Saturday's Long Run....LOL...doesn't seem like long distance anymore! :o) Had an easy run, knee hurt so I was being very conservative! That's usually hard for me to do...LOL
Saving these legs for AUSTIN BABY!!!! LOL
Monday, February 14, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
5 Miles
Jumped on the treadmill at the Y since there was NO WAY IN HELL I was going out there in these temps with the wind the way it is, ice on the road...NOPE! Was going to switch it up and just do 3 today and 6 tomorrow but wanted to burn some extra calories and just did 5 today so I guess I'll do 3 or 4 tomorrow. :o)
Knee still hurt when I increased the speed to 5.7-6.4 but I just kept backing it down and didn't do an incline today. All I kept thinking was OH NO, MY KNEE! What if it hurts like this on race day??!!! OMG!!! Then I just stopped my thoughts in their track and said I would NOT let them take over!
I will be fine.
5 more runs before RACE DAY!
Knee still hurt when I increased the speed to 5.7-6.4 but I just kept backing it down and didn't do an incline today. All I kept thinking was OH NO, MY KNEE! What if it hurts like this on race day??!!! OMG!!! Then I just stopped my thoughts in their track and said I would NOT let them take over!
I will be fine.
5 more runs before RACE DAY!
4 Miles
Okay, the taper week 1 has begun! :o) Took it easy and enjoyed a great run with my good 'ol budding Kimmers! Had knee pain but was trying not to freak out! LOL Stretched a couple times and just got the mileage done.
Pretty much laughed the whole run and realized that's one of the NUMBER ONE reasons I love running...the social aspect of it! :o)
6 more runs til race day!!!
Pretty much laughed the whole run and realized that's one of the NUMBER ONE reasons I love running...the social aspect of it! :o)
6 more runs til race day!!!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Oh the Taper . . . . . . bleh!
Well, I've been training best I can...NOT exactly by the plan, but best I can. :o) My body IS ready, but am I???? This running thing has torn me apart! Not just all of my muscle fibers in these legs, LOL, but my mind too! I've always been FULL of self doubt and this marathon is a beast I'm trying to conquer. I want to overcome my self doubt. Everyone else out there seems to think I'm so "strong", why can't I believe it??
I have to believe, truly believe that I'm ready for this thing. I am tired of doubting my ability. I will not be defeated by Austin Marathon, I just won't...I just can't! I've been spewing out a ton of "This WILL be my one and only marathon I do!" and "This running crap sucks!" but to be truthful, I DO love to run. I'm overwhelmed by the training, I HATE to feel so restricted, and suffered a big loss when my running buddy decided long distance and endurance running wasn't for her (even though I AM happy she made the best decision for herself OF COURSE!). I have been doing so much anti running talk lately I'm driving MYSELF crazy!!!! haha!
So what does this all mean for me?
Will I continue running?
Will I continue on the marathon path after Austin?
Oh God I don't know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's easier for me to just say it's too much and I don't want to do it anymore. This is what I'm telling most of my friends and family. BUT, I do love the big miles. I do love the feeling after a long run. I do love the sense of accomplishment I feel after completing a 13+mile run.
Is this all just a bunch of anxiety? Is this normal to feel like this just after I'm finally in the BIG numbers distance wise? Seems to be so. In fact, as I Google it, I keep finding the terms "Taper Tantrums" or "Taper Madness".
It's real and it sucks.
ESPECIALLY for someone like me who is already nervous that I haven't been able to follow the plan exactly like everyone else has. I'm full of anxiety. I'm scared. I feel random aches and pains. My knee hurts. My RIBS feel broken from all the coughing the past two months and the bronchitis.
Yep, classic signs of the tantrum that most runners feel in the weeks leading up to the marathon. I have to review my blog and remember that I DID do a 20 miler, I DID do a 16 . . .etc. I AM ready.
Now I guess I just have to try to keep my sanity, stop thinking my bones are broken, muscles are torn, damaged, lungs are in bad shape, etc....STOP PANICKING GINA!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
I found this poem and got a little giggle from it!
Now for a little entertainment!
I run.
I like it.
I'm GOOD at it.
This is all I can say for now. :o)
I have to believe, truly believe that I'm ready for this thing. I am tired of doubting my ability. I will not be defeated by Austin Marathon, I just won't...I just can't! I've been spewing out a ton of "This WILL be my one and only marathon I do!" and "This running crap sucks!" but to be truthful, I DO love to run. I'm overwhelmed by the training, I HATE to feel so restricted, and suffered a big loss when my running buddy decided long distance and endurance running wasn't for her (even though I AM happy she made the best decision for herself OF COURSE!). I have been doing so much anti running talk lately I'm driving MYSELF crazy!!!! haha!
So what does this all mean for me?
Will I continue running?
Will I continue on the marathon path after Austin?
Oh God I don't know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's easier for me to just say it's too much and I don't want to do it anymore. This is what I'm telling most of my friends and family. BUT, I do love the big miles. I do love the feeling after a long run. I do love the sense of accomplishment I feel after completing a 13+mile run.
Is this all just a bunch of anxiety? Is this normal to feel like this just after I'm finally in the BIG numbers distance wise? Seems to be so. In fact, as I Google it, I keep finding the terms "Taper Tantrums" or "Taper Madness".
It's real and it sucks.
ESPECIALLY for someone like me who is already nervous that I haven't been able to follow the plan exactly like everyone else has. I'm full of anxiety. I'm scared. I feel random aches and pains. My knee hurts. My RIBS feel broken from all the coughing the past two months and the bronchitis.
Yep, classic signs of the tantrum that most runners feel in the weeks leading up to the marathon. I have to review my blog and remember that I DID do a 20 miler, I DID do a 16 . . .etc. I AM ready.
Now I guess I just have to try to keep my sanity, stop thinking my bones are broken, muscles are torn, damaged, lungs are in bad shape, etc....STOP PANICKING GINA!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
I found this poem and got a little giggle from it!
Now for a little entertainment!
I run.
I like it.
I'm GOOD at it.
This is all I can say for now. :o)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
9 Miles
Today was supposed to be a 12 miler but at mile 2 my KNEE HURT!!!! Not just hurt, it hurt pretty bad, felt like I was limping for a bit there. I started to feel a little better around 4ish but still wanted to be conservative since the marathon is 2 WEEKS AWAY!!!! So, I decided not to head down Red Bud with Erika and Heidi, but turned around at the 5 mile mark and head back home. Right around 7 miles the knee pain flared back up and it was something I couldn't ignore. I WILL NOT INJURE MYSELF this close to the marathon! LOL
So I took it easy which KILLED me since I usually start doing some sprint intervals when I approach the toll road for those last couple miles, but I kept it slow. Once I reached Exchange I was LIMPING, running, but LIMPING so I kept it up right to 9 miles and then shut my Garmin off AND WALKED home the last .25mile.
I'm not feeling depressed or down. I just need to make it through this marathon so I will rest as much as possible over these next two weeks! LOL
So I took it easy which KILLED me since I usually start doing some sprint intervals when I approach the toll road for those last couple miles, but I kept it slow. Once I reached Exchange I was LIMPING, running, but LIMPING so I kept it up right to 9 miles and then shut my Garmin off AND WALKED home the last .25mile.
I'm not feeling depressed or down. I just need to make it through this marathon so I will rest as much as possible over these next two weeks! LOL
Friday, February 4, 2011
4 Miles
First run of the week since my 20 miler and I'm okay with that! :o)
Met up with Erika and Kim at Anytime Fitness and hopped on the treadmill for 45 minutes. It felt SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD to be in a "REAL GYM"....I now know for sure what's next for me after this marathon!!!!
IT'S ALL ABOUT WEIGHTS BABY!!!!!!!! OH YEAH!
It just feels so NATURAL when I'm in the "gym" environment...I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
2 more weeks until the marathon and I can kiss long distance running GOODBYE!!! LOL
Met up with Erika and Kim at Anytime Fitness and hopped on the treadmill for 45 minutes. It felt SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD to be in a "REAL GYM"....I now know for sure what's next for me after this marathon!!!!
IT'S ALL ABOUT WEIGHTS BABY!!!!!!!! OH YEAH!
It just feels so NATURAL when I'm in the "gym" environment...I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
2 more weeks until the marathon and I can kiss long distance running GOODBYE!!! LOL
Sunday, January 30, 2011
20 Miles 3 Hours 44 Minutes 30 Seconds of Running!
So, how was the 20 miles?
How did it go?How do you feel?Are you crazy?These are a few of the questions I heard after this morning's run and all I could say was, it was ok...I am BEAT and Yeah, I think I really MAY BE CRAZY...this is just nuts!!! Seriously, WHO DOES THIS TO THEMSELVES FOR FUN??!!!
Me, I guess. :o)
Today was an interesting run. Started out fine, although I INSTANTLY regretted wearing the tights and a tee shirt...it was HUMID out there!!!! But since the weather down here in Texas is just as crazy as I am, I had to make sure the tights would work if I needed to go the distance in them on race day and they were fine. We ran up 79, refilled waters across from Walmart, turned down Red Bud, bathroom and water stop at HEB, turned on Gattis for some more hills and then turned back around at mile 9 to head back home. My face was SO HOT today, so red...I was super thirsty and drank all my water so we stopped back in HEB to fill up (Thank God!) and then again at our Walmart drop off for the final fillup! I took 5 gels and 2 salt pills today and I was fine during the run.
Now let's talk about pace. I felt fine after getting past those first 4/5 miles, attacked those hills . . . owned them, and felt strong going up each and every one of them! I kept telling the girls that I dig the hills, something about torturing myself breathless but recovering smoothly makes me feel STRONG! I found my groove with them and am not afraid of the hills, even though they are TOUGH of course, I aint scared! :o) I'm starting to notice a little pattern with the longer distances...I hate the first 4 miles, start to get pumped up during miles 6-11, then start thinking about getting home and how I'm breaking up the rest of the mileage from there. Don't like the 13 mile mark, can't explain it but just wish the Garmin would skip Lap 13, LOL, start feeling strong again around 15 and maybe even a little cocky thinking I could run forever! :o) This is when I decided to do some aggressive attacking of the last couple of hills and started doing short little sprints...yeah, not sure if that was a good idea or not since I KNEW I wouldn't be finishing those last couple miles at 10 or less pace wise.
Heidi and Erika only had to do 18 so I had to go on and that was TOUGH mentally for me to turn down Exchange and know I wasn't going home but pushing through 2 more grueling miles alone. I was strategizing during the 18th mile and then when I felt like I just COULD NOT keep running I broke the 19th mile up in .25 increments which helped me mentally. The last 10th of a mile my legs felt like I was hobbling. I stopped in front of my house to walk it out for a bit and felt like I WAS GOING TO DIE!!!!! Yeah, it WAS tough!
Not sure how I'm going to do this marathon as far as pace goes, but I'm guessing I need to take it slower and not start off in the 10s for the first couple miles. Will that really work? I don't know. I don't like to "THINK" too much with this running stuff but DO want to finish strong.
Here is my pace broken done by mile:
Mile: Pace
I sit here now with sore knees and an upset tummy thinking about the craziness of the day. This running thing is TOUGH. I'm a girl and some of the stuff I deal with is just SO UNFEMININE!!! The WORST is having your period and running 20 miles on the 2nd and worst day to get out there (yeah, tell me about it!), the nonstop feeling like you are either going to pee or crap yourself while running. The occasional tummy rumblings, the gas (pain and passing of....such a bonding experience with your girlfriends!LOL). The bathroom stops in the woods or dark alley ways (I have YET to do either of these but girls, you know who you are!), the changing of feminine products on the road...hey you do what has to be done, period! No pun intended. :o) Then comes the ice baths, the "You smell like a grandma" ben gay patches, the DREADED stair case you have no choice but to go up and down a million times, the sore toes that EVERY ONE OF THE KIDS somehow find a way to step on, and let's not forget the black toe nails/missing toe nails (which I'm proud to say I haven't had that happen yet either!!!).
Then there are those lovely aches and pains...yes, the knees, the hammies, the quads, the calves, the glutes...oh they all ache but it feels good. It makes me feel like I DID something! Crazy as it sounds, this running stuff isn't so bad.
Now whether or not I'll EVER run a marathon again after Austin, not sure about that. This training is tough, the commitment is some serious stuff, and I'm just not sure I love it THAT much to continue on. We will see.
I don't know why I do it.
I love feeling the sense of accomplishment as I sit and reflect on my run 12 hours later. 12 hours ago I thought THIS SUCKS, this isn't normal, why do people do it!!?? But now I sit back and think, well it wasn't THAT bad, no actually, it was AWESOME! LOL
Like I said, I think I'm a little crazy.
How in the HELL am I going to add 6 more when I barely made it to 20?
All heart, I guess.
Here's to "Running My Race"!! Now the taper to race day begins! :o)
How did it go?How do you feel?Are you crazy?These are a few of the questions I heard after this morning's run and all I could say was, it was ok...I am BEAT and Yeah, I think I really MAY BE CRAZY...this is just nuts!!! Seriously, WHO DOES THIS TO THEMSELVES FOR FUN??!!!
Me, I guess. :o)
Today was an interesting run. Started out fine, although I INSTANTLY regretted wearing the tights and a tee shirt...it was HUMID out there!!!! But since the weather down here in Texas is just as crazy as I am, I had to make sure the tights would work if I needed to go the distance in them on race day and they were fine. We ran up 79, refilled waters across from Walmart, turned down Red Bud, bathroom and water stop at HEB, turned on Gattis for some more hills and then turned back around at mile 9 to head back home. My face was SO HOT today, so red...I was super thirsty and drank all my water so we stopped back in HEB to fill up (Thank God!) and then again at our Walmart drop off for the final fillup! I took 5 gels and 2 salt pills today and I was fine during the run.
Now let's talk about pace. I felt fine after getting past those first 4/5 miles, attacked those hills . . . owned them, and felt strong going up each and every one of them! I kept telling the girls that I dig the hills, something about torturing myself breathless but recovering smoothly makes me feel STRONG! I found my groove with them and am not afraid of the hills, even though they are TOUGH of course, I aint scared! :o) I'm starting to notice a little pattern with the longer distances...I hate the first 4 miles, start to get pumped up during miles 6-11, then start thinking about getting home and how I'm breaking up the rest of the mileage from there. Don't like the 13 mile mark, can't explain it but just wish the Garmin would skip Lap 13, LOL, start feeling strong again around 15 and maybe even a little cocky thinking I could run forever! :o) This is when I decided to do some aggressive attacking of the last couple of hills and started doing short little sprints...yeah, not sure if that was a good idea or not since I KNEW I wouldn't be finishing those last couple miles at 10 or less pace wise.
Heidi and Erika only had to do 18 so I had to go on and that was TOUGH mentally for me to turn down Exchange and know I wasn't going home but pushing through 2 more grueling miles alone. I was strategizing during the 18th mile and then when I felt like I just COULD NOT keep running I broke the 19th mile up in .25 increments which helped me mentally. The last 10th of a mile my legs felt like I was hobbling. I stopped in front of my house to walk it out for a bit and felt like I WAS GOING TO DIE!!!!! Yeah, it WAS tough!
Not sure how I'm going to do this marathon as far as pace goes, but I'm guessing I need to take it slower and not start off in the 10s for the first couple miles. Will that really work? I don't know. I don't like to "THINK" too much with this running stuff but DO want to finish strong.
Here is my pace broken done by mile:
Mile: Pace
| 1 | :11:14 | ||
| 2 | :10:53 | ||
| 3 | :10:55 | ||
| 4 | :10:51 | ||
| 5 | :11:44 | ||
| 6 | :12:00 | ||
| 7 | :11:28 | ||
| 8 | :11:38 | ||
| 9 | :11:19 | ||
| 10 | :11:17 | ||
| 11 | :11:29 | ||
| 12 | :11:34 | ||
| 13 | :11:02 | ||
| 14 | :10:55 | ||
| 15 | :10:45 | ||
| 16 | :10:33 | ||
| 17 | :10:16 | ||
| 18 | :10:41 | ||
| 19 | :11:44 | ||
| 20 | :12:01 |
I sit here now with sore knees and an upset tummy thinking about the craziness of the day. This running thing is TOUGH. I'm a girl and some of the stuff I deal with is just SO UNFEMININE!!! The WORST is having your period and running 20 miles on the 2nd and worst day to get out there (yeah, tell me about it!), the nonstop feeling like you are either going to pee or crap yourself while running. The occasional tummy rumblings, the gas (pain and passing of....such a bonding experience with your girlfriends!LOL). The bathroom stops in the woods or dark alley ways (I have YET to do either of these but girls, you know who you are!), the changing of feminine products on the road...hey you do what has to be done, period! No pun intended. :o) Then comes the ice baths, the "You smell like a grandma" ben gay patches, the DREADED stair case you have no choice but to go up and down a million times, the sore toes that EVERY ONE OF THE KIDS somehow find a way to step on, and let's not forget the black toe nails/missing toe nails (which I'm proud to say I haven't had that happen yet either!!!).
Then there are those lovely aches and pains...yes, the knees, the hammies, the quads, the calves, the glutes...oh they all ache but it feels good. It makes me feel like I DID something! Crazy as it sounds, this running stuff isn't so bad.
Now whether or not I'll EVER run a marathon again after Austin, not sure about that. This training is tough, the commitment is some serious stuff, and I'm just not sure I love it THAT much to continue on. We will see.
I don't know why I do it.
I love feeling the sense of accomplishment as I sit and reflect on my run 12 hours later. 12 hours ago I thought THIS SUCKS, this isn't normal, why do people do it!!?? But now I sit back and think, well it wasn't THAT bad, no actually, it was AWESOME! LOL
Like I said, I think I'm a little crazy.
How in the HELL am I going to add 6 more when I barely made it to 20?
All heart, I guess.
Here's to "Running My Race"!! Now the taper to race day begins! :o)
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