2 miles (LOL)

Day-um

2 miles through the park, 2 sets of thigh presses against the park pavillion...

<3 days 'til the RACE.

Will post Sunday...hopefully!

Colorado Marathon, here I come.

4 miles

felt great - super easy and fast. wore my skins and they kept my arms nice and warm. it's a beautiful day.

3 days.

3 miles

< 5 days...the taper is huge. Tomorrow is 4 miles...Thurs. just 2. Then Rest Rest. Then Brutal.

tick-tock tick-tock

< SIX DAYS to go...

8 miles

1:09:49

Nick came with me (BMX biking) to support me on this cold and drizzly day, thanks little guy. We made really good time and had quite a few hills to conquer, so we were happy with our time. I spent my miles figuring out what I'm going to haul up the mountain with me next Sunday morning...a throw away duffle, blanket, sweatshirt, hat, sweatpants, etc. The clock is ticking. Today was my last "long" run (8 seems so easy now) next week I think I only run a total of 9 combined. The End Has Come.

27:04

A bit over 3 miles at 6:20am. The taper is ON.

6 miles - 53:06

Ran 3 with Hollyn at 6:15am and then the other 3 at 8:45am when the kids were in school. Hot day for sure!

4 miles - 36mins

First day in 5 weeks that I was able to run at 6:15am! The puppy, Olive has cramped my a.m. running style...(but I lurve her)...SO, it was awesome to meet up with Hollyn and run our 4 miles together before going home to the warzone. Felt great.

Dreamin'

Another Marathon dream. This time...it was mountain down-hill running...felt great - got down to the city (Dallas!) and all the directional signs disappeared and I and a few other runners got lost and confused and couldn't continue on because of all the hotels and traffic. It was the worst feeling knowing I'd trained to run 26.2 and only got to run half because the organizers screwed up. I hated it.

1:58:59

Harsh 12 miles in sleeting rain, slush, wind, cold. We've had a whopper of a weekend w/ the bad weather. I pushed when I could - when there was no risk of slipping. I found a really cool (but sadly, dead) bright yellow and black salamander on the sidewalk. I wanted to bring it back to show the kids - but the thought of carrying it in my raincoat didn't thrill me.

I ran 2 - 6 mile loops so was able to fuel at mile 6 (Hammer Gel) and 60z water. Stretched a bit after I was done and took a warm shower as the chill was starting to set in.

I have been terrible about crosstraining this season. My main goal has been to get the long runs in and work around the nasty weather. Hasn't left any time for bike riding.

2 weeks from today - hopefully around this exact time...I will be nearing the Finish Line of the Colorado Marathon!

4 miles 34:47

4 miles in the rain/hail but it felt GREAT and I pushed hard on those uphills! Snow is forecast for tonight/tomorrow and Saturday. Gotta get my 12 miles in this weekend and then a wicked TAPER begins! WOOHOO!

8 miles

I was a bit U.D.W. (under da weather) yesterday and I called 2 babysitters but no one could take care of Cricket for me, so I skipped my run. Today I'm still not 100% but I got all 8 miles in - including a stretch and walk at the end for 1:16:52.

I was sore today while running. My hips kind of hurt. I am TERRIBLE when it comes to stretching post-run...and I haven't been doing my yoga regularly at all...so I think I'm just super tight.

To the showers!

The Impossible = POSSIBLE

Ran TWENTY (20) miles.
3:34:53
Time included the 20 miles, the 3 stops to stretch my aching shoulders, the 2 stops to fuel and drink, and the numerous stops to ADJUST MY dammmmmmn shoelaces.

The run started Friday just after I took Cricket to preschool. I arranged for her to go home with a friend so I could run for the duration without having to go pick her up. It was cool when I started - but I ditched my fleece vest after mile 1 and stretched for a bit before continuing on. I had Nick's shuffle for the first 16 miles. After that - it started to annoy me, so I turned it off. By the end of the first loop - 6 miles, I had to hit the potty, so I'd planned the loop to come back by the house so I could do that and grab my fuel before heading out for the next 4 mile loop. Repeated the loops - and was done. The last 4 miles were harder - I had to mentally will myself not to stop and walk. I hurt, but not too bad - it was mostly just so long that I wanted to do something else.

The feeling I had at the end - when I reached home, was indescribable. I was overjoyed at my achievement. I have so much going on in my life - so busy with my kids and friends and everything, I practically have to move mountains just to get these runs in. I could have easily postponed this giant run - but I wanted to spend Easter weekend with my family and friends skiing and not have the run looming when I got back. So I got it done and felt so great afterwards. I felt guilty, though, for putting my doggie in her kennel for the entire morning...That was sad. But she survived.

My fueling on this run was: 7 miles, Hammer Gel and 6 oz water. 14 miles, repeat. Later on at mile 16 I drank 6 more oz of water.

My recovery was easy. Nothing happened. Was hungry on Saturday!

So, 3 weeks until Race Day. I think I can I think I can. I hope I can I hope I can.

Dreams

So, the marathon dreams have begun. Last night I had a bad dream. I was having trouble with my shoelaces (go figure) at the start of the marathon...I was in the back of the pack at the starting line and suddenly the gun went off and I was still crouched trying to tie my shredded laces. It was the WORST feeling. All the months of training for nothing. Finally, I got the shoes laced to mid-tongue and went for it. I passed a few people but was really lagging behind. I got DQ'd (ha!) for not running up an obstacle (a huge cube of stairs or something, didn't realize it was an obstacle-course type marathon!) and never got my time. I think the next 3 weeks will be peppered with dreams like this. Let's hope the real deal is better than the REM deal.

1:47:41

for 10 miles. Dunno what that translates to in miles/minute...almost so slow it was a half-marathon run for me. All I know is I did it and had to stop 2x to stretch and 6 times to adjust my 'effin shoelaces on my right foot. It is so painful to run in these shoes. I can't wait for the humongo Bonfire I'm going to have when this is all over. Burn Baby, burn.

I'm going out to do yard work now. It's a gorgeous sunny day!

Got the sitter lined up for Friday. 20 miles. Can't wait.

Tuesday, 50 minute run

Didn't map it out - just ran for time today. I haven't run in 3 days - but what an AMAZING run I had today - felt so great. I think the rest really helps. Tomorrow is 10 miles, off Thursday and then 20 looms for Friday. I have a sitter coming over on Fri. so hopefully it'll all work out. We're heading up to the ski slopes Fri - Sun.

38:51:47

Eh, about 4+ miles with some speedwork thrown in for good measure. I haven't done any speedwork in a while. Do a few aerobic intervals from time to time when I'm slugging on my runs, but today I did a few good bursts of sprinting and it felt good. We're due for a whopper of a snowstorm tonight/tomorrow. Hopefully my Sunday run (14) will be good to go.

9 miles on Wed.

9am...ran the first 5 with Hollyn, it was great. Did 4 more for 9. The sun was out - got a little burned but it felt good. I'm a bit sore today, don't know why. Probably b/c I didn't stretch out after.

5 tomorrow (Fri.) and then 14 this weekend.