Marathon Training: Week Thirteen - Consistency

 This last week I have done a good job keeping my miles going up. I've known for years, to get to the next level, I must put in a little more work. Guess what? It's working! 

 There's a difference between training to get to the finish line and

and training to hit a goal time-personal record time that will ensure getting into Boston 2023 and the struggle is real. 

 I trained hard in 2018 and did just that. It was the first year in history that the time I ran, qualified me for Boston "19 but wasn't good enough as more and more runners are trying to get in every year. I qualified in Eugene and then registered with a qualifying time, only to be told it wasn't good enough. Heartbreaking! I had worked so hard, ended up messing up my foot a bit and had a really difficult time getting back into a training mindset. 

I still stayed consistent, that's something I do well. I ended up going through some struggles, one being Norton's Neuroma in my left foot. The treatment injections got to be pretty brutal but was thankful for a no surgery option. 

I tried to get back into training and I struggled big time with mindset. Covid soon hit, so races started being a thing of the past for a couple years. I still stayed consistent.

As races started coming back, I tried to get back into training and again, injured myself. This time it was my left calf, as training was getting up in miles and intensity. I had to take a big look at what was going on and scale back. I stayed consistent in what I could do as I healed. 

As we came out of covid I was dealing with injury and needed something to focus on so I started working on my body. I knew my body needed a good check to be ready to start training again once my calf healed. I stayed consistent and dropped over 15 lbs. 

I was now feeling really good once again. I started healing and slowly, smartly getting my miles up, and was back into training the end of January 2022. 

For the first time since 2018 my mind has been on fire. I have been more focused than ever and my training is going better than I've ever experienced. At this point I need to keep moving forward while really listening to my body. One wrong move and I could face injury, taking me out for June 4th's marathon. 

I'm not going to let that happen! 

 This coming Sunday I run Eugene Half Marathon. My goal time is doable according to my training times, but will also be hard. It will be a PR (personal record) I once thought I would

never ever come close to again. Eugene will also be fun. I have friends coming to run the half too. I love meeting up with running friends at the races. Finishing on Hayward field will also be my reminder that come June 4th, my training will take over and I will run my race! Hayward field is where I stepped over the finish line as a Boston Qualifier in 2018. I dropped to the ground as soon as I finished. My husband and a volunteer grabbed me and pulled my body up and over to the side. I had given it my all and I will never forget that moment. 

Marathon Training: Week Twelve! #foundchange?

Running in my hometown, Drain Sunday

 As I finished up week twelve, I was reminded that many don't know why the heck I collect coins when I run? If you follow me on social media, you'll see I find coins all the time. I definitely find more as we move into the warmer part of the year and people have been asking why?

 This week had been good. I continue to run on schedule and pace. Sometimes it scares me as I know anything can happen. Any day something could happen to mess up everything I've worked for thus far. I cannot let that get in the way. My mental training is going well too, better than ever. I do not take any training run for granted. Each time I lace up, run and head back into my house, I am thankful for my strength this cycle.   

 Some dates to look forward too! Eugene Half Marathon, May 1st. This race was sprinkled into training as a race predictor. It's placed nicely at five weeks before Newport Full. It'll give me a really good idea of what I'll be able to handle come race day on June 4th! I'm really excited to finish this half on Hayward field in Eugene. The first time I qualified for Boston was at Eugene Marathon 2018 on Hayward field. The stadium has been rebuilt since I ran there in 2018. It's much more grand and holds so much history. It will be a great honor to step foot on that track, once again. I cannot wait! 

 I started collecting found change years ago after reading an article about a Man in NY who picked up coins as he ran. I was a new runner myself and lived in a small town in Oregon but thought, "I'm going to start looking." I soon found a coin and it continued until I had a small jar full. I started another and then another. I started knowing the best places to find coins and of course, you just never know when

there will be one along the sidewalk. I've saved up close to $200 now. I am running Newport with an attempt to qualify for Boston Marathon 2023. When I register, I will use my #foundchange to get into Boston. I am hoping that my friends and those reading start saving change too. I will need help getting to Boston and I believe that change will get me there! It's going to be grand! 

 I know the next month and a half will go fast! I have high hopes for myself and the hard work is paying off. 

Marathon Training: Week Ten

 Week ten has come and gone with the wind. It's been a good week.

 

I had a very strong training week with no setbacks. I'm  having some days of pretty extreme tiredness but also days of extreme energy. I know this is normal with heavy training and just try to get a little extra sleep when needed. 

This last week I had a great talk with a running friend about "training." She loves to train, probably more than the race itself. Training can get pretty demanding and gruesome. Training can also be extremely rewarding. This is what my friend is experiencing now, and it's the same for me. We are both reaping the "gains" or "rewards' for our consistency, hard work, and being willing to do the work. It feels really fabulous.

 Getting up at 3:45-4:00am isn't for everyone. It's a choice that I made to get the work in. The work is paying off and the paces I'm currently hitting are paces I've never thought I could run in my adult life. I'm overwhelmed with gratefulness this week. 

 Just a reminder, people are watching. Something it feels like they aren't and all the hard work doesn't really matter. I was reminded this week that is does matter and eventually someone says something. I know, most people will ever fully understand what I do to make training a possibility in my life, and that's okay. I still hope to show y'all a little piece of what I do to help you move forward in a positive way in your life. 

If you are taking the time to read this, love to you 😘

Marathon Training: Week 9 (What if I get Sick?)

 A big question in Marathon training is, " What if I get sick?" I mean, with a four month training cycle, something is bound to happen, right? 

Week Nine started off a little rocky. I had ran a 20 mile training run last Saturday and reported in my last blog how the last couple miles where really difficult. I figured it was the warmer weather that day or allergies as I did run through the beautiful cherry blossoms 🌸 

Sunday I did do my recovery run just fine but by Monday I felt terrible. I still thought it was allergies but decided to take an early "rest" day. I only walked Monday and that's not like me as I have Monday's off and it's a good opportunity to start the week off with some good mileage. 

Tuesday I needed a quality workout. I actually had x5 mile repeats at a decently fast pace. I got up before work, knowing the worst that can happen is I feel horrible and don't finish. I set out at 4:30 am in ideal running temps and after a good warm up, killed my workout and felt great all day long. 

Wednesday I ran easy, and off my "allergies" went again. The running helped clear my head, but as soon as I stopped, all the congestion and head pain came back. I got ready for work and a coworker came in with my favorite, cold brew with one pump chocolate. I do work with the most amazing people 🌷 As the day went on I felt worse. I have chronic headaches so I am used to not being at my best, but it was feeling different. I couldn't focus, I could hardly keep my eyes open and after realizing I was snapping at my coworkers, I asked to go home. I went right to bed! 

The next two days were rough. It was definitely more than "allergies" I learned many people had or were getting over a nasty cold. Guess it was my turn. I did nothing but rest. At one point my ear hurt so bad I thought I might have an ear infection. 

It is often said, you will probably get sick at some point during marathon training. I chose a four month advanced plan. I would be lying to myself to think I wouldn't have at least one bad week. The middle of training is one of the best times to get sick. 

Guess I got that over. 🤷‍♀️

By Saturday I was feeling better enough to at least try running. It was my long run day. I set out that morning with my husband, knowing I may just come back home. As I've run and trained my body over the last 14+ years, I've become really in tune with my body. When to push it and when I need to stop. I've definitely not perfect at it but I'm pretty good. 

I ran a slow warm up and then settled into my pace for that day. After that, I didn't think about it too much. I just ran and was ok. I did have some mild stomach issues as I was coming off being sick and had to nap after, but I did it! 

Sunday was recovery and I knew that going into week ten would be ok. 

For a week of having to be sick, I still got in 2 out of 3 quality workouts and 2 out of 3 recovery runs. I usually have an active rest day and used it as a rest rest day but, at least the week wasn't a total loss. 

For those of you who take the time to read "the mind of a distance runner" (this blog). I love you! I love how you share with me how you relate in other ways in your life. Training and finishing the marathon distance has taught me so much about life in general that has nothing to do with running. I love how some of you see that in my writing. 

Cheers to week TEN!