Progress..

It is slow, but it is being made. My math sucks, but I'm pretty certain that my running pace is just about 11:30 per mile. However, because I still walk a bit I'm in the 13-14 minute per mile range overall. I have 86 days or something like that to increase the running time and improve my time. Regardless, I've signed my registration form and put in that I plan to finish in 6 hours. I can easily accomplish that at the pace I currently go, even with the walking. I figure by then I should be able to do a 9-10 minute run/1-2 minute walk and that would have me finishing below 6 hours. Now that the recommitment papers are here, I am VERY nervous. It's all starting to be real now, and I'm realizing just how far I've come, both physically and mentally, with my running.

I'm able to run much further than when I first started. My lungs don't feel tired and I've trained my brain to run landmarks when I start thinking I'm getting tired to keep myself going. I've only lost about 10 pounds (30 overall since last August) since I started running, but I've lost inches and I think I look better now than I did when I weighed the same before. I still have a ways to go on the weight loss, but saying I only have to lose 30 pounds is much nicer than saying I have to lose 60! :)) If I can lose half of the last 30 before the marathon I will be ecstatic. That's five pounds a month and I have three months..shouldn't be too hard at all! I haven't really even been trying that hard to lose since I started running and it's coming off..so if I actually pay attention to my intake I'm pretty sure it would melt like butter. ;)

Mentally it's been helping to release stress. I'm not happy with school right now. I'm burning out and the subject matter this semester isn't really my thing, and with that and work I tend to get really tense and stressed and cranky. So when I really start feeling that, I have been using it as my motivation to get my butt out the door and run. Nine times out of ten I'm happier when I get back. I plan to keep this up well after the marathon. My next goal is Disney in January, and at some point I'd like to do another TNT event. I'm slowly becoming addicted to running..scary! ;)

First 6 miler..

It went amazingly well. My legs were like Jello the rest of the day, but that was my own fault. I ran first thing in the morning with nothing in my stomach..bad idea! I had guzzled down some water but that was it. I had to do 3 laps around the windy part of the trail in order to get a full 6 miles in at the end. Part of the trail by my house runs through a bunch of trees, so that part was nice. But once I got out to the loop, it was WINDY! I came back and the entire front of my body was red, and I was bundled as much as I could be without being too hot. Next time I'm taking a PowerBar or something so that I can refuel. About mile 4 I was starting to feel the effects of running 6 with no nourishment.

The good part though, was that I was able to run a lot farther than normal. I was doing more running than walking and THAT is an accomplishment for me now. It made the day go much better. I did some fundraising after the run and pulled in another $100 for the cause, so it was worth getting up super early and then standing on my feet for 3.5 hours.

This week is another 3 day running week with an 8 miler on Saturday, and next week I have 4 running weekdays and then my first double-digit run on Saturday. Now I KNOW I'm freakin' crazy! ;)

Why does it always seem...

Like no matter how hard I try, something ALWAYS gets in the way of me getting in my mileage during the week? I was supposed to do 3 miles today. I couldn't get it in..the weather was crappy and I hadn't brought my gym gear with me to run. Now the weather has cleared up but it's too dark.

Tomorrow I have to do 6 miles. Because of a last minute opening at the Younkers fundraising gig (and my nonwillingness to give up fundraising dollars!), I can't run it with the group. So I'm trying to decide whether to do 4 miles on the trail by my house, drive over to group training quick and just do the last 2 miles with them, or just do my 6 all at once on the trail..which really makes more sense.

This week I do mileage on Sunday, which should help me tremendously. I seem to be happier and more willing to do mileage when I'm home and can be outside. I'm definitely no gym rat. :)