Marathon training

Marathon training officially began today! Did 3 miles on the treadmill at the gym. I really hoped to keep most of my training off of the treadmill but it was a raining day and the boyfriend wanted to workout also and since he primarily lifts weights he needs to go to the gym.

I'm happy to say that my hip and my ankles are feeling much better after the race. So I don't have any concerns regarding starting training for the marathon.

On an unrelated note, I've been thinking about what my 2013 running goals should be. Obviously I have the goal of finishing a marathon and that's huge but it's just one race and its early in the year. Any suggestions?

Race #12 : 2012 Rock N Roll Half-Marathon

I didn't have the highest hopes for this race, I haven't been training and I hadn't been feeling well either. Between calf soreness, migraines and cramps I hadn't been feeling the running lately. I didn't want to DNS this race though and was perfectly fine with walking the whole damn thing if necessary. I decided to try a run 3 min/ walk 3 min strategy to get me through the race at a semi respectable time and prevent me from dying or hurting to bad, so I thought.

Honestly, I managed miles 1-7 amazingly! I felt great, the race was zipping right along without any problems really and it reflects in my pace. The course was pretty hilly in those first 7 miles which I think is what lead to my downfall.

Mile 8 slowed me down and I lost the little bit of buffer I had on my time in this mile, my feet really started to hurt and all I could think about was how bad my feet hurt and how I didn't think they'd ever felt like that and I ran races, worked as a nurse, a waitress and a secretary. The pain was there and I kept trying to tell myself it was only 5 more miles and I ran 5 miles all the time but I just couldn't deal with the pain.

Usually the longer a run the more it becomes a mental game for me, I'm usually not hurting, just breathing hard and fighting my brain to keep moving. Not the case today, my brain was all, "Woo let's do this thing! I know you hurt but if you move just a little faster, the finish is that much closer, just run to that stoplight, sign, etc, etc." My legs and back kept saying no, but every now and then my brain would talk my legs into it.

I finished the race in a decent amount of pain and of course I reminded myself to add core and flexibility to the regime, like I tell myself after every race.

A few of the Emergency Medicine Folks

Before the race!

Finished!

My pace tattoo with a 2:45 finish

My Garmin Splits

Finished!

Race #12 is finished!!!!

As I expected, I did not PR, my finish time was 2:56:51. I'll post a recap later, after my hip flexor and ankle stop hurting so much!

Another update : September Goals

An update on my September goals and a look forward to my October/November goals.

September Goals

• Miles run : planned 70 / actual 31
• I really slacked on this one. I didn't even meet the half way mark!

• Races run : planned 1 / actual 1
• Ran the USAF 10k and set a new PR!

• Pounds to lose : planned 4 / actual 4
• Woohoo! I lost 4 pounds putting me back into the 170s!

October/November Goals

• Miles run : 84
• Combining 2 months, a half marathon, a 10k and starting training for my marathon should hopefully net me my desired miles. 

• Races run : 2
• I'm scheduled for the Rock N Roll half-marathon and a 10k in November 
• Pounds to lose : 10
• It's a lofty goal, with 7 weeks to lose but I'm going to take a swing at being at 165 by the end of the year. These 10 pounds would bring me to 169 pounds, my lowest weight in about 6 years. 

A shortened run is better than no run?

So I went out for a run yesterday for the first time since really the USAF 10k. I was hell bent on 10 miles, I found a 5 mile loop that I could do in one of the parks and everything. The run started off great but it didn't take long for the shin splints and the calf pain to kick in and make me cry uncle, which happened before mile 3 but I had to make it back to my car.

I posted that I wanted to run a PR in my half marathon on the 21st but I just don't think it's going to happen. I'll need to run 12:30 splits and I just don't know if I have it in me.

I'm going to go out for another run this afternoon, once I'm done volunteering for the race.

Well it's 7:35 and the race should have started 5 minutes ago. I'm between mile 1 and 2 so I should start seeing runners soon!

Busy Race Schedule

So the first of the updates, my busy personal and work schedules have also been complicated by a crowded race schedule.

Last weekend was supposed to be the Notre Dame Fall Festival 4 mile run. My work schedule changed and I ended up with another DNS on my record but again, my money went to a great cause.

This weekend I'm accomplishing a first, I'm volunteering for a local race. I'll be a course monitor, ensuring that no one gets run over or turned the wrong direction and of course, no bandits!

October 21st is race #12, the St. Louis Rock N Roll half-marathon. I'm hoping for another personal record. I've never not set a new record in my half category. Each race has shown an improvement in my time and I'd like to continue that trend right on down to a sub 1:30 half marathon!

November 3 is my last 10k of 2012, after that I'm done with the 3 halfs, 4 10ks and 5 5ks part of my 12 in 12 goal. I haven't found a December race yet for the one race a month in 2012 part of my goal.

Been away

18 days without a blog post, I'm a bad blogger! Things have been busy and changing rapidly in many aspects. My plan is to update with longer posts but I wanted at least give something for now without a mile long post.

• I haven't been doing much running, I'm really slacking on my half marathon training. 
• I've been working days, instead of my usual 2pm shift. 
• I interviewed for a new position at my job. 
• I went a got myself a new man. 
• More renovations have begun at my house. 
• Crazy race schedule that isn't necessarily working. 
• September goal follow up/October goals

More information to follow on each topic!