Week 4 Marathon Training Complete

I am a marathoner! And I finally felt like one this past Saturday. If you recall, my 7 miler was a horrible experience. Then again, so was everyone's run that day. It must have been the unusual humidity that day. Anywhoo, our 8 miler this past Saturday was an awesome run for all four of us. I felt hydrated, i hydrated throughout the run, took 800mg Motrin before the run, and all was well. I even sped up on the last lap (2.5 mile lap). It would be tough for me to describe the feeling after that run. It was perhaps the first time all four of us had a realization that we really will finish this marathon. I remember thinking during my 7 miler that there was no way I could do 8 the next week. Now, after doing the 8 miler, I cant wait for the 10 miler this Saturday. The book talks about creating two mental "video tapes." These are used during moments of weakness throughout the marathon to keep your mind off the pain when you hit "the wall." I remember coming down the straight 1/2 mile finish this past Saturday picturing the finish line of the actual marathon. I definitely cannot describe the awesome feeling as I pictured that. I realized the importance of that mental "video tape" and how awesome that real life marathon finsih will be because I am a marathoner! This week we ran 3, 5, 3, 8 for a week's total of 19 and a training total of 67 miles!

Week 3 Marathon Training In the Books

I am a marathoner! However, I probably wouldn’t have said that this past Saturday. This week's goal was 3, 4, 3, 7. The 3, 4, 3 was easy--it was the 7 that got me. However, I did finished. Up to now this has been a breeze, but this past Saturday's 7 was disproportionately harder than the 5 or 6 from previous Saturdays. From the waist up I was fine. I felt like I could have run 26.2 miles. Even my pace was fine, but from the waist down I felt like the victim of a tragic farming accident. I was hurting all over. Though it was abnormally humid Saturday, I am hopeful that my problem was that I hadn’t stretch all week after my runs. I am hopeful of that because I have to run 8 this coming Saturday. Again, the power of the group kept me/us going. *The starter,* *taller than me,* *the red headed greek,* and I finished all 7. I know at one point 15 mins was tough or the thought of a mile and a half, but now we have all completed 7. At times this is more tough than I thought it would be, but at the same time that makes it that much sweeter. Also, though I need the group to help me finish my runs, I couldnt imagine doing this without these guys. What's better than finishing your first marathon? Finishing your first marathon with great friends. Next week--8. We will finish. We are marathoners!

I am marathoner. Week 2 was successful. Ran a total of 16 miles. I am looking forward to week 3.