Every Mile Earned

ADDITIONAL MARATHON NOTES If you read my post, Philadelphia Marathon Recap , then you saw that I did a few things different this cycle.  I forgot to include two of the changes I have made. I bought an Orange Mud Hydraquiver this summer and have been using that with handheld water bottles, when they are needed.  I have a bladder that I've never fully enjoyed using. The hydraquiver works perfectly for me. Most of the time I forget that I'm even carrying all that fluid on my back. I'm super thrilled with this purchase. The biggest change I made this cycle has to do with my footwear. Anyone who has known me for 5 minutes, knows I wear VibramFiveFingers . They are what I started running on the road with in 2009, and except for when I sprained my foot in 2015, they are all I have ever run with. I have tried Merrill Gloves but they just don't work for me as well as I'd like.  This cycle I an old injury in my big toe joint, on my right foot, started acting up. On the...

Week 2: June 13 - 19 My training weeks run Monday to Sunday. I posted late last week so last week's long run is getting incorporated into this week too. Saturday, June 11th - Long Run ~ 15 miles From the first step out my door this run was difficult. My legs felt heavy and I was tired. The weather really plays a huge role for me. I like the temps hot and the sun shining.  It was chilly and cloudy and there was a threat of thunderstorms. I said it before, long runs are my weakness. I can't decide if it's mental or if there really is a barrier for me as the runs get up in distance.  I look back at last year and I only have one run, over 14 miles, that I would call successful. Last weekend I didn't run my LR with music so I wanted to try it again. I feel like the run goes faster without music. I typically train (my easy runs) with music but I rarely race or do speed workouts with it. Something about it, when I'm trying to run faster, annoys me. Most of t...

I have been avoiding the blog world for awhile now. Sometimes I just don't know how to type all I'm thinking, there's a huge disconnect between the brain and the keyboard. I have three race reports to still type. I could just let them go but I do like to reread them when running races of equal distance, to remember how I fueled, how the race went, etc. I've begun my next training cycle for my fall marathon.  It's early fall. I'm registered to run the Wineglass Marathon in October.  I've not yet had what I would call a good training cycle for a marathon. My two marathons have had injuries and then this last cycle, I let the weather and other things get in the way of proper training, which is why I downgraded from a full marathon the marathon relay. The race recap for that will be coming soon! So I'm really hoping this will be a good training cycle. I finished June's schedule at the end of May and this week, I finally finished the rough outline for...

Those who know me have heard this a million times, I hate winter. I hate to be cold and I don't like running when it's cold, the only exceptions are: I love running in a snow storm and I like how clear running in cold weather makes my lungs feel. Living in the Northeast, I may someday learn to like it but I truly prefer and excell in the heat of summer. So all that complaining out of the way, my miles for my upcoming marathon have really suffered. It's been a really hard decision but I'm really going to relax on my pace for this one. I had a goal time in mind but I don't want to chew my legs up that much.  My biggest weakness is endurance of long distance so I'm going to just continue to work on building the strength I'll need for my fall race. I've been working on a couple training plans and one of them mirrors what I'm doing, with the exception that the 2nd one has the appropriate mileage needed. I reached out to my instructors to get some mu...

Ah, the blessed recovery week.  I couldn't wait to have a week of lower mileage, less strength training and sleeping in at least an hour or so.  By the end of the week I was tearing my hair out wanting more challenge!! My 16 mile long run on last Saturday left me feeling pretty defeated. It didn't go at all like I had hoped but at least I finished all the miles. My Musician met me at the end of mile 12 with ice water and took my CamelBak from me. I just wanted to crawl into the car and go home with him but I finished the last 3 miles. Him and Tink started walking down our road to meet me as I was doing my cool down walk up our hill.  I need their smiles to wrap my first cycle of marathon training. My biggest supporters  My week started with a pretty rough workout but it was to prepare me for the goal race I had this weekend. Monday was a track workout of 7x1000m repeats at race pace. While I was doing it, I hated it but after I realized how much confidence...