marathon journey

i realize i've been awful about updating on my marathon journey.  woops.  oh well.  better late than never.

so the journey started back in february when i registered, of course.  

it's funny because i found out my sister-in-law, greta, was pregnant a couple weeks later and she's due right around the time of the marathon.  we're both on our very own, very different journeys, but journeys none the less.

yeah... her's is a lot more important than mine.

as i come to the end of my training i'm starting to feel ready for the race.  

anyway so as i go along, i don't want to jinx anything, but things seem to be falling into place.

i got new shoes about a month ago so they are nice and fancy.  although apparently after this marathon, technically, i should have to buy new ones again.  whew.  whatever, i'll enjoy them while i can.

i decided to give up coffee about a month ago as well.  this decision doesn't have all that much to do with the marathon, but i decided after the marathon is when i can have it again.  just clearing out my system.  ????  i guess.

I'm still trying out different energy chews and i even tried a gel last weekend.  i want to use the one that i like most on race day.  i've tried quite a few.  i totally recommend this to everyone!  everyone's different and you have to figure it out for yourself.  from the gel i tried sunday (for the first time), i didn't love it.  i just didn't like the feeling of it.  

with that said, i think i had one of my best runs sunday.  my training schedule has me run 20-mile runs three times throughout the training.  sunday was my 2nd one.  and all things considered, it went pretty well.  maybe it was the carb loading the night before?  maybe it was the surprisingly cooler weather we had?  maybe my body's actually getting ready???

i don't know what it was, but i do know i've learned my building has 14 steps to my apartment.  (i count them as i lift my feet that feel 5x normal weight.)  i've learned at the end of the run all i can think of it cups and cups of cold water, recovery drink, gatorade, anything liquid.  i've learned the more i walk around after my long runs, the less tightness i feel the next day.

the last few days have been quite windy, blowing against me on the last half of the runs.  not my favorite thing in the world to run against the wind.  but i always think back to when i had my driver's permit.  i was in st. louis with mom and i'm not sure if i asked to drive or she had me drive.  (i do remember asking a lot in that period... ironic that now i really dislike it)  anyways it started pouring on our way home.  like i couldn't see the lines on the road.  i kept telling mom i wanted to pull over and let her drive.  i didn't like it at all.  once i got home i was complaining to dad.  he said now if you're out driving in the rain, we know you'll be ok.  i think of this during things i don't enjoy doing.  i think of it as my training.  so with the wind i think, 'well, if it's windy on marathon day... i'll be ready.'

i'm getting excited.  it's so close!

my training schedule