Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Update on my MARATHON TRAINING

 When I tell people I'm training for a marathon, most people laugh & tell me I'm crazy.  They are shocked that anyone would WILLINGLY run 26.2 miles....at one time.  It's cool though...that doesn't discourage me.  In know I'm going to LOVE crossing the finish line, and I love how training has really paralleled to my life lately, as cheesy as that sounds.  I'm sure other runners get that.  
So I have made a recent discovery...all these lovely lady runners with fabulous blogs.  I am SO enjoying them right now....(you might call it a slight addiction...in fact, my eyes hurt me today because I read blogs for an unknown but ridiculous amount of time yesterday.)  It's super interesting & inspiring to read about other runners & their training/races.  I feel like it's helping me mentally prepare for my race in November.
These are some of my new loves...

I am on week 10 of my marathon training. I have ran somewhere around 180 miles in the past 10 weeks....which sounds like a lot until you read how many miles those other chicks have logged in the last 10 weeks. {Makes me feel like a weenie, BUT...I'm getting there...} I have battled several 'issues,' setbacks, whatever you wanna call it, along the way. (I know I'm not the only one to get blisters, chaffing, lose toenails, pulled muscles, etc, but I bet I am the only one to rip the end of my toe off? I have a picture but don't wanna gross anyone out. Wutcha think? Wanna see it??)... You can read about those here! I am currently babying a pulled calf muscle on my left leg...which is also causing some pain in my right knee (overcompensating I suppose). Fabulous. Ice massages and Epsom salt baths have become my best friend.  I also just discovered that rolling around on a softball (it's all I had- they recommended a baseball or lacrosse ball) helps my calf, in a completely 'painful-yet-manageable as long as I'm doing Lamaze breathing while rolling away' kinda way.

My longest long run thus far has been 13 miles. I had a great 13 miler in Dahlonega (minus the monster hills). Last week was a drop down week- only 10 miles, and minus my nagging calf and knee pain, I felt great.  I have 15 miles to run throughout this week, and my longest run yet on Saturday....a big 15 miler.  

Here's what my workout looked like today: 
*2 mile Fartlek run on the treadmill (it was raining- praise the Lord. we so NEED it!)
* 30 kettle bell swings with squats (20 lbs)
* 30 pushups
* 30 lunges/leg
*30 pull ups
*30 dead lifts
*30 bicep curls
*30 tricep extensions
*20 dips
*1 easy mile 
(6.8 mph- I tweaked my calf while fartlekking- haha, doesn't that sound disgusting?)
*20 burpees
*20 crunches on stability ball
*30 sec plank

And for dinner I got to enjoy a crab stuffed portabella mushroom topped with shrimp and a side of asparagus.  Yum!!
I have decided I'm going to start taking some running pictures. Or recruiting my hubby to take embarrassing photos of me so I can post them (as soon as he gets over this Vertigo & sinus infection....bless his heart!!)...

Y'all HAVE to see what I look like with all my "gear" on....haha, it's hilarious. I look so hard core with my fuel belt & Garmin....so check back for pics soon!

I'll let ya know how the 15 miler goes!

5 comments:

Vanessa @ Gourmet Runner said...

I'm so flattered to make the list! I love reading running blogs, they really inspire me to get out there and run too!
You are going to do so well on the upcoming 15 miler--that is a serious distance!
I didn't realize that you lived so close to me, we will have to meet up one day for a long run somewhere!
:)

Britt @ Chicago Runner Girl said...

Thanks for the link up, I feel so honored to make this list with these other amazing bloggers. It is always a wonderful thing to share our experiences with others and have the opportunity to touch anothers life.

Girl let me tell you that I have never ripped of the top of my toe, but I have lost more toe nails than I'd care to share, have nursed hundreds of blisters, foam rolled every single muscle in my body, and have had chafage in places that I never knew possible all for the sake of running...and I wouldn't have it any other way!

180 miles is AWESOME, and you should feel like you are on cloud nine! So keep up the amazing work and thanks for finding my blog!

Britt @ Chicago Runner Girl said...

P.S. that hat is awesome

B said...

Thank you so much for putting my blog on your list! I am very flattered you like it! I am going to put you on my blog roll so more people can find your blog. Awesome workout by the way and your dinner looks SO GOOD!!

Bess @ Bess Be Fit said...

Thank you so much for putting my blog on your list! I am very flattered you like it! I am going to put you on my blog roll so more people can find your blog. Awesome workout by the way and your dinner looks SO GOOD!!