The finale

Ok, I fell asleep before the end of the new year. I didn't even run the last day of the year. This week was my best week of the month, however! I had a whopping 8 miles this week. It was fun to get out and run this week. Leaving behind the stress of school has really helped my attitude. I feel like I am ready to venture into a new year and attack the training as usual. I am really ready to do this with Bill, too.

Weekly training mileage: 8 miles
Monthly training mileage: 14 miles

Annual mileage: 817 miles

Reflection

OK, so I was looking back at my old blogs from the past couple of years and realized that I am just in a time of year when I get depressed. I need to be conscious of this so get myself over it! I have only run 6 miles this month and it's Christmas time! I wouldn't have run the first run 3 weeks ago if it weren't for Bill saying, "Get your clothes on; we're going running!" Then, yesterday Santa came and the kids were up at 4:30 so we had some extra time. I took Rachael out for a 3-mile run. Noelle came with us too. She said she wanted some running clothes to go with us so she came along for a couple miles. Rachael and I were really struggling to get through that small run. I guess we should, having not run for about 3 weeks.

I feel like this is really pathetic that I'm at the end of the month and haven't even reached the double digits in mileage yet. Bill mentioned toward the end of his graduate class this month that he would like to run a half marathon with me this year so we should be good motivation for each other to get out and run.

The first 3 1/2 weeks of December: 6 miles

it's a slump

ok I only ran 5 miles this week. Once I realized my calculating error, I lost all interest and motivation. This has taken a downward spiral to other areas as well. I need to get out now and get some confidence and excitement back to my life.

weekly training mileage: 5 miles

monthly mileage: 28 miles

goal realization

This past week I counted up the mileage for the year and realized if I ran an average of 14 miles per week through the end of the year I could log 1000 miles this year. Hmmm, that is very doable. So I now have a new goal, something to work towards. It's not so insurmountable that it can't be done. In my "off" season I can easily run 14 miles each week.

So, this didn't start off so great this week, but it definitely gives me a goal. It gives me the motivation I need start a run. Thursday I finally got in my first run of the week. Rachael and I went out for a few miles. I really wanted to do 5-8 miles so I didn't have to do so much Saturday or at least get a head start on the mileage. The run was so difficult that I stopped to walk around mile .75!! We did an Ethanol Loop and I stopped at that. It got better the longer we ran, but it was definitely not my best run ever. If Rachael wasn't with me, I probably wouldn't have finished the run.

This morning I knew she would be gone to an Honor Band performance so I contacted some of my friends and wanted to take Bill with me too. I ended up only having one partner on the run. My shins have reappeared as a problem, but after a couple miles my heart, breathing, and pain settled down and I started to feel strong! At the end, we split up and she went home. I was one block from home with .25 miles into the next mile. I felt good so I finished off the mile for a total of 10 miles. I don't think I was strong enough to finish a marathon today, but it was a good 10 miles.

Total weekly training mileage: 15

Monthly training mileage: 23

Short and sweet

How can my life be so incredibly busy? I only ran once - today.

I love to run to wake up the sun. I love to run through dry crunchy red, brown, orange, and yellow leaves. I love to run with good friends. I love to run with my family! I love to treat them to doughnuts at the end of the run. I just love to run.

Weekly training run: 7 miles with friends, 1 mile alone, 1 mile with family = 9 miles

Trial and Error

Wow, this week was full of great accomplishments, through a little trial and error. Yes, I've been messing with the laces and making changes. The best thing I did was remove the bungie laces and replace them with the old original laces. This made a world of difference!

I tried a shorter, 5 mile run to start off the week and it was so much fun to run without my toe or foot falling asleep and becoming tingly. I was so glad I had changed the laces. Thursday Rachael and I went out for a fast 7 miles. OKOK, it wasn't fast, but it went by rather quickly. I was ready to be done. I got another nasty blood blister on a different toe. It wasn't as bad as the one from Quad Cities, but definitely owie! We surprisingly ran all seven within Jewell.

This morning Bill, Rachael and I went out. My goal was 10 miles. I really really wanted to be in the double digits. I should be after the marathon by now. I have been so discouraged with my progress this fall. Today's run was really really hard; it was like the last 5-8 of a marathon. I was exhausted and just wanted to quit so many times. If I didn't have 2 other people with me I'm sure I wouldn't have finished this run. My watch battery almost died before we finished, too. I met my goal of 10 miles today so it was a success.

Weekly training mileage: 22 miles

October mileage: 32 miles

October recovery

Well, since the marathon I haven't run much as my toe has really been bothering me. Every time I go out for a run, I get to just under 3 miles and it starts throbbing. I have to try something different. I'm going to try to lace them backwards, put 2 "stoppers" at different places on the laces so that I can have 2 different tensions on the top and bottom of the shoe, and if all else fails, put the original laces back on. I completed 3, 3, and 4 mile runs. Each time it caused great discomfort. One Friday I even wore them to school and by the end of the day it was just as bad as if I had run 4 miles in them. :(

Something has to change!!

Weekly training mileage: 10