Tiny Thunder Running

Although it has been (what feels like) forever since game day, I feel like I am still trying to process all of it. This was my second marathon, but my first HUGE marathon. There were around 30,000 people running 26.2 miles with me and it was just such an experience. Unlike my last marathon, we traveled a little over two hours from home and stayed a few days in Washington DC so that I could participate in Marine Corps Marathon . Starting a few days before, I had to check and recheck to make sure I had everything that I needed for the marathon on Sunday. I have run half marathons away from home, but to me this is so much less work than prepping marathon necessities.  Basically, I had to make sure I had my camelbak (ALL PIECES!), NUUN, huma gels for fueling, running clothes and socks. Oh and don't forget the running shoes. We left home on Friday and I couldn't get to DC or to the EXPO fast enough. (Did I mention how excited I was??) We left home around 10am and got par...

I have officially crossed into the second half of marathon training! It is is so crazy to think that I just completed week 8 of 18 and it just keeps getting crazier! Monday started the week out with a solid rest day which was MUCH needed after week 7. Tuesday I ran 4 terrible, painful, agonizing miles. Okay, maybe I am being a tad dramatic but those miles seriously were not my friend. My knee was driving me crazy, my legs were beyond heavy and 4 miles felt like 14. It just goes to show, my friends, that we all have those days! Wednesday I taped up my knee with the awesome  KT Tape  and tried for 4 miles again. I switched my Wednesday and Thursday run so that I could run longer with a friend of mine Thursday. So Wednesday, tape and all, I laced up my kicks and blasted off. Seriously. I had a great (mostly uphill) run and felt like a new woman! Maybe I was just excited to see this view?? KT Tape is BOSS! Are you serious with these splits? UPHILL?! Thursd...

Before I get into the nitty gritty of the week, I just need to reflect for a moment. Today was a really rough day at work. Really rough day at work. It was one of those sit at your desk and cry, can't wait to get off the clock to have a glass of wine kind of days. The details as to why aren't really important, just the background. I started to think about how unhappy and complacent I am getting again and wondering what else life has in store for me. I quickly looked back on my week of running and training and then realized that I have so much and so many people to be grateful to have in my life. Seriously.. a running pal actually reminded me recently that a job is a job and while it pays the bills, puts food on the table, and a roof over my head, it is ok to be just EH about my job. It is not ideal I guess, but it is where I am right now. It's not all bad, just has been overwhelmingly stressful and too much lately. But when the clock strikes 3:30pm, I am free as a bir...

So much for getting on track with weekly updates about marathon training. I can make a few general statements regarding this year versus last: 1. Things are going much better. I am hitting all my runs each week, sometimes adding extra mileage to keep things exciting and run new places. 2. I feel so much stronger this year and rightly so as I am now major injury free for over a year. 3. I am beginning to feel comfortable running in the lower 9 minute range, even in ridiculously hot temperatures! I am continually impressed by what my body can do again and am actually enjoying training. I am about 1/3 of the way through which means that it is about to get REAL and into the really high mileage section, but I've got this. Week 3 I ran 5 miles Tuesday, 5 Wednesday and 4.2 Thursday. Friday was rest day and Saturday I ran 6.5 miles. Also on Saturday, I hosted a Zumbathon as part of my Solemates campaign for Capital Area Girls on the run . We had a great time and I exceeded my fundra...

I am making a promise to myself to get caught up with blogging. To start, I will bring you up to speed on my Marine Corps Marathon training thus far. Honestly, week 1 didn't bring anything crazy into my life. On Tuesday, I ran at the track with a friend who is a running coach and is teaching me a little something about speed work. And by a little, I mean a lot. (more on that later). It is a good arrangement because I have passes to the track that she has been dying to get into (and it is only for borough residents which she is not), so she teaches me a bit and we both win. Wednesday I skipped because I had some things to do and dinner with a friend. Thursday I met with the local Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg  running group and ran 6 miles. Friday was a rest day. Saturday I joined a bunch of other crazy people in the rain for a friend's 5k and then after a long day of babysitting, I came home and managed to complete 5 more miles on the treadmill. Not my first choice, but the weath...