Wiped out hard!

What a beautiful morning. Not a cloud in the sky. 40 degrees. Did 3.82 miles in 45:35. I bumped up my intervals to 5 min run/ 2 min. walk. I figure it's easier to step up the intervals when you're running shorter distances. I totally wiped out during the last mile. Bloodied up my hand and gave my right hip a raspberry. That's my very first running wipe out ever. I didn't wipe out once all during training last year. And of course just as I'm picking my sorry butt up....one of my neighbors drives by. Murphy's law don't ya know.

I need a calorie free cookie!

Squeezed in another hour on the elliptical. I LOVE my elliptical. It's the only cardio machine that I can do and still read! I'm reading a fabulous book..."Rockabye: From Wild to Child"...made the time go by VERY fast...a great book goes a very long way when your working out! Imagine that...burning over 600 calories (at least that's what the machine tells me) while reading a book. Wooohooo! Doesn't get better than that. Well it could actually...someone could come up with a way to burn that many calories while eating these damn M&M cookies that I've been inhaling for the last 3 days...UGH! I begged my hubby to take them to work to get them out of the house...he forgot.

I need some motivation!

Well I felt really good after Saturday's run. I wasn't as sore as I thought I'd be. Spent the entire day Sunday doing yard work and woke up Monday morning barely able to move. I'm sore...I mean REALLY sore! My back is killing me and legs hurt like hell from all the landscaping squatting. I haven't slept good the last 2 nights because of my aching body. So I'm complaining about all this now to explain why I didn't do my planned run this morning. Maybe I'm making excuses...I don't know...maybe I need to run when I feel this awful...but it didn't happen today. That's the bad news. The good news is I spent an hour on my elliptical instead. A little less impact.

I'm at it again!!

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO! Winter is behind us. Spring is finally here. The snow is completely melted and I saw a Robin Last week. Which mean....drum roll please....

It's time to start move'n again. Our group started with the training last Saturday and we all discovered that we are ridiculously out of shape. Back to square one with the training. It still blows my mind away that just 5 measly months ago I ran 26.2 miles and now I struggle to get through 1. I lost it all! So, both last Saturday and today we did 6 miles of interval training. 3 minutes running / 2 minutes walking. We were struggling to breathe in the end but I remember from last time that it took me about 5 or 6 weeks to get the breathing under control. So I had hoped this past week to get at least 2 more runs in but that didn't happen because of my husbands work schedule...eh-hem...but I'm hoping to get back on track this week.

The weather was gorgeous today...60 and sunny...doesn't get any better than that. And there were loads of people at the park enjoying the weather. Good day! Good day!

I did it!

And survived! It wasn't pretty but I finished! My official time was 5:19:51.

Where do I start??.....I guess I can start by saying that I totally underestimated how painful and difficult this would be. I started the day thinking that it would be a repeat of my 20 miler only a little more difficult the last 6 miles...the last couple miles of the 20 miler were hard but certainly doable and I felt great when I finished. But I'm slowly learning that each run is a new experience and if the planets aren't aligned just so....it can inexplicably make a run....not so good. I tried to do and eat everything the same...and the weather couldn't have been more perfect....so....naturally....I thought it would be a perfect and blissful experience. Well, let me tell you.....

The first 13 miles I felt incredible....my legs were loose...my mind was inspired and fresh....the weather was perfect...I was enjoying it, taking it all in, and kicking butt (relatively speaking). My official time at the half was 2:23:17....which was right on track for finishing in under 5 hours. Kelly who has had injuries plaguing her training wasn't going to run it at all but decided at the last minute to try. Her and I ran the 1st 13 miles together. It was awesome...and for someone who's training has been continuously interrupted because of injuries ...she was doing an incredible job. Dan and the boys were waiting for me to cheer me on with the signs they made at about the 9th mile when I came back over through the tunnel and then again at about 13.5... gave me a big hug and I was on top of the world.....it was about that time that I lost Kelly.....and from that point on I started falling apart.

I'm going to completely digress here for a moment to tell you about my boys' signs.....since the beginning of this my boys keep asking "so are you gonna win mom?" and I have to over and over again explain to them that NO I was not now or EVER going to win a marathon but it was only about the journey and FINISHING the 26.2 miles....that's a difficult concept for 2 competitive boys....so Saturday night at the TNT sponsored spaghetti dinner they pulled all the kids from the room and brought them to a room next door to help them make signs to support their loved ones....I laughed when I saw my kids signs.....all the other kids brought out signs that said "you can do it!" and "we're proud of you"......MY boys, however, wrote "FINISH MOM!"...LOL!

At the same spaghetti dinner my friend Traci was recognized and given a plaque by the TNT powers that be for recruiting 4 friends to do this along with her.....how cool is that??!!

So, back to my unraveling.......At around the 14th mile my lower back and hips started really aching. So, in the past I've found that when something is sore during a run it really helps me to stop and stretch it....so I stopped to stretch....and I could never get back in the groove from that point on...my back, hips, and lower abdomen were really hurting by the 16th mile when I got to the entrance to Belle Isle....Diane and her husband were at the entrance to the bridge over waiting for me with orange slices, bless their heart, and she ran a short distance with me to help remotivate me and then went back to meet me when I returned back over the bridge at mile 20. The whole 3 or 4 miles on Belle Isle were rough....I ran a little and walked a lot....but I was in a lot of pain. When I met up with Diane she told me she'd run the rest of it with me....the whole last 6.2 miles to the finish....I have serious doubts that I would have finished this without her support...... I'm so blessed to have her in my life! I was in a really bad place at that point....I'm glad I didn't bring my cell phone because I really think I would have used it to call for a ride back to the finish. I tried to run as much of it as I could for the next 2 miles but by the 22nd mile I just couldn't do it. I walked the next 3 miles straight and Diane was wonderful about it. God bless her for putting up with my sour butt for that long. I did nothing but complain about how miserable I felt for 3 miles straight...probably longer....I could hear myself continuously complaining but just couldn't stop....I was disappointed in my time and frustrated with how much pain I was in and she just listened and encouraged the entire time. At one point I was feeling like such a negative sour puss and everyone around me with there shouts of encouragement and praise were getting on my every last nerve that I leaned over and asked her to tell the guy next to her to shut the f-ck up! Instead of calling me out on my bitchiness she told me that I earned the right to hate everyone at that point...LOL! God bless her!

But then the end was near and Dan and the boys were waiting for me at the 25th mile and started running with me! It was awesome having them running along side me for that last mile....it kept me going. At the start of that last mile I got a shooting nerve pain through my lower back and actually yelled out and doubled over in pain but it went away quickly....I started running again and realized that I felt NO PAIN...and sprinted (well, I felt like I was sprinting anyway, the truth is I was probably only running a 12 min mile...lol) the rest of the way to the finish.

And when you cross the finish line you then have the impossible task of walking the 1 mile back to the hotel...I wanted to cry!

So I've been sitting here trying to analyze all this to figure out what went wrong and I just don't know. Originally I thought I went out too fast but after looking at my times and comparing that to my times from the 20 miler...I just don't think that's it. My Average time for the first 1/2 was 10.9 min/mile. Which is about right for me....maybe a little fast but not fast enough to do me in..... Then I wonder if all my stopping to stretch may have actually been hurting me instead of helping...everyone keeps saying just keep moving don't stop....so maybe that was it. I didn't take Motrin before I started which probably would have helped prevent the pain from getting so bad. Or......maybe......the planets weren't aligned just so. Who knows.

So, in the moment I was frustrated and mad that after all this hard work I wasn't going to be able to run it all....or finish it in under 5 hours......I was in so much pain that I was seriously thinking "never again"....."I'll switch to the 1/2 marathon in the future".....but now after some time to come to my senses I have realized that the joy of this experience has been through the journey of getting here. My friends and I raised over $10,000 for a great cause. Back when my dad had Leukemia....Leukemia was a death sentence....now through the research that is made possible by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society stem cell transplants have changed that death sentence to one of hope....It really doesn't matter whether I do the 1/2 or full....I've found a sport I love and will continue doing for a long time. It's a lot like child birth.....you tend to forget the traumatic experience once it's over. And now it's over....and every square inch of my body hurts.... So I plan to take the next 2 or 3 weeks off from running to let my body heal...my right heel and left ankle need some time to TRULY heal....so I'll take that time off and then get back on the wagon.

things I plan to do different next time....

1) I'm adding strength training to my running training!

2) I'm going to add core strength to my running training!

3) I'm going to take Motrin before running!

4) NO STOPPING TO STRETCH!!!

Somewhere on Belle Isle someone....a complete stranger who was reading my shirt, came and patted me on the back to tell me my dad would be proud....that just did me in! I was already an emotional basket case and that just threw me over the edge.

Traci and I before the race started ......waiting to start the 1 mile walk to the start line....as if the 26.2 miles weren't enough!

This is the coral and the start line when we first started....we were packed in like sardines! Pictures are horrible but I was moving and it was still dark.

Crossing the Ambassador Bridge into Canada....the sunrise view was beautiful....I took a picture of the sunrise but it didn't turn out.

Me and Kelly at about the 5th mile. Notice that we're still smiling....those smiles disappear in about 10 more miles....

Running in Canada Miles 4 - 9...it was somewhere in here that Kelly and I were running behind a guy that had a sign on the back of his shirt that said...."I signed up for a marathon and got a girlfriend"....we thought that was cute.

The tunnel back to Detroit....the blur of the picture is how I was feeling through here...it was SO hot in there!

My saint of a friend Diane walking with me during those last few miles!

Me during the last few miles....that smile is pasted on....in fact, if you look closely you may see the glue seeping from the edges of my lips....

Me with my 3 boys at the finish.....I'm feel'n a little guilty that we didn't bring Jordyn.....

I'm editing this post to add the following picture....Traci and Kristina's picture was in today's paper...the Free Press had a whole section on the marathon.....all the names and times were listed. I was able to find and save the picture on line. Here it is.....Awesome job guys!!!!

PS.....they're the 2 on the right in the purple shirts.

Sub zero weather may not be so bad after all!

I think my hatred for the winter has been trumped by my hatred for the treadmill. I try to keep a positive attitude about it thinking that my positive thoughts will become a reality....you know the whole "secret" theory....yeah, not so much! 3.5 miles of running and walking....couldn't bring myself to run the whole 3 miles...I was hating it. I should've just ran in the rain....oh well.

3 days!!!!

MY NAME IS IN THE PAPER.......wooohhoooooo!!!!!!! Todays paper has a whole section on the Detroit Fress Marathon and on page 20R is ME....along with the names of the other 10s of thousands of participants.....get your magnifying glass out to see it...but never mind that....IT'S THERE! And I'm number 7040!

Jordyn update.....after all that it must have been something she ate because she woke up this morning happy as a clam! Can't figure out what it could've been because everything she ate was pretty benign as far as potentially containing anything bacterial....and me and the boys ate the same dinner she did..... turkey sandwiches (the turkey was bought less than 24 hours ago).....and no one else got sick. So either it was a school snack or it was a less than 12 hour flu bug....go figure! THANK YOU JESUS!

wagers anyone?????

OMG! I think my daughter has the stomache flu....the stomache cramping been in the bathroom 10 times in the last 3 hours shit her pants twice because she can't make it to the toilet fast enough gonna puke bucket at the side of the bed stomache flu....would anyone like to start placing wagers on my health for Sunday??? Extra pocket cash may be helpful in these difficult times...........

God help me........forget the prayers for weather......I can deal with cold....I can deal with hot....I can deal with thunderstorms .......or even hail......just keep me healthy till Sunday night.....

So on a scale of 1 - 10 how bad is it that my poor daughter is lying in bed miserable with the stomache flu and all I can think about is.....please God keep me healthy till this marathon is over? Go ahead....be honest.....I know.....

Jordyn's teacher.....

started asking me about my training. Asked how it was going and if I was enjoying it....and then asked ....."so have you lost any weight with all this training?".......LMAO!....to which I responded "one would think so wouldn't one?"......so lets think about this.....I've heard that you burn 100 calories for every mile you run (some say it's even more than that) so lets assume for the sake of argument that this is correct.....which means that for instance when I ran my 20 miler a couple weeks ago I theoretically should have burned 2000 calories....how does a person burn 2000 calories in one day and NOT lose weight??? I mean NOT EVEN A POUND????!!!!!! Take a week at a glance....on average in the last couple months I've been logging in between 25 and 35 miles...so how many calories must I have ingested in that time to not even lose ONE POUND!!! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!!!??????????

OMG!

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! 5 days!!! I've been praying for 60 and sunny on Sunday and as of this morning the extended forecast is calling for 72 and sunny.....I'll take it! Did 3 miles on the treadmill today. Felt great! Started decorating my TNT shirt today. Put my name in neon yellow on the front....which my daughter of course felt compelled to stick her fingers in before it dried so the neon yellow "y" from my name is smeared....I've been told that if you put your name on your shirt people from the sidelines will shout out encouragement. ....Printed and laminated my "in memory of" page for the back of my shirt....still have to have the kids put their handprints on it.

Diane told me today that she hopes to meet me somewhere near the end to run the last couple miles with me....I just love you Diane.....she made me a little teary eyed when she told me that....I'll probably be a blubbering idiot at that point...with each passing day I get more and more teary eyed everytime I even THINK of the finish...so I can't imagine the mess I'll be when I actually get there....It's been an emotional journey for me.....certainly "cheaper than therapy".

I'm ready!

Today was our last long training run before the big day and it felt great. 8 miles in 1:25....that's a 10:37 mile average! I felt wonderful! It was cold as hell (started in 37 degrees) but I went on a little winter run shopping spree recently and loaded up on warm gear.....I was toasty warm by mile 2! I'm READY! It amazes me that 8 miles feels like nothing now. I feel no soreness at all. 16 weeks ago I ran my first 8 mile run and it seemed so daunting to me....I was ridiculously sore afterward and now it's just a piece of cake....heehee....who'da thought!??? This weeks challenge will be keeping myself healthy. I think I just may quarantine myself in my house to keep away from the cooties. I'm going to become a neurotic germophobe for the next week!

For anyone who's actually following this blog and interested.....on race day you can track my progress through the marathon as I'm running. Apparently they give me some sort of a GPS chip to attach to my shoe that tracks my run and you can log onto the Detroit Free Press Marathon web site while the marathon is actually taking place and find out where I'm at. You can go to this site http://www.detroitmarathon.com/events--races/marathon.html
and find the "track runner"...... or something like that.....type in my name and they will tell you where I'm at and my time at specific splits in the race. Kinda neat.

11 days & counting

Sucked it up on the treadmill for 6 miles. Listened to Middle Sex audio book down loaded on my ipod. I'll have to relisten to the part I was supposed to be listening to.....ugh.....not sure what it is about the gym that makes me unable to focus....but I keep trying....maybe it's a learned skill that will take time. But I CAN say that today was a little more tolerable than the past treadmill days and I think it's because I tried to push myself....for instance, I did a couple 1/4 mile sprints at a 9 minute mile pace and a couple 1/4 mile incline segments....it was tough but seemed to make the time go by a little quicker by breaking in up. I felt really good today. But got a little nervous when I walked for a cool down because I was getting those really bad heart palpitations again.

At the risk of sounding morbid......I noticed today's date.....I'm reminded of what inspired me to do this to begin with. Tomorrow, Oct 11th, marks the 30 year anniversary of the end of my Dad's battle with Leukemia.

I've officially decided on Chicago next year!

Ran an easy and very enjoyable 3 miles this morning....no gps and no water bottle strapped to my butt. Just me and my ipod! I'm very happy to be over the hump of training and now the runs are enjoyable again....I have to admit that I was getting a smidge burnt out these last few weeks. Now I'm getting excited. I'm almost there. My easing off the last week really helped my sore ankle and heal. They're almost completely better.

So it's official....I haven't even completed my 1st marathon and have already decided on next years' marathon....Chicago. I'm going to try a new marathon in a new state each year.....that's my goal......for as long as my body will allow me.....or until it stops being enjoyable. This has been a life changing adventure for me and I plan on repeating it over and over again. Obviously this isn't for everyone. There are a few in our group who say "NEVER AGAIN!". But at least they gave it their best shot and TRIED! I respect that! Even through all my complaints and struggles I've enjoyed every aspect of this. & I've somehow been lucky enough to avoid any major physical injuries to hold me back....I'm sure that won't always be the case and I'm sure I should be knocking on wood since the marathon is still 2 weeks away....I probably just jinxed myself! I haven't even lost a single toenail yet!! YEAY! I'm not sure I with my toe fetish could have handled a blow like that!

Chicago marathon

My friend Diane ran the Chicago marathon today and TMed me that it was "absolutely the worst experience of her life". Her husband said that it was the hottest Chicago marathon they've had in over 30 years. Apparently 4 hours after the start of the race they actually closed the route and stopped the marathon because of the heat. Most continued on but were forced to walk it....she said you couldn't run if you wanted to at that point because of the number of people. Found this news article on line....1 person actually died.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/420/story/160897.html

She finished it anyway.....Diane, you are my hero!

2 weeks left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

14 miles in 2 hours 40 minutes (11:29 mile average). Wasn't the best run I've ever had but what did I expect after a week of slacking. Only did the 2 days of elliptical....Tues and Wed....my body needed the rest so I don't feel guilty in the least...I may regret it come marathon day but right now in the moment I'm glad I took the 6 days off.

Came home today to blissfully relax and calmly read a chapter in my book and reflect on my 160 minutes of solitude while in a tub full of ICE WATER......NOT!!!!!!!!!....... My legs feel great but now my back and jaw aches from the intense shivers that ran through my spine and teeth for 20 minutes!!!! Cured one ache only to acquire a new one! I'll be thankful in the morning.....I guess.

I would also like to add that my wonderful neighbors...Scott and Ilene Sipp just gave me a donation of $50 but for some reason I can't log into my account to "manage offline donations" and add their name to the list....I wanted to give them credit but couldn't....it may be because we're so close to the marathon...not sure. So their name isn't on my TNT donation page .....I tried. Thank you!

almost feel'n normal again!

Another elliptical day....only did 30 minutes....having a tough time squeez'n in these runs lately. But my body is thanking me. Today was the first day since last Saturday that I didn't wake up limping (crawling would probably be a better description). Tomorrow will be another elliptical day although I'm not too sure when I'll get it in. Then Saturday we do 14 miles. We're almost there.....only 11 days left......can I get an AAAAAAAAAAAA--MEN!!!!!!!!!!

I've decided to continue this blogging when the marathon is over...But I'm thinking I may just do it on MySpace. It'll be a blog for my kids ....intitled "This is My Life". ....that ebay lady inspired me. I always intended on keeping a journal for my kids when they were younger to document all the incredibly cute, funny, and of course STUPID, things they do....yes I said stupid because now that my oldest son is 10 many of the things he does can in fact be called stupid....maybe not the politically right term for it but true non-the-less. Now that I'm scrapbooking I need something to help me remember these moments....and I think it would be neat for them to look back and read one day. My memory is fading faster than a snowflake these days and I really want to preserve these moments.

EDIT: Way off!! Let's try 18 days left!!!!

I'm walking again

First off.....Man I screwed up big time on Saturday by not taking the ice bath when I got home. I hurt so bad I can't stand it. Then I talked to Traci and she and Kristina feel fine.....because they took the ice bath. I've been gimping around for 3 days now...today is the first day I woke up and felt somewhat better. Still not up to running so I did the elliptical again for 70 minutes. I was thinking I had pulled my calve muscles they hurt so bad....but my legs actually feel better now after the work out. I think the elliptical is a good thing for my ankle and heel anyway. Pounding the pavement everyday is taking it's toll. This week is going to be tough getting my miles in because I have 2 preschool field trips to attend with Jordyn.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I did it! And I'm still walk'n!

Man, what a rush! I just ran 20 miles! I never thought I'd be able to truthfully say those 5 words! Not only did I finish but I ran the entire 20 miles....and finished in 3:44....an 11:14 mile average. HOLY SHIT!!!!!!! It felt awesome until the last mile and then my legs didn't want to work anymore...but I kept shuffling right along....I kept chanting to my self...."keep on going almost there....keep on going almost there"....and "give me a shove dad give me a shove....give me a shove dad give me a shove".....over and over again until the end was in sight. The last 2 pictures were taken at the 1/2 way mark.

For any skeptics out there who still doubt this devine intervention I'm always talk'n about....I've got another story. Got to the park this morning and had actually forgotten during the 1 hour drive about the whole it's my Dad's birthday thing. We were all lining up in the street to start the run and I said to my friend Traci...."oh my gosh, I almost forgot....know what today is?" and she says smiling "yeah I read it in your blog". NOT 2 MINUTES later there were 2 women standing directly in front of us and one turns around and says...."Hey every1 it's my friend here's birthday...she's 30 years old today" and everyone started singing happy birthday.... OMG!!!!!!! I'm not making this up....Traci and Kristina saw/witnessed the whole thing!

So Happy Birthday Dad!....and thanks for the shove(s). LOL!

feel'n great

Ran 6 straight through this morning. Felt really good. Weather was perfect. I'm ready for 20 baby bring it on!

I'm editing this post to add that I just realized today's date....this Saturday is my dad's birthday. He would have been 59 years old on Sept 29th. How ironic that his birthday is on the same day I'm doing my 20 miler.....coinkidink??!!.....NOPE! = )

I cheated....kind of

Woke up this morning to pouring rain and didn't feel like getting soaked. I also didn't feel like running on the treadmill so I ended up doing an hour on the elliptical. I say I cheated by not getting in my 5 miles of running....but I was far sweatier after an hour of that than I ever am when running....it sure didn't feel like i was cheating! I can see my progress in my fitness level even in the elliptical. Before starting this training I would occasionally get on it and always did the same 30 minute program. It's an interval program that spikes in intensity 4 times. This machine has a thingy on it that lights up one of 5 different levels of intensity....the goal is to keep the center one or "target" lit...if 1 of the 2 before it are lit then your not working hard enough....it 1 of the last 2 are lit then you are working too hard. When doing this program before starting this training I could never get up to the center 1 because it was too hard...I was trying to make that my goal but never achieved it...but TODAY....man, I'm a lean mean elliptical butt kicking machine!! LOL! I had it lit at and above the target range the entire time! WOOHOOO!

On another note....I've decided that I'm going to have to make peace with the treadmill before winter hits. Because there are 2 things that are for certain about me....1) I hate winter even more than I hate the treadmill! & 2) If I fall off the training wagon after the marathon and end up losing all the progress I've made in my running abilities by next spring....I can guarantee that I will never work up the courage to start all over again....it has been way too hard to get where I am to fall off and have to start over in the spring. It just won't happen. So I can't let that happen....I have to keep up with this through winter and I will NOT be out running in below freezing weather. SO....I have to make peace with the treadmill! Not sure how to do this. The last time I was on the treadmill...last week or 2....I spent the entire hour 1) trying to count (and recount) the zits on the back of the neck of the guy in front of me....2) trying to count how many times my left foot hit the track in .1 miles.... .2 miles.... .3 miles...etc 3) tried counting how many times the chick beside me said the word "like" to her friend on her other side....it's just mind numbingly boring...I've tried watching movies on my ipod but I have a difficult time seeing the screen because it's so tiny and even more difficult time concentrating on the story line....same thing with the downloaded audio books...I can't seem to concentrate when I'm in a gym on the treadmill. That's why I like the elliptical because I can read a book while on it....I can't do that while running on a treadmill. I have to figure out a way to some how get over this extreme loathing of the treadmill.

Freeing myself of the burden of improving my time!

Ran 6.........well.........technically..........oh, never mind!....I'm so damn caught up in listing every single walk break that I take....and every single pee break that I take.....like I'm some how cheating by resting my legs every now and then & sitting down on the job because I have to use the restroom....for PETE'S SAKE!!!! In reviewing my past blog entries I realized how obsessed I've become with this. SO NO MORE!!!! I read an article in a running magazine that emphasized that even the best of the best take walking breaks and it improves their time....but you don't hear these world class athletes saying "yeah, I ran the marathon in 2 hours 43 minutes.....BUT....I had to take a couple walk breaks.....oh, and I had to pee at mile 10"......for cry'n out loud!!! I went out today without my gps watch because I'm tired....so so tired....of staring at my wrist every 60 seconds to see what my pace is. I keep saying that I don't care what my time is and yet I'm obsessed with keeping track of it! So I've made the executive decision to keep the gps at home for the weekday runs and only bring it along on my long runs. And I feel liberated because of it......I'M FREE!!!! And quite frankly I think my window of opportunity for improving my time has been closed for a few weeks now. In my mind this last month of training is about increasing the mileage and not increasing speed.

So today's 6 miles felt ok...legs felt pretty heavy...I'm still very sore from Sundays 16 miler...I could definitely tell the difference this week without the ice bath....last week after the ice bath I had minimal soreness....but this week I didn't do the ice-bath & I'm very sore. The humidity was a little suffocating...but I did it.

This Saturday the TNT group is hosting a 20 mile "mock marathon" somewhere near Ann Arbor....I think.......I'm actually looking forward to it...This 20 miler is the peak of our training and then the training tapers off for the next 3 weeks. That's probably why I'm looking forward to it....it marks the turning point of our training! Hallelujah!!! I'm still enjoying this sport and I'm enjoying seeing the progress I've made in the last 4 1/2 months....I enjoy working towards a goal...I'm a very goal oriented person....it's what keeps me going....BUT.....I really need a break. I'm tired. So very tired. After Sunday's long run I felt Awful....just couldn't get off the couch. I layed there all day thinking....WHY am I doing this to myself?! With that said...I have no doubt that I'll be doing this to myself again next year and probably repeating those exact same words.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Focus on your potential instead of your limitations."