I'm a Marathoner!

Full recap coming soon...but, in the interim, a little before and after pics:

Finish time:  5:06:33

2 days till MCM!

So ready to run this race! Weather looks perfect (30s at start, 50s at finish). I'll be wearing lots of peel-able layers! 

Good luck to all runner friends who are also running it!  Semper Fi and Oorah!

Sunday...a day of rest!

Yesterday, I ran a 15 miler...a step back week according to my training calendar.  I'm still wondering when "only 15 miles" became part of my vocabulary.  The good news is I seem to be handling these runs much better.  Recovery is pretty quick...It's only the first few hours post run where I feel like crap.

I come home and immediately eat.  Then I shower.  Then my wonderful husband spends time rubbing out my legs (mostly hammies and calves).  By the end of his massage, I feel like I'm becoming a real person again.  Then, I typically eat again.  Last night I woke up at 1:09 and was famished.  Apparently, I didn't eat enough after those miles yesterday.

I digress....today is Sunday.  Historially, Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest.  I think I will take that literally today.  No exercise.  Sit back, relax and watch some football.  Dinner is already cooking (I LOVE crock pots)!   All soccer cancelled due to rain.  I think it's a sign...relax and enjoy the day!

Grounded!

After my 18-miler on Sunday, I noticed some pain on the back of my left knee.  The pain started spreading up the hamstrings to the glutes and hip.  I took Monday off and rested.  Yesterday (Tuesday), I rode the bike, did arms, and abs, and then tried to do my walking lunges.  The walking lunges were disastrous...my left hip completely caved.  I immediately called my PT and he got me in yesterday afternoon.

After much testing, he determined I pulled my left hammie.  His recovery plan includes rest, ultrasound, electronic stim, taping, and stretching.  No running.  I go back for more treatments on Thursday and Friday.  He took such good care of me...I felt like a professional athlete!  HA HA! 

This is not where I wanted to be just before my half marathon on Sunday...but with any luck, the hammie will heal and I will be ready for the start on Sunday morning.  Overall, I hope this is just a blip in my full marathon training schedule.  I still have two more 20 milers left to run before the full on 10/30.

Once I complete my full marathon, I am done with the long runs.  It's just too hard on my body!

18 miles this morning

I ran 18 miles this morning. I unplugged for miles 9 through 11 in honor and memory of those who lost their lives 10 years ago today. We will never forget...

I thank all our service men and women for keeping America safe and free and all our firemen, policemen, and EMTs for their courage and bravery.

11 miles at 70 degrees!

A gorgeous run this morning....The heat finally broke and allowed me to get my long run in.

The best part was I had no knee pain! It certainly wasn't fast...but I'm not focused on time right now. Just running pain free!

Heat wave #6 of the season starts again on Wednesday. Great (said with heavy sarcasm).

The decision has been made....

I will run my first marathon on October 30, 2011 in Washington DC (Marine Corps Marathon).

Holy crap...what am I thinking? I've only done 2 halves last year. Why do I think I can do a full? 

Already I have the doubts, the second guessing, and the feelings of being in over my head.  Is this normal for first time marathoners?