Esta gui!!

I'm still here, and I've been running my butt off, literally! Seriously. I need to get some new, smaller underwear, ha!

Last I updated I was at 50 miles down. I added 61 more miles since then with two of those runs surpassing my longest run of 13.1 miles. I'm totally amazed at myself. This past Sunday I ran 15. I never, ever before envisioned myself running a 1/2 marathon, let alone anything longer than that. Not only did I run it, I ran it in pain for the 1st 4 miles.

The course had a steep uphill climb about a 1/4 of a mile into it. I took it on hard and ended up setting fire to both achilles tendons, and my left ankle. That pain stuck with me for a full 2 miles. At the stop lights I took advantage of the wait by stretching. After hitting two miles, I thought I was in the clear until the arch in my left foot started to hurt and swelled making it feel like I was running with stuffing in my shoe. Then, it just went numb. It's the oddest feeling in the world running with a numb foot, I'll tell you. I was worried about striking the ground funny and taking a spill. Thankfully, that only lasted another couple of miles.

Aside from the 10 laps I had to do at a track, which nearly drove me insane (can't stand running in circles), the rest of the run was pretty comfortable. I actually felt encouraged about my possible success in the full marathon, which for me would be finishing it, running the full distance.

This weekend we've got a 16 miler. I don't fear it so much after the 15 miler since at the end of it I felt I could have run on a little longer. My only problem is I have been running the long runs at night and it's been taking away precious time from the family and home. My intention this weekend is to wake up super early Saturday morning and get it done before the family has time to miss me. I pray my will is strong enough to do that.  Today's the first run of the week of 4 miles. I remember when I used to groan at running 4 miles thinking it was soooo long. Now they feel like walks in the park.

111 miles down of 1000 mile goal. 889 left to go.

Yes, I am!

When I first told family and friends that I  wanted to run my first full marathon, they looked at me like I had a 3rd eye, or ask "why the hell would you WANT to do that?". Periodically since the announcement, if I mentioned getting a run in for "training" I usually get the "are you REALLY going to run that marathon?". I'd hear so much doubt, and sometimes disgust, that my answers were usually along the lines of, "yeah, I'd like to if I can", or "I think so". Started to second guess myself and abilities. I get little support beyond my husband and kids, so committing to the training was an effort for the first couple months. I messed with the schedule to work it around having fun, and missed a couple long runs. That hadn't helped my already weakening resolve to meet this goal.

This past week though has been impressive for me. I followed the schedule after a week off, and I found myself more committed than I was the very first week I had started this training. On Saturday's long run of 12 miles, the weather was crap, I got nervous not seeing many runners out, but I forged on. I shushed the whiny sloth within as I stomped to my starting spot and warmed up. As soon as I trotted off, I felt a surge in self confidence. At that moment, I knew that I had the discipline and determination to finish the 2nd half of this training, and eventually have a decent go at my first ever full marathon. Ask me now if I'm REALLY going to run it. I will tell you with confidence, "Yes, I am!".

50 miles down. 950 more to go of my 1000 mile goal.

Oh, let me tell you. I will not forget to use this product EVER again on any run longer than 10 miles. My chest is very angry that I did this past weekend. Also, will need to find new jog bras that fit better with less bulky seams around the edges where this product should have been applied. Lady runners, I know you feel me!

Back on it, doggonit!

Ok, I pinky promise I'll stick to the schedule this week. No more holiday indoor footy to cheat on it  with, and I officially turned down coaching my middle school soccer team to get focused, so no putzing around. I'll have to at least finish the marathon to justify that decision, and that won't happen at the rate I've been going. Well, I'll finish, but the truck that picks up the course cones after the last runner will be right behind me.

19 of 1000 miles down. 981 to go. Work it out, Blanda!

Break, break!

My first, and hopefully my last (I doubt this), week of zero miles in several months. I ran into a little bump on my road to marathon readiness. Having scheduled my 18 week training program a few weeks off mark,  and totally freaking out over it, I've decided to take a break. Yeah, a little late in the week, and due to silly issues when injured runners are chomping at the bit to hit the pavement, but I think it'll give my tired legs some time to repair. The runs of last week were tired and sore. Felt over all fatigued. I'm hoping this little break will have me feeling refreshed physically and mentally for a motivated restart next week.

1000 mile count on pause. Just this week, I promise.

Drama Queen

I can run with jacked up ankles and knees, but I have a hard time getting motivated to run if I'm sad. I'm quite the drama queen when my husband and I have disagreements. We were not on the same page yesterday, which is rare, and I let it slow my roll. Missed my mid-week long run. Now I'll have to make up for it today and the rest of the week's runs will be shifted closer together making recovery miserable AGAIN. 

1000 mile count temporarily stalled. Picked myself up and dusted my knees off. Game on!

Kill Your Coach!

 Jungle rules indoor soccer

Today I cheated. I switched up my usual Sunday cross training day with today's 4 mile run. It's ok, right? As long as I run the dreaded mid week UGH and Saturday OMG long runs?

As usual, everyone wanted to be on the team that played against the coaches so they could pelt us for two hours with very strong, bruise inducing shots and passes. Always a good time. A particularly fun moment was when I went out wide for a pass, but went a tad TOO wide and wrecked with the bleachers. That's definitely going to leave a mark.

8 miles tomorrow.

What was I thinking?

 Beautiful, but deadly on the night of January 2, 2011.

I have no idea what I was thinking. I ran 4 miles on Thursday after playing 1.5 hours of a crunching, bruising game of indoor "kill your football coach" (best friend and I being the coaches). Friday being new year's eve, I got swept away by the idea of closing out the year with a 5 miler on the most beautiful 5k course on Guam, which also happens to be uphill for at least half of it. New year's day I felt the need to start off the year on the right foot with a 6 mile run. That foot was sore and quite angry.

Come the long run of the week that should not be missed no matter what you do during the week of short runs, I'm thoroughly fatigued, and carrying a hangover that started Friday morning. What should have been 15 miles was shortened to 12 due to Mister being back late from watching UFC fights. Almost canceled it, but as I had my fanny pack of fluids and my recovery drink prepared, upon his return I quickly threw my gear on and headed out for the run.

From the second I took off I felt tightness in every muscle from tush to toe. To make it even more fun, it goes right into a 45 degree angled hill. My calves were pissed off! They seized up in "pre-cramp conditions" and didn't let up till 3 miles in. Throughout the run I watched ambulances and police vehicles fly up and down my course. It gave me a feeling of dread that I couldn't shake. I decided to reduce the run to 10 miles because of it. Little did I know that some silly woman running in the dark was not in danger that night, but Guam had lost two of her babies to the waters. The interesting thing was that I had run alongside a bay and noticed the water was unusually high and choppy. I wondered why there were people still in the water with their kids in the dark. Anyway, that was the reason I cut the run short. Not because I was slackity slackin'.

Thank goodness I decided to cut it short though because every step for the final three miles was excruciating. The one thing that I have a hard time doing is walking. The only time I've ever walked during a run was when I had children with me. Even when I was pregnant I at least made the motions of running. Having it beaten into my head for 10+ years by my football coaches that walking means you are not starting 11 material has traumatized me. Walking means quitting in my warped mind. I was THIS close to doing it, but gimped through. What did I achieve with that? Not a damn thing. There's no team to make, and I felt like crap afterward.

What did I learn from this past week of pain and torture? I'm not 20 anymore, holiday cheer and lack of sleep have a huge affect on recovery between runs, and if  I'm my only competition, I will always win, so walking to avoid injury and totally hating the experience isn't the horrible thing I make it out to be.

15 miles down. 985 to go.

Happy New Year!

Adios, 2010. Welcome, 2011.

Ah, the giddiness and fresh "new sheets" smell of a new year. Gives me hope where the end of the previous year leaves me despairing over accomplishments unachieved.

This will be the first time ever I will be putting another hobby before football. As I get older, I realize that the rigors of my beloved sport will not be kind to my aging joints. While football leaves me recovering for days after a match, running is always gentle and kind to me. I am at the point in my athletic life where gentle and kind are preferred.

My goals for the new year are to run my first full marathon and run 1000 quality miles. I have some doubters, and pshawers, but they just fuel my desire to accomplish them.

Today, 1/1/11, I ran the first 6 miles of my 1000 mile goal. Felt like shit, but got'er done. Bring on the remaining 994 miles. At this point, strong mentally and in the lungs, but the arches and achilles tendon in the left leg aren't at 100%. I'm hoping new, properly fitting shoes and losing about 10 more pounds will help.

Bring it, 2011.