To Finish What You've Started.

I suppose I was well-intentioned when I originally said that I would document my marathon training through this blog. 

Whoops. 

Well, I guess I'm here now, aren't I? 

I am a month and a half into training for the 2013 Detroit Marathon. I guess I can confidently say things are going okay so far. Except one tumble which left my face looking less than desirable for about 2 weeks. Let's just say I'm glad I don't date ever. I was looking like a hot mess. 

This week has been admittedly rough. I'm feeling especially sore and tired. And I felt dizzy yesterday, which wasn't cool. I drank a ton of water yesterday and today and that's helped a bit. But I have taken it easy these last two days because of it. I've got 12 miles planned for Saturday, so hopefully I can hold myself together until then. 

Mentally, it's been going decent as well. My long runs can get a little lonely and boring towards the end. And sometimes I'm pretty sure no one around me understands why I'm doing this. (Except the hand-full of runners I know). And truthfully, I still feel a little weird about it. 

I feel weird because it's something that not many people do, and goodness knows I never would have seen myself doing. But here I am. 

I was talking to a friend earlier about finding motivators. My motivator is to finish what I started. On October 20th, I want to be able to proudly say, "I ran a marathon today". I really do. 

Next week my training plan calls for 14 miles. That'll be the farthest I've ran. It's only .90 more, but still. I'll be passing up that 13.1 mark, with no medal or crazy crowd waiting for me. And the following week I'll have to do more, unlike the lovely resting week I give myself after the half marathons. 

So here I am, still going at it. Pray for me. Things are about to really pick up and I could really use the support. This mess isn't easy. 

But I guess, in the long run, that's why we do it. 

80% Mental. 40% Physical.

I am three weeks into my marathon training. So far so good.

I'm still not a fan of wind. Breezes I can get down with though. It's beautiful. I purchased a hat that wicks sweat so that's been key in the prevention of sweat in the eyes. One more thing I learned, don't run at a metro park without bug spray. Last Saturday I got attacked by horseflies. Though swatting them away helped me not focus on how much I had to run.

Running is a mental game. Just like in the movie Little Giants (yay childhood!), they said "Football is 80% mental and 40% physical". Though the math doesn't quite add up. It makes perfect sense with running. My mind goes a million miles a minute when I'm running. The constant, "I'm tired". "I have to run THAT many more miles". "I could stop..." It's a constant battle. I wonder if I'm the only runner who does that. And yes, I am referring to myself as a runner. I think I deserve it.

My longest long run thus far has been six miles. It felt so good when I got done. My knee hurt later, once the endorphins wore off, but still. Tomorrow I have to run seven miles. What's one more?? That's my new philosophy for my long runs, "What's one more?"

I talk to God a lot when I'm running. I know He's the only reason I have to strength and ability to actually accomplish this mess. I am essentially breaking myself down mentally and physically and it's putting me in a nice and vulnerable place to be able to talk to God. It's pretty great. I praise Him for giving me the strength and motivation to try and accomplish this goal. And I plead with Him to take the fatigue and horseflies away. It's one of those things where you can never ask God for something too little. I know we forget that sometimes. That God is there for the day-to-day things as well.

God's so big, He's even in the little things.

Well that's my running update so far. I want to post something just for lady runners, but y'all will be sufficiently warned beforehard. :)

God Bless you all. And happy running.

Marathon training day 1

So here is the conclusion I've come to. I'm going to start training as if I'm running the full marathon, which is my plan. But if I am physically unable to keep up with that, I may just run the half and make the full my goal for next year. You might be thinking, "Well why the defeatist attitude?" I'm just being realistic. I may not be able to physically do it. And I don't want to injury myself to the point where I may never be able to even think about attempting a marathon in the future.

Aside from that, today was the first day of official training. I was little pessimistic because my diet wasn't super great this weekend. I went to Indiana to visit Meredith and visiting anywhere doesn't always equal the greatest food choices. My run went well considering. I ran about a 11-min mile, which is really what I'm aiming for. If it inadvertently improves over the course of the next couple months, great, but I'm not trying to win any awards here. Just to finish the race, and accomplish a personal goal.

So a couple things I noticed today.
-I don't like running into wind.
-However, the wind is useful, as it drys the sweat on my face which would otherwise be going into my eyes.
-I need a sweatband.
-Not a fan of hills either, but I realized today that if I pay attention to my breathing, I am able to get it back to normal.
-I need shorts. Ick.

Alright. Day 1 completed! I'm pretty excited overall. And a little scared.

I just have to remember this one little things: If it were supposed to be easy, everyone would do it.

Aches and pains.

So far so good with the running.

I did my first "long" run on Saturday and was able to do 3 miles. I was pretty impressed with myself seeing as I haven't ran a normal pace since probably December. I ran at about an 11 min. mile pace. Which is good for me and I'm completely happy with that pace. Everything I've said that when training for a marathon, pick a pace and stick to it. So hello 11 min/mile. We're friends now.

On Saturday I did have some annoying, uncomfortableness in my hips. It didn't really hurt, really, it was just uncomfortable. It was suggested it was a hip flexor problem so I just took it easy for two days and I ran yesterday and it was fine.

My run yesterday went well also. I did 2.5 miles, as a mid-week easy run. This time my shins were hurting, BUT I suppose it's just "growing pains" if you will. I stretched and did some weight training for my legs, so hopefully I can continue to build some strength in my legs so that doesn't continue to be a problem. Shins splints are so obnoxious.

I'm doing a 5K on March 20th, to get in the zone for running outside and in races. Next step is a 10K, but I have to find one. I would really like to run the half marathon in Nashville at the end of April, as was previously suggested, because I love Nashville, but I don't think I'll be ready in time.

Well that was my marathon/running update for today :)

Obsessed.

I'm becoming obsessed with the idea of this marathon. I know so many people who blog about their kids, pregnancies, weddings, writing. I love those blogs, you learn lots by reading them. And I finally have something to contribute to that.

The last two days I've been talking to Jason about different marathon techniques and advice, as well as reading a lot online about such things and here is what I've come up with so far.

First things first, I need to change my eating habits. I'm in the process of that now and I failed yesterday (cupcake and ice cream, but am doing a little better over all. I will no go a week without hitting Subway, so I've successfully switched from ranch to sweet onion. Which, by the way, is SOO good. I also bought some almonds. Some coco coated kind, and cinnamon honey roasted. Delicious.

Second, I think I need to maybe get down a little in the weight area before I start the hardcore training around May. I'm not complaining about my weight and I don't think I'm fat. I'm just at the higher end of where I'd like to be and I feel like it'd be easier to train if I trimmed up a bit.

That's what I'm working on right now. Today for lunch I have a peanut butter and banana sandwich w/ wheat bread, yogurt, and some almonds. It's probably not enough, but I'm not like hardcore training yet, so I'll be fine.

I'm doing my first normal run tomorrow. The goal is three miles, so we'll see how that goes.

I'll keep you all updated.

I'm doing it.

Hey guys.

I'm doing it. I'm running a marathon.

Eek.

A friend texted me after I posted my last blog and convinced me to do it. He's done marathons, so I suppose I trust him that I could do this :P

I'm actually really excited. There is a lot to this process. It'll definitely be a challenge, but I'm really looking forward to being able to say, "Hey, I ran a marathon". And like I said before, I've been wanting to do it forever now and it's about time I actually put my words into action.

So I guess I can put this blog to some actual constructive use and use it to keep everyone updated on what I'm doing, training-wise as well as little nutritional tricks I pick up along the way.

Anyways, that's all. I just wanted to update everyone and when I actually start the official training, I'll let you all know how it's going.

:)