It's a NEW week & Fall was in the air....

So friends, I know last week was not my best moments but I've said it before, this is about the journey for me as much as it is about reaching my goal!  When I look back at the first 3 marathon training programs I have done, they all have one thing in common.  I DID NOT complete every workout on the calendar.  Weather, illness, injury and general life got in the way!

With that said, its a new week with a new set of workouts on the calendar.  I adjusted my schedule over the weekend because of A's Tball game.  Here's a little peek at him on the pitcher's mound!  So cute.

The weather Saturday was ideal for running and I saw so many of my running friends out on the trails.  Can you say Jealous?!  So I waited until Sunday & I am blessed to have a supportive husband who will get the kids to church even during his busy season.  Come on October 15th, we are so ready!

There was still a chill in the air Sunday morning so I was looking forward to 18 miles but a little apprehensive since I didn't get much running in during the week.  How long does it take the body to forget all the training you've put in?  Fortunately, longer than a week.  I felt so good!  We were pacing right where I needed to be.  It didn't come without some pain, however.  My lower back was hurting pretty bad on the back half of the run and since we had afternoon soccer, by the time I was home and off my feet, I was afraid I wouldn't get up again.  Never fear, I'm sore today but feeling good!

I just have to say, I am thankful for the reprieve in the temps this weekend.  Not only did my body need it, my mental state did too!  I am a much better person in cool weather.  Unfortunately, it didn't last and we are back in the 90s this week.  Oh well, Fall will be here soon.....I hope!

Quiet the voices!

Today I have doubt!  I added something to my plate 2 weeks ago and I am struggling to manage it all.  I am my own worst enemy when it comes to taking on too much.  As a result, my mind is constantly racing, I can't remember what I set out to do & at the end of the day I feel like I have accomplished nothing.

Last week was an "easy" week as far as the running schedule and I think my mind (as usual) thought I could handle whatever was on tap for this week.  Well, it's Monday & I am overwhelmed and disappointed already.  

My plan today was to drop the kids off & head out for my speed work.  As any mother knows, kids inevitably don't always make your best laid plans reality.  "I" was sick this morning which meant no run for me.  With her home, I couldn't stay focused on doing what needed to be done for the day.  As the voices started to crowd my every thought, I became more overwhelmed.  

Have I mentioned, I'm a stress eater!  Not a good day on that front either.  As any sane person would do, I talked to myself, identifying my need to get out and pound the pavement. So with the kids fed, bathed & left to finish homework, I hit the track.  Remember, I stress ate today.....

So there I was, 6:45pm, high 90s starting my run that I knew I didn't have time to complete but wanted to get at least half of the scheduled 10x1000s done.  I warmed up for 2 miles and started my first 1000m.  I literally could feel myself about to get sick!  Again, the voices, I wasn't going to make it, what was I thinking I could train like this AND qualify for Boston.  Why can't I EVER say NO!  I quit the run after only 2.64 miles.  Pathetic!

My hope was a run would clear my head & in some respect it did.  I know there will be tough days and probably be frequent at this point in my training but I made a commitment and intend to see it through, voices be damned!

The debate my inner voices are having now is whether or not to attempt the workout again tomorrow after going to boot camp.  Hmmmm, I'll keep you posted.

I'm a slacker!

I don't know what's harder, training for this marathon or getting my posts done!

Its been so long since my last post, I don't even remember what I ran last week.  I blame the Hottest Half marathon.  I seriously don't remember Monday at all!  I had to go into the training log to refresh my memory.

Here is what I did:
Tuesday - 5x1 mile
What?!  Didn't they hear I ran the Hottest Half on Sunday?!  This sounded on paper as ridiculous as it actually was, but okay.  I put my headphones in and pressed on.  I have to confess I only made it 4x1.  My miles were suppose to be 7:45-7:55.....um okay.  I had my watch & my phone tracking my progress.  The watch said I was close, 7:56.   The phone said I ran 8:00.  I'm going with the watch!  What does my iPhone know?!

Wednesday - 9 miles with a pace of 8:30/8:40 for 6 miles
I seriously wanted to cut this run short by 3 miles but my running partner that morning was not hearing it!  Thank you!  It is really taking a village to get me through this training.

Friday - 6 miles
Finally, an easy 6 miles!

Then there was Saturday - 18 miles
Yep, that's not a typo & again it took a village.  I am so thankful for a group of great runners willing to see that I'm not out there alone.  Some of them started with me & other met me halfway and finished with me.  Then there was one that ran start to finish with me and THEN kept going for another 17 miles.  How long did it take you to do the math?!  That's 35 miles folks.  Now THAT is crazy!  When I headed out to the soccer tournament at 9:30 that morning, I passed him on the road still running!

There was no rest for my legs at all the rest of the weekend.  "I" & her teamed played in the Plano Labor Day Soccer tournament.  6 games over 3 days, 4 separate fields & in the Finals they went to double overtime and finally Penalty Kicks.  It was a long weekend but they came home with 2nd Place and parents that couldn't have been more proud.

Ok, I got a little rest of my legs!

Tuesday morning came thinking it was Monday and all the craziness that is our house on a school morning.  "I" was exhausted and complaining of her feet & legs hurting.  As the mature, nurturing and compassionate mom that I am, I looked at her and said "Really?!  Did you hear me complain this weekend about my tired & sore legs?  Suck it up and get your backpack!"  Mom of the Year, right here!

Ok, she did a "little" running!

3 Half Marathons in 3 months....Yes I'm crazy!

So the good news is, I am finished with my summer racing series!  Yay, me!  And I took 3rd place in my age group for all 3 races.  Super excited about that!

Too bad the glass was empty!

Bad news, I am feeling it tonight!  I think that the weeks ahead are going to continue to get tougher but I just have to say, "Wow"!  Running a half marathon with the sun beating down and the temperature rising was just the icing on the cake this week.  Here's what the week looked like leading up to today:

Monday - 16x400 (nope that's not a typo) with a 2 mile warm up & 1 mile cool down.  

Wednesday - 9 mile temp run - only had time for 6, sorry

Friday - 6 mile easy run 

Sunday - 16 miles (sorry only did 13.1)

I learned this week that I am not very good at keeping a steady pace when doing track work.  I went out way too fast for the first 8 400s.  I need to work on listening to my body and knowing what is a"good" uncomfortable effort and what is an "on the verge of vomiting" effort.  It's a fine line but not being able to distinction between the two could cost a qualifying time.

This piece I have known for a while but is worth re-iterating.  My mind is SO much stronger than my body.  There were times today that I just wanted to dial it back and take it easy.  My mind wouldn't let me.  I would spot someone & challenge myself to catch them.  Mentally, it also helped to have friends out there pushing me too.  I had 3 great pacers today that took turns keeping me going!  Thanks guys, you are appreciated beyond words!

Last & possibly the hardest lessoned learned, listen to your body!  When your legs ache, even 15 hours later, its probably a good idea to take a rest day.  At least today, this is an easy lesson.......I will rest tomorrow!

What happened to last week?

I can't believe summer is over!  Last week went by so fast.  I really tried to slow it down, but no luck. It hit me early in the week that all 3 kids would be in school this year & I realized I wasn't ready!  Mom of the Year right here!  I tried to convince A that he didn't need to go to school this year, that he could stay home with me for one more year.  His response was so simple & reassured me that he was ready.  He said "Mom, I'll come home everyday after lunch & my nap.  You can play with Bumblebee & Optimus while I'm gone because they love you too."

So, Thursday morning came too quickly and they were all shiny & new in their uniforms and ready to take on the school year.  I was a complete mess and every time I thought I had pulled myself together,  I would lose it again.  It was literally the longest day of my life.

I have spent the last 5 years with the youngest and while I miss the big kids I didn't have the luxury of staying home with them.  A & I have done EVERYTHING together since the day he came home from the hospital.  It amazed me how much I missed him & we were only in school two days last week.  I am pathetic.

My crazy sidekick

Such a handsome boy!

You are probably wondering what any of this has to do with my training.  Well nothing other than the best thing about running is, its always there when you need it.  It isn't on a set time schedule.  If you are late to your run, it doesn't care.  It's just glad you made it.  However, a late morning run (after mass on Friday) isn't as kind to you as the pre-dawn run.  I don't remember the last time I had a side cramp as bad as I did Friday.  It was hot, humid and I don't think even a slight breeze.  It felt like 100 degrees but when I looked at the temperature on my phone, it read 88 degrees!  Welcome to Texas humidity, I was drenched!

Saturday morning wasn't any better.  The mileage is getting up there & it was a struggle.  Thank goodness for great running partners.  We started out with 6 and picked up a 7th, 2.4 miles in.  At the 5 mile mark, we dropped to 4 and shortly after, down to 3 due to an injury.  At 2.4 miles left to go, I turned to the one remaining runner still with me & laughed.  He was the only one foolish enough to run the entire 15 miles.  I guess just like the run, the runner doesn't care when, where or what time.  She was just glad you showed up!  And kept her on pace, averaging 8:51.

Perspective

Training this past week was right on track.  At the end of the week, however, I find myself reflecting on perspectives.  Here is my list of reflection:

1. My training partner left for a month in order for her oldest son to attend camp.  This may seem strange to some that you would travel out of state for an entire month so your kid can go to camp but when it is what they need, you do whatever it takes to make it happen.  Perspective.....is what I am doing in the best interest of my family or am I selfish in my goals?

2. As a result of #1, I had to adjust when I got my runs in.  In order to accomplish my goal of finishing the Mankato Marathon with a certain time I HAVE to complete each workout at a set pace.  I say this so you understand that when I went out for a 7 mile run with 3 kids on bikes in tow, this was going to be difficult.  The logical me knew this but the irrational focus driven me didn't want to listen.   This resulted in feelings of frustration towards the kids.  Perspective....what the hell is wrong with me?!  They rode their bikes 7 MILES!!!!!

3. This last reflection really has me pondering.  "I" had a soccer tournament this weekend & I wasn't able to attend the first day.  J took her to the first game & when asked how it went, his perspective was she didn't play much.  Hmmm.  2nd game didn't go well according text message updates but I didn't realize the full extent of "not well" until the next morning.  The girls lost the game but it was the sideline behavior on the spectator side of the field that may need some perspective.  Have we lost sight of the importance of leading by example, being respectful,  supporting our coach, letting him be our voice & just being our kid's cheerleaders?

This morning I had a track workout scheduled and it sucked but I did it & there was one vision that kept me going & pushing to give it my all.  I watched one of our girls yesterday (who is not the fasted on our team) chase a girl halfway down the field to cut off her shot on goal.  She gave it her all, physically & with her heart!  She has been working so hard this summer to build her endurance & I COULD NOT have been prouder of her!  She got there & because if her, I did too!  Thank you M!

My goal has not changed but my perspective I hope has.  I will run, I will push but I will do it with heart & I will not beat myself up when I don't hit a mark!  I want my kids to see that isn't just about the finish, its about the journey & keeping things in perspective!

One year ago...

This past week was a trying one...

Emotions ran very high with everyone in the house and I couldn't quite figure out why.  I chalked it up to summer coming to an end.  Perhaps the kids & I were just done with so much time spent together, except it had been our busiest summer and we weren't all together a whole lot.  Someone had always had a camp to go to or a friend to visit, so what was our deal?!  Then it hit me, a year ago we all said goodbye to a very important person in our lives.

Arnold Van Zanten, aka Grandpa Beach finally lost his long battle against prostate cancer.  So while none of us voiced it, I think deep down we all were dealing with the loss in some way or another.  John & I were preparing to travel to Florida to be with his mom on the anniversary and to take Arnie to his final resting place.

As a result, my week of training was off.  Twice I overslept for boot camp and Friday's run had to be done on Thursday.  I planned to get as much of my long run in as I could while we were there on Saturday morning.  My hope was that it would help me get through the emotions of the day.  I had no idea how John was going to get through the day & I wanted to be the support he needed me to be.  I got in a little over 11 pavement pounding, sweat & tears pouring miles.

The morning was beautiful and the water was so calm.  We set out 3 miles off shore with a Captain that Arnie would have loved.  He was a diver & lover of the sea.  It was starting out to be perfect.  We anchored and while John held his dad's urn, his mom & sister said a few words.  It was soon time to say goodbye.  We toasted to him and continued to regale in stories of his love of the water.  We talked about the first diving trip I took with him.  I was a mess!  I had splinters in my hands from the tow line, a goose egg on the back of my head from the tank, and every blood vessel inside my goggles popped due to a mask squeeze.  He just kept telling me, DO NOT tell your mother!  I experienced a lot of firsts, things I never imagined doing in the short time I had the pleasure of knowing him and I was lucky for that.

Arnie provided so many opportunities for so many people, even outside his own family.  All who knew him were blessed to have been touched by him.  I know this weekend doesn't completely heal us but as I sat in church this evening I was reminded that while our bodies will return to dust, our souls go on forever.  Until we meet again, I am comforted by the thought that he is always with us and watching over.  Love & miss you, Arnie!