Time is of the essence

I postponed running to the max today - 5pm finally rolled around and I thought to myself - "you've got about 4.6 miles to go - and an hour to get it done before it's dark." I tied up my shoes and took off at about 5:07. Ipod along this time - thank God - it did wonders! I ran the same route today yesterday with my friend Paige - it took us an hour and 15 minutes - partially b/c of the rain - and a little because she just started running a few weeks ago - so once I got far enough ahead and bored from the silence, I'd walk/run back to meet her and run some more. Extra workout - but discouraging time! I was determined today to get it done in a 10 minute mile or less.

While running - I'm thinking everything marathon. Can I do it? Yes, of course I can do it. Maybe I will meet the man of my dreams on the 13.2 mile trek - I tend to be really attractive while running - my face turns beat red about .2 miles into it and only gets worse....I can only imagine what 13.2 miles will do to it! People at the gym used to always ask if I was OK! Even if it's cold - my face looks like it's going to explode. Then I began to think of how 5 1/2 years ago I was going to run a marathon. Do the math, yeah, Konnor was born 5 1/2 years ago. Fall of 2002 my sister Steph, friend/roommate Michelle, and I all decided we were going to train for the full marathon in San Diego that following June. Training started in January. Although it would've been cool to say I ran a marathon at 8 months pregnant, even cooler for Konnor to say his first marathon was at negative 1 month old - it wasn't gonna happen:)

We talked about it all the time. Even after I knew I was pregnant, I played along! (all the while thinking, WOO HOO, no training or running for a long time!). January 9 came along, Steph and Michelle rolled out of bed, quite early, 6 am probably - dressed themselves, laced up their shoes, had a bite to eat - and I very slowly rolled out into the kitchen. Michelle says to me "are ya ready!" "Yep, pj's, no sports bra, no shoes....you betcha I'm ready!" actually my response was "Nah, not today. I'd be running for two....." Poor girl about fell over. Off they went - and so the story goes. I got to sleep in every Saturday while they were out running the canals - 5 miles, 10 miles, even a 20 miler - but must admit I was always a little jealous.

The marathon came and it was awesome! I had never been to one (I don't think anyway) and 8 months pregnant, thoroughly enjoyed cheering the girls on. They all completed it - and swore they'd never do another one again! Great! Now when I finally get to do one, I'll be all alone.

Well, with each child that came along I always said I was going to run a marathon. Part of it a personal goal, part of it a motivator to lose weight and of course I wanted to run one to raise awareness for Prader-Willi. I decided early last Fall that I wanted to start training for the one in January - however, due to the situation I was in, I wasn't mentally prepared and promised myself I'd try this year.

Here I am! Not lovin' it - but not hatin' it! It's amazing how a really good run can make you feel. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. I didn't really expect to reach my goal on my run today but I did. Time was of the essence - I wanted to make sure I ran it full swing as a motivator to get home before it was dark. Call me a whimp - but I'm not one of those women out their running alone early in the morning or in the evening. Maybe I should start though - it certainly would boost my speed a little!

3 1/2 weeks to go - I'm positive I can do it - I just hope I don't hate it so much that I decide to not train for the full:) After all, a trip to San Diego is always an incentive for me! My Dad will be here the weekend of and the week after, so will make the marathon weekend much less stressful than I've been anticipating.

4.6 miles today - in 46 minutes. Thank goodness "the final countdown" came on my Ipod randomly as I was seriously thinking about walking the last 1/4 of a mile - it is a large, gradual yet steep hill that leads up to my house (if all that makes sense). Definitely not the way someone wants to end a run - but the sun was almost down - and I figured I had made it that far, why not push myself a little more.

10 minute mile. I'm satisfied. My lungs weren't tired - but my legs were telling me they had had enough! Good thing the marathon is on nearly all flat ground.