Monday Motivation

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Happy Monday!  I am 3 weeks away from the official start of my Marine Corps Marathon training!  I was able to keep my mileage up since my last half marathon race (back in March), so we are going to start at Mile 10 for a long run. 


My long run yesterday was 10 miles.  My friend "T" and I stopped every mile because it was so hot and humid.  It felt great, but we were slower - 11:18 min/mile - but it felt good the whole time.  My 13.1 mile run the weekend before was 10:40 min/mile pace and I stopped every 2 miles.  I think I liked going a little longer in between water breaks to get into that running groove.  We are going to have to experiment as we move along.

This week, I have plans to put my training schedule on my calendar and hopefully be able to insert a couple of races in there too.  I am both excited and terrified.  I also need to get to the bottom of this nagging pain I feel on my right thigh....on the outside....it is not my ITB, I think  it's a pinched nerve caused by my SI Joint dysfunction issues.  Ugh.  So my head tells me to get it looked at again.  But then I know I haven't been very good at correcting it either, so I might try to correct it everyday and see if that makes any difference.  It doesn't hurt when I run.  I just "feel" it the day after, like say when I'm doing the boat pose in Yoga where you have to extend your legs out in front of you.  Am I that scared to not want to hear, "you can't run a marathon?"  Yes, I am. 

Ugh.

There is nothing more I want this year than to run Marine Corps Marathon.  Maybe it's just nerves, but trying to stay positive and let the energy flow and flush out that dull pain and that fear.  I always ask for the wisdom to know when to slow down, or stop.  I do want to keep running until I'm in my 80s. 

Are you running a marathon this fall?  When do you officially start training and which training plan are you following?

Monday Motivation

 

Reborn

"26.2. It will hurt. It will take time. It will require dedication. It will require willpower. You will need to make healthy decisions. It requires sacrifice. You will need to push your body to its max. There will be temptation. But, I promise you, when you reach your goal, it will be worth it." - From I <3 To Run

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This is worth re-posting.  October 28, 2012, I will feel reborn.  Thank you, I <3 To Run.

So What's Happenin' Girlfriend?

......my friends!  I've been missing my bloggy world and with the storm/tornado threats raging outside my window, the kids happily entertained by Legos upstairs, I get to have a little computer time and check in here.

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Marathon Training.  I am a month away from official marathon training time (end of June).  According to Marine Corps Marathon's FB page, as of last Wednesday, only 150 days separate me from the start line.  I am training with 3 girlfriends, following Hal Higdon's Novice 2 plan, and picking it up at Mile 9 or 10 at the end of this month.  I managed to keep my mileage up around 10-12 miles since my last half marathon race.  I am beyond excited to start, but I am hanging in there, feeling the pull of burn out which I don't want to go to.  I don't know if it's burn out or just boredom, because I have no actual race in the calendar this summer (aside from a virtual half marathon race) until September.  Races usually keep me going and all excited, but even the thought of a summer 5K race bores me.  I don't mean to sound snobby, but I need something more - something.....different.  Any suggestions?

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Art.  Yes, art!  This is what's currently consuming me right now.  I entered an art competition over at Lilly Oncology On Canvas.  I am over the moon with this project, and I have one month to do it!  Ack!  The challenge is to express my story of dealing and coping with my mom's lung cancer diagnosis and her passing 3 1/2 years ago through art and narrative.  I am looking forward to this for the searching deep down, the cleansing, the freeing, and for the letting go....Sigh. 

My idea for this piece came to me during my 9 mile run almost a month ago now.  I was running solo, without music, and I went into a zone.  I was thinking about where I am now with my mom's absence, where I am now with lung cancer.  It got me thinking.  When I started running, I ran away from grief, the loss, and the anger.  Then I started to run through those same feelings.  Now, as I run, I feel like I am leaving them behind me and moving towards....free.  I can't explain it, but I am running towards butterflies and this time, I am happy to let them go.  I am anxious to start, but with any art project, I am intimidated by that blank canvas.  I need to just attack it, the way I attack hills on a run. 

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Motherhood.  We are just 2 weeks away from summer vacation!  I am looking forward to not having a schedule.  Little Man is already out of preschool which means running for me during the week has been challenging, getting my 5 miles in when The Hubs is home from work (early evening) or at 6am on days when he's working from home.  I haven't gotten my groove on yet with my new weekday running schedule, but I'll get there. 

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Sporto is finishing up the spring flag football season.  Deep down, I am happy we have one more game to go.  His football practice schedule made our weekdays crazy and hectic.  I do not like rushing through the day. I don't know how families with multiple kids in sports do it.  It's just not for me.  But Sporto loves football and nothing makes me more happy than seeing my kids happy, so flag football it is and probably will be a part of our life for awhile.  Yes, this is why I haven't blogged regularly!  Blaming it on flag football!  lol.

from www.wpclipart.com

Today, Sporto watched the "growing up" video.  If he wasn't my child, I would've died.  Why are kids these days growing up too fast too soon?  Some friends of mine had The Talk already with their 4th graders.  I wasn't sure how far The Hubs and I should go with this talk.  The video only covered the basics of what happens to your body during puberty, so why give more information?  There are times when I can't believe Sporto is at that age already.  Ugh.


Tank continues to amaze us.  His current obsession is writing and drawing in his journal and playing with Snap Circuits.  We are relieved he has not blown up anything (yet). 

Little Man is sad about preschool ending.  He is obsessed with Bob the Builder and arranging play dates with friends without consulting with me first.  I am grateful for those play dates.  My friends and I take turns watching the kids so that we each have a turn having a kid-free afternoon.  Oh those days go by way too quickly.

So there you have it, in a nutshell, what this girlfriend's been up to lately.  I am behind in race re-caps, but I'll get there soon.

I hope you are all having a good start to this month of June.  I know I am.  

Now it's your turn.  What have you been up to lately?