"Hard Run"

Whoever named this run the Hard Run is crazy. "Torture Run" is more appropriate. Last night I picked out this run and I knew that it was going to be hard. But I didn't know how mentally challenging it would be. Mentally, this run has been my most difficult run thus far in the whole training process. Before I even hit the one-mile mark I already encountered my first big hill (the hill is located in Carousel Park and it is a good place to do hill repeats for anyone interested). The Paper Mill Road hill was killer and I had to stop once I got to the top. I just couldn't think straight at that point (at the 6-mile mark). My thoughts were wondering, but I got it together and kept going. Once I was out on Limestone Road I could feel my stride getting better, but I hit another wall not too far down the road. At the shopping center where Purebread and Wilmington Trust are I stopped again. At this point I contemplated walking over to the fountain in the parking lot to splash my face and I also realized my house was closer than where my car was parked at Carousel Park. I just wanted to quit and walk home, but then I realized I wouldn't have been able to get in my house! So I manned up and started running again, but my body was really not feeling it. From now on I will not park my car in a spot that's further than my house. It really played with my head.

The hills in this run didn't necessarily kill me - it was dehydration and heat. I worked through it, but I had to keep telling myself positive thoughts. All I could think about was... dang, 26.2 miles is really going to be hard. But then I reminded myself that there will be water stops and hopefully it won't be super hot. I HAVE to start drinking more water. I am also thinking about buying once of those silly looking fuel belts. I don't know if I can wear it though. What are your thoughts on the fuel belts? If I don't buy one of those, I am just going to plan to have someone meet me at the halfway point of my runs with water. I ate 2 ShotBloks during this run and they did help a bit. I am also going to start looking at the weather forecast and use that in addition to my schedule to plan my long runs. Looking back on the past week this is what my training looked like:

Monday: Mountain cycling class (I'd really like to thank the instructor for making us do hill climbs for an hour straight. I honestly think they helped me get up the hills today)
Tuesday: 3.5 miles
Wednesday: Body Pump
Thursday: 5.25 miles
Friday: Body Pump
Saturday: Off
Sunday: 7.78 miles

This week (training week 3 of 18):
Monday: Cycling class
Tuesday: 4 miles
Wednesday: Body Pump
Thursday: 5 miles
Friday: 3.5 miles
Saturday: Anywhere from 3-5 miles (my training schedule calls for my long run to be 5 miles this week)
Sunday: Off

Peace. Love. Run.

Blogging Machine!

My blog has been rejuvenated! I've jazzed it up a bit with a fun template and a new header!

This morning I ran 5 miles and, boy, was it hot!! I was really feeling it today. I definitely wasn't prepared to run. I need to drink more water. I was doing really well with my water intake last week, but I fell off the wagon. It's been 90+ degrees here in Delaware for at least five days now. I encourage everyone who wants to get their runs in to either do it early in the morning or in the evening as the sun sets.

I'm looking forward to this weekend's long run. I'm planning to do 8 miles and it will be my longest run since the half marathon on May 16. I like using mapmyrun.com to find new running routes.

Can't Think of a Title.

I'm going to be a better blogger. Today I learned that someone started running because of my blog and once I stopped blogging she stopped running. We can't be having that. Several of my friends are doing Couch to 5k training and I'm really proud of all of them. It's not easy to start a new running routine, but once you start many get hooked! I know I've been hooked!

I'm now into the second week of training for the marathon. I feel like my body is getting back into the swing of training. On Monday I went to RPM class, yesterday I ran 3.5, this morning I did Body Pump and tomorrow I'm planning to run anywhere from 4-6 miles. My long run this week is 7 miles. I will probably bump that up to 8 miles as I ran 7 miles on Saturday morning with no problem.

I'm ready for marathon training as you can tell by the picture on the right! I love training with ShotBloks. They really give me the energy to keep going on the long runs. I am also obsessed with peanut butter so I bought a jar of powdered peanut butter because it has a lot less calories than regular peanut butter. In addition to writing about my training I'm also going to talk about what I'm eating as I'm training. My new blog name is I Run So I Can Eat. I am no longer running slow so I thought it was time for a blog name change!

Most of my running friends run because they love to eat. If I didn't live such an active lifestyle I would probably weigh about 300 pounds. No joke. As I train for the marathon I am going to make a conscious effort to eat well, but I'll probably cheat... a lot.

While Sarah and I were running on Saturday morning she decided it would be a good idea for me to finish the Baltimore Marathon in under 3:55 because first-time marathoners who finish in under that time win a cash prize. I think it's unattainable, but she has confidence so I'm going to train this summer with that goal in mind. I'll need to keep a steady pace of 8:55. I ran the half marathon with a pace of 8:39 so it may be possible, but 26.2 miles is a lot further than 13.1!

Peace. Love. Run.

I'm a bad blogger

My bad. I haven't updated in over a month. Since the half marathon I've been running here and there (nothing too intense) and have been doing a lot of RPM and Body Pump classes at the gym. However, I'm back on the saddle and marathon training officially began on Monday! This time around I'm following Hal Higdon's 18-week novice marathon training plan. I originally was planning to do an intermediate schedule, but I still like doing classes at the gym, so novice worked better with my schedule. I'll probably not follow his schedule to a T - right now I feel 3 miles is too short. When the longer long runs come around, I will definitely be following his schedule. I'm also planning to incorporate some interval and hill training in my schedule

I'm excited for the marathon, but I know I have a lot of work ahead of me.

This week's schedule was/is: (what I actually did or will do is in parenthesis)

Monday: Rest (RPM class)
Tuesday: 3 miles (3.5 miles)
Wednesday: 3 miles (6 miles on the treadmill)
Thursday: 3 miles (3.5 miles)
Friday: Rest (Body Pump class)
Saturday: 6 miles (I think this will probably be an 8 mile run)
Sunday: Cross train (rest)

So my first post post half-marathon and pre-marathon. Bring it!

Peace. Love. Run.