Tommorrow is the Longest Run.....

Tommorrow is the longest run of my life thus far. Ahhhh yes sooooo dramatic. I am trying to get psyched up...but I think I want to puke. The longest run I have ever done was 13.1 miles. I think I'm swaeting already. I am just going to have to think I can....think I can.....think I can.....know I can. :)

My Goal for November

I have chosen my goal time for Seattle after much consideration. I don't want to just finish. I want to feel like I finished doing the best that I could for my first marathon. I think I have been putting off choosing a time because I didn't want to set unrealistic expectations. But now I think I'm ready to challenge myself even more and start getting mentally and physically prepared to run a certain pace and time.

My Goal is to run Seattle between 4:30 and 4:50. Thats an 11 minute mile pace. I am going to give it a shot. I guess I'll be able to tell over the next few weeks if I need to adjust and rethink. It doesn't hurt to start visualizing now.

Today is an easy four squeezed in between class and loads of homework. I am going to start working with the heart rate monitor and see if I can speed up the times on my shorter runs. Wishing everyone great running and otherwise! :)

Half Way There!

Yesterday I ran my 12 miler. I ran it Slooooow. Mostly because I didn't seem to warm up until after the first 6 miles. It could have also been the swarms of bugs that I ended up swallowing, inhaling, or trying to rub out of my eyeballs. I don't know where the hell they came from....but there were millions. I'm not kidding.

After mile six I seemed to have more energy and felt good until at mile 11 my feet started to burn with every step. I focused as hard as I could on staying positive....I sang out loud. I forced myself to smile ( smile therapy....). I utilized every positive technique I could to get myself to the finish....and I made it. Jake was there waiting and he ran the last 100 or so yards with me....and as I crossed my imaginary finishline that stoopid Barry Manalow song popped into my head. Yep...that one....the "looks like we made it" song. I'm from the 70's....it's my parents fault.

So here we are....Week 8. Halfway through the training. I feel pretty good thus far. The runs are 4/6/4 and 14 miles this week. I have never run more then 13.1 miles in one stretch so this week I am going to be challenged like I never have been before. I'm excited and nervous and I feel like I am going into the abyss. I am at the halfway point. I have gone through 7 weeks of training. I can't believe how fast it has gone by. Only 62 more days until Seattle. And I'm sure Barry will be waiting there for me at the finish line.

Been Beee-zzzY

We finally got to paint our kitchen last night and ended up finishing around midnight. It looks like a whole new place with the paint job and cabinet hardware. Tonight we get to install our new light fixture and I can hardly wait. (sad really)

I can't believe it is Thursday already. September is over in like a week. Ugh! I ended up running only 3 miles on Tuesday instead of 4 due to time constraints and because I was tired. Last night I ran the full 6 and felt great. It's amazing how your energy levels can peak and trough from day to day. Today I'm going to get in a fiver to make up for the missed mile on Tuesday. I'm trying to get psyched up for the 12 miler on Sunday but I think I'm more excited for this weekend so I can sleep in on Saturday.

Week 7.....

So week 7 is here. This week is going to be quite the juggle with school and work and running, but I am so looking forward to it. This week the runs are 4/6/4 and 12 miles.

I got a sweet sweet b-day present.....


It's a POLAR heart rate monitor! Yes my friend.....it is a dream. It has a diary, counts calories burned ect... (I have yet to read the manual). I am ecstatic! JTC is the BEST! BEST BEST!

I also got some much needed "running" socks. And unbelievably they make all the difference. My toes still look like chopped LIVA....but at least the toenail(s) are starting to grow back. Thank God! Maybe by next summer I'll have a full set of toenails again. A girl can dream can't she? :)

Yesterday was the first day of fall quarter. I am taking A&P I, Psychology, and Nutrition. All these classes are pertinent for my RN but also towards my training as well. Anatomy of the foot.....the mind and our drives.....what to eat for optimum performance. How exciting. Until I get midway through the quarter and my head and legs are about to fall off....haha....hows that for positive thinking! No but seriously I am excited.

These next 10 weeks are going to be..................just plum Crazy! Just like Gnarles sayz.....Crazy!

34 Today!

So I'm 34 today. I actually feel quite fabulous. Even with the massive rats nest that is never quite tamed unless shoveled into an elastic on the top of my head. I'm really happy to be here.....at this point in my life. I feel extremely blessed for all that I have.....and I don't mean material things either. I love my family and I adore my friends (who I really should just call my family). Sometimes I feel like I don't say that enough.

How do I feel now that I am 34? Smarter. Stronger. Calmer? I understand now that all those little things that I fretted over in my 20's really don't matter. I realize now that I am the only person in control of my own happiness.....and I understand that I cannot blame anyone for my mistakes. I believe everything happens as it should. I try to be compassionate and understanding towards people who irritate (um....nice way of saying infuriate) me when they are oblivious towards the rest of the world. Once upon a time I would react first.....now I think everything through and try to see all sides of things.....even though sometimes that is really difficult to do.

I realize now that I have to take things one step at a time......and that requires patience. I realize too, that everyone has a different path to travel and if you try to follow a path that is not set out for you.....you will only be unhappy.

I love my life and I can't wait for what the future brings. I will continue to grow and learn and welcome challenges. I will continue to be ridiculously idealistic and hopelessly optimistic. I will continue to laugh as often as I can and try to not over analyze every damn thing. I will continue to dream about hiking the Appalachian trail one day. I will continue to work hard to achieve my goal of running my first marathon, and finish my RN degree. I will continue to love the person who is my soulmate more everyday......because he is the most beautiful person I ever met. And I will continue to count my blessings that I am healthy and happy.

I am 34 today! Life is full and rich and I breathe in the fresh fall air.....and so I continue running on into a future that I know is meant to be mine.

This girl....A-Go-go

So...it came and went. The Chelan 10K was a great race and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. (it could also be the fact that it was 45 fricken degrees out)(this picture doesn't show my frostbitten apendages)(which wouldn't be so bad but we just came out of 90 degree weather like a week ago)(and there was SNOW in the mountains this morning) The official results will be in on Monday the 18th. How fitting.....just like my #.

I didn't pee a river....just a small lake. I finished in 62 min according to the unofficial results but I felt pretty good about that. I felt like I did fairly well considering the course and I placed pretty decent (unknown exactly at this time but looked good on unofficial board). I would have liked to come in under 60 minutes but we'll worry about times and PR's once this marathon is run. Right now I'm more concerned with going the distance. Speed will come later.

You know once upon a time I did run 6:20 miles and my PR for the 2 miler was 12:32. Of course that was when I was young and not so wise. I don't know if I will ever get back to that place....but I do know that I'll never stop trying. (the PR part...not the being not so wise part:)) At least until after I hit 45. Then maybe I can be realistic and settle for a nice 8 or 9 min mile pace. :)

I was lucky to have the 2 cutest Chelan 10K fans waiting at the finish line for me once again. They were troopers for getting up at O-dark thirty and they are both crashed out now...(snoring I might add). After the races we headed over to Denny's for a few Grand Slams and went exploring the apple city of Wenatchee. It was a beautiful day......

Boring.....almost snoring......

I really don't have much to say today. The last few days have been busy and have flown by. Tonight I did a nice four miler and really need to stretch. We had salad for dinner....and popsicles for dessert. A whole lotta crazy sh%$t is going on at work and we chose the colors sage smoke for the kitchen and silver blue for the living room.

I am anxious about Chelan and I will probably pee a river between here and the starting line. I guess thats all for now.

I am always stealing images from the net. I should just be more creative and come up with my own!

Today......

Today. This morning was really beautiful. I was up even before the sun was rising and had a lovely view of the moon.


I couldn't sleep last night and I ended up tossing and turning until five. I ended up getting out of bed and turning on the news. Anytime I increase my activity level I seem to have trouble sleeping. I really hate insomnia.

I have been reading other runners blogs for motivation. I especially enjoy those that are working towards running their first marathon. It helps to know that other people are going through the same challenges with their training. There is not a running group out here in Omak (I know unbelievable) and it's not like you can chase down another runner on the street and ask them if they want a running buddy. The few runners I see out here anywayz.

My training companions (besides Jake) have been two books, The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer and Chi Running. Both books are very insightful and motivational. Even though I was not a non-runner I was a non-marathon runner and the book teaches you to reprogram your thought processes and takes you through the 16 week program. It also has great nutritional advice and little inspiring stories from other runners who completed the program. It really is a great book. And Chi Running, well what else can I say.......it's all about the chi......and nothing but the chi.

Today is a day off from running. I think I am going to take a little hike around town and enjoy the sun and what little fresh air I can grab. I better enjoy myself now because soon I won't have much "sit back and smell the sage brush" time. Today is a day...... and I feel lucky, thankful and grateful for it and those I can share it with.

Remembrance

Week 5 down and still alive.....

I know.....the chart again. It is my motivation....my reward. It'sad really when a grown woman gets so excited about coloring in a cube.

I survived my ten miler. I did it in about 2 hours which is ok by me since I had some nice hills to conquer. Chelan was absolutely beautiful and it reminds me of a mini Malibu. The run was scenic and kept me going even when my feet started to hurt a little bit at mile 8. I ended up running more then 10 just so I could prove to myself that you can always put just a little bit more into it even when you think you can't. I felt a little stiff and walked a little funny right after I finished but that passed after a couple of hours and a little stretching. I need toget into the habit of stretching more......but I don't seem to have the patience to sit still long enough.

Tommorow is the beginning of week six. That means my weekly mileage increases to 24 and my runs will be 4, 5, 4 and 11 miles. The Chelan 10k is on Saturday and I'm looking forward to seeing how my time turns out. I am going to run the race and then go on for another 5 miles to get my distance run in for the week. I can't believe it's Sept 10th already.....ugh.

I had a wonderful weekend and I got to spend it with someone whom I adore and makes me laugh all the time......that just made week 5 all the more worthwhile. Everything is as it should be....and even better!

Wishing everyone a lovely week! And sadly missing our poor burnt lonely gnome. :(

Home Improvements

This weekend we are making some small home improvements to spice up the place. It was actually fun to pick out some stuff....and of course we let our imaginations "run" wild. Will update with some pictures after we have Improved.

I ran 5 the other day and the smoke was really thick due to the Tripod fire. We had an air quality rating that was "Unhealthy"...meaning stay indoors. Of course I can't do that so I choked my way through and survived....I might as well ran with a cigarette. I ran a short almost 3 today and I am gearing up for my ten miler tomm. We are going to Chelan so I can run the 10k course and then I'll just run back. I will really get to know the course intimately before next Saturday...hills and all. Wishing everyone a great weekend.

P.S. To the kidnappers.........we will pay the ransom.....we would just like him back safely and in one piece!

Girls Rock at Fishing and other stuff..........

I think it has been a week since I blogged a thing. Sorry about the big green worm....I think I was really stretching it.....my mind wasn't working and words weren't formulating. I needed a vacation from the computer. My brain needed a vacation from any kind of thought. I had been officially stimulated to the max and my neurons and synapes were FRIED.

Alot has gone on in the past week and throughout this summer and now I'm just ready to settle down and get into some sort of "routine" again. I never thought I'd say this but I am really excited to just "settle down". I've got school and work and my running to keep me busy. I'm looking forward to living my life and for me that means "day ins and day outs". I woke up this morning with a sense of happiness and wellbeing and feeling.....well.....energized. (I guess it could have been the strong cup of joe I had.....because I can make a mean cup.....and I do mean "mean").

This past weekend was really great. The girls kicked some serious "BASS" proving once again that girls rock! At anything they do really...... :)

I have to admit that I am "hooked" on fishing and I love my new fishing pole. It is actually the first fishing pole I have ever owned in my entire life. And it was a very sweet present from two very sweet peoples. I don't think my family would believe it really.....without the pictures to prove it.

The running has been going along smoothly and I have been feeling great. Pooch-choo came with me on my run Saturday and that helped propel me along. I ran my eight miler as scheduled on Sunday morning and I felt like I could have kept on for another two miles. That is a good sign considering I have a ten miler to run this upcoming Sunday. I have been surprised at how good I feel when I run....let me rephrase that. I am surprised that when I feel tired and cruddy and don't want to run that I feel so fabulous when I'm out there on the road.

It is weird how the training has progressed along. I think it is not just a desire/want anymore. I think it is like breathing and eating. I need to do this. It is a committment I have made to myself and I refuse to give up on it. I am in the midst of week 5 and I am feeling really good. Last week I was feeling a tad bit burnt out and thats probably why I didn't write much. But once I finished my eight miler I realized that I can do this. I CAN DO THIS. I am still at the bottom of the pyramid.....but I am now more than 25% into the training.



Finding motivation is not easy sometimes. I don't just mean for exercise. I see motivation as an internal spark that ignites the fire....and sometimes wind, or rain, or other external circumstances/forces make it very difficult for the spark to ignite into a flame. Or to even spark at all. But if you believe and persist you will have fire. And it will burn......all the way to the finish line.