DONE!

WOOHOO!!!! Just finished 10 MILES! 1 hour 50 minutes! 1102 calories burned. During the last mile We Are the Champions came on my ipod. It was perfect. Brick House followed and that made me laugh! Half-marathon, here I come!
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10 Miles

I was feeling blah Monday and my run reflected it. Not sick, blah, just bad attitude, blah. I struggled through 4 miles and felt really fatigued. I actually ended up walking some of the way! I did finish 4 miles though:) Today I had a great 5 miles. I ran the entire distance. I am nervous about tomorrow! Thursday is my long-run day. I will be running my longest distance to date. 10 MILES! I don't know why I am nervous? I have hydrated well today and am planning broccoli and rice and cheese for dinner - plenty of carbs to keep me going ;) Although I am nervous, I am certain that I will run 10 miles and I am looking forward to reaching another goal - a "mile"stone (hehehe)

5 Mile Race

Today Sharon and I ran a 5 mile race at Johnsonville State Historic Park. The weather was beautiful -sunny and much warmer than the weather we have been having. The road we raced on had lots of potholes and loose gravel due to the snow and freezing temperatures. There were some spots on the road and grass that still had a little snow! We had hoped to finish the race in under an hour. Sharon finished in 48:44 and I finished in 48:45! Sharon placed 3rd in her age division! We were both pleased! Of course, we talked to a fellow runner and friend who finished TWENTY minutes faster than us. We were not discouraged though because we both know better than comparing ourselves to anyone other than ourselves! It was a great race. We plan on going back next year :)
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I am ashamed to say that I missed/skipped Wednesday's run. I really intended to go but school was canceled because of the snow. I could have gone later in the afternoon but I decided instead to be lazy and not get out. I can come up with a hundred excuses not to run if I don't get it done first thing in the morning. So, new rule!!!!! Always run first thing in the morning. Do not put it off and tell yourself you will go later in the day - that is a LIE :) you will not go!
I did get my long run in Thursday. 8 miles took me 1:27ish. I ran slowly so I would have the energy to finish. Why are the first couple of miles the hardest? After I got past them I felt fine. My thighs were burning toward the end- but of course the were, I ran 8 miles! My longest run to date.
Today we are in Tuscaloosa. We went to gymnastics last night and a bbq today. Allie is napping in the car right now. As soon as she wakes up we will go to the basketball game. Ross left us in the car - which is fine because Allie really needs a nap! Anyway- I got up early and ran my 5 miles. I plan to get up and run another 5 before we leave in the morning to make up for missing Wednesday. My thighs were burning today too! Makes me think of a quote I read somewhere . . ."Pain is weakness leaving the body." Gotta love that!
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I got my run in this morning at the Civic Center. I walked 1.5 miles while waiting for my friend to show up. She was at the health expo. I decided she had changed her mind about coming and I started running without her. After about a mile she came in. I stopped and got on a treadmill that is out of my "comfort zone" so we could run side by side ( I always seem to choose the same treadmill at every run). We ran 3 miles. I donated blood Thursday and was feeling a little sluggish today. Maybe it's that or maybe all the junk I ate yesterday? Ohhhhh but that's another topic for another day :) I'm just happy to get in my training for today. Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow.
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11 Weeks Away

The Nashville Country Music Marathon and 1/2 Marathon is 11 weeks away. I have decided to run! I started training already! I made a calendar :) I am putting gold star stickers on the calendar days when I finish a scheduled run. Anything for motivation, right? Speaking of motivation, the blurb under my blog title is my "running mantra". The idea came from an awesome book I am reading, The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer, by David Whitsett, Forrest Dolgner, and Tanjala Kole. If you are considering distance running of any kind I would highly recommend reading it. The book says "the brain believes what it is told and alters behavior to match so that the system is not in a state of dissonance." It also talks about the importance of keeping a positive attitude . . . so with my new positive attitude, I decided to try lying to myself to see if it would work. It totally does!!!!! To be honest, until recently I could not say that I love the act of running. I do love the feeling of finishing a run, so much so, that I continue to do it. But when I run, now I tell myself that I love to run . . . that I never quit . . . that I never get tired, and now I really do believe it!

Here is my schedule for the week:
Saturday - 3 miles
Sunday - rest
Monday - 3 miles
Tuesday - rest
Wednesday - 5 miles
Thursday - 8 miles
Friday - rest

Saturday and Monday call for 3 miles, but I am going for 5 since I have a 5 mile race coming up on February 20. This will be my first 5 miler. I am really looking forward to it!