7 Weeks Until RNRAZ

It's getting closer! My very first marathon!

 

When I first started really running back in 2010, I thought my marathon would have come a lot sooner than 2013. There were numerous occasions when I posted about running and training for one. But the end result was always the same. 

 

I chickened out!

 

I'm not afraid to admit it becuase it's true. I'm freaking terrified of running a marathon.

 

I recently ran another 16 miles for training and I was in so much pain! And it was only 16 miles!!! I can't imagine what I will be feeling after 26.2. I hope there are ice baths like this at the end:

 

No, but really, can there be?

 

But I look back at my training and I know that I got this.

I can do it. It may hurt a lot. But I can definitely do it.

 

With every week that passes, I get more excited!
And a little freaked out, but mostly excited.

 

I've been following a beginner marathon training program that I found somewhere online.
Kinda wished I went with something more legit (I can't even remember the website), but I was super excited to start training so I printed it out and got started. It's been working well so far!

 

My goal for this race is to finish it.

That's it.

 

I'm not trying to figure out a time I want to beat because I have no idea when I'll finish.

Making a PR is marathon #1.

Beating a PR is marathon #2 and everything else after that.

 

Any suggestions to the weeks leading up to the race will be super helpful!
I have been reading a lot about it, but experience from my fellow bloggers is so much better. :)

 

Almost there! Keep sending me good training thoughts!!!

 

 

Also, I want to wish my big sister a Happy Birthday!!! Love you JoAnn!

 

3 Things Thursday

1. Post Workout Pain - After my WOW (Workout of the Week) on Tuesday, I am still. feeling. it. Ouch! I went to yoga last night with my friend Laura and it felt so good to stretch my muscles out. Some of the moves were a little painful and I had to drop the pose, but overall it was a good feeling. The pain is located in my shoulders, butt and thighs; three places I'm actually grateful that hurt! It means I'm really working them and making some progress! And that's always a good sign. :)

2. Tinfoilman Triathlon - Only a little over 7 weeks until the Tinfoilman Triathlon...my first triathlon! Nerves are definitely setting in. The pool at my condo is extremely small. I am looking into maybe buying a month pass at the local YMCA to get some pool time in. Also, it is still too hot to ride my bike to work so I am only getting rides in when I ride to yoga at 8pm or early weekend mornings. I can't wait for the cooler weather to set in soon! Cooler weather means I can train harder and go on a lot of hikes for cross training. The October 14th race date is perfect weather wise.

 

3. Laura's Birthday at Zinburger - My workout buddy Laura is celebrating her birthday tonight at Zinburger! I love Zinburger. I am so glad she choose this excellent restaurant for her birthday festivities. She's in town from the UK (she's in grad school over there) just for her birthday so it should be fun tonight! I'll let you know about the details (and what delicious food I ate!) later.

90% Mental, 10% Physical...right?

Less than 1 week until MLHM. I'm excited and nervous at the same time! Excited because it's my second half marathon on a beautiful course, but I'm nervous because it's completely uphill and I could have trained harder. I have no intention of a PR, but I don't want to get kicked off the course! I have 7 hours to complete, and most of me knows that I will have plenty of time to finish. But then there's that annoying little voice in the back of my head. It's pretty much all mental, so I have to get that little voice out of my head!!!

What is mainly concerning me is my injuries. Well...my sort of injuries. More like bruises and strains. Last week, I dropped my U-Lock on my right foot. OW. That one hurt. Created a small bruise on the top of my foot which makes it hard to tie any of my shoes too tight. Then, last night, I twisted/sprained(?) my pinky toe on my left foot. Actually, I'm still not sure what happened to it. There's a shooting pain up along the outer edge of my foot whenever I walk. Seems like it could potentially be bad...

No matter! I'm running this half, even if a huge boulder falls on me tomorrow (knock on wood). I'm doing this thing!!! I paid for it, I've been wanting to do it for awhile. It will be a challenge, but I'm ready for it.

I'm ready!!! 

As for my training...of course it could have gone better. Training is something that I would like to improve on. I wish my life schedule would let me stick to a training schedule...just for once! Unfortunately, that's not the way it happened this time. And that's okay. You just have to roll with the punches. 

Mt. Lemmon...Here I come!