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

Quad Cities Marathon

Got my new shoes and went outside for a short 3 mile run. I really wanted to save some energy and rest my muscles for next weekend. They still felt great outside, but I think I will tighten up the laces a little more, just so I don't slide too much in them.

The QC Marathon...
Yeah, that was rough! I thought it was quite miserable, but then looked at my time splits and it wasn't awful. I had an amazing start to the run! The first half I averaged probably 9:10 pace. Overall, I had like 18 miles that were less than 9:30 pace, two of which were less than 9:00. I was feeling so great that I really didn't feel like I was running. At mile 12 I thought I could seriously keep up that pace through the end! I was even having thoughts of perhaps Boston. That will still be off in the distance. I really had to consciously slow myself down, but that was the most I could do. I just wanted to go faster and faster!

At mile 13ish we crossed over to the island and things started to break down from there. About mile 14 it started to sprinkle. OK, this isn't bad; it's always nice to have a cooling rain come in. By mile 15 it was a full downpour! I had rain running off the bill of my cap. It was awful. My blistered toes that started about mile 6 had now become full blown blisters and very painful. I thought I was going end up with a broken toe by the end it hurt so much. My body was screaming stop. My mind keep talking to it to keep going. I knew if I stopped I would not keep going. Yep, that's what happened. I was so upset with myself and it was everything I could do to keep going. I called Bill around 19 to let him know I was coming back over the bridge and nearing mile 20. I really needed and was longing for someone to run with me. Rachael ran 2 blocks with me and that was amazing (she gives me energy I didn't know I had), but I still ended up with 3 miles that were around 12 minutes. Mile 24 was the worst. I finished strong, however, with a 9:37 pace. Every step was pain, but I kept pushing through it to the end. While my time wasn't great (4:24:27), I did finish. I think I need to go back and conquer that course!

The weirdest thing was that no one talked on the run. I felt like I was all alone on a training run. I stuck with the 4:10 pace group and everyone was VERY chatty at the start line. I thought, this will be great! Bob, the pacer was amazing! He was an older guy in his 60s and did not look like your typical runner, but he was the most consistent pacer I've ever run with. He had completed a few ultramarathons in recent years as well. Anyway, I tried to strike up some conversation with people along the route, but they just looked at me like I was highly annoying and what was I thinking talking to them?! sheez. I finally just kept to myself and continued running. Even at the end when things were tough and lots of people were walking, no one talked. There was one man from TX who I kept passing and I suggested we keep each other going and again tried to strike up a conversation, but nope. He decided to walk and fall behind to avoid me. I just couldn't believe it.

By the finish line I had never been more happy to be done with a run!! I grabbed some fruit, met my curb crew and left for the van. I was defeated and just wanted to go home. When I got to the van, I immediately removed my shoes and socks. YIKES!!! I have never had blisters as bad as this. There were so many different variables this time. I was alone, no distractions, new shoes, bungie laces, rain, pouring rain!, fast pace, foot discomfort that I hadn't known.

While I was quite discouraged with this run, it was really a great run for the first 19ish miles.
I wasn't able to wear regular shoes all week to allow my blisters to heal a bit. Here are some more pictures: http://bhphotoaday.blogspot.com/2011/09/quad-cities-marathon-249365.html

Weekly mileage: 29.2 miles
September total mileage: 100 miles