Running for Jen

I went to the gym after taking yesterday off.  I had so much work to do and thought that the day off would be alright considering that the marathon is less than two weeks away.  I was tired, but had a fairly good run.  It took me a couple of miles to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace, but once I did I was able to maintain it for the rest of my run.

Today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday, just a little bit more tired.  After two miles, I was at my 10:00 minute per mile pace for the rest of the way.  

It was another cold Saturday morning with temperatures in the mid 30's.  I met up with a couple of people from my group and ran the first 8 together.  I then finished up the final four by myself.  It is amazing how much shorter 12 feels than any of the other distances I have run on Saturdays the past few weeks.  

I did have a watch problem that I was not concerned about at the time, but am now.  My watch wouldn't turn on when I got out there this morning.  I just assumed that it wasn't properly plugged in.  When I got home, I plugged it in and it still wouldn't turn on.  I then plugged it into my computer, but still no luck.  Once I finish working today, I am going to do some research to see what the problem is.  Hopefully, it won't be too major of a problem since I have only had it since the June.

It was cold and windy this morning, with temperatures in the upper 30's.  It wasn't the greatest run in the world, but it was alright.  I started out slow, but did pick up the pace over the last couple of miles.  My tentative plan is to take tomorrow off as I get ready for the marathon this Saturday.

I went to the gym this morning and was able to complete 6 miles without any issues.  I am glad that I was indoors as it was in the low to mid 20's outside.  I got to my 10 minute / mile pace by the start of mile 3 and maintained it for the rest of the way.  

My plan is to run after work tomorrow so that I can run outside and get in a couple of miles at race pace.

I ran outside this afternoon so that I could get one more run in where I could test my race pace.  I got out there later than I anticipated and it was cold.  I warmed up for those first couple of miles and then pushed it at marathon pace for miles 3 and 4.  I am not sure what pace I ran mile 3 at, but I did average a 9:20 exactly for mile 4.  I went with this pace, based on my preparation from last year.  I decided to head home afterward due to darkness.

I ran this morning at the gym for my final run before the marathon.  I found myself stressed most of the time, not due to the race, but due to work.  I am very prepared at work, but I just felt a bit overwhelmed.  I cut my run down to 5 miles so that I could get a few things done and feel less stressed.  I felt fine the entire time, which is good.  I got up to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace at the start of mile three.  I didn't think that cutting back two days before the race would be detrimental.

I will be honest, I am glad that this is done.  I didn't have a bad day, but neither was it great.  My watch time, which I posted above is my second best time in the marathon, but a good 8 minutes off from my PR last year.  At this time, the website has only posted the clock times, but my gut feeling says that my watch is close (although my watch did show that I ran 26.4 miles). RESULTS ARE NOW UPDATED.

The weather worked out much better than expected.  It was supposed to be cold and rainy, but it was in the mid 40's and partly sunny.  I switched from tights to shorts at the last minute.  It did become overcast and cooler as the race went on, but I felt as though I dressed perfectly.

I felt nervous before the start, felt pretty good at the start, but once we got going I didn't feel as confident as I was hoping for.  This course is listed as flat and many people will say that it is, but there were minor inclines that my legs did notice during the first few miles, which surprised me given where I live and train.   I didn't feel bad early on, just not as pumped up.  I had planned to run with the 4:15 pace group.  First, they started out to fast, then it slowed down.  I was just barely ahead of them the first few miles, but was eventually passed.  I remember feeling during mile 8 or so that I really wanted this to be over.  Sometime around mile 10, my right leg started to feel weak, which eventually passed and then I felt some knee pain on the right side as well, which also passed.  Around 11, I told myself not to feel sorry for myself and regained my confidence.  By the halfway point, I was around 2:06, which I was content with, but knew to pr would require a negative split.  I kept going and felt alright.  By mile 16, I started my countdown of less than 10 to go and so on.  I told myself at mile 18, that this now like a regular weekly training run.  I hit mile 20 by around 3:15.  By mile 21-22, I started feeling some tightness in my abdominal area.  My only thoughts are that we ran in a headwind for the first half of the race and that I gave my abs a workout.  I didn't want to walk at all outside of the water stops, but felt the need to.  I would only walk for no more than a count of 10.  This feeling eventually subsided, but if you have ever started to walk during a marathon, you know what happens, you want to keep doing it.  I walked a few more times for no more than 10 seconds, but I was really starting to feel wiped out.  My legs were moving, but it was not a beautiful sight.  I found a couple of people around 23 or so that felt the same way I did.  We griped and then continued on.  Usually at mile 23 or so, I can really start to kick it in, knowing that the end is near, but it was just not happening.  I just told myself to do my best and just be content with whatever time I saw at the finish line.  I was really okay with this.  Even at mile 25, where I usually can kick it in, I just didn't have much and just ran.  When I stopped my watch as I crossed the finish, the time read 4:19:51 and I was just happy to be under 4:20 at this point.  I was very relieved.  i  just checked and I did not break 4:20.  My time was 4;20:09.

I don't know if marathon number 12 was my last, but I am starting to wonder why I am putting myself through this stress.  I love the feeling of finishing the marathon, but I felt very indifferent this time around.  Needless to say, I am not fast, but this was my second best time ever!  I am not as sore as I usually am, which may be due to my conditioning or lack of pick-up at the end.  At this point, I am going to recover and then get back in the swing of things.  I am debating about focusing on the half.  I felt really good after my last half.

I finally got moving again today.  It took me a few days to get physically and mentally (more this than the other) ready to go.  I told myself that since this was my first day back that I would walk if I felt like it.  I did so for the first couple of miles and then decided that it was time to start running.  I kept it very slow, because I just want to take my time getting back into the swing of things.

 My plan is to run tomorrow with friends.  As far as the distance goes,  I will see what the others are planning and then see what my body feels like doing.

I was back out running with the group this morning.  It was cold and became rainy.  It was nice to be out there, running with friends and not concerning myself about pace or distance.  I realized once I got out there that I left my watch at home and wasn't bothered by it.  We seemed to run all over the place and when all was said and done we completed 7 miles.  I felt fine, which is a nice way to feel one week post marathon.

I had a really nice run this morning.  This was my first run out by my house since the marathon.  I felt fairly light on my feet.  The extra sleep was also quite nice.  I completed the first 5 miles in just over 51:00 minutes, which I was happy with.  It was sunny and cold outside.

My husband and I slept in this morning and it felt great.  Unfortunately, we did not get to the gym until after 11:00am, which we both know is ridiculous.  I ran 5 miles on the treadmill and then joined my husband so that he can add some strength training exercises.  He realized after we got through most of it, that my best bet is to focus on my core, which completely lacks any strength.  I am going to figure out a schedule in which I can incorporate these exercises without sacrificing mileage.  My run felt good as I was able to get to my 10:00 minute / mile after the first mile.  Unfortunately, I was burning up as the long sleeve shirt that I wore was too warm.

It was nice to sleep in again this morning.  It was quite cool outside and unfortunately my body was slow moving.  I just never got into a very good groove out there.  I completed 5.65 miles and was happy to be done with it.  Fortunately, I was not in any kind of pain, just slow.

It was very mild this morning as I ran near my mother-in-law's house in Fort Myers, FL.  It was a little weird since I have now gotten used to the colder temperatures.  I felt pretty good navigating the multiple streets in their enormous sub-division.  I finished 7.5 miles and felt good throughout.  The flat terrain didn't hurt either.

I was back outside in the cold temperatures this morning.  It was in the upper 20's when I got started and it felt like it.  I knew that it was cold when I put on a sweatshirt on top of my long sleeve shirt and did not feel hot.  I was bundled up and felt good.  I completed the run in 1:22:30, which I am very happy about.  My legs felt good especially during those last few miles.  The only down side was that my nose runs in this weather as if I had a cold.  

I was able to sleep in once again this morning, which was quite nice, although I have found it  a bit harder to get moving when I do this.  I did eventually get myself out the door a little after 10:00am.  It was sunny and cold again, with temperatures in the upper 20's.  I never found that comfortable stride like I did yesterday.  I stopped at 6.25, mainly because I was very close to home and really needed to use the restroom.  

These are WALKING MILES!  I had my hair done on Tuesday.  The process that I had done prevents me from getting it wet until late Friday afternoon, therefore I cannot sweat, which rules running out.  Since it is freezing outside, I can walk, which is what I did.  I walked the first mile in 18 minutes with my dogs.  I then went home and exchanged the dogs for some music.  I was able to walk the final 4.3 miles at just over a 16 minute mile pace.  Walking was a nice change, but it definitely does not feel like the same workout as running.  My goal was to get moving and burn at least something off this body.

These are WALKING MILES!  I can wash the hair as of late this afternoon, which means I can be out running tomorrow morning.  It was nice to walk, although it does take so much longer to get through the mileage.  I kept about a 16 minute + place and just enjoyed the weather and the music, with the exception of the first mile that I did with my dogs.