And In The End

One goal that I’ve had in the past is to run 1,000 in a year. I hadn’t thought about it this year despite having the Marathon plan. Turns out, just yesterday after a 2 mile treadmill run, I met 1,000 miles for 2017! It was a subtle thing and I realized I would have done it a few weeks ago, but it’s still exciting. Another goal in this year of various running goals.

Fantasy Freeing

The Trot was yesterday and, guess what: I got third in my age group! Challenge meet and accomplished. I am not sure if I get a prize but that's okay. I had a goal and this one I achieved. The race was 37:02 so a 7:24 which was faster than I had hoped. I felt pretty good; I think I have faster in my but I feel like I did a pace that took focus and work. The end was hard and I dug deep with only a little slowing down. Overall, I'm quiet content and it makes me feel that accomplishment that, at times, I find lacking from Bay State. I may not be the best but I can be good and it makes working for something seem like fun and a goal to keep aiming towards (once I find the next goal... which I guess is at 1:45 half).

Little notes: aiming to do 30 burpees for 30 and day one was today's and done! Also, I think my 1:45 half goal will be attempted in March at the New Bedford half.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Turns out I got second in my age group!

Walk the Moon

So I'm trying to find my groove right now. I'm not lost with running- I'm back to it and keeping it normal with a tempo here or there for my five miler. Turns out I won't be able to do Hyannis so I guess I'm going to sort of recreate 2017 with the Run to Remember and then Bay State Redemption.

It's been interesting over the last few weeks as things have settled. I go back and forth between "holy moly I'm a marathoner and not too shabby of one" to "what the heck, why didn't you just push harder?!?" I'm also getting somewhat excited to try next year and really focus more. I know what's it's sort of like now and I think that I can do it and have the mental focus this time to really think the whole run. I am also thinking I'll have an idea of what to add next training session.

But, at the end of it alol, I did do a marathon and I can finally say that. Now it's just a matter of finding what to do until take two.

Not All Who Wander are Lost

Almost a week later and here where I'm at...

There is a part of me that despite my satisfaction with how I ran is now starting to be evaluated think weight could I have made up those minutes that I needed to? And more importantly I can't believe I really have to do this again. That is sort of where I'm at now too: it's not a question of if I do it again but a question which one I am going to attempt to qualify at. A lot of that has to do with the fact that I am not entirely okay being the only one of us that didn't qualify despite the fact I am probably one of the fastest female runners of my group of friends that I know. But at the end of the day I want to be able to say that I qualified and I know that I was so close and that I believe I can actually do this it is just a matter of once again putting in the time of the dedication.

Originally I began to think maybe I would try this again in May and sort of just try to get it over with as well as potentially run the same Boston as my husband. But upon further evaluation, especially after the week I had in which I am pretty sure I still do not feel okay, I think that I need more time.  Because I am always want to try and find vindication in an action I have about 80% made up my mind that I will try to qualify for Boston at Baystate again in 2018. Of course this means that my husband and I would potentially run different Boston's but that's okay.  I Deleigh he'll get to have his race and I'll get to have mine and we can both be the support staff for the other person.

In the meantime I'm a little bit lost and what I do from now. I have decided that setting goals is pretty much the only way I will stay on top of a functional runner. So these are my next two goals:

1.  Try to place at the local turkey trot that I do here. Last year I did the 5 mile run at a 7:43 pace  and ended up seventh in my age group. The person who got third did it at a 730 pace and I am pretty sure if I jump back into speed work in the near future I could do that. So that is goal number one.

2.  Run a 1:45 half marathon at Hyannis. This can get a little tricky because the training will be done in winter and it's a little bit harder to focus on doing any sort of speed work. But I think that it is something I can do especially if we have a reasonable race day climate.

So there you have it. I wasn't successful in what I had hoped to accomplish but that doesn't mean that you can't set your sights on something else and hopefully it'll make me feel a little less lost and a little bit better focused for 2018.

Stronger than Yesterday

Okay let's jump straight to the point:  I did not make a qualifying time. My end result was 3:45:25  which is about 5 to 8  minutes to slow at this stage. That being said I am only slightly disappointed. I of course would have much preferred to qualify especially since my husband did in a blindingly fast time of 3:02:30.  I am happy for him and I also don't feel as left behind as I worried one of us may have felt if one of us qualified and the other didn't.  I think some of this acceptance is for two reasons.

The first is that I have other chances and because I was only off by a margin I feel like this is something that I can do. I feel like I know where that family was (miles 20-26 for sure) and I know I can work on having the strength to get through this last 6 miles by going a little bit longer on the long runs.  I know I can adjust my training plan to work a little bit harder and now that I've done the train plan one I can see where the tweaks need to happen so I feel that I can better prepare myself to take off those meds that I need to.

 The second reason I have found myself not totally disappointed as I am 99% sure I could not have worked harder than I did yesterday. My training brought me to that point and yes I am sure there is some party minute could've dug deeper at some miles before I cross that finish line but right now in retrospection I am not sure that could've come from.  I feel like I gave it pretty much my all and that  now I can better comprehend how running a marathon works where mentally my next time I may know where to push or lay off a little bit better but yesterday I feel like I did the races I could do it and I was strategic about it it just turned out those last 6 miles kick me in the butt. And I haven't set myself up to be kicked in the butt as badly as I was then.

 That being said my last 6 miles were still mostly under nine minutes and I did not fall apart as badly as I possibly could have. I definitely wanted to but I think the mental fortitude push me through as well as the fact that my body was better trained than maybe I was feeling it was at that time. So all of that is very encouraging. I knew going in I had a mental wherewithal to be able to do this and was wondering if I had the physical wherewithal now I know that I definitely have  The mental and can have the physical I just may need to tweak it a little bit more.

And the last tidbit at that I would want to leave with is marathons are damn hard. I knew this going in because I've known enough marathoners and I've run enough to know that writing can be a huge challenge. I will say that this may be the most physically demanding thing I've done short of recovery from my ACL surgeries but that was hurt in a different way. I am proud of everyone who is ever run a marathon and I am proud of myself for finally putting this on the done list.  I will also say at one point I did say to myself you make your ACL surgeries and just get your ass in gear. It is kind of nice to have some form of history that puts everything into perspective.

 Now the question becomes when will I do this again? I have started to look but I have not finalize anything but expect that there will be another time for this. As for this block I may keep it up just detailing other running adventures such as my 5 mile or at Thanksgiving and my hope to PR and a half marathon in February. For the time being I am going to sit and maybe consider the gym on Wednesday.

One More Dawn

And here we go. Tomorrow is the day. I am going into this very nervous and also kind of now thinking I needed to do more. Maybe that's just how it goes, but I find myself doubting very much that I can even maybe manage four hours and I feel a bit out of shape after the last two weeks of tapering. I've been looking over the past long runs, seeing with my own eyes I did those runs and I'm just hoping it was enough. Now, though, I'm hoping it was enough to get me to the finish, forget BQ.

Theres nothing for it now. What will be will be and I have to understand that and celebrate what I've done and learn when this is over.

Right now I have three goal ranges: 1) I joke and say don't die but what I really mean is finished; 2) BQ; or 3) under four hours. I have modified this because that BQ seems far away now and I am findining myself just hoping to finish.

Some many uncertainties and doubts now creep. Did I do enough? Why didn't I run more? Why did I stop doing Sworit? What is going to make or break this? Can I do this? What if I can't?

I'm trying to keep the voices quiet and hope and, right now, that's all I can do.

Who's Gonna Walk You Through the Dark Side of the Morning

So here we are entering the last week before the big red. Last week I did 14 miles (after what I ate and drink it was not the best but the pace okay although I still wonder if I can ru faster for longer).  Tomorrow I have a 10 miler and that is the last long run. I did my last set of yes sows and my last temple run. Monday I'm supposed to do mile repeats but I may turn that into a tempo-sequel run on Tuesday. Anyway you slice it though we're coming to the end of this endeavor.

It's funny how I started this in July and yet it doesn't seem like it's been that long. I know I've done the one runs, I know I've run over 20 miles or at 20 miles three times, but it doesn't seem like it's possible that I'm supposed to have a race day and just barely over a week. That's not to say that I don't feel prepared. I've really  try to come to terms with/approach this race as I did what I did and could I have done more, yes; however, I feel like I did what I wanted to do and I don't feel like one more run or one more speed workout will make a difference. Perhaps the next time.  Because I know there was more I could have done but I'm not sure at this stage I would have wanted to do that.

See the thing is I still like running after all of this. My concern with training for something like this was I would be so burnt out and have such a distaste with running that I would want to stop after this. I'm already trying to think of how I plan a schedule so that I can still run consistently even without a large race planned. And I've also come to terms with depending how far off I am and if Evan qualifies that I might distract the shoes back on with in a couple weeks and try again with a slightly alter training plan.

 So in eight days regardless of what happens I do feel pretty good about what I did. I know if you're having seen other runners and friends do this that there is so many things that could go wrong next Sunday and I have to take them all literally in stride. Obviously the best thing I can hope for is what I've been planning for this whole time but I've also tried to recognize that may not happen and that I should still enjoy and be proud of what does happen. And if things are close or  even maybe if they aren't there can always be a next time and there is a part of me that looks forward to that.

Set Fire

And here we are: last long run done. It was a 22.22 in 3:13:30 at a 8:43 pace. I'm still sore, although it was only a few hours ago. We'll see how tomorrow goes with walking... but I'm happy to be at this point. It's been a long road with a lot of miles but that's to be expected obviously. I'm still enjoying running which is pretty neat despite the run sometimes really dragging and being a lot of effort. I hope everything that I'm aiming to do comes to fruition, but unlike how I started his blog with the importance hinging more on this needing to be a BQ race, I've turned around a bit and am hoping to run it and run it well and if the time matches up that would be great but if it doesn't I don't think I'll be devastated.

Running how hundreds of miles can change your perspective. That's the amazing thing about running: sometimes what you think you're gonna get out of it, it something different entirely.

Full of Flame

So it's been a productive two weeks of running. First is that fact that I'm still running, woo! As I get closer to the taper and the race I begin to understand the tired looks my past marathon friends have given me at this time in training. If you follow a training plan even closely you are logging and running more than you probably have before. My plan only has me doing four days a week too! If I did the five-to-six days of running of other plans, I'd be even more cooked than I am now. But, that being said, I still am finding some peace in running and it hasn't felt like a chore that often.

That brings me to second productive note: I ran 21.21 miles two weeks ago at an 8:51. Longest I've ever gone although not done yet. The run was pretty good all things being considered, and the fact I may now have blocked most of it out. But the overall time was at pace so when I did stop my watch I managed to make up the time which is cool. I felt like I could keep going although I was happy it was over. What I'm not sure about is if I could have kept going while running it 31 seconds faster... But, as I've said before, I'm trying to enjoy this process so that I want to run more especially if I don't make my BQ.

And my last point is, three, yesterday I did 16 at an 8:37! I definitely felt like that one I wanted to end, although more so because I was tired of working than a particular pain or something similar. In still debating what I do twice day: aim for the 8:20 and 3:40:00 goal or just run. I really want to finish and I worry if I got for the 8:20 I may not. But as I previously posted, sometimes you've just gotta go and see as well. Time will tell I guess...

I have one more long run (aiming for 22.2) and then just two weeks of speed with the tapering longer runs. Tinensure flies when you're logging miles and miles and miles.

And I'm Free, Like the Wind

Just a quick post I'd been meaning to do about goals. So I, no surprise I think, own a Fitbit and have for years. I love it and love he step tracking and the goal making. I've always been pretty good at living up to the 10K a day,but about four months ago went to 11.5K. NBD I suppose, but it was a new goal. And then, aside from times I couldn't make the goal, mostly with traveling, I would find myself doing that good old, walk around the house to make goals some times. Again, NBD except now I'm running. A lot. And I found I just didn't want to do that to myself. And so I moved back to 10K and, more importantly, am trying to give myself a break if it doesn't seem like I'll make it through just a normal day.

So, why say all this?

Because I'm trying to be a realist about my life and goals. I want to qualify, but I may not and sometimes that's okay. I want to walk more, but sometimes I may not and that's okay too. Sometimes you just have to realize it okay to just be okay.

Better to Die than to Crawl

Here's the neat thing about Baystate: they have pace Runner's for certain time goals and mine is on such group. Here's the mental concern with that: can I keep pace? Obviously that's my goal so the answer should be yes, but there's that large unknown.

My 20 miler went well, but I'm still running 40 seconds slower than the race and I also do stop and stretch so I'm really more like a minute off goal. I know that the plans say to keep a slower pace and the speed work is where I make up the time and, when you put it together, voila!, success! But it seems so hard to comprehend. So while I plan to start with the pace group there's a part of me that's worries that right off the gate I'm going to find myself failing and knowing I have 22, 20 or even just 10 miles to go. I think I'm mentally strong enough to say "F that" and just do what I need to do, but that could be a long time of "uuuuugh really."

The flip side though is maybe it'll be okay. Maybe he pace group will be just what I need and I'll find myself doing what I've been trying to do. My speed work has always been at or below the paces, but as I tell my husband, I ran track, I know how to sprint and do speed work. So I'm not 100% sure how much of an accurate gauge that may be. Then again, I did a half aeration today at the pace of 8:38 and per how I felt and my heart rate watch, it wasn't too much work.

I guess, as I've posted before, this is the unknown with someone this long and, for me, new. When it comes to race day it just may be a crap shoot after all and so the question is how do I approach it and, I think, I just attack.

Dance a Tango to Hell

bug one on Sunday, 20 miles. Here what I took away:

I have rough miles (namely about mile 6, 12 and the last four off and on) and I need to pay attention before I hit the hard patch to see if I can avoid it. I want to try some Gatorade or something in one of the waters to see if switching helps. I did alright pace wise. I say alright because, although faster than the plan, I still feel like it was work and I need to still cut 40 seconds per mile. But I also know, although I'm working, my heart rate isn't in red for much if any of the run which seems to indicate I can push and will hopefully have the endurance and backbone to do just that.

I'm also finding that although I have this big goal, I am trying to find peace in just the doing of this and he hopeful finishing no matter the end time. I know I'll be disappointed if I don't BQ but I'm trying to also enjoy this enough to want to try again. There is a peace that is coming from this especially as, so far!, I've been injuryfree, even if more sore than usual.

These next three weeks will have some changes and I think we're going away for a week that is supposed to be a long, 18 miler, run. I haven't yet decided what I want to do but I may swap the 12 this week for the 18 and see. I may also need just a bit more of a break and will mess around in some other way. Jury is still out and I'm chatting with other people.

And my speed this week is like 7 Yassos. I'm kind of excited to see how I'm doing there and also dreading that many Yassos. So. Many.

Steady as She Goes

In my world of training there hasn't been much to report other than keeping on. I went on vacation to California and so the plan got shifted a bit resulting in me doing two runs (one so amazingly hilly it gave Worcester a run for its money) and one faster than planned with the husband. It also meant taking a day off of work to run 18 miles.

Yup 18.

So I'm making it along so far. That run was at 9:00 which was just about in target. I felt mostly good and since I had spent the prior days traveling and with lots of family, lots of food and drink I feel like that's pretty good. My speed work out ended up not being tempos and are okay. They aren't as fast as when I started but still keeping faster than the plan.

On Sunday I'll go out for 20 which I'm trying to look at as "just another thing " and what I've become accustomed to despite the fact every longer run is longer than I've run. I've tried to continue to keep my focus on I'm hoping, since I have three 20ish milers, I'll continue to get better at that much like how I've become used to 5 miles just being my week day run.

I am getting a tiny bit nervous about the right knee as, on Tuesday and Wednesday, there was so tightness/pain. I am hoping once I get off my lazy butt after a few days vacation and then a week of work, I can get back to that and trying to not only run but maintain other aspects of training. I think overall I'm at that tired stage leg wise and need to be thoughtful about stretching, resting, shoes I wear at work and foam rolling. I'm better than when I was younger but still need to dedicate time to making sure I stay limber and not tight.

Lift Your Head and Look Around*

As posted previously today was my 16 mile run. I was trepidation us going into it because well it's 16 miles. I feel like these long runs have a lot hinging on them for obvious reasons and they all have not felt like your successes.  I do understand that not every run will feel like a success and the main focus of the long runs is to get the mileage and get your body used to the work that goes along with so many miles. But, that being said, of course you want every long run to feel like you can keep going and finish the marathon.

Today I was especially anxious because there was a storm front that was coming in and I was trying to work out the timing of things. I had pretty readily committed to running tomorrow and so I just had hope I want to get denied because of unsafe conditions. Turns out there was no storm, well except for one clap of lightning, but there was plenty and plenty of rain. Like soaked at mile four and still having 12 to do. I also was a bit anxious because I was trying a new route and want sure how I'd like it.

But here's the awesome part: everything, despite the rain, went well. I kept an 8:54 pace which was unexpected given a few of the splits I had. I never felt like I was over working annnnnd I felt like I had more in me. Even know, hours later, I still feel good. I hope this positive trend continues and I also hope it's cool on race day because I think that was a huge help.

*You Will Be Found

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

So the last few days/week of running have been, as usual, a series of ups and downs.  After my speed work out last week I had a so-so 12 mile run. It was one of those run somewhere I always felt like I was working a little too hard for what I was trying to accomplish. It was also one of those runs where I felt like I should be doing better because I have such a distance to go.  That being said, it was also one of those runs when I finished that I had to say the distance was done, the pace was correct, and that is what is asked of me.

I then had a pretty awful feeling 4.77 mile run on Sunday after my husband and I spent the weekend away. Of course when we are away there is less focus on what I eat and when I eat it and how much I drink. I am hoping that the 4 mile run I did and the  discomfort that went with it was just a byproduct of the weekend. I should also say that it wasn't awful but the pace was slower than what I am supposed to run the marathon at and I only did a little over four.

But then flash forward to this Wednesday and my speed workout which I had to do a series of 4 mile Hills on the treadmill due to my thunderstorm and that seemed to go well. I did not do things as steeply as I did when I ran them outside but I did them faster and more consistently. I hope they have the benefit that the hills are supposed to have because I'm still trying to figure out that component a bit.

Now tomorrow I am facing a 16 mile run. I am going to try it on the rail trail which I have never run on before. There is a chance of scattered showers and maybe thunderstorms as well so that adds an interesting element. I am a little trepidation us about it because I feel like I am hinging a lot on these runs as they get longer. Hopefully it will go well enough and I can consider that there is only 10 more miles to go after what I run.

Building a Mystery

Two things to share from the past week or so of running.

The first is that last Saturday I ran the farthest that I've ever ran before.  It was a 14 mile run, with a nine minute mile pace. Overall I felt pretty good which is encouraging.  At the end of it my feet and back were a little sore but I didn't have any lasting aches or pains or tiredness the following day. When I finished even knowing that I would have 12 more miles to go I didn't feel like that was totally unattainable.  Of course there is something to be said about the fact that there WAS (or is) 12 more miles to go and who knows how that is actually going to feel especially as the pace is supposed to get faster.

The second share was tonight I did six 800 repeats (pace per mile, so divide in half, was 6:27, 6:34 and 6:37) and as I did them I kept hearing my old high school teach coach, Kenny, saying "all I ask of you is thirty hard minutes a week" referring to our weekly speed workouts. I did not like them then, and now they are a challenge, but there is something so rewarding about them. And thinking, all I have to do is given thirty hard minutes, makes it all seem more manageable. Granted it does end up being longer than thirty with these workouts but I try not to focus on that. Instead all I think is what would Kenny think of me now, doing these long distance workouts, when I could barely manage to run a 5K due to not caring to train or push through discomfort.

Amazing what age can get you.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Once upon a time I ran two ten mile runs on a treadmill during the winter in which we got somewhere in the neighborhood of like about 6 feet of snow during the winter (fun fact:  I honestly have no idea how much snow we got but about 6 feet sounds like a lot and it was a lot).  And then one day, I have no idea when, I stepped back on the treadmill  and was unable to even go a quarter of a mile before I started to have the beginnings of a panic attack and had to get off before I feared I would fall off. I tried a couple more times and about two years ago I just decided I could never run on the treadmill again and haven't since.

Flash forward to today. We had some thunderstorms happening and so I was unable to go outside and do a tempo run.  At first I just decided I would do some cross training for the same for about the same distance. And then I thought "no get your act together" and just get on a treadmill and get this done.

So I did. There were many times today during the 6 miles (1 mile at about a 9:30 mile, 4 miles between an 8:00 and 7:41 mile pace and 1 mile cooldown at about a 9:30 pace) that I just wanted to jump off the treadmill and I could feel myself starting to have some aniexty.  But I kept my focus as well as my ability to zone out and did it. Something like gives me some inspiration for the remaining weeks to keep centered on the fact that this is something I can do if I keep at it and keep my focus.

For Every Job that Must Be Done*

And the first week of training is officially in the books.  Here are just some of the things that I've taken from this first week.

- It's difficult to start training and upping your mileage when your boss is on vacation. There are many days where I just wanted to sit on my butt instead of doing a run, but I did what needed to be done. #ineedavacationfromhervacation

- Speed work is going to always be a mental challenge. I've already done three weeks of it and I am not looking forward to next Wednesday. #amitoooldforthetrack?

- Long runs will need to start earlier and earlier. I swear at times I felt like I was swimming and my hair looked like I had been. #summertimehumidugh

- Only 15 more weeks to go and in some ways that actually doesn't seem like it will be as daunting as it first looked to be. #maybeicandothis?

- Running with an audiobook on the lawn runs might be the key to making it through these miles. #storytime!

- I'm going to need at least two more pairs of shoes. #imnotevenupsetbythis

* There is an Element of Fun

Ready, Steady, Go

Here is the amazing and magical thing about running: sometimes you just have a fun that just works.  Today I had one of these runs. It was a 6 mile, easy paced run.  For the last couple of runs it has been warm and humid so I was little bit trepidation about going out for this run wondering how drained I would feel. However keeping the steady pace, 8:39, I never felt like I was really working at this run. It was just one of those runs where the speed, cadence, posture, etc. all just worked. It was also one of those runs where the daunting task of training and actually running a marathon seemed like something that could be attained. Not to say I instantly knew I would meet my goal but I did feel like I could actually (maybe) do this if I was able to keep focused. It was one of those runs that I hope I have often  during this training as it was something that made everything seem easier.

But I've Read the Script and the Costume Fits*

To be fair, the official start of marathon training could have begun at any point I said that it began. I was easing into the official 16 weeks start by continuing to do longer runs as well as starting to do the speed work (see previous posts).  But I decided that today was the official start to Baystate marathon training. The start was a 10 mile run and my training plan suggested the pace would be 9:22, but I kept mine just under 9:00 (literally, 8:59). The run was VERY humid and felt a little bit like a battle, but it got done. Through a lot of it I did keep thinking "holy cow I have to run how much farther and how much faster?!?"  I think that mental battle will continue pretty much through this entire training until I'm at the start line and see how Baystate turns out. I am trying to follow the plan and like so many other people who probably question how on earth will I be able to race when I do long runs that I struggle through and a pace slower than the race. But people much smarter than me and much more involved in running have determined that this can be the best approach so I will take it as it is and I will continue to push through for another 16 weeks.

 One thing I will say is when I started out the run I was able to mentally zone out so that 10 miles didn't seem quite as daunting of a number as it once did. That's not to say that the run wasn't very difficult at times and I wasn't very much looking forward to the end of it but mentally I feel like I was able to wrap my head around the distance and now it's just a matter of wrapping my head around the discomfort.  I also ate the same breakfast that I'm used to and will for the next two weeks, but I know I'lol need to pay better attention in the coming weeks and probably adjust my sleep schedule/pre-race time. In weeks time the plan calls for 14 miles which will be the longest consecutive run that I've actually ever done and it'll only get longer from there!

*So I'll Play My Part

(S)he's Going the Distance*

I have always taken perverse joy and speed workouts. When I was in high school track my workouts focus mostly on 100, 200 or 400 repeats. Sometimes there were hurtles literally throwing in the max depending on what was going on. I've  been known to schedule a ladder workout or two for Frisbee team that I've been on in the past. I find satisfaction in working hard, facing some pain, and overcoming it to see the results. I've never, however, done long distance speed work out.  And I am finding this is going to be a different beast entirely. 

Before the Run to Remember I started trying to do some temple run and did one 400 repeat based on a quick training program I found.  The tempo runs were  but on Tuesdays when I would try to keep up with a certain group of runners from my run club. They were hard, they hurt, and they seem to go on FOREVER.  With the goal of Baystate to qualify for Boston I know I need to work on my lactic acid threshold as well as my VO2 max and, unfortunately, that means long distance speed workout.

So I started this Wednesday with mile repeats. I did a 1 mile warm-up, 1 mile at 7:10, 400 meters in between, 1 mile at 7:00 and 1 mile cooldown.  And the funny thing was I found myself zoning out like I used to when I did my track repeats either in high school or with ultimate. I found the time going by and the countdown is not seeming to drag like I expected them to. I also found that I wasn't entirely sure how to gauge my comfort level and that will be one of the interesting developments in this training. I'm going to have to learn how to gauge when I really don't have a lot left because it is different to push through 200 meters or chase down a disc on a field that it is to run three more miles (or more).

Despite finding myself fairly exhausted Thursday (although I still met up and literally almost walked my way through 3.35 miles with friends) now reflecting during my rest night I find that I am somewhat excited (?!?)  to see what I will learn about what I can do. And what I cannot do. 

*(S)he's Going for Speed.

Another One Bites the Dust

When you run regularly it is important to remember that there will always be good days and bad days. Equally or maybe more important is to remember a good run one day does not guarantee the next one will be good or better. Same when you have a bad run. Today was a Bad Run and so, I am trying to remind myself that my next run, and particularly, my next long run, won't be terrible.

Today's run was hot, unfocused, hot and too long for only 6.5 miles. And hot. Did I mention that? I am working on pacing myself for long runs which, right now, are starting short, but even with that I was dying. I walked which is just something I don't really do. I struggled to keep my breathing normal and my Garmin told me I should rest for four day (FOUR) after this because it took so much out of me.

I am now trying to recovery and stay focused and not concern myself with the idea that my next run will be awful. I am trying to remember all the other terrible run I had but how many good runs I've had and how those tend to be the norm. I feel like these next twenty weeks will continue to be a mental up and down like this.

When Day is Done*

Officially following a training plan will begin the first weekend in July but before then I'm trying to get used to a move involved routine. I've always been pretty good about getting some workout in nearly everyday but this training is going to be much different. For one it's just going to be MORE. On top of the increase in running, I need to add speed workout to get faster, strength to avoid injuries and better body movement and, of course, more stretching. So, all in all, I want to get used to more which I'm trying to use June for. 

But as I sit here waiting for an appointment, not having done anything athletic yet today but hoping to do some arms, abs and rolling I think "man I am tired."

These next few months are going to test endurance in so many ways, hopefully in the end I come out victorious.

*Sleep in peace when day is done.

Mile to Go Before I Sleep*

In between my first post and today, my training focused on the Run to Remember half marathon which was yesterday. I'll get to the race below, but first up just some background.

A few things to know about me is that I ran high school track (and cross country because our coach made us. I was a hurdler so sprinter by nature and pretty much hated distance and was not good at it because I didn't like to try or the discomfort with the longer runs. I think my PR then was like 29:50 for a 5K. In college I played ultimate frisbee and so, again, focused on sprinted and skills. To this day, I love ultimate and often wished I had my a stronger go at playing on the top teams, but I made great friends and teams so no real regrets. I started to run much after a stressful college break-up and needing to release pent up emotions. Between my frisbee focus, I did race some 5Ks and four half marathons. In August 2012, I tore my left ACL and after a very difficult summer and surgery, began running again in the spring of 2013 and played frisbee again in the winter of 2014. I kept running, eventually getting a job at a running store (now part time as I'm back in my professional field) and found playing frisbee competitively was difficult for various reasons. In July of 2015 I tore my right ACL (WTF, seriously, I know). After my second surgery and hitting my mid-30s it began apparently I should hang up the cleats, but maybe still play on sand so I have pretty much done that.

Being competitive, I decided to make new goals such as PR in a half marathon (best time was 1:51:20), then run a half in 1:45:59, get a 5K under 22 minutes, run a marathon and qualify for Boston. And so that is where I find myself today. Side note: maybe I'll go back to cleated frisbee but if I tear something again I will probably never forgive myself.

As mentioned above the Run to Remember was yesterday. In 2008 this was my first half marathon and it's a great course through Boston. Yesterday was nice weather, a bit warm around mile 9 as the sun came out but nothing that took away from the pace. I managed to run a 1:49:53 which is a PR! I believe I can do better and I have to eventually try to push the pace being aware that I run a risk of really having a crash. Or maybe not. What this race shows me is that I can focus on goals and will need to also improve a lot over the next few months if I want to BQ.

About three-four weeks prior to R2R I did start to bring in speed work outs to my running, including tempo runs and one 400 repeat. It made me feel like my old self during track and frisbee workouts so there is a part of me that looks forward to the marathon speed work outs. I also tried to focus on arm and ab workouts which, although basic, I believe do help. I plan to increase my stretching focus which I desperately need to do. All in all, what I've come to realize is that I will need to focus and prioritize my running, other work outs, food and sleep to do this. I have a month of prep before I start to follow a schedule. I hope by then I'll have made some adjustments so that the changes don't seem so startling or difficult.

Regardless, everyone has heard it: nothing worse having comes easy (kudos to Theodore Roosevelt I believe).

*Original quote, I know.

Stop...Wait a Minute*

I have made many attempts at blogging over the years. I always wanted to have something to say that I wanted to write and that, I'd hope, others would want to read. The thing is there are a lot of blogs out there about a lot of things and I've never had a niche that I've committed to and never began a business that needed the exposure. But still I've always wanted to find something out there to take the time to keep a diary of for myself and others.

And so, with attempt number who-knows-what, I'm once again taking a step into the world of blogging with a focus on...

QUALIFYING FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON

I know this is not a new idea and, although I haven't yet, I bet I could google that term and find many blogs documenting the exact same topic. But I've decided to say that's okay. This blog isn't going to be unique. It isn't going to be my job where I try to recruit people over to my side of Boston training. It simply is going to be about my journey towards this goal. Hopefully over the months I'll get some folks who are interested, but maybe not. Ideally, at the end of it all, I will get a good enough time for the blog to be happy memory.

So, here's the first entry and just the basic of information to start:

My husband and I have signed up for the Baystate Marathon October 22nd. My BQ time is 3:40 and, with the way things go with Boston these days, I'm aiming to run at least an 8:20 pace (3:38:30). Baystate will be my first marathon, although I've run five half marathons with a sixth coming up Memorial weekend. Official training will start in July but in the meantime I'll warm up with the blog and trying to get things in order to achieve this goal.

*Thank you, Bruno Mars, for the help today on an 11 mile run.