Training Update and Happiness

In 32 Days I will be running my fourth marathon! I can hardly believe it is so close! Just weeks away, hard to believe there (as I’m writing this) that there are just two more long runs left before the taper. This week is a drop back to 12 and next week we tackle the last “stupid long run” i.e distances that would be advisable to drive in one’s car. :)
Last week Dana and I tackled the 20 mile, if you can do this you can run a marathon, run! It was Dana’s very first 20 and she rocked it. We had the perfect weather overcast, with a chill in the air and a light mist for some of the run. I felt really well throughout most of the run and felt at the end I really could have gone further, which is a great way to end a long run in my opinion. Having worked hard enough, but not so hard that you left it all on the trail, that’s for race day!
The next day our two other training buddies tackled their own long run (Amy’s last before her taper of 22 and Stacy who ran the 22 with Amy because she’s a great friend!) They did awesome too!


So training and morning running continues at least for a few more weeks, and it’s been going really well. I’ve covered 750 miles this year so far! I need to get out the map and see where I could have gone with that number.

Now on for the weekly happiness:
1. My morning running girls- I can’t express how much of a blessing these wonderful ladies have been in my life this season. We run side by side sometimes talking (okay a lot of the time talking) but sometimes just drawing quiet strength from being near one another. And when one of us is struggling with a run, the others are right there with encouragement and support. We’ve shared so much on these dark morning runs, so much yet to be shared, and I’m comforted and at home in their presence.
2. Pumpkin Spice Lattes on cloudy days.

3. My new work schedule- They changed our allowable work schedules to 9 hours 4 days a week and half day Fridays! So I decided to try it out and so far so good. I like the quiet hour at the end of the day to get things done.

4. My Mom- yesterday was her Birthday and I’m reminded time and time again how blessed I am to have her. I’m so glad I got to know her as an adult friend! She’s awesome!!


5. My Bible Study- Learning so much about God. And the other ladies are incredible.


My life is so full, rich and blessed!

First Run of the Season and other randomness

On Saturday (May 21) we had our very first run of the MIT season! It was great! So many people (the spring/summer session is always huge), and so many new people too, which always makes me smile.  We have an awesome running community here in Columbus Ohio. 

I am training with a new group this season the run/walk group.  This group is based upon the Jeff Galloway training method of taking short, brisk walk  "breaks" throughout the mileage starting at the very beginning. The theory being it gives your muscles a short rest from constant running and allows them to work in a different way. I am excited to try it out- I have walked in every marathon I've ever done to some extent, so I figure why  not get the benefit from the very beginning. 

Also as an added bonus my good friend Dana is the coach and is training for her first marathon, Marine Corps so we are going to train together and run the race together. I am very much looking forward to sharing the miles with her this summer! Running has given me so many wonderful friends! I truly am blessed to have them in my life- more than I can say!

After the MIT run I came home and waited for my parents to arrive. They do not live far from me (about 2 hours), but this visit they decided to stay overnight on Saturday.  We had a very nice weekend hanging out, going to church, and shopping. The largest purchase was I selected new carpet for my living/dinning area in my condo. I have needed new carpet for a while so I am excited to get it installed next week!! I will attempt to take and post pictures.

I am very much looking forward to a long weekend!

New Season- New Goals

A brand new season of Marthoning is about to begin! I love beginnings, and the start of something new, it's like hitting the reset button and we get to begin again- fresh. New Goals, new opportunites for success, new challenges.

This season I'm going to train to run my second marathon- simply amazing to me as the girl who used to say all the time I would only run if someone was chasing me. I am so looking forward to getting out there and beginning this journey again. I know more what to expect this time, like how hard a 20 miler can be and how it can be so much better when you share it with friends. What to eat and what NOT to eat as the case may be. :)

I've picked the Marathon I plan on running- Tow Path Marathon on October 11. It's a Marathon near where I grew up and it's flat as a pancake, which is good.

I'm putting out my Goals for this season here in writing so I can come back to them at the end of the season and see how I did:

1. No missing any planned weekday runs.
2. Speed work on Wedensday nights- even if it's painful and I have no clue what I'm doing- I'm still going to get out there every week.
3. Weights twice a week without fail- I always do poorly at this so I'm recommitting.
4. Eat well- To quote my dear friend Katia- "Food is fuel it's not your friend", so making a commitment to eat better and fuel my body better.

5. Run a faster Marathon than I did last fall (see #2)!

I'm looking forward to this season! It'll be a good one I"m sure.

Getting ready to hit reset!!