Running and Thinking...a Dangerous Combination!

As our runs have gotten progressively longer, and my pace has quickened considerably, I feel great about where my running is and where it's going.  That being said, I think all desire to run a marathon has left me.  How did this happen?  What is going on in this head of mine?  I think it's life.  I mean, honestly, I want one.  And by that, I mean a life that includes running but is not so completely and totally obsessed with pace, plans, miles, or anything else that goes into prepping for a big race.  I find going a little crazy more and more as hubby and I pore over trail maps or Map my Run, desperately trying to piece together enough miles to fit our scheduled run according to "the plan."  I am sick of the plan.  I JUST WANNA RUN!  Why is that so bad?  Why does there always have to be another level to push to, something else to work toward.  Why?  I ask myself a lot of these questions while I'm out on my own running for hours on end and I don't know the answers.  I know that two hours is a long time to be alone with my own thoughts.  I need some type of conversation.  Luckily, hubby loops back when he runs with me (he's about 2 minutes/mile faster than I am) and I at least get the check-in, "Hey, honey, how you doing?" And I love it.  I need it.  Really, I think him and I are at the point where we really are most comfortable with 2-3 hours max of running at a time. 
So, where does this leave my marathon plan on April 28?  Honestly, I don't know.  I know I can do it, so I might just do it, but there's a part of me that really is thinking of changing my plan that day to the same event hubby's doing...the Triple Crown.  It's 3 races in succession...a half marathon, a 10k and a 5k.  But there's more time in between for talking and just enjoying the day.  My alternative?  5 hours of me, myself and I trudging in the woods.  Not sure that's something I'm looking forward to at this point.  Last weekend's half-marathon in the woods, while beautiful, was a lonely, lonely run.  I was alone for at least 10 miles of it, and I felt alone. 
So, now that I've whined through half of a blog post... some good stuff!  I was so excited today that my boy joined me for the first two miles of my run!  I was so excited.  He's only run with me once, my first 5k when the hubby got sick and it was a partner race, the boy stepped in and did it with me.  I think he just wanted to buy some running shoes because he has a problem when it comes to buying shoes, but whatever the reason, I was in heaven!   We even made a stop at my sister's new house and I love that she is living close enough for me to run by every now and then.  Life really is good.  I know it.  Even if I am sick to death of the running plan, and I think the hubby is getting there too...we've been out biking this week and even skipped a run to do it.  What?!?  I just want to not feel guilty if we take a night off to walk the dogs, or take a bike ride or even do some hiking. 

So, this is my official notice to "the plan" - from here on out I am not listening to you!  You will be more of a "guideline" and as long as my butt is doing something, I am not going to stress over what I am supposed to be doing!  3 months of you telling me what to do is long enough.  I love to run, and you're not ruining it for me.  Do I sound convincing? 

Running, running and even more running

I feel like half of our vacation week was spent running.  We logged almost 44 miles in the past ten days.  That is a lot of running, folks!  But, other than a very bad 4 mile trail run on Christmas Day, it has been a delightful 40 miles.  I have run with Troy, with friends, alone and sometimes all three in the same run which makes for a fun time.  I am looking forward to the next 4 months of marathon training with some trepidation, but mostly with bring it on!  I am ready for this.  I know that some days it will be hard and I will have to force myself to do it, but as a friend and I were sharing yesterday on our 12 mile run, running really is so much mental.  You have to psych yourself out sometimes into thinking that some of the runs aren't really that far.  I mean 12 miles is nothing compared to 26.2, and then when you get there I guess you have to think that 26.2 isn't as far as a 50K and so on and so on. 

We're lucky to have a great group of friends around us who share our passion for getting out there and logging miles - whether on a bike or on foot.  I'll let you in on a secret - one of my friend lists on Facebook is called "Fitness Freaks" so I can limit how much I harass the rest of the world with my meaningless stats.  I hope they know who they are, and I'm glad to be counted among them!  I love this crazy life of mine...pushing harder to do more and finding new ways to overcome the obstacles - time, light/darkness, obligations,etc.  Whatever they are.  Overcoming them is a constant reminder of how important it is to make that time to run, bike, walk, hike or whatever we're doing that day.  Whatever it is, it's worth it because it's important. 

So, no matter what, make time to be healthy, be active and be happy!

Marathon Training Begins in 7 days!!!

I am so ready to start training hardcore.  Well, as soon as I shake this cold.  Luckily, it's a head cold so I'm not worried about running with it like I would be with a chest cold, but it's rained a miserable, cold rain all day and that has not inspired any oomph to get out the door and run.  Instead, I had breakfast with a friend, took a short nap and took our older doggies for their annual check up.  I even made lasagna for dinner, so I felt pretty accomplished despite my inactivity!  The last few days have been holiday mode of grazing all day, and not always healthy grazing.  So, having a good dinner tonight really was in order.  It was also a special time because everyone was home.  And eating at the same time.  That truly doesn't happen that often so it was a rare treat.  I loved spending time in front of the tv watching cooking shows with both kids because it gives me a chance to share something I'm excited about it with both of them.  It means a lot when they choose to spend that time with me, I used to take that for granted but now I treasure every minute, every moment for the treasure that it is.

Back to marathon training...  I do feel ready to take this challenge on, more so than I was last year.  It has been a terrific year running and I want to at least prove to myself I can tackle that hurdle.  I got some new running trail shoes with a gift card from a friend so I can rotate shoes a bit now and be ready to destroy my old pair come race day with four (yep, four!) water crossings.  So, my first trail run with the new shoes was Sunday and it was a hard, hard run.  I don't know if my legs were still a bit stressed from the 12 miles of Christmas run or if it was just the cold coming on but I struggled to finish 4 miles.  But I'm not stressed about it, some days are just not great runs.  I am hoping to get some miles in on the bike trainer tonight but it's not a guarantee since I'm sick, so I'm playing it by ear. 

This week's training schedule (even though the week is halfway over)

Tues - (tonight) Bike Trainer - 5 miles or so at least
Wed -Trail Run - at least 6 miles - Pinchot if possible which is 9+miles
Thurs - Road Run loop 8 miles if 6 miles Wed, 4 miles if 9 miles or more on Wed.
Fri - Bike Trainer
Sat - Small Road Run Loop or Rail Trail Ride
Sun - Long Run - 10+

All in all, I just want to get over my cold and get ready to really hit the marathon training but not neglect the cycling.  Since our two events are so close, we need to be ready for both equally so it will be a nice mental and physical challenge to get there and finish.  I think I'll be so excited to say we did it and accomplished them both!