20!! Thank you, Carol

This morning Redondo Beach, CA was cool and foggy.  I started out with a long sleeve t-shirt which ended up around my waist by mile 4.  The sun was out and the entire run was along the beach.  It felt good to have much less clothing on.  My sister, Carol, after a 16 mile bike ride, met me at mile 17 with anything I could possibly need: Lance Armstrong waffle (didn't try), lip balm, much needed Hoo Ha gel (yes, that's really what it's called) for those body parts that at mile 17 are chaffed and burning but I won't go into that here, and the always needed encouragement.  She told me I was looking good so many times I started to feel it.  I finished mile 20 at her doorstep and felt almost okay.  It was fun to run together again even if it was for 3 slow miles.  We discussed the fact that our mother would be proud of us: we are in great shape and we are good friends. 

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and now I can focus on that.  I am so very thankful for my sister who is always there and my brother, Jeff, who is getting me through this seemingly impossible goal.  I am thankful for my wonderful partner, Bob, who has put up with my tiredness, my whining, and my doubts.  I am grateful for my children who are always my cheerleaders telling me that I've never quit before and I won't now.  I am grateful for all the encouraging words from family and friends.  This journey will come to its end in a few weeks, the goal is in sight and ready or not I will be at the start line on Dec 9.  It has been 13 years since my last marathon.  Will this be my last?  Ask me Dec 10.

Calculating

It was a beautiful morning, the sun was shining!  I really ran 18 miles!  I can almost see doing 20 but 26 is still way out there.  I was hoping to get a call from my favorite massage therapist, Marlene Sullivan, saying she had a cancellation and that I could come by but no such thing happened.  She's good so she is busy. She did wonders on my legs after last week's 17 miles!

So these 18 miles took me 3 hours and 27 minutes.  The last 2 miles took over 13 minutes each.  So if I calculate the rest of the race I have possibly another 2 hours of running!  Oh my.  This time my legs were so sore I could hardly walk after I got home.  I keep trying to explain to Bob that he will need to get the car to pick me up at the end of the marathon because I will not be able to make the 1/2 mile walk to the condo. 

Next week I will be in Redondo Beach, CA at my sister's when I do my 20 mile run.  It will be at least 30 degrees warmer. Oh my...

"Fun" Run

This is what I woke up to.  I thought, no way! 

Today is supposed
to be my hour fun run!

I had to do it. I got ready and ran through the snow, slush and water.  It was a very slow run but it was fun! 


The woods were beautiful and I left my mark on them...
Hopefully it will be sunny on Thursday for my 18 miler!!

SNOW!

Woke up to this today!  Lucky my core workout is inside.  What will I do this week if it keeps snowing?  I have one more long run - 18 miles - next week then I go to California for my last long 20 mile run before going to Hawaii. 
I have not had to run in the snow yet.  So I am visualizing sun for next week!

Oh my, 17!

Oh my,  17 miles today.  It was not fun, it was painful, it was scary and it brought back all the reasons why I should not be doing this.  I started out at about 9am.  It was 32 degrees and frosty but I was ready.  I ran on Fish Lake Trail.  It is a beautiful, quiet path that meanders through the pine trees.  In the 3 hours and 9 minutes I was out there I only saw 3 other people.  They appeared smarter than me, 2 were on bikes and one was walking her dog.The first 8 miles went along fine, then by mile 13 I knew I was in trouble.  I had dropped my ipod/cell phone three times!!  It was because I had to rearrange my water bottles.  I lost one glove and my legs were tired.  By mile 16 I had decided that I would break the news to everyone that it was not going to work for me to do a marathon.  Mile 17 had me thinking about hell and how I was in it that last mile.  I was sure someone had moved the mile marker since I had passed it the first time but after a quick look at my watch followed by a bad word, I realized that I was just slow.  Again I stumbled into my car and barely endured the 8 minute drive home.  My legs were really hurting and I felt sick. 

I have started using a plant based product called Vega Sport and took that as soon as I got into the house.  It is now 2 1/2 hours later and now I am just sore and tired.  Luckily I am on my way to see massage therapist, Marlene.  I know she will help me feel better.

As far as next weeks 18 miles, well, I guess I might give it a try...

Doubts

Yesterday I ran 16 miles.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was out, it was over 55 degrees.  It was my most difficult run yet.  At mile 1.5, I decided that I would not be doing the marathon.  About mile 7, I decided not to make any definite decisions and would just see how it went.  I was looking forward to mile 11 when I could eat my not-so-good-tasting gel pack.  Then by mile 12.5 when I had expected that energy boost to kick in, it didn't.  By mile 14 I knew there would be no boost and my legs hurt and I told myself that I was really crazy.  I have such a wonderful life, fabulous partner, things are good and easy so why am I doing this?  At that moment I had no answer. 

Lucky I got to 16.0 at my car door.  Stumbled in, drove home, hobbled up the 2 steps, ate, then fell onto the couch with doubts hovering all around.  I realize this is the first time I am training for a marathon without my running partner and sister, Carol.  That makes it much more difficult, I am older, started out being less in shape.  Yes, excuses.  My brother, coach Jeff, set the bar very high this weekend with his Exterra Triathlon in which he crashed a number of times, once cutting his ankle so bad he needed 10 stitches.  What did he do?  He wrapped his ankle with his t-shirt, told Krista, his partner, in the bike-run transition area to meet him at the medic tent AFTER he did the run so he could get stitches.  Yes, he finished the run then got his ankle stitched.

This morning my daughter gave me a lecture too.  She said, "we don't quit."  She pointed out that I would feel worst if I didn't do the race.  Coach wrote: you can do this!!! follow the schedule! 

OKAY, I will continue...