Fuel It Right

8:55 avg/44:32

Dropped Fiona off to get her oil changed so started from the car salon.  Felt a bit tired but not too bad.  Ran to the gym and lifted upper.

9:00 avg

Started at Timp. park w/ Chris after work.  Wasn't feeling it in the slightest.  Before we started I told him that if he wanted to get back in the car and drive straight to Cold Stone that would be just fine.  It took about 3 miles to get started and 1 more mile up.. the way down felt pretty snazzy.

9:09 avg

ug, is it supposed to be this hard to run?  Just went from home.  It was a little toasty by the time I got out which I'm sure didn't help.

8:58 avg

I realized last night, after driving home at 1am on the freeway that was shut down to 1 lane(so annoying), that I didn't have an alarm clock so I set my mental alarm clock and it actually worked!  Went up the canyon and back from the mouth.  Felt tired again but I can't wait til next week. I'm excited!!

9:05 avg/45:23

hot outside so TMed it.  Started listening to a new book and it made the time go by so fast, it was super rad.  Threw in 5 1/4 miles at little bit faster pace

Went to the gym again bound for the TM but the TV's were blaring and, with only one headphone working, I knew it would be hard hear my book. Headed down to the peace an quiet of the track.  Never thought I'd say this about that small track but it was devine.  Went one way for 2 miles, turned around and went the other direction.  Didn't have a watch, just went what felt good.

I can't help but think about the first marathon I did 10 years ago(Holy crap I'm getting old!!) and how I felt the Thursday before, doing the exact same distance as today.  Hella bad, that's how I felt.  From the first step I took I felt the energy being sucked right out of me and my brain could not comprehend the 26.2 miles I was setting myself up to run. "3 miles, 3 measly miles, that's all.  If I can't get through this without breathing irratically and with lead legs that don't want to move, how in the #@(]<! ... #@%&*)^% am I gonna handle this."  I was with my sister and she was feeling the same way.  It was #1 for both of us and we both started to kinda freak out at how horrible we felt.  Needless to say I was raw and nervous.

Not today.  I was a bit tired but I felt pretty good.  I can tell I'm better conditioned-- physically and mentally.  I'm confident but know it will still be a challenge.  I'll push through and do my best that day.

Bring it?  It's already been broughted...

Feels good... can't wait

8:45 avg

Started the morning off at a chipper 2:30am.  Ate my trusted banana and PB and made up my protien/E7 mixture for the ride up to say comfortably full.  Gathered my umbrella, trash bag and running gear and headed out to pick up Chris and Mom.  We got off the bus and I was pleasantly suprised at the temp.  It wasnt raining and it wasn't cold, it felt nice.  It started to sprinkle a bit but it wasn't bad so I decieded not to put on my trash bag.. I set in on the side of the road and took my place in the heard.  Right at 5:30 it started to pour so I went and found my bag on the side of the road.  Oops, I put it right in the mud.  Ran really comfortably to start out with.  It was faster than I was expecting to go but it felt good so I just went with it.  I thought several times during the first 6 that I wanted to take my bag off(it was kind of long and it was bugging me).  I'm glad I left it on though.  There was a pretty good down pour somewhere up the canyon.  by the half way mark it had pretty much stopped raining so I decided to take the bag off and use the bathroom.

1/2 way!  By 15 I started to feel my big toe that has been bothering me on and off but tried to run as normally as possible.  Started to feel my quads and glutes getting a bit tired and tight at this time also but still felt pretty good so I started using the things people had been telling me in the last while to pull myself through.  Fabulous tail wind down the canyon!  Before I knew it I was at the mouth of the canyon and I had a girl behind me ask if she was bothering me yet.  Apparently she tucked in behind me and.. I didn't even notice.  I told her she was fine.  She actually helped me keep my pace up knowing she was behind me.  After awhile she kept having a van pull up every once in awhile and that started to get annoying but didn't let it get to me.  I was just watching and waiting to see Josse.  Saw Chris at mile 23, I was tired but felt I could keep it up, I really wanted Josse at this point though.  Finally, I saw her.  The girl that was running with me started to back off but coach Jos told her to stay with us.  She did and started doing better than me.  I was losing it.  Jos kept me focused and going.  I couldn't have done this last part near as fast without her.  She's the best big sis eva.  Love ya girl!

26 min. PR and minimal shower sting.  That's a good day.

splits: 8:27, 8:24, 8:34, 8:41, 8:37, 8:42, 9:13, 9:11, 8:27, 8:46, 9:01, 8:46, 8:38, 9:20, 8:45, 8:18, 8:14, 8:23, 8:19, 8:23, 8:17, 8:42, 9:04, 8:59, 8:59, 9:08, 3.02(.34 according to my garmin)

1:55:46/1:53:31-- Negative Split!

What an excellent way to end a week on gorgeous Whidbey Island.  This run felt so good!  And it didn't hurt being surrounded by beutiful trees and wild berries.  I don't know if it was the whole sea level thing or something else, but I cruised up the hills no prob. My calves were a little tight but legs felt really good for the most part.  I was pretty sore on Sunday and Monday but by Tuesday it was all gone. 

I can't think of a better way to spend the week after a marathon than relaxing in the nice cool, crisp sea air of Washington.  The weather was perfect and so were the peeps :)

Took Brune for a morning run.  He loved it, I loved it, it was good times.

I kinda slacked this week but I was really busy with work catch up and getting back to real life.  Oh well.  Threw in a little swim.  Next is the bike :)

Ran to the outside 1/2 mile track cause I'm too lazy to charge my garmin but still wanted to know how far I went.  It would have been absolutely boring but I had my book to listen to.  It's my new favorite thing to get lost in while running.