Day 12 and 13

This movie is totally motivational! I've watched it more than once and cried both times. I will probably watch it a few more times as I train, it is just that good.

The days are starting to run together a little bit. I guess that is to be expected when you have 19 kids and 13 adults running around for a family reunion. It's been a crazy few days. However, I would like to report that I ran twice on Day 11. I didn't think I'd be able to get a run in over Saturday and Sunday so I got in an extra run on Friday night.

Here's the stats for that run

Distance: 3 miles

Time: 22:44 (2 miles) and the other mile we walked.

Pace: 11:22 minute/mile

That is my best pace yet. It actually felt really good. Probably the best I've felt since I started this journey.

It dawned on me that I should probably give a little of my running history. I grew up watching my older brother run, so naturally I wanted to run too. My neighbor was the cross country coach and he got me going at a young age. I ran. I didn't really run well. I ran in junior high as well as in high school for my junior and senior year.

In college I ran on occasion, but not much. I was too busy with intramural sports and studying. The summer before my senior year I ran a half marathon. My roommate convinced me to do it with her. I forgot my shoes for the race, decided to use my roommates, discovered they were too small, ran without socks to make them fit... and by the end of the race my feet were bloody and torn to pieces. Still, it was fun.

Since graduation college I've run off and on, mostly doing 5K races and triathlons. I am by no means a serious runner. I do it to be fit. My ambitions for this marathon are not to qualify for Boston. They are not to place in my age group. They are simply to finish what I start.

Day 11

Every morning I run here, I remember how much I love it. It's so quiet and peaceful. We saw a total of two people (driving cars) on our run. It was great! I love people, but sometimes nothing beats the quiet morning hours with the sounds of birds chirping and sprinklers watering the field.

I took my sister with me this morning. When I first asked her if she would run with me she said, "I can't". As it turns out, she can, and she did run. I love taking people running with me who don't think they can do it. It really is just putting one foot in front of the other, and most of the general population can do it.

Here's the stats

Distance: 2.5 miles

Time: 31 minutes

Pace: 12.4 minute/mile

We did a combination of running and walking. It felt good and I feel good that I've been able to keep up the training while on vacation. Thanks Mom, for watching the kids for me so I can do it.

Day 8, Day 9, and Day 10

This isn't my parents' farm, but this is what the area looks like. Have I ever mentioned how much I love Idaho? Well, I do. I love Love LOVE it! :) Just so ya'll know. Okay, no onto the running.

Well, I missed a few days. We had a few busy days with travel, visiting family, and just plain having fun. I didn't get any run or cross training in on day 8 and 9. But day 10, is starting off to be a good day.

I'm visiting my family in Idaho, and I was a little worried about the altitude change. The elevation where I live in Texas is 374 feet. In Idaho on my parents' farm, the elevation is at a nice 3573 feet. so, just a little bit of a difference. :)

I was surprised. I didn't die on my run. In fact, I felt pretty good. Part of it was probably that it was nice and cool and there wasn't much humidity. I don't have a super accurate distance on my run, but I'm going to guess it was something like this...

Today's Stats:

Distance: 1.81 miles

Time: 23 minutes

Pace: 12.7 minute mile

It was a nice run, I took my 12-year-old niece with me. I love coaching. She doesn't run much, but she did a great job with me this morning. I tried to convert her to the wonderful world of running, but I'm not sure I accomplished my goal. :) That's okay, it was nice to have a running buddy, even if only for one day.

Day 7

Today I decided to ride my bike one last time before I head to Idaho for a few weeks. I will probably only be running while I'm out on vacation. That's one nice thing about running, you only need to take your shoes and shorts. It's a pretty easy sport to pack up and take with you.

The stats:

Distance: 8.25 miles
Time: 40 minutes
Pace: 12 mph

I've also decided to include one more stat on my Monday posts... I'm not brave enough to post my weight, but I will post how far I am from my goal weight. I've made a deal with my husband that I will only weigh myself on Monday mornings (He worries I'll get too caught up in the weight thing and not enjoy my runs). I guess he's probably right. :)

Pounds to go for goal weight: 11.8 lbs

I weighed in this morning before eating anything, after my workout. It is the lightest I've weighted since I had Baby Girl five months ago. I'm pretty happy with it. If I were only trying to get back to pre-pregnancy weight I'd only have 3.8 lbs to go... but I think I can do better than that. :)

Thanks for reading, it encourages me to keep going.

Day 6

A day of rest. My favorite day. :)

Day 5

Today was busy, but not with any running. I'm leaving with my three kids for a few weeks to visit my family... without my husband. He needs to study for a big exam he has coming up. Anyway, I worked on getting all of our things packed most of the day. Hopefully I'll be able to continue with my training without too much trouble back in my hometown. Wish me luck!

Day 4

Ouch! I'm hurting! I did a ton of lounges yesterday and today has been filled with my endless whining.

However, I still got out and did something... just not as much of a something as I would have liked.

Here's the stats:

Miles: 2.06
Time: 39.32
Pace: 19 min/mile

Yeah, not my best performance. I walked the whole way. But let me also add that I played tennis for two hours last night and another hour tonight. So, I'm not a total wimp.. right?

Until next time.

Day 3

Today was a day to cross train. I went to the gym and did some weight lifting. It was great. I like to do a continuous workout so I work different muscles but never stop lifting. I have a feeling I'm going to feel this in the morning, if not sooner. :) I like it.

The happy thought for the day... one of the (older) ladies at the gym who also saw me when I was pregnant told me I was looking very fit. This was one of the same (older) ladies who told me my hips were getting wider, so I know she doesn't sugar coat things. Gotta love the brutal honesty of cute little grandmas. :)

I lifted to some music on my ipod and I felt tough. I was the only girl in the gym lifting and I felt like I was the girl version or Rocky. Hmm, maybe I should get a few songs from the movie off itunes.

At the end of my workout I also took Big Boy out to swim for about an hour. He's getting so good. It's amazing what one summer of swimming lessons can do. I showed him how to do the butterfly and he gave it a try. We'll work on that one.

Day 2

I have to make this quick. Here's the stats:

Miles: 2
Time: 24.16 min
Pace: 12.08 min/mile

It's progress. I felt good during my run. My shoulder didn't hurt and my legs, although a little sore felt fine once I got going. However, right now I feel a little light headed and I have a headache. I'm pretty sure I haven't had enough calories today. I need to make sure I focus a lot on my diet during this training (much more so when I start doing serious miles).

I ran on the treadmill at the gym since I didn't get out this morning. Baby Girl got up at 5 am to eat and I fell fast asleep until about 6:45... so I missed my chance to get a run this morning. I don't love running on treadmill, but I realize that I will probably have to do it every once in a while.

I am just working on my base right now. I'll start running three to four days a week and cross training on my bike. I'll also do some weights and swimming. And... there will always be the other random sports that I love to play. Basketball. Tennis. Volleyball. I will probably limit that a little as I get closer to race day. I just don't want to put a ton of effort into getting ready for a race only to get injured weeks before the big day.

Day 1

I've decided to run a marathon. My husband ran one earlier this year and I just can't seem to let him have all the fun. I know its' going to be a challenge, especially as I try to work around being a mother to three young children.

This blog serves a few purposes. It will help me log the things I do along the way. It will help me be accountable. It will help me be motivated.

Mostly this blog is for me, but if it helps anyone else, that's great too.

So, Day 1 didn't happen. Baby Girl has a cold and woke up at 11:30 pm, 2:00 am, and I think maybe 4:00 am too. I didn't get wake up at 6 am as planned to have my first run.

Day 2 did happen, but we'll just call it Day 1. :) Baby Girl woke up once in the middle of the night, but I decided to get up at six anyway. Here are the stats...

Miles: 1.78
Time: 23.26 min
Pace: 13.09/mile

I felt good other than my tight shoulder. I ran at a very easy pace that I could maintain. I ran the whole way. I didn't stop at all. I did contemplate the meaning of round man holes. Decided they must be round so if they get jarred they fall back in place and don't flatten people's tires as they drive over them.