My Story of a Marathon and How I Survived it All : Day 125

Official Marathon Training

WOW! It's been nearly a whole week since my last post and I've got 3 runs to catch you all up on.

So here we go. This is my time from last Wednesday, July 13th.

Treadmill 5K {3.1 miles}

24 minutes 54 seconds

Average Mile

8 minutes 2 seconds

I'm pretty sure this is my best, over all, time, so far.

Then there was my long run on Saturday, July 16th.

Treadmill 7 miles

1 hour 4 minutes 47 seconds

Average Mile

9 minutes 15 seconds

Definitely my worst time on the treadmill, since I started the training. But, that's what I get for taking 2 weeks off from my weight training and then deciding to go full throttle 2 days before my long run. Just a little {okay, a lot} sore. But, I'm sure my cold didn't help any either.

Then there was today!

3 miles

27 minutes 49 seconds

Average Mile

9 minutes 16 seconds

About the same as Saturday's pace.

9:10-9:15 has kind of become my average pace, actually. I'm okay with that, because if I can keep up at least a 9:30-10:00 pace, I'll finish the marathon in 4 hours and about 10-25 minutes. Not too shabby for my first go through.

Not that I'm making any plans to do another marathon anytime soon. Maybe I'll work towards a triathlon first. ;D

So many exciting things going on right now. I'm training for the marathon, we have Lizzi speech therapy, potty training Maddi and Jake will be home for R&R in less than 2 weeks...AHHH!!...SO EXCITED!!! :D

So much to be doing and so little time to be doing it all in!

6 weeks 2 days down, 11 weeks and 5 days to go!!!

My Story of a Marathon and How I Survived it All : Day 119

Official Marathon Training

I nearly missed two postings in a row. And there's so much to talk about. :D

Well, I'll start with yesterday's times.

3 miles

28 minutes 7 seconds

Average Mile

9 minutes 23 seconds

About average for me, but wait until you see today's times...

5 miles

51 minutes 17 seconds

Average Mile

10 minutes 16 seconds

And here is where I have so much to talk about! So, if you've been following my posts, you'll already know that I've been having issues with needing to "go" in the middle of my runs, and it's not #1 that's the problem.

Today has been the worst so far.

I woke up a whole hour earlier than needed, to give me plenty of time to have everything done with. And, I thought I did just that, so I head out on my run. But, without fail, my body decides, mid-route, it really needs a bathroom. This was the first time that I had to stop running to retake control of my body. It's absolutely awful to still be over a mile from home and to be so desperate for a bathroom. But there I was walking, as quickly as I could, not only because I wanted to get home, but also to finish with a decent time.

Luckily, my body and I finally reached an agreement and I was able to continue running on and off until I finished my run.

Ahh...the joys of training our bodies to bend to our will. ;D

5 weeks 3 days down, 12 weeks 4 days to go!!!

My Story of a Marathon and How I Survived it All : Day 116

Official Marathon Training

Another week down, and another long run done! :D

This morning's run was a little extra eventful. About 2 to 3 miles into running my hair tie snapped. I had to take it out of my hair and hold onto the hair tie until I could find a trash bin. Which, I didn't think would be so difficult, but evidently there are not many public trash bins on my route. The one time I wouldn't have minded it being trash collection day. ;D But, I finally came across one at a bus stop. Have to be consciences of our environment, no litter bugs. :D

Now, I have chosen to go running early in the morning, partly because my mom can watch the kiddos for me and that there's hardly anyone else up at 5am on a Saturday morning. Most normal people are still fast asleep. This allows me to run through my routes with little to no interruptions, such as having to stop for cars at intersections and other such nonsense. ;D

The down side to this time of the day, because no sane person would be awake at this time, there are very few places open. This only becomes a problem when I need to use the facilities at about mile 5 on my route, and even if I ran straight home, it would still be at least 3 miles away. But, luckily for me, about mile 5 on my route this morning was a Shell gas station and they were open...cRaZy people!

There's a funny little story that goes along with that, and if you want to hear about it, you'll need to ask me later, because it's a little too much for a post. ;D

So, I get everything taken care of and head back out on my route.

I had put a band aid on a spot that had gotten rubbed a little raw from Monday's event. And, it decided to start coming off and flapping in the wind. It was driving me crazy, so I grabbed it off and held it in my hand. Now I had to find another trash bin. ;P

But, after all that excitement, I finally made it home and in pretty good time, all considering. :D

10 miles

1 hour 36 minutes 42 seconds

Average Mile

9 minutes 41 seconds

Not bad, for including a potty break. :D

I think I should make notes of where I can stop off on my routes, so I don't have an issue next time around. :D

5 weeks down, 13 weeks  to go!!!

My Story of a Marathon and How I Survived it All : Day 115

Official Marathon Training

So, I'm getting really good at not posting, but at least I eventually get around to it. ;D

Without further ado, here's what happened on Wednesday.

3 miles

26 minutes 53 seconds

Average Mile

8 minutes 57 seconds

Getting better! :D At least I was under a 9 minute mile ;D

It will be nice, after my cousin heads home, to be back on my regular routine. Not that it hasn't been great having her here, just been a little crazy with all the training.

It was really great, after the the half marathon, I was not terribly sore afterward. As a matter of fact I remember telling my mom, after I had a chance to rest of a little bit, I felt like I could have gone for another run. ;D

I guess you know you're starting to become a real runner when you think of a half marathon the way that a regular person thinks of a 5K.

I've been thinking about doing another half just for the heck of it.

It's like, 13.1 miles, no biggy. ;D

4 weeks 6 days down, 13 weeks 1 day to go!!!

My Story of a Marathon and How I Survived it All : Day 112

Official Marathon Training

A little behind on my postings. Yesterday was the 4th of July and instead of doing my scheduled 3 mile training run, I did a 1/2 Marathon. :D

My previous time on a 1/2 Marathon was 2 hours 27 minutes 17 seconds. Not too bad for my first time. :D

This time around I totally SMASHED my previous time!

13.1 miles

2 hours 14 seconds

Average mile

9 minutes 11 seconds

And that included a much needed potty break. ;D

The best part of the whole thing was that I was trying to stay ahead of the 9 minute pacer and evidently she was running a little faster. For about the first 8-9 miles I was keeping with about a 8:10 to 8:45 mile! Super amazing in my book. As a matter of fact, when I realized how fast I was running I did a little happy dance/wiggle. The people behind me laughed. ;D

Oh, and another GREAT part about yesterday, my ankle did not give me any trouble during the event. It of course started up shortly after, but at least it did not hurt during the race! :D

It's funny when I talk to people, who haven't done these types of events, about how it's not 13 miles, it's 13.1 miles, they're like whatever. But, that .1 mile is just as important as any one of those 13 miles, because you run past the 13 mile marker and you are still not done yet.

I guess, it's one of those things you have to experience to fully understand.

But, enough about yesterday. Let's get to today!

Today was on the verge of not happening, because I didn't know whether or not I should run after doing a major event yesterday. But, I was able to sleep in a little this morning and although a little stiff, I felt pretty good...ankle and all.

As a matter of fact, this time around, I was not as sore afterward. I think I was more tired than sore.

But back to today...

5 miles

47 minutes 10 seconds

Average Mile

9 minutes 26 seconds

Not too shabby for the day after an event. I think I'm getting pretty close to keeping a 9 minute pace. It's funny that I seem to be able to run a faster over all pace on the longer runs.

Getting excited!

4 weeks 3 days down, 13 weeks 4 days to go!!!

My Story of a Marathon and How I Survived it All : Day 108

Official Marathon Training

Today was a cross training day, so I hit the gym for some weight training and a little stationary bike. But, due to scheduling conflicts, I'm not going to be able to do my long run tomorrow. So, I ran it tonight! :D

9 miles

1 hour 27 minutes 8 seconds

Average Mile

9 minutes 41 seconds

Quite a nice evening run!

It's interesting though, after my run I got a quick shower and settled in to update the blog, I noticed something on the top part of my ankle. A nice little bubble sitting onto of my ankle...{aka a ganglion cyst ;/}

I think I might take a picture of it for my doctor, then maybe I can FINALLY get him to give me a referral for that MRI.

3 weeks 6 days down, 14 weeks 1 day to go!!!