Week 10- 2nd Run of the Week

Things are going well. Weather here is horrible - rainy and cold. The girls got off the bus at 3:45 and I brought them home. Luckily, my husband got home early so he took over and I left for a short run. I did the regular route, about 2 and 1/2 miles.

Week 10- I should run but......

It is Tues., February 22 and I should run tonight. But I don't want to! I want to come home from my meeting and get comfy on the couch and hang out with the kids. I should run. I should run. Just 30 minutes on the treadmill would be enough. Come on!

Week 11- 3rd Run- LONG RUN

After running for 2 hours and 50 minutes, it is hard to enjoy running. I am finding that my love for running is decreasing with every scheduled long run. This is a sport that I have always looked forward to. But on the day of a long run, I don't want to get out of bed.

The weather was sunny and warm for February. I left the house at 7:45 am. I decided to run without music for the very first time, planning to put my ipod on during the last hour of the run. With all honesty, I can say the run was BORING!! I did not enjoy an moment of it except the last 15 minutes when I knew I only had 15 minutes left.

Pain- the usual. My right outer foot hurt. My legs, knees hurt. I felt I couldn't lift my legs much at the end and was going to stumble to the ground. But, with all that said, I did complete what I set out to, 2 hours and 50 minutes. I hope it was about 17 miles. With the completion of this run, I only have three more long runs to go. I will try to do a 3 hour 10 minute run in two weeks, followed by a 3 hour 30 minute run and my last run will be 3 hours 50 minutes. (can't wait!!)

When I got back from my run, I took some Tylenol and stretched for a while. I ran out of time for icing b/c I had to get the kids to a party. My foot is feeling good but my whole body hurts when I move!

Week 11- 2nd Run -Back at Home

Just finished a 20 minute run back at home outside. My right foot feels good. I have a new pain but I am going to skip over it today and ignore!

I can't believe I am at week 11. I am getting worried about my progress but don't have any idea if I am on track or in trouble. I am hoping to do my long run on Sat. or Sunday. I will try to run 2 hours and 50 minutes. I believe I am on schedule but this is where it counts. I will keep going and see where I land.

Week 11- 1st run -Running in Beautiful New Hampshire

It is Sunday, Febuary 14 and we are away in New Hampshire. It is absolutely beautiful here. The trees are covered with snow and the lakes are all frozen. I went for a 30 minute run around the wooded area and lazily avoided the hills. The run was easy and uneventful. I picked up speed during the last mile and pushed hard. During my cool down, my right foot began to hurt as usual. My new pain. It hurts from the pinky toe to the heel on the outer right part. It hurts to walk without shoes. With shoes on, it is better but still I am reminded constantly of the injury with every step.

After the run, we all went for a long hike over a frozen lake and through the woods. My foot was killing me but I wanted to get a good walk in. When I got home, I iced my foot and after about two days, the pain was completely gone. I find that when I slowly stretch the foot from toe to heal, it feels better. Icing and stretching are my quick solution right now.

Snow Days and Sickness

We had a blizzard on Wednesday (2/10) and have been stuck in the house for two days. I also had a stomach virus and have been sick for days. I haven't run since Sunday. With the snow, I won't be running outside until next week. I am hoping to get on the treadmill tomorrow if I am feeling better.

I feel like I take two steps forward and one step back. I never feel like I am accomplishing as much as I want to. I want to keep my spirits up and fight through it but it is discouraging.

On a more positive note, I am more than half way to my goal in fundraising. That is good news.

Week 12 (Sunday- 2/7) - First Run of the Week

I checked my fundraising page today at Lustgarten Foundation and found out that I am halfway to my fundraising goal ALREADY!! The people in my life are so supportive and generous. I know that I am very lucky to have such wonderful friends and family helping me to reach my goal.

I had a chance to do a run around 2 pm. It was cold. I decided to do an hour run and a faster pace than my marathon pace. My husband watched the kids and I got ready. I decided to warm up on the treadmill downstairs before running outside. I walked on the treadmill for about 6 minutes and then headed out.

The run went well except for a nagging pain in the back of my left leg. It felt like a muscle strain. I really stretched afterwards and felt fine hours later. I also iced my foot and my leg as soon as I got home. I finished the run in 65 minutes, running at a fast pace and feeling very good.

I hope to run again on Wed., maybe interval training and a short 2 mile run on Friday. Then on Sunday I will do my long run and aim for 2 hours and 5o minutes.

Week 13- Last Run of the Week

I had a chance to complete a short run yesterday (Fri.) so I headed out. I ran 2/12 miles in 24 minutes. I tried to run fast and not focus on the pains in my foot. I did have some but it was not bad at all. I am having a problem with focusing too much on injuries. I know I have very far to go and it I get hurt, it is over. I am listening to my body too much. I need to step back and just run.

Week 13- Injuries are part of the deal

It is Wednesday, four days since my long run. My right foot has been causing me a lot of pain when I put any weight on it. But it was time to run again. I had to test it. I went on the dreaded treadmill for 33 minutes, doing intervals. Three minutes fast and three minutes slow. My foot hurt but it was not unbearable. It hurt less while I was running than when I am walking (what does that mean?). I worked out hard and then iced it for a while. I do not know what this injury will mean for my future trainings. I am hopeful the pain will fade.

My training plan is to run three times a week for the next 10 weeks. On every other weekend, I will do my long run, increasing the time by 20 minutes to get to a maximum time of a 4 hour run. That last long run will take place during week 4. That should be about 20 miles. That is the max I will train in distance. After that, I will run only short distance for the three weeks before the marathon.
I am very scared about my foot getting worse but I have to be positive and I have to understand that I will hurt body parts during this training. IT IS 26.2 MILES.

Just when I commit......my foot is hurt!

I can't believe that I decide to make it official yesterday for my fundraising and..... yesterday, my right foot started to ache. Soon after, sharp shooting pains all day. I haven't run since Saturday and suddenly I have my first injury. Today the pain is bad. I am walking with a limp. I can't run and have to rest it but that is not going to happen! I am very upset but need to calm down and just rest it for a few days. Ahhhhhh!

Committed officially

I sent the email to loved ones about the fundraising for the marathon. I guess I really have to do it. I will register for the race tomorrow. One step a day.