Just Plodding Along

I ran the Wisconsin marathon 10 days ago. The week before that I was in taper mode. Ever since the marathon I have been in recover/ taper mode because I decided to run the Chicagoland Marathon on Sunday. Also the Hanson Marathon training book convinced me if I did not rest for two weeks after the marathon my legs would fall off. Pretty much three weeks of not really running. It is getting serious over here. The last few weeks I have learned some important facts about what running does for me. 1) When I run I burn some energy. When I don't run I become increasingly annoying to myself and others. I am all up in everyone's business and have a hard time sitting still. This does not translate well to the workplace. 2) I also have a harder time filtering my thoughts. You know the thoughts you have that should not come out of your mouth. No running leads to having to focus really hard to have self-restraint and not tell people how it is. Apparently when I run a lot ...

First things first- I loved the Wisconsin marathon. It was a great race and I had a ton of fun. I achieved my goal of finishing in under 5 hours and I guess have a new marathon PR by about 43 minutes.....even though this one is seven years after my first marathon. Most importantly there never came a time when I was running the marathon where I regretted my decision to run one. Miles toward the end got tough and uncomfortable but as one lady I ran with exclaimed "hey we are running a marathon today! This is awesome!" It was awesome and I am super excited for my next attempt at 26.2 miles. To the details! Packet Pick-up: packet pick-up was low key at the Best Western in Kenosha the day before the race. In and out in about five minutes with number, t-shirt, cheese samples and a bag full of flyers for other races. This race has two other packet pick-ups on different days near Chicago and one near Milwaukee. They make it easy to get your number. I love the design of the ra...

April was a good month for running. Miles: I ran 170 miles. More miles than I have ever run before. Races: No half marathons but I did run the Shamrock Shuffle  which I absolutely loved. I ran faster than I thought I could on tired legs. It made me excited to search for some short distances to run this summer. Start line at Shamrock Shuffle Cross training: I did better at including lifting and working on abs. There is still lots of room to improve there and will be my main focus for the month of May and part of June. The best part of April- I finish marathon training, entered taper mode and can't wait to tackle the Wisconsin marathon. In thinking about my goals for the marathon I recalled that my main goal for the marathon when I started training was to show up at the start line in the best shape possible and I believe I have achieved that. I have logged more miles than I ever have before, completed two twenty mile runs and feel injury free and excit...

Well spring has finally sprung!!!!  So that meant that Max had to play ball for about 12 hours.  Max had a very good weekend. I did too. Got two runs outside and in sunshine done. The last double digits until the marathon. That is right, running a marathon next weekend in case you missed it. Just kidding. No one has missed that nugget of information. While I was cruising along on my runs this weekend with the bunnies and the bees thinking about nothing and everything at the same time I realized that I really liked training for the marathon. That might same crazy but training for this has made me push myself more than I ever have before. I have run more than I ever thought possible. And endured more on the treadmill than I ever really wanted too (thanks never ending  Illinois winter). I know I haven't even run the darn thing yet and this will definitely sound crazy but I am excited to do it again.  I have already found the next ...

Well I have entered the phase of marathon training that I would like to term the Extreme Freak Out Over Every Little Thing . At this point, a week and a day until the 26.2 mile lead up to a race medal, I think every runner gets a little paranoid. I have seen it happen to the other marathon running bloggers I follow. Every little twinge, ache and off feeling is a muscle ripping, bone shattering race ending injury. This past week I have had either a head cold or some new found allergies to my environment of constant rain and flowering plants. Whether cold or alarming reaction to Illinois plant life it made it hard to breath. Running seemed so hard. Cue the panic. Oh god what if this is still happening on race day? How am I supposed to get through 26.2 miles with clogged breathing tubes? HOW WILL I CARRY THE TISSUES? What if this turns into pneumonia or the plague? HOW WILL I RUN WITH THE PLAGUE? ……well today I woke up just fine. So I only have seven days to survive ...

I put this to good use and got myself a gift for Christmas It is official I registered. For a marathon. Situation just got serious around here. I am nervous and excited all at the same time.  Training tips to share?  What are your race plans for 2013? I am going to finish my 30 half marathons, five to go, and do a marathon and see how that goes.

I may have some sort of issue. This morning I woke up thinking "I should run the Wisconsin marathon". First of all- why am I thinking about this while I am sleeping. That seems abnormal. Second of all- sleep thinker me is more rational and into cost savings. I was all about the Illinois marathon. It is in the planner- marathon plan mapped out. Done & Done. But the Illinois marathon is 3 and 1/2 hours away and on a Saturday. Which means packet pick-up on Friday. Which means leaving work early, driving and hotel. Hotel probably for two nights cause lets be honest the probability of me driving home 3 and 1/2 after running 26.2 safely and not  involve me taking myself and unsuspecting victims out is slim. It also means that D can't go. Which seems bad because who is going to be at the finish line to drag my sad butt to a shower and stuff my full of carbs after? I WANT PANCAKES. SOMEBODY GET ME PANCAKES. Oh the horror. So at some point during the night my brain solv...