Oct 13 2011

4 days to go! I am ready!

 
4 more days until the marathon, 3 more nights of rest, 2 more short runs, 1 stop at the expo…I am ready! On Sunday, we will see if I am able. 
 
Thanks to some willing friends and family members, I will have someone cheering for me just about every two miles starting around mile 9!!! I could not ask for any better support than that.
 
The weather is suppose to be great temperature wise. I just hope that the 30% chance of rain, is just that; a chance. I have no control over that one, so I’ll just leave it at that.
 
It has been a long journey, that included some really great runs and some really bad ones. I have made new running friends and reconnected with some others. Overall this has been my best season training wise. If you are in the Columbus area and are looking for a group to train with, I’d recommend looking into the Columbus Eastside Running Club. They are a great bunch of people to run and train with.
 
Thank you’s:
 
I want to take this opportunity to thank my husband Brian for being there during most of my long runs. I know at one point he wanted to throw in the towel, because it was really cold (and when you are moving on a bike you are colder than when you are running), but he stuck it out. I love the fact that he’s so supportive of my running and I am truly appreciative of everything he does for me. Without his help I would never have quit smoking and become the runner that I am today. I love you!
 
I am also thankful for my parents in law, who would occasionally watch our youngest daughter so I could run or would make us breakfast when my long run took us to their house. It is a great feeling when you are surrounded by people that are glad to help out without asking or expecting anything in return.
 
Another ‘thank you’ goes out to my son Brandon, who would ‘watch’ our youngest whenever I needed him to, so I could get my short, medium, or long runs in. It is great to have him in our lives, even though we sometime butt head (ever so gently).
 
Get read, get set, go!
 
Once I cross the starting line, I’ll just have to hope that all the training over the last 18 weeks is going to pay off. I am certain my body is ready, I have never been fitter (I have been thinner, but never fitter) and mentally stronger. All I can say is: “BRING IT ON!”
 
 
Sep 15 2011

Catching up & 30-day Project

Tomorrow starts the 30 day countdown to the Columbus Marathon. I am excited, a bit sore but otherwise ready to go. I have two 20 and 18 milers behind me and only one 18 and 22 miler to go before the taper.

30-day Project:

I have heard about the 30-day projects from my son, who heard about it from Matt Cutts from Google. You create 30-day projects; do or stop doing something for 30 days (changing habits). In my case, I am not gonna do chocolate starting tomorrow until the Columbus Marathon on October 16. Rest assured, I’ll be filling my face tonight…haha, not! I think this will help me become a better runner…I eat a lot of chocolate!

Catching up:

I have had some good solid running months (of course, September is not done yet):

2011 Run
June 102.5
July 105
August 158.13
September 88.14

Here is what I have been up to the last few months:

Date Mileage
8/1/2011 7
8/2/2011 -
8/3/2011 -
8/4/2011 3
8/5/2011 7
8/6/2011 3.03
8/7/2011 16
8/8/2011 -
8/9/2011 -
8/10/2011 4
8/11/2011 4
8/12/2011 7
8/13/2011 -
8/14/2011 13.1
8/15/2011 -
8/16/2011 4
8/17/2011 7
8/18/2011 8
8/19/2011 -
8/20/2011 18
8/21/2011 -
8/22/2011 8
8/23/2011 4
8/24/2011 4
8/25/2011 8
8/26/2011 -
8/27/2011 -
8/28/2011 20
8/29/2011 -
8/30/2011 8
8/31/2011 5
9/1/2011 -
9/2/2011 -
9/3/2011 16.14
9/4/2011 -
9/5/2011 8
9/6/2011 4
9/7/2011 8
9/8/2011 5
9/9/2011 -
9/10/2011 20
9/11/2011 -
9/12/2011 8
9/13/2011 4
9/14/2011 10
9/15/2011 5

I am excited about the upcoming race…

By Running Ragged • Posted in Running
Aug 20 2011

18 miles

The training for the Columbus Marathon is continuing to go well. I ran my 18 mile run today and it went surprisingly well. The 16 miler I had done 2 weeks before was a terrible one. I blame that on not hydrating enough the days before, not eating right the night before, and not having enough sleep.

This week’s run was planned much better and my time per mile was faster than that of the 16 mile run. :)

Brian, my husband, rode his bike while I was running and provided me with water the second half of the run. It is as always great to have him with me. He rode his bike for 33 miles, which is a first (distance wise) for him. I am very proud of him.

I ran a half marathon last week and finished it in my 3rd fastest time. I was thrilled and happy to have had such a great run.

With today’s run, it looks like I am ready to tackle the full marathon. I just hope that the rest of the runs continue to be this successful.

By Running Ragged • Posted in Running
Jun 27 2011

Registered!

Usually I am very apprehensive about registering early for any type of race, but the fee is going up by $10 next week, and I am cheaper than I am apprehensive… And now I AM registered for the Columbus Marathon in October. The other good news is that for a small fee of $10 I can switch to the half marathon, if need be. :)

I am SUPER excited. I feel that with my previous experience and wisdom I have gained, it will be a much better marathon for me. My overall game plan is to run it slower than last year, but actually end up running it faster.  If that makes any sense.

Last week was a crappy running week. I had an ocular migraine (migraine in the eyes), which then turned into a regular migraine. Even though I was not out for the count, I was not able to run for 3 days. Overall, I only logged 14 miles last week. But, I had a pretty good 10 mile run on Saturday.

Running since last post:

June 13th: 4 miles at work

June 15th: 10 in Bexley

Overall mileage last week (June 20th – June 26th): 14 (not including elliptical and walking)

June’s Mileage: 85.5 miles

By Running Ragged • Posted in Running
Jun 19 2011

Solid running week

I had a great running week!

Monday was tempo day. I was able to run the loop in the fastest time. On Wednesday my goal was to run the whole way without stopping. I did that! Woot! My goal was to run at marathon pace, but was a little faster than that. The weather was nice, that helped. On Thursday, I ran at lunch time. The game plan was to have a group workout in the evening, so I ran at lunch. The evening training fell through because of strong storms.

 

 

On Saturday I ran with CERC (Columbus Eastside Running Club). The long run didn’t feel that long and I learned some things on how to straighten out my running posture. I had such a great run on Saturday, that on Sunday I felt the need to go out again and put three miles under my belt.

For some reason, sweating feels so good. When the body moves like it is suppose to and the thoughts are running free, that’s what I love about running.

I run….therefore I am!

Running since last post:

June 13th: 5.5 miles at home

June 15th: 5.5 miles at home

June 16th: 4 miles at work

June 18th: 9 miles in Bexley

June 19th: 3 miles at home

Overall mileage last week (June 13th – June 19th): 27 (not including elliptical and walking)

June’s Mileage: 71.5 miles

By Running Ragged • Posted in Running
Jun 12 2011

Hot, hot, hot

Had a great week mileage wise…covered 7 on Sunday, 16.5 during the week and then 10 on Sunday. It was really hot during the week, in the high 80′s and low 90′s….ick!

I was a bit worried about the 10 miler. I was going to run a new route, but then decided to do an ‘out and back’ instead. Thunderstorms rolled through as I was ready to head out the door; I then decided to run the 10 miler on the treadmill. But as I started to run on it, I got off it, disgusted because that’s not how I enjoy to run. I wanted to run outside, even contemplated running on Sunday; however, I really didn’t want to get up early again. So I waited another 45 min and the storm passed, even though it was still slightly raining. You can only get so wet, and in turn I headed outside.

Running since last post:

June 6th: 5.5 miles at home

June 8th: 5.5 miles at home

June 9th: 5.5 miles at home

June 11th: 10 miles

Overall mileage last week (June 5th – June 11th): 33 (not including elliptical and walking)

June’s Mileage: 44.5 miles

By Running Ragged • Posted in Running
Jun 5 2011

20 miles this week! I hope I can keep that up.

Good week last week. Ran 20 miles total, which I haven’t done in a while. Found a new route to run. The route is not new, just new to me. It is pretty hilly, but in the end it will make me a stronger runner.

The achilles tendon in my left heel is aching quite a bit. It is bearable, I can only hope it doesn’t get too be too bad.

Running since last post:

May 30th: 9 miles at home

June 1st: 5.5 miles at home

June 2nd: 5.5 miles at home

June 5th: 7 miles

Overall mileage last week (May 30th – June 4th): 20 (not including elliptical and walking)

May’s Mileage: 70.56 miles

June’s Mileage so far: 18 miles

By Running Ragged • Posted in Long Run
May 28 2011

Decisions…

Don’t forget to honors those that gave all. How to Observe Memorial Day

This weeks was my best running week in quite a while. I covered over 18 miles; eventually I hope to be up to about 25 miles per week. I wanted to run more than 3 miles on the 26th, but thunderstorms put a halt to that, and then the hubby had dinner done after 3 miles…and of course I can’t let him down. ;)

On Saturday I ran with a the Columbus Eastside Running Club. I will run one more time with them to see if I really like it. If so, then I’ll join them and train with them for my full marathon. I was able to run 45 seconds per mile faster with the group than on my own. I take walk breaks on my own and that was not the case with the group. I am a much stronger runner than I give myself credit for, but can’t do it on my own. The only drawback is that the group meets about 50 minutes from my house, but I get to car pool with some running pees, so it might not be so bad.

I wanted to run 9 miles today, but I did not know the area we were running in and so I resigned myself to run whatever the pace group was running and will run my long run on Monday (Memorial Day).

Running since last post:

May 23rd: 5 miles outside (walked 1 mile at work on treadmill prior to weight lifting session with hubby)

May 25th: 4 miles outside

May 26th: 3 miles on treadmill (walked 1 mile at work on treadmill then stretched for 20 minutes)

May 28th: 5.56 miles with running club in Columbus

Overall mileage last week (May 23rd – May 28th): 18.56 (not including elliptical and walking)

May running mileage: 61.56 miles

May 23 2011

Tired body, but a good long run

Last week had its ups and downs. My treadmill mileage wasn’t what I hoped it would be. On the 19th my body told me it didn’t want to run on the treadmill further than 2 miles. The 8 miler on Saturday went really well though, perhaps because I took Friday off, so to speak. My sister ran with me and it was great having her there.

I need to increase my speed and will have to designate one day a week to do speed work. The way I have written my schedule, it will be Thursdays (now I just need to make sure my mind agrees with doing speed work! :) )

Running since last post:

May 16th: 3 miles on the elliptical rider & weight lifting

May 17th: 4 miles – treadmill

May 18th: 2.05 on the elliptical rider & weight lifting

May 19th: 2 miles running, then 1 mile walking – treadmill

May 21st: 8 miles outside

Overall mileage last week (May 16th – May 22nd): 14 (not including elliptical and walking)

May running mileage: 44 miles

May 15 2011

Graduation and a fresh start to running


FINALLY – Graduation is behind me! I now FINALLY have my 4 year degree in management. (little happy dance) Not sure where this will take me professionally, but getting my diploma felt just like crossing the finish line of a marathon (my feet weren’t quite as sore though!). With school (for now) behind me, I am going to FINALLY concentrate back on what I love to do and that is running.

Bachelors of Science in Management from Franklin University

From left to right back row: My father in-law Roger, my husband Brian, me, my youngest son Brandon, my sister Angi

From left to right front row: My oldest daughter Micha, my youngest daughter Tori, my mother in-law Carol

Running since last post:

May 5th: 4 miles

May 9th: 4 miles

May 10th: 4 miles

May 11th: 4 miles

May 12th: 6 miles (fast pace walking)

May 15th: 6 miles

Overall mileage last week (May 9th – May 15th): 18 (not including the 6 mile walk)

Currently  I am not fast enough for me to track my speed. I run between a 12 to 13 min/mile. I am hoping that with speed training and strengths exercises I can get that back to 10:30 min miles. At least that’s my goal.

I was on vacation the last week, enjoying my sister’s stay, who came to see me graduate. Even though she’s not going home to Germany for another week, I’ll be going back to work. This means I can start working on strength training again. :)

Bought new running shoes (Saucony – ProGrid Guide 4), my last pair was the Guide 2. Apparently it’s been a while since I upgraded my shoes! :D I also have purchased the Garmin Forerunner 405 (without H/R monitor). I wish it could be a bit smaller and track actually running speed instead of overall lap speed. I might do a product review on the 405 later on down the road. It replaced the Garmin Forerunner 205, which I still have.