Today was a big 18!!
My mom watched the girls for me at the house while I ran.
I sweat so much that I was down to vb spandex and running bra when I finished because my clothes were weighing me down.
I read over 100 pages in Breaking dawn and listened to over 20 songs on the ipod
My feet are burning right now (4 hours later)
My legs feel a little tight
I drank 3 full water bottles (48 oz each....so over a gallon of water) this is during the run
7:23 minute miles
Last song I listened to: Jordin Sparks "One Step at a Time"
Took me 2:12:50 minutes to complete
Will I do it again.... 20 is on my list next.... when..... hopefully by next Thursday I will be fully recovered.

Sick Days

Monday workout:
13 miles
7:36 min miles
Treadmill of La Fitness
Tuesday Workout:
8 miles
58:38 minutes
7:20 min miles
Treadmill of La Fitness

A Few things to do/not to do before a run...
Do make sure you are hydrated, drinking plenty of water, but...
Do Not overhydrate. It is hard to tell the difference at first, but once you get to know your body it comes easier.
DO Not eat a large meal before a long run, or even just a short run
Do prepare yourself mentally for the amount of miles your run will be

I had some definite struggles this week when I forgot these simple probably common sense things for running. I have also been sick.... just a cold, but it has really effected me. I was planning to do 18 miles on Monday, but #1 I wasn't properly hydrated, #2 not prepared mentally, and #3 I was sick and felt unable to continue after 13 miles. The second run I did was right after eating a big dinner (tacos). Not too bad during the run but the last 2 miles were tough and I felt like pucking in the parking lot on the way out. Luckily I didn't, but I probably would have felt better.

I feel like I haven't ran in a week

I feel like I haven't ran in a week, but really I just took a break yesterday. I was planning to anyway since I have already ran 32 miles this week (mon-wed) so thursday needed to be a rest day, but I was sick so it was even more of a reason to take a break. Now I still don't feel good today and I haven't been able to get to the gym because my girls are sick and I am not feeling well and I don't know if I will be able to make it to the gym, and now I am just feeling like it has been forever since I ran. Weird.

Mental

I believe running is very mental. On Monday the 16 mile run was very challenging for me mentally because I kept going back and forth between how many miles I was going to run. All these things going through my mind, I am too tired, the girls are probably bored in the kids club, I am not too tired, I can do it, I will just do 10 and do 16 tomorrow, this is taking too long...... and a billion others thoughts, but I pushed through and around 12 I decided that I was going to finish all 16 so that is when it got easier for me. It was like a burst of energy when I made the decision that I was going to finish 16 and do it fast so my kids weren't too mad. It felt absolutely great to finish. I can't wait to do 18 next week. Seriously it is a good feeling to do a long run, you feel like you can do anything after that.

Boring

Not bored of running, just bored reading my own running blog. Good thing I don't tell people about it so anyone else has to read it...
I ran at the gym today after dropping Shaun off at the airport and I needed to run because I needed to not think about the fact that he won't be home until late Friday night (next Friday)! This will be the longest we have been apart ever (besides the whole mission thing). I had a good run and my miles for the week are up to 40. What now??? I usually run between 31 and 36 a week and we still have Saturday which I am planning to run at least 4 miles.... What a great week. Now I just need to find someone to watch the girls while I run 16 sometime next week. Shaun would, but obviously can't....
Sometimes I feel like I am obsessed with running. I am always thinking about it and constantly planning my next run. I sometimes plan my whole day around when I will run... okay everyday is pretty much planned around that, but I do take breaks some days.

Great Workout

Well yesterday I decided to do my long run for the week since Shaun and his brothers wanted to play racketball at the gym and I hate doing my long runs at my house on the treadmill since it is extra hot in the den. I dropped off the girls in the kids center and got started around 5:15pm. Shaun picked up the girls and went home around 6:15 and I stayed to finish out the run. I did 14 this time. That is what I am up to now. Next week will be 16 then 18.... and so on. I printed out a training workout for a marathon off the internet for a 18 week training time and even though I made up my own workout training plan it ended up being pretty similar to the one I found. The longest run they have you do is 20 miles and that is 4 weeks before the race. I think that I will try to do 26 once, three weeks before because the reason I am doing this marathon is not only to do it, but I want to get a good time and qualify. Anyway... back to my 14 mile run... it took me an hour and 45 minutes. It wasn't brutal, but it got harder after the 10th mile. Luckily I had my Breaking Dawn book to keep me occupied during the run and not get too bored. Some girl started talking to me during my last 2 miles and I was able to talk with her without flying off the treadmill or running out of breath so I must be increasing my endurance.
Today I wasn't planning on doing a workout... taking a break sounded good today after feeling a little sore from the run last night, but then both girls fell asleep for a nap at the same time and I couldn't help myself. I ended up running at 7.7mph for .75 miles, then running at 9 mph for the last .25 of the mile, then doing 2 of the core workout exercises and repeating this for 4 miles. Then I ran the last 2 miles at 7.7mph with a .25 mile sprint at the end. This ended up being 6 miles in 45:45 7:38 minute miles, with a great core workout during. I also finished by doing the core workout exercises twice at the end. It was a great workout and I even got a shower and cleaned up a little before Keilah woke up and shortly after Brea woke up too.

Simple Core Workout

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-263-266-12756-0,00.html?cm_mmc=training-_-2008_08_12-_-training-_-QUICK%20FIX%3a%20Core%20Workout%20

I tried to just copy and paste this, but for some reason the pictures don't show up. This is the core workout I am going to try 2-3 times a week. Hopefully this helps.

Longer Runs

This week I realized (from lookig on my training log graph) that I haven't run less than 6 miles whenever I run (in this past month) and also that my longest run has been 10 miles every week for 4 weeks straight now. Yesturday I did 12 to break out of that. Today I did 8 and I will probably do 8 tomorrow and 10 Thursday so I can do less (prob 6) while I am in Utah on Saturday. Next week I will do 14 for a long run and every week I will just increase by 2 miles. By the begining of September I will do a 20 mile. I really need to be ready for this marathon. I have like 9 weeks left or something!