Last year after Danny and I had a pretty rough and discouraging race I made up my mind that in one year I was going to do it again... only better. So right when I was able to walk again I started working some small things to get prepared for training... pre-training maybe? For example I started doing what are called tempo runs, which are basically moderate mileage runs at a pace about 1 minute less per mile than race pace. I had never done this before and started realizing that my endurance was improving so I kept it up. I also started introducing intense weekly workouts of intervals. It's a really encouraging workout because it gets easier as the time goes on. You can do this on a treadmill or outside. You warm up for 5-10 minutes whatever that means- for me it's just a brisk walk and then you go all out for 5 minutes. After that you cool down for 5 minutes, my goal was to never stop running just take it down a huge notch. Then you go all out for 4 minutes and cool down for 4 minutes, then 3, 2, 1 and then 30 seconds. The idea is that each time you decrease your minutes you increase the intensity. I always get the mentality of "well today I won't have to do it for 5 minutes again" and so you get more confident.
I hit a road block in April as I was getting ready to sign up for the race (which is always on Tayler's birthday, May 1st). I was beginning to have pretty severe shin splints and outer knee pain. I was eating healthy and taking appropriate rest days so I didn't understand what could be happening. I visited the chiropractor and found out that not only do I have tremendously flat feet (thanks Dad haha), but my achilles tendon bends like a bow. Imagine looking at someone from behind and their tendons curving in the shape of a "c", that's me :) Because of this my weight was not being evenly distributed. Danny and I decided that before I would run a single mile more I would get special orthotics, and guess what? I have not had knee pain or shin splints since. Woohoo!
In May I was anxious to start my long runs and get on the road- but I knew I couldn't jump the gun because I could peak too soon. So, to keep my endurance up but save my legs I started biking everywhere! I hardly used my car from May to July and it paid off. There is a huge hill about 5 miles from our house on the way to work and each time I would repeat a song in my head like "1, 2, 3, 4 come on legs let's work some more" or something dumb like that to keep a cadence and now it's cake.
At the end of July I was ready to start pumping up my mileage. I started running every Saturday morning on the actual race course which is mainly downhill to get my quads ready for the grilling they are about to take. The routine was wake up at 4:30- make toast with jam and cottage cheese- 4:45 wake up Danny- on the road by 4:50. Dan would drop me off on the road with my blinking light and I would run home. Then my dear sweet husband would rub my legs and make me stretch. Then we would eat fruit and oatmeal and I would down 12 oz of lemon-lime gatorade (that's what they serve at the aid stations so I had to get ready for it- it's so nasty). I started with 10 miles and I would do that mileage for 2 weeks and then increase two miles for 2 weeks. All the way up until 2 weekends ago when I did my last long run of 18 miles.
Since the beginning of training I have gone from a consistent 9:55 mile to now I am running 9:30 miles for my long runs. Which doesn't seem like a lot but I am pretty proud of myself. Not only has training for the marathon improved my long distance running but it has improved my short distances as well. My PR for 5k is 22 minutes and my PR for a 10k is 52 minutes.
I have two goals for marathon day. Goal 1= Don't cry out of frustration- it's okay to cry but only happy tears. Goal 2= Complete the race in 4 hrs and 30 minutes. It's kind of a given but I also don't want to poop my pants. Don't be grossed out but running is a natural diarrhea maker. Ask any runner and they will tell you the same. Around mile 15 your tummy starts making noises and you get the picture. Also don't want to fall or get injured in any other way but those are also givens.
I love you guys and hope you aren't too bored by this post. I promise I will do better at keeping you updated.
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