18 Miles

I think the closer I get to running 26 miles the further 26 miles sounds!! 14 miles, that was hard, 16 miles, wow that was really tough, 18 miles... I have to run 8 more then this!!!! I feel like its all mental right now. I can do this. Physically, my body can do this. I'm almost to the end of my training and I can do it. But 18 miles, 3 hours and 40 minutes of running, is a lot of time to wonder why on earth I am doing this!?! But I gotta stay focused and motivated so I can get through this.

I wish I was faster. Its getting to my head how slow I am. My goal is to finish so I need to be happy with that. After the run, other then barely being able to walk, my hips hurt from where my water bottles sat, I had a big blister on my toe and I was chaffed on my side from my heart rate monitor. Felt a little beat up I guess. Still, I'm proud of doing it.

16 miles

I just got my new amphipod hydration belt in the mail yesterday I was very excited to use it today. I stuck mt gels and cell phone in the pocket and filled the bottles with my Hammer products and it was good! I liked it a lot better then the backpack.

What can I say? I did it! The last two miles are always horrible but I survived! Last week I ran 14 in 3 hours and this week I ran 16 in 3 hours 15 minutes which is better. I felt better on mile 8 then I did on mile 1. I really like the run/walking. I ran the last 2 miles straight cause my legs were just too tired to run after I started walking so I just kept running. Had to stop 4 miles to go to the bathroom which was annoying.

The 14 miler

I did it!! And I felt better at the end of the 14 then I did at the end of the 12... yay!!! I might actually do this marathon!! So, I talked to my trainer, who I'd like to clarify a little about. I think some people think I have this lady running with me and giving me feedback on every run but that is just not the case. She would, if I paid her a lot of $$ but I just wont do that. I'm suppose to get an email from her once a week but lately its been once every 3 weeks. She sets up a training plan for me, I document how it is going, and every now and then she gives me feedback. I'm tempted to fire her, but then I'm really scared to be on my own too.

Anyway, I finally talked to her yesterday after 3 weeks of silence. She encouraged me to start run/walking. I was/am nervous about trying this. It is just hard to break something that you know is working but I do trust her and I want to finish this without getting injured and after my last run I was getting worried about even making the distances. So, today I ran the first mile and then I started running 4 (sometimes 5) minutes then walking 1. It was awesome!! It was hard at times to run again but it was SO MUCH EASIER! I was only a little slower, but who knows if I could have even finished without the walking.

It is hard to get over the mental "I want to run the whole thing!" but really I just want to finish and I think this is what I need to do to finish. I didn't get really tired until the last 2 miles but that is expected since my last long run was 12. I did have to stop 3 times to use the rest room lol so that added some time :).

All in all, I liked it and I think I will do this next week too. I tried some Hammer gel this time. I could feel it working but it is hard to swallow. I don't like any of the energy stuff yet.

I'm embarrassed to say how long it took me to run it but I've got to get over the time thing. It took me 2 hours 52 minutes. Blah. Oh well, I'm doing it!

Blah blah blah... getting what you deserve.

Up this week :P and I hate it! Up .4 which is a very small gain but really I deserved it. I didn't work this week at loose so what do ya know... I didn't lose! Sometimes it is just the kick in the butt you need to get moving again. Here's hoping for a better week!


Running wise. I'm really proud of myself. I just keep plugging along. I woke up at 5:30 this morning, put my mittens, ear warmers and head lamp on and braved the cold and dark. I got 4 miles in. I did a mile test which means I took one of the miles and ran it just about as fast as I could and still run another 2. I ran my mile in 9:45 which is no huge record for anyone but pretty good for me considering I started at a 12 minute mile. This weekend I'm suppose to run 14 and I'm already feeling anxious.