9 days to go!!

I can't believe there's only 9 days to go until my first marathon!!! I can't wait to run it. It's going to be amazing! Plus, keep an eye out for Saturday cause I have a great giveaway coming to celebrate my marathon. :)

I have to be honest though, I was SOO pumped for this marathon, but once I started having IT band issues I have lost almost all motivation. The only thing that's been keeping me going are the long runs each week. I love my long runs.I think that's a big reason I've been slacking on my blog, it's not just because the laptop's in the shop. I don't know what my problem is, but somethings gotta change!  I've lost my "muchness".
This morning was a changing point for me. I got up and took the kids on a run around the lake. I started out walking, just cause I'm not used to running with a stroller. Anyway, I start to run and B, my 5 yr old says, "Mom, are you running?" I reply, "Yep, I'm running." B says, "Are you sure mom cause grandma goes a lot faster when she runs." Hahaha! Why, thanks B...I'm glad to know that you don't even know when I'm running cause I'm THAT slow...

Then after picking up my pace to show B that I can run fast too, I stop to walk cause I'm a slacker like that. After walking for about .25 B says, "Mom, can you run again when you get to that tree?" So, I run as fast as I can until I get to the tree and walk again... So, after another .25 she says, "Mom, can you run across the bridge?" "Sure, B...I can run across it."

It's sad when your 5yr old realizes that you aren't putting in 100% and makes you do Fartleks just so you get a workout. :) For the whole 5+ miles she had me running to different things and running down hills until I reached a certain point.

Thanks B, for helping me realize that I need to put in 100% when I set a goal. I love ya girl! :)

Today I did 5 miles, Monday I did 2. I skipped yesterday cause I didn't make it a priority. Tomorrow, I'm getting up early and doing the same thing I did today, but running a lot more of it.

A little blah & a TON of faith.

Blah.
That's all there is to say today.....


Ok, so not really. Today was a GREAT day for everything in my life other than running. I'm just getting jealous of everyone out there running, that's all.

I just gotta have faith. Here's me having faith...ready?

I am going to run this marathon and I'm going to be 100% by Monday of next week. YOU HEAR ME? I'M GOING TO BE 100% BY MONDAY. I AM! You wait and see.

I need some tips.

Ok, so I skipped today's run because the muscles (I think) right above my right knee and right below my left knee are sore. Not sore where I want to cry cause it hurts, the the sore where I think to my self, "Self, is it a great idea to not run today or are you gonna hurt yourself if you do run?"

What do you guys think. Do you think it's an injury? I'm not 100% sure it is. Do you think I'm not getting enough calcium? I'm thinking it could be a possibility. Am I not stretching or cooling down/warming up enough after runs? Maybe.

I need to know what you guys do to keep the achy knees away. What are your tips?

Just a quick post from my phone

Isn't it cool that you can write a blog post from your phone?

So, today we decided to go with J
on an over night work trip to Reno. I thought I'd find a local high school track to run at, but when we got here it was a different story. Reno is SCARY! (Sorry to anyone who lives in or likes Reno to run in.) There is no way I am going to run alone here. I'll just have to make up my run tomorrow when I get home.

That's how today went. I would have gone this morning before we left, but that would have meant that I needed to get up and run at 2 on the morning and that wasn't going to happen.

Anyway, things are good and we're having fun. :) I hope everyone else had some fun runs today.

Life Happens

So, today was a crazy day and I didn't take advantage of running early in the morning, so I missed out on my run. Tomorrow I'll run 6 in the morning and then I'll do an easy 3 on Friday before my 1/2. Busy, busy, busy!

Keep an eye out, I might have something special to celebrate my first half. :)

Blah, blah, blah...

So, I missed today's run. Maybe I'll do a double day tomorrow, we'll see.

Today was a very busy day and the whole daylight savings thing is still throwing me off.

I'm going to bed now and crossing my fingers that I get up and run before the crazy day starts.

Another race

The alarm went off at 5:30, I got up and looked outside and saw....SNOW....lots of snow...snow coming down in big flakes. Ok, so here's the silly part, I got out  and ran all winter long, snow, ice, whatever, I ran. Today I saw the snow and thought "There is no way I'm running in that!" So, I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep. LOL! The crazy thing, all the snow melted by 4, but by then life had taken over and I wasn't able to get my run in. I did race my little girl on her bike a few times. She wanted me to run as fast as a could. It was fun. The joys of being a momma. :)

Tomorrow is March's race. Run for Red 5k! This race, 3 years ago, was the 2nd 5k I had ever ran. The first was in high school and doesn't really count cause I walked 95% of it. I really enjoy running this race just to see how much faster I can run it each year. This time I'm hoping to run it in less than 30 minutes. That will be my fastest 5k yet. Maybe resting today will give me an even better chance to run it in under 30. Is it weird that I still get nervous for 5ks? The REALLY crazy thing...I have my first 1/2 marathon in 3 weeks! CRAAAAZY!! I remember thinking that all those people, including my little bro, running the Provo City 1/2 were NUTS. But, this year, before July, I will have ran 3 5ks, 2 10ks, 1 10 miler, 2 Half Marathons, and 1 WHOLE marathon! Crazy.... I would have never thought I could do that last year. It's amazing what losing almost 50 pounds can do.

Today's food was pretty good. I had lots of veggies. :)

A Wall...

I still haven't gotten my 8 mile tempo run done today...I'm hoping to get it done in the next hour or so, but you know what, I feel like I've hit some sort of running wall. I've lost my motivation and it's SOOO hard to get out the door. Maybe its because its the TOM or maybe cause I'm really getting into the bigger miles of marathon training, but I hit a wall and I hit it hard. Let's hope things change after my run, if I ever get my butt out there to do it.

Yep....

So, my 5 miler ended up being only 1.25 because I was procrastinating and didn't end up running until about 5. Plus, I've been wearing some new shoes, not a fan...I gotta ditch them. My arches and muscles weren't enjoying them. Tomorrow's run will be awesome and I'm REALLY REALLY hoping to get it done early.

I was really happy with my food today. Lots of good food! Oatmeal, Buffalo Chicken Wraps, and Taco Rice...YUM! Oh, the planter's NUTrition Energy Mix....YUUUUUM!! I love the chocolate pieces, and that's coming from someone who's not a chocolate fan.

I hope you all had a better run than I did today! Here's to a better day tomorrow. :)

Ok, so...yeah....

Staying up until 1:45 and then being only 1/2 asleep cause the little one's not feeling good, then getting up at 7 to take Uncle Jon to school and then not feeling 100% cause I'm catching whatever little Annabelle's got...not the greatest idea.

So, I'm taking today off cause I want to feel 100% for Saturday's 10 miler. I'm going to bed before 10 for sure today...I gotta sleep. Jason's home so it'll be easier to sleep. It's always easier to sleep through the night when he's home.

I hate when I have that internal conflict...Do I run? Do I rest? What should I do?? I usually choose to push through it and run, but today I'm going with rest. I'm thinking it'll be better for me in the long run and I don't want to burn myself out, ya know?

I'm being a sissy....

I got dressed to go for my run this morning, but life happened and I ended up not going for my run. I'm blaming it on my itchy gums. :)

Shoulda, would, coulda...

I got up this morning at 6 for a family video conference call. My parents got their official mission president call....BUT I can't say where until the 10th. lol It's a crazy cool place though!

I shoulda gone for my run.......


*******We interrupt this program for a good KICK IN THE BUTT!*********

So, while writing that I should have gone on my run this morning after the conference call and that I ended up missing my run today, I decided to give myself a good kick in the butt and get myself out the door. Sure, it was 9 at night and it was dark and I really wanted to just go to sleep, but I got myself off the couch, got dressed, and went for my run.

Sometimes you just have to kick yourself and say, "Self, you're better than this whole being lazy thing. You need this run and you know you'll be a better person if you do it." That's what I did. I got up, told myself I had to do this and that even though it's "just 3 miles" it's part of my training and I can't skip out on it.

I feel so much better now that I did my run for today. I know it would have been more beneficial for me with all the "fun" events that happened today if I would have done it this morning when I was dressed and ready. But, I did it, I got it in. I beat that negative self talk.

I've found that running is a MAJOR mental thing. Sure, it takes a lot of effort physically, but I think it's more of a mental thing. There's a lot of self talk involved in running. A lot of kicking out the negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. Some days you REALLY don't want to run and it's the hardest thing in the world to get out the door and get moving, but 99% of the time when you're out there and almost done with your run you realize that it was totally worth it.

Today Brianna and Caleb thought it would be fun to draw all over the walls in their room with crayons.... Yeah, a run this morning would have made a big difference in my attitude towards that situation.... I am a LOT more patient with the kids when I run early. I just gotta get myself to bed early so I'm not so tired in the morning.

Tomorrow I have 6 miles to run, a room to paint, and a FUN dentist appointment where I'm going to get a crown and 2 fillings done. Sounds like a fun eventful day. I'm REALLY going to have to get up early and run because I KNOW I'm not going to want to run after the dentist.

Lets pray I get up and go cause right now, I'm not feeling it. lol

Urgh!

Ok, so I had 4 or 3 to do today. I went out and got part way down the street when I realized that I had 15 minutes to pick up Brianna from school and then zoom over to take Gma T to the airport. URGH! So, I got .65 miles in and went back home and got ready for that. Again, I could have done the treadmill, but I really want my legs fresh for Saturday.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to have off, but I also have the option of doing 3 miles. I'm thinking I'll do the 3 miles after I pick up Jason from the airport. Maybe him and I can go to the gym and I'll run around the indoor track while he does the treadmill. We'll see.

I'm thinking I might be able to get the rest of my miles tonight by running around cleaning the house before my man comes home. That counts, right? :)

Soo...yeah.

I took today off. I had so much running around to do and Gma T wasn't home for most of the day so, I didn't get much time to go out and run. I guess I could have run on the treadmill, but I'm trying to take it easy before the race and running on the treadmill takes a LOT of effort. Hahaha! So, today was an off day and I'm not beating myself up about it. :)

Tomorrow I have 4 or 3 miles, I'm thinking I'm going to go with the 3 miles. I don't remember if I said it yesterday or not, but my muscles below my shins hurt. It's from running in the snow and working out those muscles. I want to be fresh for my run on Saturday so, I'm going to take it light the rest of this week. It's so weird to say that going 3 miles or even 4 is taking it light. A year ago there was no way I would have thought running that much was light training.

I got an email yesterday verifying my race and they had me set to run the 5k. No way! I want to run the 10k! So, I emailed them back and they got it all figured out. They were looking at the receipt for the 5k race I ran with them last October. Good thing they sent out that email. It would have sucked to get there and run the 10k and them only have me down for the 5k. It's gonna be a good race. I'm excited. The only thing though....there's a massive hill at the end of the race. Oooh, I hope I've got the energy I need. :) Maybe I'll take a GU with me. Some caffeine will help. I want to run this one faster than my last (and first 10k) at 1.10.34. I think I can totally do it. It would be awesome if I could get it under an hour, but I'm kinda thinking that's a lot to ask. But, it would be awesome. :)