I did it!!!

It is May 3rd and I have completed the 2010 LI Marathon- yay!! I am sore but my worst injury is a bad toe that is swollen and red. I can't let it touch the ground and I can't put on socks or shoes. That is not bad for running 26.2 miles in over 80 degree humid weather!

The race was much more difficult than I thought it would be. Many people switched to the half marathon because of the heat (smart people) and I was feeling excellent at the 13 mile mark so I kept going. At that point, I had run 10 minute miles and thought I would be coming in at 4 hours and 20 minutes. At the 19 mile marker, I was feeling really bad. My heart felt like it was beating uncontrollably. I could not get it to slow down and started feeling like I would end up in the hospital. At mile 22, I wanted to end it.

I never thought that it would be so difficult to finish. When I had 2 miles left, it might as well been 10 miles. I felt like I couldn't run another inch and there was only 2 miles. I knew that if I kept running, I would be at the finish line in about 25 minutes yet, I wanted to jump into a car and end the pain. I still remember when I got to a sign that said there was only a 1/2 mile left. A 1/2 mile and I wanted to cry, not because it was almost done but because I believed I couldn't finish even a 1/2 mile.

When I did finish, my blood sugar was very low so I had to go get food and drink right away. I felt like I was going to pass out. I couldn't talk to my family and friends. I just had to try and feel better instead of throwing up. I got it under control pretty fast and was able to smile and talk after about 15 minutes. It is funny how fast you recover from feeling like you are going to die to feeling like you can sit, eat and socialize after running 26.2 miles.

It was worth it but I will never do it again. I often focused on my grandfather during the race and I am proud of the money I raised and the race I finished. BUT NEVER AGAIN!

1 Week Left- No turning back

I haven't been writing lately because I have been so busy with life. I can't believe that I am 6 days away from this marathon. Over the last two weeks, my running has slowed down again and I am struggling with the fact that I am concerned about being prepared. I will run today (Monday) and try to figure out if I should run two more times or one more time before Sunday.

No injuries at this time. Last week I had some nagging pains when I walked and as usual, was getting concerned. But for the last couple of days, I feel good. I won't push it this week. I will try to do about 5 miles today and maybe just 2 miles two more times before Sunday. I am still trying to figure out how long it will take me since my family is coming to cheer me on. I don't want them standing out there for 4 hours but I think I will run faster than I have been on the day of the marathon. I calculated that it will probably take me 5 hours and 30 minutes but down deep I am hoping it takes me less than 5!

I have a lot of preparing still to do this week. I have to finalize what I am wearing, bringing and eating. I have to get to Nassau for my number and chip and figure out parking for my family. I also have to have some food/drink at my house afterwards for family. I won't be moving much but it would be nice if they hang out for a while after. (or will I want to go to bed!)

3 weeks left - 20 MILE RUN- killed me!

There are exactly three weeks left until the race. I got up at 6am on Sunday and had a half of whole wheat bagel with peanut butter. I didn't want to eat it but knew I had to try. I had a little coffee and got ready to start running by 7:15am. It was a beautiful day. I wore my new skort and a long sleeve black shirt. I also wear my small fanny pack with my phone.

I headed out knowing that I would run in 1 hour increments three times and finish with a short 2 mile equaling 20 miles. The first two hours were fine. They were not wonderful or fun or easy. They were just "fine." When I came back the the house for liquids and knew I had to run another 8 miles, I was feeling pretty bad. I went out and had to walk for about 6 minutes on and off. I was very slow. When I got home after the 18 miles, I was devastated that I had to go out again and do 2 miles. During a normal run, I would be done with 2 miles in less than 20 minutes but I knew it would be a struggle to get this done. My legs felt like lead. They felt like 200 pound weights that I could not lift. But I got it done.

The scariest part of this is not that 20 miles hurt so bad because I was able to do that. The scariest part is that during the race, I will have to run another 6 miles when I felt like that. I wanted to curl up in a ball on the driveway. But on race day, I will have to run another 6 miles which because of my slow pace, will take me over an hour.

The rest of the afternoon I was exhausted. Couldn't talk or really walk for about an hour. Then it just hurt a lot to walk. I went to bed at 8:30pm and passed out. I did wake up a lot during the night b/c of body pain. The next day, I am still feeling a lot of pain and very tired. The day after the marathon, I am going to try to get someone to watch Donovan so I can take the day to relax!

I have raised over $800 dollars which is excellent.

4 1/2 weeks left- ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!

When did I get to this point! I have 4 and 1/2 weeks until the big day. Am I ready? Absolutely not! I did hill work yesterday and I am hurting today. I went up the hill 8 times. I ran each hill in 43 seconds. I then finished up with a good fast run home. I really felt exhausted and wanted to walk home but I knew I have to train myself to run when I want to quit. I have been told so many times that I will have that feeling where I don't want to take another step during the marathon. I have to train my brain to fight through it.

I am reading a book called, "First Marathons" about people's experience with their first marathon race. It is a great book but also intimidating b/c all the people ran their first marathon in under 3 1/2 hours. Actually, some of them quit and it took years for them to complete their marathon. (My mind seemed to forget that part).

It is almost over for long runs for me. I have one more long run next weekend - 20 miles, then I taper. I will do 12 miles this weekend and try to keep a 10 minute pace. I also have to practice eating and drinking while running. NERVOUS!

6 Weeks to Go- Tough Stuff

On Sunday, I completed my long run. It was 18 miles. I have been going on an incorrect assumption that I was running a 10 minute mile for my long runs and discovered that I was going slower. This is bad news. My new time for the marathon is going to be 5 hours instead of 4 hours and 20 minutes. That will be an 11 minute mile with stops for food/drinks and bathroom. This is the new assumption and hopefully it is correct.

The run on Sunday was difficult but good. I ran 6 miles and came home, took PowerGels, 4ounces of water and ran out. I did this three times. I believe I stayed in the 11 minute mile range. The problem was when I was done, I became sick to my stomach. I had to sit on the couch the rest of the day and felt like I had a stomach virus. I think it was from the gels but have no proof of this.

It is stressing me out b/c I don't know what to do for energy during the marathon. I am going to stay away from gels and need to figure out how to keep myself energized and hydrated during the race.

Week 7- Last run of the week- Hill training

As I already posted, I have been lacking in training time due to life. I only got out to run twice this week. I ran up and down a hill on Montauk Highway about 5 times, really getting a work out. I put a few new songs on my ipod which helps me out. ONe song that I love is "I was here" by Lady Antebellum. My husband says it is the corniest song he ever heard. It gives me the motivation to run harder so I just keep listening to it over and over again.

When I run up the hill as fast as I can, I want to give up with every step. I feel like slowing down at the end but instead, I try to go faster. It hurts. I probably look loony to the cars driving by. I know my face looks like I want to die. It is a good training and I have to increase the times up the hill to about 7. Hoping to run tonight on the dreaded treadmill and get one more run in before my long run on Sunday (second to last long run!!!!)

Week 7!!! March 16- 1st run of the week

Bad two weeks! We went away and I did not run at all. The weather in Florida was horrible. It rained - I mean downpoured- almost every day. When I got home, we had a storm that blew out our electricity for two days. My scheduled was ruined. I didn't run for 1 week and 2 days. Finally, I took a 3 mile jog and felt great to be back.

Life is getting crazy and my schedule is making it harder to run. My husband is working late almost every night so I can't do a run during the day. I am at the end of this training and I am running less and less.

I am going to try powerbar gels for my last two long runs in the next two weeks and see how my endurance is. Hoping to get some extra energy.