12 Miles and Reason #2 to Run a Marathon

Welcome to my recap of Week 7.  This week was my roughest so far. ( I know you probably are saying out loud, "Of course it was your most difficult, and until the peak of training at week 15, each week is going to get worse."  If you aren't saying that, then you probably haven't yet memorized a marathon training schedule, which means you still have your sanity... Congrats!)  I did a 10 mile race, Frosty's Frozen, on Saturday (the long run for week 6.)  I think during that run, I realized that I had committed to a marathon.  The mile race started with asking myself what on Earth I was doing, but shortly into the run, I was enjoying myself.  For some reason, it seemed easier than the 10K I did in December.  I'm not sure if I was more prepared mentally and physically, had a better playlist, or the weather was just more pleasant. Either way, the race was enjoyable and I finished at a 10 minute, 2 second per mile pace, better than I expected.  ( However, 2 seconds away from 10 minutes per mile, really?! I blame it on the slow start at the beginning of the race before we all got out of the "pack.")  During this race, I realized that running a marathon was really possible...and that was a terrific feeling, but that was week 6, which quickly became week 7.

The beginning of week 7 was okay other than the snow causing me to take my training indoors. Then came my long run of week 7.  That run occurred yesterday.  This was a 12 miles run, and one of the horror runs I have read about. I even took my training to the next level by carrying water and GU (a gross energy gel to be taken every 45 minutes during long runs.)  Up until now, I didn't carry water with me, unless I happened to be running with the stroller (which I stopped around 6 miles max because Skylar can't last longer than that.)   So, on with the story of the 12 mile run.  My entire body felt like it was made of lead, the wind was freezing, despite the fact that it had been forecasted to be a pleasant day.  In addition, I could not find a decent song to run to.  I have noticed that the music I listen to is THE major factor in my running. It isn't how much E&E (Energy and Endurance formula) or Cytomax I take, how well hydrated I am beforehand, or even what I have for my pre-run snack,  it seems to solely be my music choice that plays into my mental attitude. I even tested this theory yesterday by dealing with the Ipod on shuffle mode, seeming to think I was at the beach drinking pina coladas instead of running. I mentally encouraged myself, said all of the things that usually help me stay motivated, and none of it worked. Well, I made it to the end of the 12 miles somehow (and yes, I did run up and down the driveway 4 times to finish the last .05 of a mile), and realized that a marathon is 14.2 miles further than what I had just run.  Why did I think I could run a marathon? 

To further add to my dismay is the fact that although I didn't have my typical post-long-run headache and general disdain for being alive, a few hours after my run, I developed what feels like a bruised foot.  My left foot feels like it's bruised every time I walk. Having two kids, I don't really have the option of just sitting around to rest and recover.  Where did this idea of running a marathon come from and why did I think I could do it?

I have now bought all of the "stuff" real runners buy, and have already read two and a half books and endless articles about training for and running a marathon.  I feel like I have committed enough without even actually finding the one I want to sign up for.  Yet, I had a major realization that I have never been a runner, no one in my family has been a runner, and this is really just crazy. Why did I think I could run a marathon?

So now I have a mental argument going on with myself.  The logical side keeps telling me that this is hard on my body, and a 1/2 marathon is probably sufficient to prove to myself that I could be a runner.  The goal-setting and optimistic side of me says that my mental and physical struggle yesterday, and this mental argument right now, is something I have read about and should have known to expect.  

One encouraging thought is that I have now realized that I need to find a marathon that allows headphones, or it isn't likely to happen.  Interestingly enough, I came across an article this week about a woman who was competing in a 1/2 Ironman and, at the end of her training, realized that headphones were not allowed.  She found a way to prepare and power through with inspirational words from family and friends, but this was not her first competitive race of any kind, and therefore, she is already on a different level than me.  I must have music, let that be known.  

In the books I've read so far, most people run marathons for a cause- to raise awareness or funds for charity, or at least as a challenge with a group or partner.  I have neither of these, which has positives and negatives.  On the positive side,I can run on my schedule, for both training and racing.  I don't feel obligated to do this because people are contributing money. I don't have to go at anyone's pace but my own.  On the negative side, I don't have anyone waiting on me for a scheduled run, and I don't have a dedicated cause to keep me going on tough runs.  Luckily, I'm pretty self-motivated and the only skipping of runs I have done is to either do it inside, or switched around days, so I think for me, the positives of this solo time outweigh the negatives.

So, after all of my rambling, here is my takeaway for today- take baby steps.  I am going to continue to commit to this marathon. So much so, that I will even actually register for one.  However, I will focus on the baby steps.  I have learned that if I am dragging, I can commit to running until the end of a song, or until the next mailbox, or whatever the mini goal might be for that moment. This ultimately may mean a short walking break here and there, but overall, it helps me finish my run (usually faster than expected.)  For the long-term, taking baby steps means that I need to focus on one run at a time, or at most, one week at a time.  So, today, I will celebrate the fact that I ran 12 miles yesterday- 12 miles! Then, tomorrow, I will continue with my training and mentally recount the moments I have enjoyed so far, while putting the struggles in the back of my mind for when they will only become helpful in pushing me forward.

And if all else fails, there's always reason my #2 to run a marathon...smaller pants.

Marathon Madness

I have decided to train for a marathon. (You are probably asking yourself the same thing I have been- what is she thinking?!) There are a few things that have gone into this decision that I will share in a moment. I am a pretty private person, so the fact that I even have a blog is a bit out of character. Even more out of character is deciding to document my training publicly. I figure, even if no one ever reads this blog, I can revisit my posts when I am 85 years old, wondering what I was thinking or if it actually happened. So, in a sense, it could me me and my 85-year-old self reading this, but either way, it's open to the public for inspiration...or entertainment. Either way works for me. 

What led up to this decision, you ask? Well, I guess it goes back to March 2014, when I was placed on modified bed rest at 27 weeks pregnant with my munchkin, Sky, now 7 months. I was used to working out almost everyday, so once I was told to sit around, my mind became restless and I panicked that I was going to gain a bazillion pounds that would never come off. Since I had limited options at that moment, I decided to sign up for a 5k in October as motivation to get back in shape after the pregnancy, and also as a reminder that I wouldn't be immobile forever. 

Fast forward a few months to July, when I started training for a 5k. (Yes, I had to train to run 3 miles- I started off not even being able to run a mile.) Running, as I've learned, is not something that comes easy unless you do it. No matter how in shape you are, unless you have been running specifically, it feels like torture. Well, my husband, Kyle, decided to join me for moral support despite the fact that he hadn't worked out in quite awhile. So, he also trained for the 5k. We didn't run together because we had to take turns watching the kids. Plus, he's a lot faster than I am, having much longer legs. I'm not competitive at all, but it was nice to have someone to compare progress too. When he said he was up to three miles, and I was only at 1.5 miles, I knew I probably needed to kick it up a notch. I think if he hadn't joined me initially, I would have trained for the 5k and called it good. 

Somewhere along the way, I started to enjoy running.  (Keep in mind these were distances of 3ish miles, which is 23.2 miles less than a marathon, and yet here I am thinking I should train for one... good reasoning, right?!)  Yes, I started getting back into shape. More importantly, I started gaining confidence and realizing I could do what I put my mind to. We've all heard the "mind over matter" phrase, but I have never really pushed myself too much. In the past, I'd get bored or a bit tired with a workout, and never pushed past the wall. I decided start pushing past my mini goals: to run through the discomfort, or until the end of a specific song, or past a certain mailbox before taking a break. Once I realized how much stronger my mind, body, and confidence were becoming, I became a bit addicted. (I am not going to lie that it also helped get the pregnancy weight off quickly. Not only from the pregnancy with Sky, but I had 10 pounds left from the pregnancy of my older daughter, Jade, that came off as well. That alone was worth the few minutes of misery each run.) 


The date of the 5k came, and it was a bit of a joke as far as needing to train. It was more of a party 5k- the kind that people dance along the route. It was a Blacklight 5k, so it was night time, with no lighting except for the party stops where people throw colored powder all over the place and you inhale it if you are actually trying to complete the course. I imagine neon colored lungs look pretty cool, but it didn't feel so great. The track was super crowded and was not what I had in mind. Fun? Yes. Worth all of our training effort? Not one bit. The race even ended with a DJ and giant party- again, very cool but doesn't exactly scream "serious running event." I decided I couldn't stop with that race. So I started researching "non-fun" races where they actually time you. I planned on a winter series to help me stay motivated and give me enough time to train for a slightly longer distance. The Winter Distance series includes one in December, Santa Stampede (5k or 10k), one in January, Frosty's Frozen (5 mile or 10 mile), and one in February, Snowman Stampede (5 mile or 10 mile). So, that's what I am working on currently. I ran the December race- I had the option of a 5k or 10k. I took the 10k option. I am still shocked I chose that option as well. My goal was to run a 10k (6.2 miles) in 1 hour and 5 minutes. I made it in 1 hr flat. Beating my goal time made my month and added to my addiction. This whole concept of meeting or beating my goals was becoming powerful! (Plus, having my husband and kids at the end cheering me on was terrific.)


 I felt like a marathon was just insanity, but a 10 mile or 1/2 marathon may be enough to strive for. So, I started researching some 1/2 marathons scheduled in the spring. In the meantime, I decided I am going to go for the next race in the Winter Distance series, on January 17th, and that I would train for the 10 mile. Being that it is January, I haven't officially registered, as I draw the line as running in artic conditions, so I decided to wait until last minute instead of committing myself to running in the snow weeks in advance. Now that the race is in 2 days- I know the weather will be excellent- upper 50s, which is uncommon for January.  Might be a sign, right?  I had planned to run the 10 mile as the next logical step, and realize that I may have momentarily lost my mind. Nonetheless, the race is in two days, and I am going to run 10 miles. Being my second timed race, I am nervous. The Santa Stampede 10k was me just being naive, now I have an idea of this competitive racing, and how long the 6.2 miles seemed. Now I have to run 4 miles further than that....what. am. I. thinking? (You know this won't be the first time I ask myself this.) 

Along the way, I mentioned this wonderful running idea to a counseling client of mine during a discussion about self-care and positive coping skills. She recommended a book that she loved reading, "The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide for Women," by Dawn Dais. It is hilarious, and very inspirational, and did I mention hilarious? I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud while reading it. Dawn actually spares no details about the joys and horrors of training for a marathon, but reading this book is what made me decide to train. If Dawn can do it, so can I. (I'm sure if she read this blog, she would laugh at that sentence because she was a self-proclaimed couch potato who probably never realized she was going to inspire others until after she wrote the book.) One of the sections of the book has space to journal about funny things that happen along the journey of training for a marathon. There is another section for writing down your reasons for training for a marathon (and all of the arguments against those reasons when you are exhausted and running is the last thing you want to be doing.) So, this is the start of keeping track of my journey, and also the start of tracking my reasons for training for and running a marathon. I may start getting desperate, but reason #1 is that running a marathon burns the calorie equivalent of 674 M&Ms- more than I can ever imagine eating. It may not be my best reason, but is good enough to be my #1 on my list! If people are actually reading this and have any good reasons to run a marathon, or any funny running stories, please do share!

Sample Meal Plan

One of my New Years resolutions is to plan and prep for meals weekly.   This meal plan is the outline for my workouts and meals over the week.  Planning ahead minimizes the chances that I will make poor choices due to lack of time or available clean options.  This is something I go over in my challenge groups extensively, so post below if you'd like some help with a customized meal plan.   Please note that I added a couple of extra meals with carbs due to the fact I am training for a 1/2 marathon.  If I weren't training, I would try and keep the carbs as a small side dish at dinner, rather than the main course.