A friend gently reminded me last week that I have been neglecting my blog ... It's true I hate to admit. But someone the extra writing has gotten away from me in the past few weeks as I've been super busy at work -- I wrote four stories here on Friday and just didn't get enough so came in on Saturday for an assignment too. Geesh.
Anyway, I hope to renew my regularly approach to blogging again.
Part of my recent lack of time can be attributed to my marathon training. I think most of you know that I'm planning on doing the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco on Oct. 18. The airplane tickets are bought. The hotel room is already paid for. So, all I have to do now is stay healthy.
You guys know that I've done about 7 other marathons -- in fact six of those have been followed by a half marathon during my breast cancer walks for Avon. I also once did the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach ... finishing in 7 hours. Of course, all those were walking.
For some reason, I thought age 36 would be a good time to start testing the running waters. And I've found a method that really works for me. I'm following the Jeff Galloway theory of run/walking. I do a running interval followed by a walking interval and I love that approach. And it allows for us to work in an extra walk if we need one. Right now we're up to 2 minute intervals but looks like we might try doing our longer runs at a 1 minute interval. (though I'm not sold on that completely)
Anyway, it's a lot of work to be a marthoner. I got up to do three miles this morning ... tomorrow calls for 6. Of course, life doesn't stop for this either so I have to come in to work after I finish that 6 miles. On Saturday, I'm scheduled to do 12 miles and then I'll spend the day trying to keep up with my family. I might try to work in a trip to a Harry Potter movie with my neice and teenage sister just so I can have some built in sitting time. : )
But even though it is a lot of work and I'm not sleeping nearly enough to maintain my sanity and keep up the runs, I love it. I feel a sense of accomplishment everytime I get out there. Four days a week I'm running with my partners Denise and Maggie (who are doing the Louisville marathon) and then I try to get in two days of cross training on the other days. One day of rest -- though last week I went ahead and took two.
And what I realize is that most of this game is mental. I gotta keep my mind on the task at hand instead of thinking about the next big run. Today, I'm freaking out about having to do 6 miles tomorrow morning. It's not that I can't do six, I've done that before, but before work. Really? And then 12 on Saturday? Yikes!!!
I'm also trying to keep the girls I'm going to San Fran with on track as well. We've basically all split up for training here because we all move at different paces. But I'm trying to keep tabs on them ... especially my Polipino friend Kat. She had a rough week last week when it comes to exercise ... and I might have to bring out the big guns this week to whip her back into shape.
So, send out some shouts of encouragement if you have a second. And if you see a Polipino trying to quit along the way ... pull her up and force her back on the path.
