Week 3 Day 15

Training is moving right along and I have to say it is going fairly well so far!  I have not missed any runs on my schedule and have kept to the mileage of every run.
Last Saturday was a 7 mile long run and I was pleasantly surprised with how well it went.  I tried a new energy gel, Honey Stinger Gold.  I have to say I liked it!  I found the consistency was thinner then the other gels I have tried in the past.  I did carry water with me in a hand held water bottle and did not like that!  It felt heavy and my elbow hurt from holding it up.  I am working on the solution to that problem.....
Next long run coming up is on Saturday with 9 miles.  I don't think I will have time to get more Honey Stinger so I am going to try Salted Caramel GU.  When it came out last winter, it was quite popular and hard to find...seems to be everywhere now so I am going to give it a try!
Chugging right along! :)

Decisions, decisions....

So one of the strange and quirky things about me is apparently I collect fuel.  I don't really know how or why I have aquired this collection but it gives me lots of options.  I am starting to prepare for a 7 mile run on Saturday and want to take something with me to begin practicing what works and what will not upset my stomach.  

What do you use for fuel on long runs?  Any of these or something different?  I would love to hear some ideas!!!

Day 6...Long Run

Today was the first long run of my marathon training!!  It was a 5 mile run and we really lucked out on the weather.  I thought it was drizzling out so I wore a lightweight coat and a hat....and needed neither one!  Oh well, I would rather be prepared then be stuck in the rain with no coat and no hat.
5 miles has been about the most I have been doing for weekend long runs so it did not really feel like much of a stretch but it was what was on the schedule.
I am not a huge fan of selfies....but took one anyways to attach...

Like the little wings?  Still working on growing out my hair so that all that can be pulled back into a ponytail instead of sticking out from under my hat.
So a total of 15 miles this past week...and feeling great! 

Day 3

This morning I got up at 3:45 to get ready for a 4 mile run with my favorite running partner.  I wanted to make sure I had time to have a small cup of coffee and something to eat.  I ended up with some greek yogurt and fruit and found it was just the right amount to eat.  Later on in my training I will need to eat more then that but hopefully won't have to get up so early for those runs! 

So we got 4 miles done and I am feeling so great....like nothing can go wrong for the rest of the day...keeping my fingers crossed!!  Go out and make it a good day everyone!!

Day One

Today is the first day of marathon training.  I feel like I should be celebrating it somehow....

 Oh I know, I'll go for a run!
Today's run is 3 miles...
The rest of the week goes like this:
Tuesday: Rest (legs and cardio at gym)
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: Rest (upper body and cardio at gym)
Saturday:  5 miles
Sunday: Rest

Seeing as how my long run has been 5 miles lately, this week will be a piece of cake!!
Now off to go finish my banana oatmeal pancakes before heading off to work!

My worst race....almost

So here I am sitting on my couch, ice under my calf and on the verge of tears.  Tonight I ran one of my favorite races...Rock n Race in Concord New Hampshire.  This race is for such a great cause and means so much to me because it benefits Concord Hospital's Cancer Care Center.  I run this race in honor of loved one who have passed one and in honor of anyone who is battling or has battled cancer.  It has an emotional meaning to it which is why I was so determined to do well.  I have to admit I was shooting for a sub 30 5K finish.  What ended up happening I will never forget.
I was cruising down the road at a much fast pace then I think I have ever run when it happened...my whole left calf became extremely tight and cramped up on me.  I tried so hard to run normal on it thinking it would stretch itself out but instead I was actually limping.  My leg was just not allowing me to run!  I moved over to the side of the street a few times to stretch it out and resume running but nothing was working.  I was faced with a problem I had never faced before...and I wasn't even a mile into the race!!!!  I was turning around to walk back to the start when a friend found me.  She asked if I was O.K. and I said no with tears in my eyes.  After a much needed hug she encouraged me to keep walking and told me I needed to finish the race even if I had to walk it.  So that is what we did.  We walked along and talked, I texted on my phone to a friend and we even had some chips and salsa along the way!  Who gets to do any of that while running a race?!?! 
So I am hoping that this was a one time occurrence and that I will not have any soreness in my leg tomorrow.
As for my finish time...I don't ever want to know.

Great start

6 miles done for today!!!!  Love getting it done early so now I have all day to do the rest of my stuff and decide what I am going to eat!  Ha ha

It was also great to meet my step goal for the day on my fitbit before 9:00 am!

Have a great day!!!

Beth