Just keep training, training, training...

See Tumblr Fail. 

All I do is run, plan routes to run, think about running, run, run, run!  I feel like maybe training for this marathon is going to make me dislike running.  Actually, I do already kind of hate it.  Just a little bit. 

So, here is a brain dump of my training so far.  Sorry it's so long and I may ramble a bit...

Saturday, August 3, 2013
14 Mile Run

I was pretty amped about this run.  For the first time EVER, I was going to run more than 13 miles!  Woot!  I think back to when I was training for my first half marathon and 13 miles seemed impossible and now I was about to go further.  I know I have said this before, but seriously, this chubby chic is still amazed herself!  Sometimes I just don't connect that I'm doing this.  That I have the ability to not only run, but to run for HOURS at a time.  Bonkers.

Anyway, the alarm clock goes off (4am.  Ugh, worst part about running!) and it's raining.  Not pouring down or anything, but enough to where I'm questioning what we should do.  After a handful of texts and looking at the radar, we all decide that we may see a sprinkle, but it shouldn't be that bad.  I get my gear ready.  I've been using Honey Stinger gels and Nuun.  So far, I've not had the tummy issues I suffered last Fall.  (Spoiler:  Sadly, this changes.)

Jaime's coworker and her boyfriend joined us that morning for 4 miles.  I mapped the route so we would pass by Leah's house so they could get back to their cars, etc.  This turned out to be a really good idea because yeah, it did more than sprinkle on us.  About 2.5 miles in, it started POURING.  It sucked.  It rained pretty hard on us for a few minutes and then lightened up to a drizzle.  Once we got back to Leah's house, we all decided to stop for bit and figure out what we wanted to do.  We changed socks (Thanks, Leah!) and Jaime, Leah, Tim and I decided we would just try to muddle through the next 10 (TEN!) miles. 

I'd like to say that those 10 miles weren't that bad, but that would be lying.  They were MISERABLE.  It was humid and sticky.  Jaime had been traveling the week before, so even she was having motivation issues and she is usually the one we rely on for that extra oompf.  My feet were hurting really bad.  We walked a lot.  Walking hurt, too.  My watch was way behind and that annoyed the poop out of me.  By the time we started that last mile, I think we were all pretty over the whole  thing.  We just wanted it OVER.

Since my watch was so behind, I was annoyed that it wouldn't have 14 Miles on the log.  Yeah, I know that sounds crazy strange, but Leah totally understood and sucked it up and ran with me until my watch beeped.  This was pretty awesome of her because it came down to her running an extra .15 miles.  She totally understood though, and I can't thank her enough for that. 

Fourteen (Miserable) Miles!

 

Not exactly what I had hoped for my longest run to date to be like, but it got done.

 

P.S. No one's feet looked pretty after this run. 

 

 

August 10, 2013

15 Mile Run

 

Now that 14 miles were under my belt, training is getting serious.  It dawned on me the night before this run that there really is no turning back now.  Marathon or Bust!

 

Once again, we woke up to crappy weather and once again the radar showed it clearing.  I didn't really sleep well the night before because of my obsession with the radar.  I need to seriously just stop worrying about the darn weather!

 

We met up at Leah's at 5am.  And by "we" I mean, a whole TROOP of folks!  There was a total of 10 of running the dark streets of Murphysboro-- you better watch it!  I must say, having so many folks to run with makes getting up early a lot easier.

 

I never really felt all that great during this run.  I mean, I wasn't miserable, but I had heavy legs the first few miles and I had a bit of a headache.  I lagged behind during most of the run.  With so many of us running, we were constantly changing up partners, etc, so I never really felt alone or anything.  Around mile 11 or so, I had some Honey Stinger Energy Chews.  Up until this point, I'd been getting by with one or two gels, but because I was so sluggish, I though I should try to do another.  Well, about a mile later, my mouth got that warm-saliva-I-think-I'm-gonna-yak feeling (do you know what I'm talking about or am I the only one who experiences this when sick?).  So, yeah, that was fun.  It's not like I had a lot in me to get out, but I sure did use my abs in the process.  For the rest of the run, I had a weird all over my stomach side stitch.  Good times, I tell ya, good times. 

 

Jaime and Leah were kind enough to wait on me, but I pretty much knew that those last 3 miles were going to hurt.  I did my best to keep pace with them, but my stomach just wasn't having any of it.  Soon I found myself pretty far behind, but that was okay.  I had less than a mile to go and up ahead, I could see Tim waiting for me.  When my watch beeped, once again, I was thrilled that another long training run was in the books.

 

DONE!



 

 

 August 17, 2013
13 Mile Run

Thank Baby J!  Only 13 miles this week!  Woot to the toot!  Squee!  Oh, joy!

And guess what?  It wasn't even raining when I woke that morning, either!  This had the makings of a wonderful run.  But (there is always one) I had a stupid blister on the inside of my big toe.  To make things even more annoying, said blister wasn't even caused by running, but by a pair of sandals that I stupidly thought were cute.  Blah.  Whatever.

Jaime mapped out a route heading towards the marina.  I was pretty worried about all the hills.  You know me- hills and I aren't exactly BFFs, but I was looking forward to some new scenery.  Running the streets of the 'Boro has gotten stale.  The roughest part of the route was the hills at the lake.  I seriously love to hate that lake.  I've been considering doing the Little Big Challenge, but I'm just not sure I want to.  I mean, I do want to, but I don't know if I want to torture myself.  Plus, I think the 20 miler is that weekend... 

Honestly, the run wasn't bad at all considering my toe felt like it was 10 sizes bigger.  I went pretty slow because of it.  Tim was nice and hung back with me during the first half of it.  I was able to hang with the others a little more consistently the 2nd half.  It did rain on us though (GRRR!), but only for a bit.  It didn't really help with the toe issue, but at that point we only had like 3 miles left.  The last mile I wasn't completely useless like I had been in those longer runs.  Overall, it was pretty much as good as a run could get with a blister.  :/

I considered posting a pic of the toe, but didn't want to make anyone gag.

This weekend we run 17 miles.  If I survive it, I will write up a post.  However, with my track record, please don't send a rescue party out to find me if I don't.  We all know I'm consistently inconsistent. 

You know I love my medals!