoes out of our suitcases, and made it happen!  (Thanks, Mary!)

It's such a good feeling to be dedicated.

It's such a good feeling to make "runner" choices.

And it was especially good feeling to drag those shoes out of the suitcase!

Penance

penance: a punishment undergone in token of penitence for sin 

my sin - missing my morning team run due to staying up too late and drinking to much

my penance - running 8 miles ALONE the following day  

I missed my first Saturday morning run this week because I stayed out to late on Friday and had a bit too much to drink.  In my defense, I was staying out late and drinking too much for a good cause!  I attended the annual "A Taste of Hope" charity fundraiser for my favorite non-profit organization, The ISAAC foundation.   This is an event I look forward to every year, and it's one that I volunteer for months leading up to the event.  I had intentions of getting up and running, and I even told people at the event that I was taking it easy because I had to run in the morning.  Well.... when morning rolled around, I just couldn't get myself out of bed.  

I admit it....  I didn't really try that hard.  (I did set my clock, but I think I mostly set it so I could text my team that I wasn't coming, and then I promptly went back to sleep). 

Pathetic, I know.  

I did pay for it though.  

Running 8 miles alone was penance for sure.  

dedication

9:55 pm   +   running on the treadmill  =   dedication

                            

"Mommy on the Treadmill"

"Mommy on the Treadmill" 

Dylan,  age 3 1/2 

Feb 7, 2011