Marathon Training Week #2 & the Snowy Weekend

The biggest thing that happened in my week!!!

I knew I picked a good race. I mean, come on! The Meb Zone! This allows you to get a high five from this champion! That's some epic motivation!

Anyway, here was week 2's schedule:

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Total Miles
8 Miles	Yoga Pushups	Yoga 5 Miles Squats	Yoga 5 Miles Pushups	Yoga Squats	REST	16 Miles 10 Miles	28 Miles

So...I was supposed to do 16 on Saturday, but we had some major snow, which goes on my list of "Things I Hate Most." But it gave me the excuse to stock up...

...and eat gluten filled pepperoni rolls topped with ranch.

Anyway, snow on a long run day is really frustrating. I have way less motivation and would much rather spend it in bed all day.

But, I forced myself on the treadmill, which I really only do because I have sympathy for the drivers that frequent the roads I run. Think of it from their perspective when roads are bad. They see a runner coming at them and they have to literally steer clear of you. One wrong move and they can lose control, hurting themselves or even hitting you.

Anyway, I stayed inside on Saturday and pieced together a 10 miler while watching Bruce Almighty.

My plan was to switch out Saturday's run for Sunday's and vice versa. I thought that maybe I would be able to hit the road due to improved temperatures on Sunday. Unfortunately, there was still a decent bit of snow, some of which was not cleared from the shoulders of some of the roads. So I was chained to the treadmill again. Only this time, I forced myself to do all 16 miles in one session. I did give myself the option of breaking it up, but I knew if I had, I would have exhausted myself even more.

The show Bones kept me pretty entertained and I made sure to give myself some really challenging inclines. It kept the miles moving pretty steady. I finished in 2:35:13. Not bad for being stuck indoors, if you ask me!

So this week should be pretty packed full of excitement and anxiety. I was supposed to get some test results from a doctor's appointment on Friday, but they weren't available, so I should be getting them tomorrow or Tuesday (fingers crossed for NO surgeries in 2015!). I am also seeing Ralphie May on Wednesday, which is super exciting! It will really help break up the madness of our busy lives.

So tell me...

What are you looking forward to doing this week?

Were you chained to a treadmill this weekend? How do you make a long run bareable? Do you break it up, watch a movie, etc?

Marathon Training: Week 1 & Valentine's Day!

Happy Sunday, all! I have just completed week 1 of 16 for the Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon.

Here was the proposed schedule:

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Total Miles
10 Miles	Yoga Pushups	Yoga 5 Miles Squats	Yoga 5 Miles Pushups	Yoga 45 Min Bike Squats	REST	18 Miles	38 Miles

As you may notice, Thursday is crossed out and that is because I failed at life that day. I have become very overwhelmed with work, school, and I also had a doctor's appointment sneak up on me. I just about had a mental breakdown. So I decided to rest on both Thursday and Friday and abstain from school work for a couple of days.

Other than Thursday, I had a great week! Sunday rounded out my first 30 mile weekend. So I planned to take it easy the next day because I was experiencing some knee pain I have never had before. I wanted to be proactive, take it easy, and not injure myself so early in the game. I resumed running on Tuesday without an issue. Peter and I both ran on Tuesday and Wednesday out by my parents. He and I both are sick of doing road runs every night though. We favor the canal as it is easier on our joints, but with the recent snow we've had, the canal was out of the question. That and it's not quite light enough till we finish. It's really scary running on the canal in the dark, even with a light.

Fast forward to Saturday. I had an 18 miler planned and in all honesty, I wasn't feeling it. I stalled and didn't want to brave the 20 degree weather. Yet, I thought it was way too early in my training to be giving up on a long run. So I put on my cold gear and headed out. This time, sans Camelbak. I've enjoyed bringing it on my runs, but I have come to learn that the water will freeze in the tubes when it is 20 degrees out. Bringing it on Saturday would have been pointless.

So, like the "good" runner that I am, I brought neither water or food, just my cell and my iPod. I thought I was going to end up bailing before I reached my goal, so I told Peter to keep his phone on him. Yet, once I started running, I quickly changed my tune. I felt REALLY good.

My route was just an out and back from my house, to the canal and back. It was a perfect mixture of brutal hills on the pavement and flat, cushioned trail on the canal. I now prefer doing a mix between the two on my long runs. Doing on or the other is either too boring, too repetitive, too challenging, and then some. So incorporating both seems to have been quite beneficial. I have neglected hill training for some time and need it back. The Disney World Half really proved that. I will not make the same mistake for this marathon.

Anyway, when I arrived home from my 18 mile adventure, I was greeted with a dark chocolate bar with espresso beans, and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers!

I never got a picture of the chocolate because after you've run 18 miles, chocolate and caffeine couldn't be a better treat!

That evening, I got prettied up so we could get take out from the Outback. Yeah...nothing worth getting glammed up for, but I wanted to look good for my husband. :)

It was a lovely first Valentine's Day as a married couple for us. Very relaxed. Honestly, my favorite Valentine's Day to date! I think take out and chocolate is all you need! And a good run :)

So tell me...

How was your Valentine's Day? Single? Dating? Married?

Though running can be a stress reliever, when have you been so stressed, that running or working out is out of the schedule? Did you ever regret your decision to skip a workout due to stress?

Bio Skin Giveaway (OVER) & the Beginning of my 41 Week Adventure

To celebrate the beginning of my 41 week running journey (I'll explain), I am doing a great giveaway! The awesome people at Bio Skin have given me the opportunity to share a $20 off coupon to one of my readers! Trust me, I'm jealous of you!

BioSkin provides top of the line compression clothing that will help with any aches or pains and prevent them from starting. I have a pair of the compression calf sleeves myself and they are awesome post-run!

Check out their website for more! And continue reading to find out how you can win $20 off!!!

So as I said, I am in the beginning of a crazy 41 week running journey.

It will take me through 2 marathons, 3 half marathons, 1 relay race, and end with the ultimate achievement: AN ULTRA-MARATHON!

This will be the most challenging schedule I have ever taken on as a runner. Though the training officially started yesterday, I have been doing what I will call "pre-training." It started in November when I randomly started upping my mileage as a "just in case I wanna do a marathon" situation. Since then, I have already done two 20 mile runs, one which was this past Saturday.

Now, the marathon I decided to do, the Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon, isn't until May 31st. Yesterday would have given me 16 weeks of training prior to that date. At this point, I have already done about 16 weeks of decent marathon training without having one planned. With that said, I decided I wouldn't waste my training and that I would take on a marathon a little sooner. 

Today, I randomly decided to sign up for the Queen City Marathon in Cumberland, MD. It's close and it's a fairly flat or steady elevated course. I will not be running this at race pace as I am more concerned with getting a great time in San Diego. I will use this as one of my long runs, a prequel to the big day.

I must say, this decision has really amped me up! I have a little less than 2 months before I am back in the marathon seat! It's been almost a year since I have participated in my 1st and only official marathon. Despite my intentions of keeping this marathon easy and relaxed, I think I will still manage to PR. My 20 milers have been great and were just seconds apart in pace. I am just in beast mode right now!

I'll have more on my training schedule as I get through each week. I am also starting some detoxing this week (I've gained some weight...oops!) and will keep you informed on that! So sit tight! Things are about to get crazy!


HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $20 FROM BIO SKIN!!!

Answer one or all of the following questions with your name and email. One lucky reader will be randomly drawn to win!

• Have you ever used a race as a training run for another race?
• What upcoming marathons are you planning to participate in?
• What is your favorite type of athletic wear?