Sometimes when I run, I

• imagine I am running with Kara Goucher or Ryan Hall or Eric Liddell or ...
• imagine my mom is running along side and talk to her
• imagine I am winning a race or even just running one
• obsess about where the next porta-potty is and it's condition when I arrive
• pray and quote scripture
• wish I were doing something else
• wish I were able to keep running forever
• count my cadence
• dream about running in exotic places
• cry or laugh out loud, sometimes both at the same time

Hat Tip: medievalistrunningincircles

Friday 5 with Bonus Pic!

Five great things that happened today!

Waking up with a soft puppy curled up next to me!

Being greeted with a smile and "I love you" at work by the sweetest lady ever!

Being early at a race expo before everyone else gets there!

Sitting on the floor--comfortably!

Singing along to Big Daddy Weave at the top of my lungs!

Got my bib and I am ready to run on Sunday!

Unbelievable

I cannot believe it!  I am tired of eating.  My stomach starts to feel a bit hungry and I sigh.  I don't want to have to eat again.  I miss the slightly hungry feeling.  I have read a lot about eating during taper.  Everything talks about not stuffing yourself, but not getting hungry.  So I continue my small meals throughout the day which is normal for me.  But I eat more often.  I try make smart choices, after all, I just had 2 cups of green beans this afternoon.  Sometimes I am tired of trying to take the time for something healthier.  And sometimes the ice cream is calling my name.  It gets lonley in the freezer next to the veggies!  So, I comfort it with some quality time. 

I forgot something on Monday.  It was not only my birthday.  It was also the second anniversary of reaching my goal weight!  I lost nearly 60 pounds.  Two years later, I am still within 3 pounds of that goal!  One of my greatest anxieties was that I would gain all the weight back in only a few months.  Now I know I can keep the weight off.  It takes vigilance, but it isn't as hard as I thought it would be!  I know that I can eat and eat and eat for a marathon.  I know that after the marathon I can change my eating habits back to normal.  I am indeed a success story. 

Before and After Photos

Taper Positives

Time to discover the positive side of tapering.  It is a gorgeous day out and I would rather be running.  Yet here I sit watching Little House on the Prairie and blogging.  The number of blogs written during taper increases exponentially over peak marathon training weeks.  After all, I have lots more time  to write and think--and worry and eat and...

• Menu Planning.  I have more time for planning out meals during taper.  Of course, part of that is because I think about food ALL the time--day and night.  Dinner is planned for the rest of the week with meals best for carb loading. 
• Social Networking.  In the last two weeks, I have spent more time on Facebook and the Loop than ever before.  And that is saying something!  Just think of all the people I can encourage that way! 
• Petting the dogs.  After all, I am spending lots of time sitting.  They love the extra attention!
• Manicures.  With all the extra time and anxiety, my nails are getting manicured regularly.  Of course, I tend to pick at my nails when nervous so I don't know that I can really call it a "manicure."

Hmmm, I am going to have to keep thinking of positives!  I am rested and ready to run.  I am finally getting excited.  I am feeling more confident.  My plan is to have not real plan, but to relax and enjoy the run.  Stay slow and easy to start and finish strong.  Marathon minus 3 days...

Fartleks

I love running fartleks almost as much as I like saying the word.  Fartlek.  It feels like something you shouldn't say.  Something a 12 year old boy would love to shout.  Today's run was 5 miles with 4x 3/2/1.  My coach outlines the 3/2/1 as 3 min hard, 2 harder and 1 hardest with 1 min easy for recovery.  To be honest, I felt a bit nauseous during the second set.  I ended up doing the full 5 miles, but only 3 reps.  I can live with that.  Overall, the workout went really well.  I held myself back on each rep and felt really strong.  I recovered quickly and was able to press for the next fartlek. 

When I got home, I downed some sports drink and chocolate millk.  Then the beloved ice bath.  Although the workout went well and wasn't that long and hard, this week every run gets one.  It is marathon week after all.  I won't take chances with recovery!  Only 4 days to go!


8:23, 8:15, 7:12 (All Downhill)
8:34, 8:27, 7:33
8:37, 9:09, 8:41 (All Uphill)

It's My Birthday!

Happy birthday to me!  I cannot believe I am 43.  That always sounded old.  Apparently, it isn't, because I am not old!  I feel younger than I did in my 20s.  I am in better shape.  I am happier than ever.  If this were old, I would take it.  Moot point as I am not old.

Today has not been quite the clebration of last year when I ran 42k for my 42nd birthday.  That was pretty amazing, but today has been great in it's own way.  I was up at 7 for a massage then ran an easy 8 miles with my four pawed running partner.  Then there was lunch out with my hubby and a walk downtown.  We visited VooDoo Donuts and had a voodoo doll donut.  Mmmmm!  From there I stopped to see my running coach to talk about the marathon on Sunday--after all, it is all I think about right now... 

Now just chillin' out my boys--Monday night football on the tube, a good book next to me and my computer.  Life is truly GREAT!

Psalm 121

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 I look up to the mountains—

does my help come from there?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you will not slumber.

4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel

never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!

The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

6 The sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm

and watches over your life.

8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,

both now and forever.

This is what I need lately.  The stress of life can be overwhelming, but I know that He keeps me from harm.  He watches over every aspect of life. 

Marathon Day -7

Why is it when the training is done, one questions EVERYTHING?  I walked into the garage this evening and a thought popped into my mind.  "I feel so out of shape."  Huh?!  Where did that come from?  Honestly, My upper body and core are not in the shape I would like.  But my shoulder has limited many of my usual exercises.  I have only missed 2 runs in the training cycle.  Aerobically, I am in great shape.  I have an extra year of running since my first marathon.  That alone increases my fitness.  Then there is the nutrition and hydration.  Eating enough, but not too much and the right stuff.  Drink lots of the "right" things.  Don't drink too much of the other stuff.  Rest, but not too much.  Run, but not too much.  Run fast, but not too fast. 

I sit back with my feet up now.  I breathe deep and try to calm my mind.  I have trained well.  I have put in the work.  Now I have to trust that work.  I need to remember that hard work pays off.  Just breath in and out for 7 days.  Nothing more than that.

Friday 5

My original idea of this blog was to remember the good things in life.  Lately I have been more negative than normal.  I needed the reminder that I am blessed.  Today I make a promise to myself to smile more and enjoy living.  It is Friday, so I list 5 great blessings of my life.

My husband.  He is amazing.  Patient, kind and generous.  He puts up with my idiosyncracies and actually seems to like some of them.  The last 23 years have been incredible and I cannot wait to see what the next 23 bring!

My puppies.  I may threaten trading them for goldfish, but I truly love them.  They make be crazy.  And they make me laugh.  They have such different personalities!  Indy is active and loves to be moving.  He is my four-pawed running partner.  He brightens every time I pull out my shoes.  When runs get tough, he keeps me going.  Han is the cuddler.  He would rather be held than anything else.  They each have their own piece of life to fill.

Running.  I love running!  I love the freedom I feel when I am out on the roads enjoying God's creation.  Every step releases a bit of joy within me.

My family.  They are the amazing.  God chose to put me with this group for a purpose.  There are days when I wonder why, but I love every one of them!  When I married, I was fully accepted in another family.  I am so loved and so blessed.

My greatest blessing is the love of God.  He loves me so much that he chose to give his all for me.  I cannot begin to share my gratefulness for his grace.

Tempo, Sweet Tempo

Another day of late running. Hubby had a 7 am tee time, so I waited to run until he returned home. It was a gorgeous sunny day although warmer than I would have liked for a tempo run. After a mile warm up, I set into my pace. Or, oops, a little faster than planned. Yet the first mile has a bit of downhill, so I let it ride. It felt good, more than good. I was running faster than my 5k pace and felt almost easy. I kept reminding myself that it was downhill. Yet the uphill came and the pace stayed easy. Then down and up and down and up. My legs felt great even when my breathing was labored from the humidity. By the end of the fourth mile, fatigue had set in.

I love tempo runs. And this one is at the top of the list of all time favorites! I love the effort of pushing myself just to the edge. There is such a fine line between the balance of the comfortable with the hard. Finding that balance and using it to strengthen oneself is an amazing feeling of accomplishment!

8:26, 8:29, 8:23, 8:20