Running....and Running

6 weeks to go.
18 miles for the long run this weekend.
Looking at photos of the beautiful Colorado National Monument and am getting excited about the beautiful lookout points and scenery (I have never been there before).

LOVE THIS TRAILER FOR THE RIMROCK

the marathon

26.2 is an enigma to some and everything to others.  What will it be for me?

52 days

to go.  That's it.  I counted today and November 12 is in 52 days.  My stomach churns a little (a lot).  The elevation profile scares me the most....I mean a flat marathon is one thing....just running running running along on nice flat and level ground.  Rimrock is mean and gnarly with 10 miles uphill right away (2000 feet of gain), then another mile of uphill at mile 12.  Elevation profile of Rimrock marathon
Preparing for this is hard since I have never run a marathon nor have I ever even considered running 11 miles uphill.....why would anyone want to?  Why do I want to?

16.1

miles. Yes 16.1 miles.  That's how far I ran yesterday.  Today I am not sore, just sleepy.  Ready to go again tomorrow (an endurance day full of hills). We have been discussing food for the marathon and gel and liquid and energy stores, so we are continually trying new things. Halfway through yesterdays 16-miler, I had two honeysticks and an almond granola bar.  Ok, I love honey.  But seriously, yesterday at 8 miles, with 8 miles to go, honey has NEVER tasted so good.  I love honey. I will be taking honey sticks to the marathon with me.  Yum Yum

Why Not to Run at Night

Too many idiots in Farmington that heckle.  Never again will I run at night....even with my Doberman.

SOAKED

When I woke up this morning it was raining.  It doesn't rain here very much and when it does, it usually lasts 5 minutes and then it's all dry with big blue sky.  Today, it didn't lift.  Do I do my 8 miles easy on a treadmill?  Do I tough it out in the rain?  So, I googled "how to run in the rain".  Recommendations: Wear a windbreaker/water resistant jacket, and a hat.  Well, a few issues....I have one windbreaker and have no idea if it's waterproof since it never rains.  Second I have very few hats just cause I hate my head being hot.  The outcome: 1980s looking runner in a bright orange/red windbreaker with a floppy "Oregon Coast" hat (very fitting for the drizzly weather) with my New Balance Minimus that have that retro look.  I went ahead and braided my hair and headed out.

First obstacle: Giant puddles....drivers here don't care about bikers or runners or pedestrians...it's all about the big trucks and how fast they can go and rev up their diesel engines (sigh-ish growl here).  So, I mostly avoided them...except for one.  I hope I made the driver's day when he successfully soaked me (it certainly would've made my day....idiot out running in the rain).

Second obstacle: Mud.  Wow.  There are some areas without sidewalks.  There are large dirt shoulders and often bike lanes but the bike lanes freak me out because of those above mentioned Dodge Ram and Ford 250 drivers so I often will run on the dirt shoulders.  Well, today they were mud, I was sliding all over.

All in all, a wonderful morning run.  I went faster than I should've gone overall, probably cause the rain was absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed every minute.  This is one of those days that I will reflect on on the morning of November 12....when I am evaluating if I have done everything I could to prepare for 26.2.  Yes.  Today is a powerful day.  8.24 miles in the rain.

Day One

I know many people that have blogs...they blog of their families, their joys, their sorrows and their adventures. I read them frequently. Today I was prompted to start my own.

I have been running lately...to put it in perspective when I say I am going to run 6 miles, I use "only" in the same sentence because a 6-miler has become a short and easy run. Many marathon training programs encourage one to have a running diary/journal and as often as I say I am going to do it, I haven't. So instead I am starting this blog for me to log the next two months leading up to the 26.2 (which scares the crap out of me right now).

Today I ran faster than a tractor. Yep. As I did 8 repeats of a 1/2 mile at 10k pace with 2 minutes rest in between I passed a tractor driving up the street. I don't know how fast he was going but I know I was going faster (just under 8 min/mile pace).

I love my husband, my family and my job.

I love running, violin and my dog.