Log my miles as I train for the Rt.66 Marathon

I was supposed to only go three but wound up looking for my friend, Sue, who was by herself on the river path in the dark – so instead ran 6 and a half. I was running fast because it was dark and a little creepy, even though I had my trusty Golden Retriever with me. I just felt so strong and happy! Like I never wanted to stop!

Funnily enough, Sue had just gone out another quarter mile and turned back, and somehow I missed seeing her. Finally I called her and she was back at the picnic table with the group the whole time! So then another friend said she’d come get me in her truck. I said nope, I wanted to run and so she ran out to run in with me. Beautiful night for a run!

This friend who’s the leader of our group will ALWAYS wait ‘til the last person has run in, or, more likely go out and find them and run in with them. I appreciate that about her so much!

When I got back to the picnic table it was so good to see my friends there, waiting.

It was so great to be out there with my friends.

This has been a hard week. I’m not sick, but just utterly exhausted and a little blue. I think the dark days and the cold are getting me down a little. All I’ve wanted to do is sleep and eat after work. My overly-full tummy has prevented my running. I did, however, manage to get my lazy rear-end to the gym once for cycling and weights.

It kept going off after ten minutes so I’m not totally sure of my distance. I did three sets of ten minutes at about 10 minute miles, but some warm-up and cool-down thrown in there. So then I just did another half mile for good measure. It’s not fun, but it beats running in the dark.

I’d been running a mile then walking a brief minute before repeating that pattern during my long runs. I’d had problems on and off with shin splints and horrible pain in my foot from Morton’s Neuroma. I also tended to wear out and slow down toward the end and would then switch to running only half miles before walking a minute.

Well, yesterday, I ran with a friend who was trying out what she called the Galloway method of running six minutes then walking one minute, and I found that to be really MUCH BETTER for me. I’d actually avoided running with this person as she’d been a bit of a fanatic (IMO) who’d repeatedly pushed herself too hard and wound up injured and miserable. Well, it turns out that she’s since learned her lesson from THAT and was a wealth of information for me of what NOT to do and what helps her.

The miles flew by easily! Even with stopping twice to chitchat on the trail with friends we passed, going to the restroom twice, stopping to massage my foot twice, we managed to finish the 18 (as far as she was going) in about four hours! I felt fantastic and sprinted to the mile marker with some runners who’d been waiting there! It was great!

I hugged my friend goodbye and continued on another mile out and back. For some reason “20 miles” seemed like an important distance to get under my belt before race day. I finished in well under 4 and a half hours (not sure exactly) then continued running and walking in a small loop until my husband finally arrived to pick me up! I ran just under 21 miles and felt like I actually had another 6 or so in me!

Also, my foot didn’t start hurting at the usual 6 or so miles out, but rather felt fine until 11 and a half miles! The pain came fast and hot and hard then, but as soon as I massaged it a few minutes I felt like I had a new foot. I told my friend I’d likely have to stop and massage it again every mile or two when the pain returned, but – miracle of miracles! – it felt FINE until four and a half miles later! I massaged it again and it was fine for the rest of my run! Could it be getting better?

Boy did I need that! My confidence and spirit were really lagging after that bad attempt at a long run last week! Besides the gorgeous weather and a great run, God brought some awesome, experienced marathoner friends to me who really encouraged and reassured me. One led a prayer for us all, since this was our final long run before the three week taper. I just feel so much peace and and positivity right now. I’m really thankful for my health and my supportive running group right now.

Last Friday I’d planned on doing a long run of at least 18 miles. Well, the good news is I learned a lot from that attempt. The bad news is every little thing seemed to go very wrong and I only ran about eight instead. I overslept and had a plane to Chicago to catch that afternoon, so that cut my run short from the get-go. I went (by myself – a mistake)) a different direction on an unfamiliar trail and it took me down secluded, creepy trails. My MP3 Player battery went dead about the time my shin splints started to scream at me. Menstrual cramps made breathing in deeply (especially sniffling) a sharp shooting pain in my lower back. No drinking fountains on this trail. My Morton’s Neuroma acted up and every step with that foot was like a red hot knife stabbing in it. I actually called my sister, intending to ask her to come pick me up, but she wasn’t there. When Hubby later commented how tough I was for not giving up, I conveniently left out that part. Anyway, This Saturday or Sunday I’ll do my last long run before my taper. I hope it will go better. I’m sure I’ll prepare and plan better.

Cold and rainy so I went to my new gym for the first time to run the treadmill. I wanted to run at least six (6-8) miles, but stopped after five. I absolutely don’t like treadmill running. All my miles were about 9 to 9 and 1/2 minute ones, though. Fast for me! I stopped in between each mile to stretch my tight calves and shins.

I fairly flew tonight. Four and a half miles with friends at the river. I really needed that!

Wah, Wah….
Nothing seemed seriously wrong on this run but nothing really seemed right either. My shins hurt. I felt slightly feverish. My bladder felt weird when I ran. Not even one song on my MP3 Player made me want to run or even walk fast. My dog almost tripped me, so that made me extra cautious. Just a little off tonight, I guess.