I have picked another marathon to train for. I have decided that my life needs that long term highly focused goal. I have my first TNT meeting this coming week. I am going to sign up and train for the Mayor's Midnight Marathon which is in Anchorage Alaska on June 21, 2008. It has been really hard for me to find the motivation to run. I filled out all the paperwork to be a TNT mentor for the summer TNT session.
I flounder without that focus. Last week I only ran twice. I also biked. My toes are bothering me again and one appears infected under the blackened toenail.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Still searching...
Friday after Thanksgiving I got up early and headed to the old training trail. The morning was icy cold, clear, still. The park was pretty empty. It felt fantastic to run the trail in the crisp morning air. I felt like I was visiting an old dear friend. There were a fair number of runners out on the trail. I got about 6.5 miles in. It was really nice to be running on ground instead of the treadmill. I think back on on the miles I was running each week, and it feels like it was all a dream. I am running about 1/3 of that now. I am worried I will lose some of my gained strength and stamina. I am not big on running in the pouring rain, which is what our winters are made of. But I also came to the conclusion on Friday when out, that I really miss and need those outdoor longer runs. They keep me feeling centered and restore the peace in my soul.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Running and Burnout
It has been one month since the marathon. I am a little disappointed in our team. We were supposed to have a victory party locally and it never happened. Now with the rush of the holiday season it seems that it will probably never occur. I would have loved to get together one final time to put closure on this big adventure.
I have been feeling a bit let down, and running has been sporadic. My heart and soul haven't been in it lately. I have been running - making myself run at least 3 times a week, but the joy has been absent. I feel great after, but it is a bit different. I am sure it is burnout.
I have added a little bit of cross training to see if that helps. I have been biking, rowing, and yesterday was so gorgeous I walked outside for a little over an hour.
Friday I am going to see if I can get a decent long run in on the Inter Urban trail while my son has his final drive for driver's ed. That will give me an hour to run outside in the cold sun. I am looking forward to it.
I feel like I am floundering a bit without a huge specific goal in front of me, and with no set training schedule or group to keep me motivated. I have not always been so good at the self motivation thing.
I signed up for our local Jingle Bell Run on Dec. 7. It is a 4 mile quick run. I am hoping that will put the joy back in my steps.
I have been feeling a bit let down, and running has been sporadic. My heart and soul haven't been in it lately. I have been running - making myself run at least 3 times a week, but the joy has been absent. I feel great after, but it is a bit different. I am sure it is burnout.
I have added a little bit of cross training to see if that helps. I have been biking, rowing, and yesterday was so gorgeous I walked outside for a little over an hour.
Friday I am going to see if I can get a decent long run in on the Inter Urban trail while my son has his final drive for driver's ed. That will give me an hour to run outside in the cold sun. I am looking forward to it.
I feel like I am floundering a bit without a huge specific goal in front of me, and with no set training schedule or group to keep me motivated. I have not always been so good at the self motivation thing.
I signed up for our local Jingle Bell Run on Dec. 7. It is a 4 mile quick run. I am hoping that will put the joy back in my steps.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Running Again
I am running again. I feel kind of blah and am experiencing a little bit of procrastination. I ran 3 days this week for a total of 15 miles. I also swam one day and rode a bike the other day. I am not experiencing any muscle fatigue or soreness. I am mentally not feeling the love for running or exercising in general. I am sure it is because I don't have a long term goal to be hyper focused on - like the marathon. I did sign up for the local Jingle Bell Fun Run. I need to have some things to look forward to participating in to keep me going. I don't want to take a bunch of time off. I like how physically fit I am right now, and I don't want to lose any of that.
I am though looking forward to having a weekend at home with absolutely no plans and no commitments. It is the first weeken since May that I am not committed to a long run and/or other obligations getting me up and out the door at 6:30 AM. It is very exciting.
I am though looking forward to having a weekend at home with absolutely no plans and no commitments. It is the first weeken since May that I am not committed to a long run and/or other obligations getting me up and out the door at 6:30 AM. It is very exciting.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Letdown time
Last week I got a tiny bit of running in. I am losing a couple toenails, so running was painful. They are feeling better today. I did do some biking and rowing to keep moving. I find that if I am not exercising I get cranky and restless. This is such a change from last year at this time when my health had really deteriorated and I felt so crummy all the time. I can't believe how fantastic I feel every single day.
It was very odd to not meet at the park or the farmer's market to run yesterday. I felt a little sad. I miss it already.
I have started a new endeavor which has me very excited. I am taking part in a leadership conference funded by The ARC. It centers around learning how to navigate the medical, educational and political systems with regard to families that have members with disabilities be they developmental or physical or a combination of the two. I began this on Friday and had an all day training yesterday. The information is overwhelming and there is so much to take in, but I am very excited. If I can effectively lobby for changes in our system to get help and assistance for children and adults that are similar to my child it will be fantastic. There are some incredible people in the training with me, whose days are far more difficult than mine. I have incredible admiration for them already.
I do hope to begin training for another marathon soon. I am very antsy to begin a full running schedule again. My body is craving it and my mind is craving it.
It was very odd to not meet at the park or the farmer's market to run yesterday. I felt a little sad. I miss it already.
I have started a new endeavor which has me very excited. I am taking part in a leadership conference funded by The ARC. It centers around learning how to navigate the medical, educational and political systems with regard to families that have members with disabilities be they developmental or physical or a combination of the two. I began this on Friday and had an all day training yesterday. The information is overwhelming and there is so much to take in, but I am very excited. If I can effectively lobby for changes in our system to get help and assistance for children and adults that are similar to my child it will be fantastic. There are some incredible people in the training with me, whose days are far more difficult than mine. I have incredible admiration for them already.
I do hope to begin training for another marathon soon. I am very antsy to begin a full running schedule again. My body is craving it and my mind is craving it.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
All said and done - for now
I can't believe the marathon has come and gone. Going to San Fransisco felt very surreal. The flight to was smooth and without a hitch. I had a fantastic time in San Fransisco and utilized the little bits of free time to the fullest. We shopped a little - which is not like me. I hate shopping. But it was pretty fun. We ate very good food and just generally had a great time seeing the city.
Race day came quickly. I had a migraine Saturday night and woke with it Sunday morning. It went away during the marathon.
We were up bright and early Sunday morning. There was quite a bit of hurry up and wait for the race to start. The race was 23,0000 people strong. Only 1% of the participants were men. I didn't cross the starting line until after 7:30. The official start for the elite runners was 7:00 AM.
The race itself was incredible! The weather was perfect, the course is just gorgeous. This marathon is very walker friendly. There were participants stopping at Golden Gate Park taking pictures. I found this very amusing. There were people in groups chatting up a storm, walking as if it were a leisurely stroll.
I paced myself well, and worked at not starting out too fast and strong so I didn't defeat early in the race. I ran solid for the first 6 miles. Mile 6 was a mile long climb up past Golden Gate Park. I picked up and ran again solid until I got to the half way mark. I walked through all the water and food stations and the 3 big hills. I also walked miles 18 and 19. Once I got to mile 20 I picked it up again and ran the remainder of the course.
The course has a couple of killer hill climbs and there were a couple of daunting spots. They split the course at the 12 mile point in to half and full. It was a little tough to see the half marathoners heading toward completion. The other spot is a drop over Lake Merced in which you can see a huge part of the course. It feels rather intimidating. But there wasn't a point in the course when I felt I couldn't finish.
I was sore and stiff after, suffered a very bloody toe from a rubbed blister, but other than that I am still on the marathon high and looking forward to training for the next.
After the marathon, I was able to stand in the cold ocean to cool my legs down. I went swimming this morning and it felt very good to work slowly on my body.
My body has recovered quickly and I am antsy to start running again. I am not sore at all today and plan on running tomorrow during my lunch hour.
This marathon was just the beginning. Now I can start working on my pace and see if I can shave some time. I have the endurance and strength and I know my eating plan works well and fuels me just as needed for both a long run and for recovery.
Here are some pictures taken before, during and after the event.
My team that I trained with, minus our coach. We missed him terribly.
Carb loading the night before. I have used a protein heavy diet in training, so the carb loading was not good for me. I scrounged up protien later on that night to load up on:
Waiting to go to the starting area:
Walking through a water station:
Celebrating after with dancing:
Race day came quickly. I had a migraine Saturday night and woke with it Sunday morning. It went away during the marathon.
We were up bright and early Sunday morning. There was quite a bit of hurry up and wait for the race to start. The race was 23,0000 people strong. Only 1% of the participants were men. I didn't cross the starting line until after 7:30. The official start for the elite runners was 7:00 AM.
The race itself was incredible! The weather was perfect, the course is just gorgeous. This marathon is very walker friendly. There were participants stopping at Golden Gate Park taking pictures. I found this very amusing. There were people in groups chatting up a storm, walking as if it were a leisurely stroll.
I paced myself well, and worked at not starting out too fast and strong so I didn't defeat early in the race. I ran solid for the first 6 miles. Mile 6 was a mile long climb up past Golden Gate Park. I picked up and ran again solid until I got to the half way mark. I walked through all the water and food stations and the 3 big hills. I also walked miles 18 and 19. Once I got to mile 20 I picked it up again and ran the remainder of the course.
The course has a couple of killer hill climbs and there were a couple of daunting spots. They split the course at the 12 mile point in to half and full. It was a little tough to see the half marathoners heading toward completion. The other spot is a drop over Lake Merced in which you can see a huge part of the course. It feels rather intimidating. But there wasn't a point in the course when I felt I couldn't finish.
I was sore and stiff after, suffered a very bloody toe from a rubbed blister, but other than that I am still on the marathon high and looking forward to training for the next.
After the marathon, I was able to stand in the cold ocean to cool my legs down. I went swimming this morning and it felt very good to work slowly on my body.
My body has recovered quickly and I am antsy to start running again. I am not sore at all today and plan on running tomorrow during my lunch hour.
This marathon was just the beginning. Now I can start working on my pace and see if I can shave some time. I have the endurance and strength and I know my eating plan works well and fuels me just as needed for both a long run and for recovery.
Here are some pictures taken before, during and after the event.
My team that I trained with, minus our coach. We missed him terribly.
Carb loading the night before. I have used a protein heavy diet in training, so the carb loading was not good for me. I scrounged up protien later on that night to load up on:
Waiting to go to the starting area:
Walking through a water station:
Celebrating after with dancing:
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The day fast approaches!
I can't believe that tomorrow morning I head to San Francisco for my very first marathon. I don't know if my body is ready, but it is time to go. I got clearance from the neurologist today to continue running and that running the marathon shouldn't pose any problems. I just need to listen to my body and slow down if I develop a headache that starts in the back of my head.
I had my very last short run today in preparation for Sunday. It feels sureal at this point. I have my running gear and all my stuff packed in my carry on. I got all the paperwork together, wristlets completed, etc.
I am super excited and filled with butterflies of anticipation. I have had such amazing support from my family and friends. They have really given me encouragement when I needed it most.
I am as ready as I'll ever be.
Thank you everyone.
I had my very last short run today in preparation for Sunday. It feels sureal at this point. I have my running gear and all my stuff packed in my carry on. I got all the paperwork together, wristlets completed, etc.
I am super excited and filled with butterflies of anticipation. I have had such amazing support from my family and friends. They have really given me encouragement when I needed it most.
I am as ready as I'll ever be.
Thank you everyone.
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