Today's "to do" list includes a 20 mile run... UGH!

Today's plan is to get the girl to school and head to the boring, and monotonous bike trail to run 20 miles.  This is part of my training plan for the upcoming marathon on December 2nd.  I've been training alone for this marathon since the mileage exceeds a distance  my dog's can run with me.  The miles are long tedious and boring.  Mentally I'm trying to get myself out of this marathon. When I signed up earlier in the year for the race I'd had a group of what I thought were friends training for it.  Friends come and go with the ebb and flow of your life. It wasn't in my plan to train alone.  It's been a true test of mental toughness for sure.

I'll update the iPhone for the mileage. I'll put on my two favorite podcasts "Stuff You Should Know" and "This American Life."   I'll get to learn interesting things and be entertained by Josh and Chuck's random topics.  Ira Glass is sure to have some very interesting shows to entertain me as well.  I love the stories about people's experiences.  They will help tick away the miles until my feet and legs hurt and I just want to quit.  Then I'll switch to some upbeat music and literally WILL myself to finish.  

The salmon are running perhaps I'll catch a glimpse of them doing their thing along the river.  The fisherman have been out in full force, along with the vultures.  The deer and squirrels are preparing for winter and you can tell.  Although, in this part of California we don't really have winter. 

Hopefully, today will help me clear my head and mull my life's problems over.  Reflect on my memories of my sweet girl and think about what unknowns lie ahead.  That's the best part of running, it helps you work through what's really bugging you.  Lately the biggest decision on my personal plate is whether or not to consider speaking to my doctor about medication.  I'm a highly anxious person and I'm thinking my anxiety is out of control.  Or perhaps I'm just depressed.  So many people tell me that I am; therefore, I must be... right?  

I'm off to start my busy day... with lackluster enthusiasm.  

January's Half-marathon

I needed a running goal since I've been such a slacker when it comes to my running and fitness. I signed up for the virtual Nike+ Women's Half-Marathon on 1/15/12. Which meant I'd train and run the half using my Nike+ GPS running app on my phone.

During the training process I used the app. I liked it. It's fairly accurate. I'd say my only complaint is when I wear gloves on cold days it's hard to start and stop. It would be nice if it had an auto stop feature like my Garmin. I run with my dogs and they require more water stops than I.

Race day came. The dogs and I headed to the American river bike trail. We ran our half together. I knew that Rocky (the standard poodle) would easily pull off the distance, but wondered about  little Lilly (puggle, pug/beagle mix). They both did amazing. With water and potty stops we did a 2:10 and change half-marathon. These dogs have been great running partners and I appreciate their company. I've included a photo of them. They didn't cooperate as I would have liked them too. One thing is for sure they don't look like they just went 13.2 miles with me.

My reward from Nike was a bracelet made by Hurley. It came in the mail past week. I'm going to admit I was slightly disappointed. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not a fan of the colors or because I can't really figure out how to put it on. I'm wishing it had come with instructions.

My best reward is automatic entrance into the 2012 Nike Women's Half-Marathon in October with Team Victorious.


written in January 2012

Shamrockin Half-Marathon

I got myself up this morning to do my first official half-marathon since the Nike Women's half in 2010. This is the first race that I've done without a friend to drive or run with. I was supposed to run with a friend. But I could never find her. So I ran my own race.

I hooked up with the 2:10 pacer thinking that would be the appropriate easy pace for me. The virtual half I did in January was around that time. Of course, I had my dogs with me and I didn't taper. When I awoke this morning I had slight calf cramps and I had started my period. So that also lead me to believe the 2:10 goal would be good.

After the first mile and a half I decided I needed to ditch that 2:10 pace guy. That pace was too slow and since I never found my friend I might as well just leave all i had on the course. I put both headphones in and found a pace to settle into. I found a lady who was a good pace for me so I stuck with her until the last mile. She began pulling away at the last drink station and I just didn't have it in me to catch her.

I finished, according to my Garmin, at 2:02.66. My best half since 2008. I don't remember what I ran that year. My parkway half in the same year was 2:01 and my best half ever was 1:59. So not too shabby considering I rarely do speed work or run with a plan.

Signs held up along the way:

"Run like an angry Kenyan"
"Your running 13.1 because your only half crazy"
"Even if you walk it will still hurt"
"Forget everything you did before this point, you only have your best 10k to run"

I love spectators they really help keep you motivated.  The volunteers are so greatly appreciated too!

Inspiration

So I like to run.  It helps me work off my stress and clear my mind and I can exercise my two dogs. They will behave the remainder of the day which I love!  I have the opportunity to think through a lot of things. It's my break from my life. This was my last long run before my half-marathon on March 11. I run at the local bike trail along the river.  It's beautiful.

The run was uneventful and I felt pretty good until the last mile and a half.  That last bit of distance was so incredibly HARD! I don't really understand why some long runs go by so quickly and others are serious mental TORTURE! This one went by easy and then I started getting stiff legs and the wind was picking up.  I wanted to stop running.  This is where I think of my son.

I remind myself that I take steps for F.  I think of each painful step and liken it to every painful CP spasm he's had.  I think about how he will never have the ability to do this with his own two legs. Yet, he doesn't complain. I think of how asthma  prevents him from enjoying the outdoors.  His world is so small and yet... he enjoys every minute of it.  He doesn't grumble, or really complain.  He requires so little in many ways.  He is content and satisfied the majority of the time. I say majority, because he too has his moments.  He sets an amazing example for doing your best and finding the joy in all that you do.  I am grateful for all that I can do and enjoy.

For F:
Thank you for inspiring me.  You help me each day to remember that I can.  You work hard to continually improve yourself even if your progress is very small.  You refuse to believe anything negative said about you. You choose to prove those naysayers wrong. You never give up. I love you!!