It's been awhile

Wow, I've been soooo busy, everytime I sit down to update my blog, something comes up and I can't get to it. School has been an adjustment, not that I didn't think it would be, but I'm trying to stay on top of everything and to stay ahead, so far so good. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle on more class, I think I might drop it, we'll see.

Now, on to running. I've been feeling good and looking forward to the taper. I was really looking forward to it a couple months ago, but all of a sudden I've fallen in love with the long runs and I think I'm really going to miss them when they are done. I did a 20 a couple weeks ago and I have my final 20 tomorrow. I don't feel as freaked out about it this time as I was last, I think because I have a little more confindence this time seeing I finished it last time. I've decided to go the gu route for this marathon, I was really debating whether to do gu or just gatorade for the marathon, I've decided to do a little of both. I had three gu's for the 20, one at 6, one at 11 ish and one at 18. I also had water and a little gatorade, it seemed to do the trick. I've been using the powergel from power bar, the double latte flavor, I like it. Hopefully this will work for the marathon. I might have one more at around mile 22 or 23 in the marathon.

I did 12 last week, which was good also. My left hip is bothering me a little, just sore, not injuried, another reason to look forward to the taper, hopefully I will heal a little, I think it's starting to take it's toll on my body. I'm kinda sore and stiff, I swear I stretch more than anyone I know and still here I sit sore and stiff. Oh well.

I am looking forward to the marathon, I'm not too nervous about it yet. I wouldn't look at the map again though, because that really freaked me out. I want this to be an experience that I will remember and not just something I've gotten through, so that is one of my prayers for the day, kinda like my wedding day, just enjoy as much as you can and don't worry about anything, because it's here and you can't do any more about it. I've put in the training. I need to believe in the schedule now that I've chosen to get me through.

Til next time, keep running everyone!

What I like about me!

Okay, so I ran 18 miles today, I think it felt a whole lot longer than the 17 I did last week, but of course I had company last weekend and this weekend I had the company of everyone on the lake front path, nobody would talk to me today though, funny. My girls are running the Oak Forest Scenic 10 tomorrow, so no company for me. This will not be a suprise to most of you Chicagoans out there, but I started at Montrose Harbor and ran allllllllll the way past McCormick Place and back, wow that's far. It went pretty good though. Just one foot in front of the other and eventually (3:07:05) you will get there.

The thing I like about me is that I can run negative splits without much problem, I mean I know I run slow, but then I can still run faster at the end. The first 9 or so miles my average was probably around 10:30-10:40 and then the last 9 were somewhere around 10:05-10:15. I think that's pretty good. I hope I don't get a comment saying something like "You are so going to hurt yourself running like that" I would be bummed.

Okay, I've got to go to the store now, my husband invited the neighbors over for dinner tonight, because apparently running 18 miles today was not enough for me to do:) Later.

Look at what running has done to my life!

Okay, now if you're a runner, and why would you be reading this blog if you're not? But, you will understand this, but I tell you what, all my non- runner friends will not understand these next three pictures. I could not explain this to people other than other people who's passion it is to run. I NEVER ate like this before I ran, I am not much of a vegetable person and I never ate salmon until I started to run, but I hope this is a habit I retain even after the marathon is over.
These next two pictures are the pictures of my lovely feet and the many blisters I've developed over the last few weeks especially. My feet don't look half bad compared to some of the feet I've see on other people's blogs, and I attribute that to my slow pace. I'm not breakin' any records here. At least I still have all my toe nails!

The one thing I wish I would have taken a picture of that I didn't is a picture of my alarm clock, which say's 4:30 am all the time. One last thing I should take a picture of is my clothing collection, which consists of shorts, dry-fit tops and running bras, they don't look too cute when your husband wants to take you out for dinner, if I can make it that late in the day! I have no cute shoes right now either, just running shoes and flip flops, because all my budgeted clothing money has to go towards new running gear! I do think my running shoes are cute, one pair is pink, but I'm gonna need some grown up shoes pretty soon.

I'm not really complaining here, although it sounds like it, I just look around and can't believe it's me living this life. I wouldn't change a thing though, because I love it! I can't explain it to anyone and pretty much everyone around me doesn't get it, but that's okay because I don't get it either!

Time to wrap this up and go change from my race t-shirt into my running gear because I've got to put in eight miles today. Later everyone, happy long run this weekend!