First is the worst, second is the best....

As I sit here not going for my morning run because everything was covered in ice when I went outside this morning, I started to check out info on the Cox Providence Marathon in May.  Below is the course.  I can't believe we are going to do this again, I haven't forgotten how terrible the Breakers was.  Not only am I training differently this time around I will do some other things differently.  List is below:

1.  Take the Monday after off

2.  All laundry will be done, folded and put away

3.  New sheets on the bed the morning of the race

4.  Food shopping done before the marathon and prepared meals in the fridge

5.  Massage scheduled Tuesday after race

6.  Beer waiting for me at end

7.  Movies in DVD player upstairs

8.  Benadryl dogs so they will sleep during recovery (alright this is too much but I'll have to do something so they will sleep the whole time, maybe potty train them so they don't have to go outside)

So below is the link, note that most of the race is NOT in Providence.  I'm not real happy about how much of it is on the bike path, but it should be flatter than the Breakers was.  It is exciting that we'll be running over the "new" 195, although that's later in the race so I'm guessing I won't care at all where we are running.  Here's to training!!

Back in the Saddle

Ran my first 10k today, 56:41!!  Not too shabby.  We got sucked out with the crowd and had an 8:23 first mile, after that we settled in and did well from there.  Our 5k time was 26:40 and I would take that as well, almost makes me mad that we haven't done 5k in so long!!  The next step in our running tour was a meeting with the coach.  What did we discuss you ask..marathon training!!  I know, it hasn't been even 2 months since the Breakers but I'm ready to run another.  I don't know why, because I haven't forgotten how terrible the first marathon felt.  Here we sit 22 weeks until the Cox Marathon in Providence.  It's funny because after reviewing our training for the Breakers and talking to Bob I realize that we had NO right to be out on that course.  We did 5 runs over 10 miles and only 3 over 15 miles.  It surprising that we survived it.  This time around I would like to be able to complete the course without limping though the last 10k.  We are starting the training tomorrow, starting with 35 miles per week topping out at 50-60 miles per week.  If we are successful I will have run 2 marathons before finishing grad school!!  I'll keep you posted and if anyone wants to join with us, the more the merrier!!

Insanity

I'm wondering if I have lost my mind.  Today at work I suddenly had the desire to run the full Cox Marathon this May.  Ummm...WHY!?!?  It's not like I have forgotten the pain the Breakers caused.  Unfortunately this thought has not left me and it's looking like we will start training for it.  There are about 5 months for us to get ready, way more time then we actually put into training for the Breakers.  Training updates to be posted in the near future, please pray for my calves (they didn't like this last time around)....

STOP...POLICE!!

...or campus security.  Regardless today was our closest brush with the law during a run.  Joe and Sue were stopped in there tracks and scolded for running in a non-running area.  It does bring to my mind one of the biggest debates, running or jogging.  The sign stated no jogging and they were told no jogging on campus, but I didn't head out for a 9 mile jog this afternoon.  I went for a 9 mile run.  I thought we should have tried to argue our point with them, but instead we extended our route and made it back to the car with no more trouble.

Bad Day

Hello all, it's been a while.  Sorry for slacking, I've been busy baking but that's for another blog.  So how is the running going?  Until today, fairly well.  Track twice a week, the road 4 other days a week.  Indoors I have been kicking some ass and proud of it.  Focused still on beating Joe's ass in Bermuda.  I was starting to get cocky about it, until this am.  I don't know what happened.  Completed a 2 mile warm up outdoors and hit the track.  We did an 800 at a 3:40 pace and hit the wall, it was terrible.  I'm thinking it's a combo of running too much and standing at the stove for 14 hours in a weekend.  Won't be at the track until next Thursday, so I have some time to heal.  I do worry, in the summer I hit a wall and ran away from the track.  What will prevent that from happening this time around...watching Joe cross the finish line after me!!

Moving Indoors

Well I have successfully completed 3 indoor track sessions.  I hate track, I hate it alot.  The reason I ran the marathon this fall was to avoid the outdoor track, it worked.  I do recognize the importance, I need to beat Joe at the mile race in Bermuda!  It hurts and it's hot and there is a 60 year old man screaming at me to move faster, again I really hate it.  Recruiting has been successful, I now have 4 women who run at about my pace.  As much as it sucks it's unbearable doing it alone.  

Today was the first attempt at what the mile would feel like.  After a nice warm up we did a half mile a full mile and ended with a faster half mile.  The first half was at a 3:57 pace, I thought I was going to die, but survived it.  Then we started the mile (8 times around), Mo and I broke free of the other women in our group.  I just kept my eyes on her ass and thought "just stay with her".  After 4 laps I lost count.  At one point the coach shouted 2 more, all I could do was curse loudly (it's hard to whisper when you are going all out).  The nice thing about the indoor track is that it's smaller, mentally easier to convince one's self to go one more time.  The last lap was awful, I can't even explain it.  Finished in 7:58!!  I'll take it and worked hard to be able to say so.  The last half was terrible as well, but after swearing to myself I would only do 2 laps I finished the 4th with a 3:56 pace.  Nice work!!  I would like to be able to get a 7:45 pace for the mile, Joe is bigger and faster...but he's not training on the track.  

Let's see how things progress, I'm pretty confident that if things continue I will be wiping the asphalt with him in Bermuda!!

When will it end??

I'm beginning to think that one never really recovers from a marathon.  Today we did 6 miles, the furthest since the race 3 weeks ago.  The way I am limping around here you would think I did a 15 miler.  I do think it's time for new shoes that that will help a little.  It raises the question what to do with the shoes that carried me for 26.2 miles?  I'm really thinking of hanging them on my mudroom wall.  I can't just throw them away.  I'll post a picture of their final resting place once it is determined.  Tomorrow begins the dreaded indoor track season.  I have no choice to participate.  We are doing a mile race in Bermuda and there is no way I will allow Joe to beat me at this one.  He's chosen not to participate in track, so you know I'll kick his ass!!