Oh the difference sleep makes :)

So, I've quite literally ran myself into the ground. I could feel I was on the brink of disaster and just throwing the towel in all together. It wasn't like I didn't feel like I could do it I just didn't want to anymore. I did not want to run anymore, period. So, I stopped working out in the mornings. I decided that if I couldn't fit the run into the afternoon I just wasn't going to run. I only missed one run and I think that it was okay. It took a week but finally by Sunday I finally caught up on my sleep. I didn't realize I was so tired until I wasn't tired anymore. I feel awesome. Life is just better right now. Everything is better when your not exhausted.

So I only had to run 6 Saturday and it went okay. This next Saturday is the 22 miler. I'm not really scared, I know I can do it and I just want it to be over!!! I'm ready for this thing. I just now feel like I can do this. I will actually run this marathon!!!

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.

Another one down!

Down a pound down a pound!! Only 8 to go!!! I'm on a roll. I'm just screaming in my head "don't mess this up don't mess this up!" I'm my own worse enemy. I sabotage myself so easily. I seem to go in spirts of weight loss. I lose a lot and then I stop for a while and then I lose again. I feel like I'm fighting time. Fighting the inevitable platue that is coming. Hopefully I can hit my goal before that happens. Stay focused Kelli! Focus focus focus. I can do this!! I'm so close I can taste it.

On a running note. I ran this morning, hill, up and down the hill 7 times. I felt really good. Much better then Saturday.

12 miles

This is me just getting back from my run. My son took the picture of me. I feel like I'm strapped down with so much equipment I could fly to the moon. I've got my camelbak back pack on to keep me hydrated, my ipod strapped to my arm which communicates with a chip in my shoe keeping track of my pace and how far I've run and under my shirt I'm wearing a belt around my ribs tracking my heart rate and communicates with my hr monitor watch which tracks my HR at all times and what zone I'm in. There was a time when running only required a good pair of shoes and sports bra. It seams that those times are gone although I still enjoy a gadget free run every now and then.
Well I did it, 12 miles, but that is all I did. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't easy, really it was a crappy run. I felt good the first hour but after that I was ready to be done. I walked for 1 minute a few times which helped. I stopped at the gym and used their restroom towards the end of the run and I very ungracefully finished the last 2 miles hating every step I took. I hope this is just a bad run and not going to become a common thing. After a run like this I doubt my ability to accomplish this whole marathon although I'm still as determined as ever.