Less Than 5 Weeks to Go!

I really cannot even wrap my mind around the fact that there are less than 5 weeks left until the marathon.  It's super exciting to see the end of all this training in sight, and it's feeling a lot more real now as it gets so close.  It's also super scary to think about how close it is; I'm already getting butterflies!  I just keep telling myself that in the scheme of things, it's only a few hours worth of time, my body and my mind can and will get through it!!

So there has been a lot going on since I last posted.  Easter Sunday was a 16 mile run, and I decided to drive down to Oceanside after church to run on the bike trail.  From where I park my car it's a little over 7 miles to the end of the trail and you pretty much run right into the Oceanside Harbor, which is a pretty good half-way point view.  I ran by the harbor and some restaurants to reach the 8 mile turn-around point, where I stopped to tighten my shoe laces, eat/swallow a GU, and get a gulp of water.  I was feeling good so far, it was a little bit warmer than I would have liked, but I had been running into the wind which kept me feeling pretty cool.  That changed when I turned around and ran back, there was no air and it had gotten even more warm, but it was still manageable.  I started getting pretty tired about the 12 mile mark where I stopped in some shade to get a drink and turn towards the breeze to get some air.  The last 4 miles were a bit of a struggle as my legs and feet started to ache, but when I got done I felt great, and was really excited to have made it that far for the first time.  I was still intimidated at the thought of having to run 10 more for the race though.  To help quicken up recovery I decided that it was time for my first ice-bath.  I have read that it is very beneficial for runners during marathon training and after talking to a friend who has implemented them into his training, I decided to give it a try.  I went with his advice of sitting in the tub first with no water, then turning on the cold water and getting used to it, then adding the ice and staying in for 12 minutes.  I wrapped my upper body in a towel, set my timer for 12 minutes and it was over before I knew it.  For as bad as an ice-bath sounds (I'm the person who won't go in the pool unless its at least 85) it really was not as hard as I thought it would be, and have since done it again.

I had a great week of training after the 16 miles, and was all ready to tackle 18 miles this past Sunday, when I started my period the night before (boys, you really don't understand how good you have it, not having to deal with this problem).  This time, because it is such a far distance, I decided to postpone the run until Monday morning when I would be feeling better.  Well... I did a lot of things wrong Monday morning including: not waking up early enough to beat the heat, letting too much time pass between when I ate my bagel with peanut butter, and when I left for my run, and being indecisive about where I was going to run.  I was feeling a little bit defeated before I even started which is not good before you are setting out to tackle 18 miles!  Long story short,  I ended up only completing 13 miles, and feeling like a complete failure!  The ups and downs of running really can be extreme; one run you can feel like you are a superstar who can tackle anything and the next you can feel like you completely suck and question your sanity for even thinking you might be able to run a marathon. But, like everything else in life, you can choose to be defeated by a setback, or you can learn from it, and I choose the second option!

The major reason I stopped my run short Monday is because I was starving! I had burned almost 1,500 calories and literally felt empty inside.  My GU's were just not cutting it.  I am definitely worried about this for the marathon distance so I talked to a friend who recommended I try a different gel that has more calories and nutrients that my body needs during such a long distance.  I read a lot of reviews and articles on the following gel and am definitely going to give it a try on my next 18 mile run in a couple of weeks. (any tips or advice on staying fueled up during long distances would be greatly appreciated!)

So last, but not least, I think I may have a small injury on the outer side of my left foot, as it is sore to walk on, especially after I have been sitting for a while, or when I first wake up.  Up until now it has not bothered my at all during my running, but I could feel it slightly on today's run.  I am icing it and hoping it's nothing that will hinder the rest of my training or the marathon (fingers tightly crossed). As always I am thankful for this journey and trying to really appreciate every part of it!

Enjoying the Scenery

So I have noticed that it can sometimes be hard to appreciate the scenery around you while you are in the middle of a long or tough run; sometimes the last thing you are thinking about or even care about  is what is going on around you.  However, I would urge everybody to take some time to look around and really appreciate your surroundings when running, it really can make the run so much more enjoyable, maybe even a little bit relaxing, and definitely something to be thankful for.  When I start to feel tired or start to dread the miles ahead I try to refocus and distract myself with seeing the beauty around me, as corny as that might sound, it really does make it more worthwhile.

I had a great run this past weekend with my best friend who rented a bike so I wouldn't have to run alone.  I was visiting her for a much needed girl's weekend, but knew that I couldn't skip my run on account of being away from home.  I decided to take advantage of my location and we took the short drive down to Venice Beach.  We got on the boardwalk passing by such a diverse group of people (Venice Beach truly is a cultural experience), heading on towards the Santa Monica Pier and the excitement of the roller coasters, restaurants, and beach goers, and ending at the incredibly beautiful and serene beaches of Malibu before turning around and heading back.  The weather was perfect, the sun shining with a little breeze, and the people watching was awesome!  I decided from the beginning that I was going to enjoy the run, take the time to take in and appreciate my surroundings and capture some good pictures.

It's times like these that I am really thankful for the opportunity to be a runner.  I am approaching the 6 week countdown and still have a lot of running left to go, and mental and physical challenges to tackle, but  despite the hardships, I know this process has been a blessing and nothing will compare with crossing that 26.2 mile make at the finish line!

No Such Thing as a Bad Run

I recently had to take a week off of running and working out, due to being sick.  Coincidentally, it was right after my last post about hoping I stay physically healthy that I got sick ( funny right!).  At first I was just going to take a couple of days off, but I decided it would be better to take a full week and let myself fully recover, rather than getting back too soon and not getting better.  It was definitely hard taking a whole week off after training consistently since the middle of January, but it was also nice to have a break from the grind.

My first run back was a little tough, my muscles were tight, and I let my nerves get the best of me.  I'm not really sure why there are some days that I get anxiety over running, or what I'm afraid of during those moments because everything always turns out ok.  Now that I have done my third run of the week and a day of cross-training, I am feeling back in the game, and optimistic about the coming weeks.  I cannot believe that I am already in the midst of week 13 with less than 7 weeks until the marathon.  It has always seemed so far off into the distance, but it's going to be here before I know it, and I am starting to get excited butterflies in my stomach when I think about it.  Earlier in the week during one of my runs when I was feeling tired, I started to picture myself crossing the finish line, and it made me choke up a little bit because I know what an amazing feeling that is going to be!

I came across a really great post this week about running that is a reminder of what a blessing running really is, even during the hard times:

50 Days to go!!