Game on

So after a couple weeks break, I am back in training mode...and it's about time, with Wasatch Back only 11 days from now.

Last week I ran over 20 miles. It felt really good. My longest run, on Friday, was 7 miles and it was nice to not even be sore after a run that long. I took Kate in the stroller and she did great, but I just keep telling myself I've GOT to get up in the morning for my runs!

Tonight I did 6 miles, and since my final leg of Wasatch Back is downhill to begin with then goes back up halfway through, I drove my car to the top of the hill and ran 3 miles down and turned around and ran 3 miles back up. Usually when I do this route I go up first and down second. Anyway, the first half was a total breeze!! But man, I didn't think I was going to make it back up that hill. But I did. Here I sit, having lived to type about it.

Feels good to be training again. My whole life gets in better balance when I exercise regularly.

Mission accomplished

Woo-freakin-HOO!!! What a great experience. And a great leap pad for my next feat....the Top of Utah marathon in four months. My training continues....

For more on Saturday's half marathon, see my other blog lydiametcalf.blogspot.com.

Still going....

Sorry I have been so lame on updating my running blog. I decided sometime last week that I would just post after my long runs on Saturdays. The problem with that was that I didn't run last Saturday. :( I just couldn't get myself to go out and do it! But for the record I have done two 3 milers, two 4 milers, and one 5 miler since my last post.

I had a funky week last week. After my first run of the week my ankle was sore and I was kinda paranoid of getting an injury, so I took a couple days off until it felt better. It was hard to get the drive back. But I got it eventually.

The race is a week from Saturday and I am trying to decide if I should do 10 miles this weekend or cut back to avoid injury. I really want to have that 10 miles in my mental backpack as a tool before I start the race. Not sure yet what I'm going to do.

Thanks again for all of your encouragement! It's really helpful!

Run #15

Eight miles today. EIGHT!!!!!

I really like the ipod pedometer thing that Jenny gave me. THANKS JEN! But I think I calibrated it wrong or something so I'll have to fix that. I did it in 79 minutes exactly; just under a 10 minute mile. I feel so amazing, like if I can run eight miles I can do ANYTHING!!

The book said to start telling people that I am a marathoner. Today I feel like it. I can't believe that I have only been training for four weeks and I can already run 8 miles. That just goes to show how our potential is so much greater than we realize. Seriously. We are more amazing than we give ourselves credit for.

If anyone reading this is thinking that I am something special, you're wrong. I am TOTALLY convinced that anyone can run a marathon. I would 100% recommend the book I am reading though, The Nonrunner's Marathon trainer. I can honestly say that there is no way I would have even attempted eight miles by this point if that wasn't what was on the schedule for today. A training schedule is a MUST.

17 miles this week, and I missed a run. Go get 'em, tiger!

Run #12

Six miles+Pushing Kate in the stroller+Uphill halfway=Hardest run yet. But guess what...I did it. And that's what matters.

Run #9 and #10

Scheduled Miles 3, 4
Actual Miles 3, 4

Comments: Feeling good. I have had a little bit of knee pain. Mostly when I first get going and then it subsides. The scale is NOT my friend (this morning I weighed the most I have since starting training!) but believe it or not I'm not just running to lose weight, so it didn't deter me. And besides that, I feel great, and I think I look thinner. So take that scale!

But the biggest accomplishment? I actually WOKE UP EARLY and went for my run! It was great to not have to worry about Kate AT ALL. I have her to thank actually, as she woke up at 5:15 and didn't go back to sleep until I fed her a bottle. That got me wide awake, and I knew she would stay asleep the whole time I was gone. So thanks Kate!

I am really liking the exercise ticker. I added it to my other blog, too. It's fun to see those miles just keep on going up, uP, UP!

OH! I FINALLY got us registered for the marathon yesterday! We'll be doing the two man relay (the half marathon was full, so that made the decision easy). One month from tomorrow!

Run #8 04.12.08

Scheduled Miles: 5
Actual Miles: 5(!!)
RPE:7

Comments: I DID IT!!!! WoooHOOO! My first five mile run is under my belt.

I mapped out the course on mapquest before I left, and it took me on a road I have never been on before that didn't really have a shoulder or a sidewalk. I don't think I'll run that course again. That part was right in the middle too, making it even tougher.

By far the best/most empowering part of the run was passing the gym: 1.3 miles to my house from there, but because I added in some warm up/cool down walking distance, that meant I only had ONE MORE MILE! When you've done 4 already, what's one more? It felt so great! 52 minutes, in spite of a couple short walking stretches in the middle.

The outsides of my ankles got a little sore for a while. It feels like maybe I am running more on the inside of my feet. Maybe I'll try some insoles with a little more support.

I forgot my ipod. I think I need to find a way to stay hydrated--so thirsty!

Yay ME!! :D