Blown away.

Thankfully, when I woke up this morning, it was sunny. Not warm, but sunny. However, during my run, I encountered some hurricane like winds (I swear I'm not even being dramatic). I've run in all sorts of weather since my training has begun. I've run in sunny 70 degree Florida, a legit snow storm, below freezing temps, rain, rain, some ice and some more rain and today a lot of high gusty winds. I was, of course, running into the wind during my last 10 miles so I felt like I wasn't moving at all. I have decided a windy day on April 19th will be the worst to run in. If its 90 degrees and windy, then I might just have to call it a day and jump on some cute cop's motorcycle and ride the whole way to the finish line. But, at least now, I feel prepared to run in all sorts of weather.

Anyway, enough about the weather. I had a pretty bad experience at the end of my last long run so I was hoping for the best today. Besides the hurricane (yes, I'm dramatic) I got through my 18 miles in about 2 hours and 45 minutes and didn't have much pain at all during it. Afterwards, however, was a different story. My stomach was a mess AGAIN, I seemingly lost about 4lbs of water weight and my knee (IT band perhaps?) and shin were killing me. Some pain pills (don't worry, the legal kind), h2o, and some TLC though and I'm feeling much better. I have to say though, even though running 18 miles is awesome to me and something I thought I could never do, I wonder what all this training is doing to my body both inside and out. I'm just gonna keep telling myself "We are born to run" like the author Christopher McDougall states and hope I can keep this mentality until the day of the race.

Lastly, as March approaches, here are some updates on the goals I had made back in February. Someone this week told me they were impressed that when I set my mind to do something, I always do it. These updates might sway that view just a tad. ;)

I had said I would......
1) Eat healthy 90% of the time. Hmmm....let's make that about 60% of the time, maybe 70%. Due to some "bad days" at work and some other stress, I might have gone off the chocolate wagon more times then I'd like to admit and I really did enjoy the subs VWow and I got this week. I'm gonna try harder on this one though, really.
2) I will not drink alcohol on the weekdays. I have broken this rule twice...once for a dinner party and once for a bday night out for a friend. I'd have to say, this isn't that hard though. I think it is something I will stick with after the marathon. Maybe. Maybe not.
3) I will lose 10lbs by marathon day. I've lost about 5 so I think this one is attainable. I've also gone down one pant size. Will I be able to maintain this after the marathon? Let's hope so. I plan on keeping physical fitness a key part of my life. Who wants to be my lifelong exercise buddy? I'm taking applications! :)
4) I will run more hills. I have run at least 2 hills on all of my runs. I plan to run the actual heartbreak hills at least twice in March. However, I still can't stand hills. Some people say they love them. Those people are lunatics...or actual, hard core, real runners.

So, needless to say, I have slacked on some of the above goals I had for myself. However, I'm a big fan of the quote, "if at first you fail- try, try again." I don't think I'll ever give up trying.

Now where did those cadbury mini-eggs go......

Warm Fuzzies

About a week ago I had a friend email me and tell me I was the inspiration that kept her going during her cold winter run that morning. She said, "I usually give up but then I thought of you and just wanted to say thanks." Then, today, I read a friend's blog about sports "moments" (http://cleggthis.blogspot.com/2010/02/sports.html) and, in it, he gave me a "shout out" that both inspired me and reminded me why I ever chose to run this marathon in the first place. Remember in Kindergarten when your teacher used to tell you saying unkind things were "cold pricklys" and saying kind things were "warm fuzzies?" Well, golly gee, I feel pretty warm and fuzzy right about now. So much so that I just wrote "golly gee."

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to Meg and Barry for those things. It's because of people like you that I keep going. Your kind words have also inspired me to do a different type of "shout out" (since all of my fundraising is done); the "Warm-n- Fuzzy Shout Out." In the cold, cold winter weather, everyone can use a little warming up!

Here's a few to start with: Warm fuzzies to the 12 people who read my blog! Woo-hoo, I'm famous!  Warm fuzzies sent out to my mom and dad who have always been there to cheer me on in the "race of life." And a shout out to everyone out there who thinks they can't do something but they try it anyway. "Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try." Go get 'em tigers!

Hugs to all of you!

Inspirational Story-Take 3

Every person has goals in life. Some are easier then others. For example, setting a goal to cook one meal a week is probably easier then quitting smoking. Training for a marathon is easier then training for an ultra marathon. No matter what goal it is though, in the end, without trying, without dedication and without the belief in yourself, a goal will be hard to accomplish.

In my job, I work with a lot of teens. As young as some of them are, they are constantly flooring me with their resilience and ability to keep going. Don't get me wrong, some of them floor me with their ability to make an excuse for everything and the amount of marijuana they smoke but I'm looking on the bright side. ;)

This is the story of Colby* (name/details changed to protect confidentiality). This week, he came in and gave me some really great news. Colby has been one of my "clients" for a while and he usually comes into the teen clinic because we are the closest thing to family he has. His mother and father are drug addicts and in jail and he really has no place to call home. He has seen more and been through more then any teenager should ever have to see in his or her young life. He didn't have a chance to experience being a child, being young, being innocent. He has, what I like to call, an "old soul" but a very good one at that. Colby has been trying hard to get his life back on track since he dropped out of high school. We signed him up for a program that would help him get his GED and a job. Every other week, he'd come in on my lunch break and we'd do a lil' GED prep and "shoot the shit" as he liked to call it. He was nervous about this test. Really nervous.

So today, Colby came in and sat down in my office chair and said, "I passed my GED tests. All subjects. The first time. All of them." He was quiet for a while and then he said, "Tricia, I guess I'm smart, huh?" I, of course, told him I always knew he was smart and that I was really proud of him. He said, "For the 1st time in a long time, maybe ever, I'm really proud of myself too." Colby is going to make something of himself. I have no doubt about this. After he left, I thought about this quote I read the other day. "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." Colby had the courage to start and, because of this, he's one step closer to a better life and, more importantly, a greater understanding and belief in himself.

Happy Hump Day homies! I hope that, today and everyday, all of you have the courage that Colby did.

Accidents Happen

** Disclaimer: If you're eating, don't like the word "poop" or would prefer to be one of those people who thinks young ladies don't do #2, don't read this post.**

Every year I watch people run the Boston Marathon and think, "I'm going to do that one day." Year after year though, I was always a spectator, cheering people on, drinking beer on the sidelines and watching runners cross the 20 mile marker. Almost every year, as well, I would inevitably see one or two people who would look like they had sat in mud. They were disoriented, swaying while running and it was then that I realized these people had actually crapped their pants. Ew. Ew. Ew. Seriously!? Unless you're fighting to win the actual marathon, why the hell would these people allow themselves to shit their pants?!

I no longer wonder why these people poop their pants. No, no, don't worry... I didn't have an "accident" in my pants. But, holy crap (haha, pun intended), I now understand how it can happen. Yesterday, I started off on what would be a 17 mile run. I felt really good, I was hydrated, I had a good play list and I was ready to grab the bull by the horns and do this run. The 1st ten to thirteen miles were great. I matched the same improved 1/2 marathon time, I felt good, I wasn't tired, I saw running group after running group which inspired me to keep up with people who were a bit faster then me and I was enjoying the cool (but not bitter) winter weather. After about mile 14 though, it hit me. I don't know if it was the portabella mushroom pizza I had eaten the night before or my lack of bathroom activity the morning of my run, but holy smokes, I needed a toilet. I told myself I could make it the last 3 miles but, I know my body. I knew I HAD to go to the bathroom. However, my last leg of this run was by the Charles River. Shockingly, there are NO toilets on this route. I contemplated not once, not twice but THREE times squatting in a bush along the Charles and dropping a deuce. There are just cars, people, squirrels, boats...everything!...out there. I couldn't imagine doing that in public (and/or getting caught) so I sucked it up (and in) and continued on the run. I knew I would come to the mall sooner then later and I prayed to God I would make it. I was in pain. I was shivering, I felt nauseous and my stomach was punishing me. To make matters worse, at about mile 15.5, I got this shooting pain in my right ankle/shin and was now limping, trying not to cry (really, I'm usualy pretty tough) and begging for this run to be over RIGHT THIS INSTANT. I finally made it to a Finagle a Bagel (the end of my run) and ran into the coffee shop and sprinted to the bathroom. Of course, it was locked. I ran back and said (very loudly so all the patrons could hear me), "I neeeeed the key!!!!!' Has anyone ever seen the movie Dumb and Dumber when Harry uses homechick's bathroom? Yup, that was me. But at least this toilet actually flushed.

I apologize if this post has been TMI (too much information) or I have embarrassed or offended my boyfriend or my parents. But marathon training is not all happiness, giggles and repeats of Rocky's theme song. This is part of the "bad and ugly." This is reality. I hope everyone has a nice, long weekend. I'm peacing out to go make heart cupcakes and ice my shin. If anyone has some advice for an injury such as this, please share. Adios amigos!

Zzzzzombie Land

I'm tired. Like redonculously tired. Like, I almost called out of work sick today so I could use this day to sleep tired. Who does that?! I'm not sure what it is but it's gotta stop. I feel like I'm walking around like a zombie. My brain isn't working like it should be either. Yesterday I spent a good 3 minutes turning the kitchen light switch on and off hoping the more I did that, the more likely it would be to turn the dining room light on. Nope, just the wrong switch. And, when I was driving to a super bowl party last night I, instead, drove to work...on a Sunday...at 5:30pm. Today, I am staring at my computer screen a little more then I should and when I'm talking to clients, I find myself jumbling my words.  What the heck is wrong with me? A lot of people tell me training for a marathon gives them more energy then they've ever had. But, lately, I feel like I have very little energy and, what I do have, I save for the runs I know I must do to properly train for this event. I feel like it's beginning to take a toll on my level of functioning and, as a counselor, I know that certainly isn't good.

I need advice...cuz this "zombieness" has gotta stop. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'm gonna turn out like that girl in Paranormal Activity and that girl sure as hell doesn't make it to the Boston Marathon.

All you single runners, put your hands up!

That's my version of Beyonce's "single ladies" song. I may not be single, but I usually am in the running world. Today proved to me why it's way better to run with someone rather then by yourself when training for a marathon. Training for a marathon is like having a second job. You have a schedule, you have to "show up" and the more effort put into it, the more you reap the rewards. Working with someone often makes the time go faster as well and more enjoyable. Today, I ran my first long run with a partner. John, a friend I met at work, is running the marathon with me for the same charity. He's probably one of the nicest guys I know but I was a bit nervous to run with him because I feel like guys, in general, are just faster runners. I didn't want to hold him back and I also didn't want to injure myself by trying to keep up with him due to my redonculously large competitive nature. However, running with John was great. We talked...yes, talked!, for at least 10 miles of the run and I only used my ipod for about 4 miles of the run. For those of you who know me, that is unheard of. We did a loop that involved some big hills right around "it's starting to hurt time" and it was so nice to have him push me and say, "you can do it, almost there!" and get a high five at the end. It was enjoyable (until the pain, of course), social and we pushed ourselves hard...so hard that our 15 mile run turned into a 16.6 mile run (2:25:11). So high five to us and thank God we don't have to do it again til next weekend! :)

Afterwards, we both smelled, had leg cramps the size of Alaska and I had to get a ride home from him (and his awesome bulldog) because I was too sore to walk. However, accomplishing 16.6 miles, having his encouragement (and funny stories along the way) and knowing I could have probably run a little more (if I had to) all made this run, once again, remind me that I can accomplish this goal.

I'm heading out tonight for a chick flick with Bones and a beer with Ben for his birthday (sorry Barry, I deserve one, don't I?!) and I look forward to an easy day of yoga, a hot tub and coming up with plans on how I can kidnap John's dog tomorrow.

It hurts to type so, peace out folks.

Hello February!

It's February kids! You know what that means?! 11 more weeks til the big day. You know what else it means? No more messing around. Since I started training, I've been quite disciplined and stuck to my running schedule. February will be challenging for me as my mileage will continue to go up and I will continue to push my body further then I ever have. February includes my first run above 15 (the longest I've ever run) and my first 20 mile + run. I'm going to be quite frank, I'm freakn' scared. Not scared that I won't do it, because I know I will, but scared that it will be hard, so hard that it makes me doubt myself. I'm hoping and praying that self-doubt falls to the wayside.

Now, since I'm getting into the more serious running mileage, I also plan on getting more serious about other parts of my training. I'm listing them below, not because I won't remember them, but so that when you guys see me, you can hold me accountable and/or root me on. So, if you see me falling off the wagon and diving face first into a tin of frosting don't hesitate to kick me in the booty and say "26.2."

Here goes:
1) I will eat healthy 90% of the time. Most of the books I read say runners should rely on a lot of good carbs, veggies and protein and to lay off the fats. I have stomach issue even w/o all this running, so I plan on sticking to a better diet that is low in fat.
2) I will not drink alcohol during the weekdays and, starting April 1, 2010, I will not drink alcohol until the time I finish the marathon. After that, it's party time!
3) I will lose 10lbs by marathon day. Yes, this might seem easy since I'm running my ass off but, the pounds aren't dropping off like I thought they'd be. My pants fit way better and my belly size is decreasing but the less I weigh on marathon day, the faster I'll be. And by "fast," I mean alive and breathing.
4) I will run more hills, I will run more hills, I will run more hills.

I take pride in setting goals and accomplishing them, something I think I learned from my mom and dad who are both extremely hard workers. It feels good to be able to say, "I set my mind to this and did it." I have come to realize I will probably struggle through this marathon and my time might be less then ideal but as long as I put my "all" into the training and the 26.2 miles I run on April 19th, I will be happy and I will have finished and that's really all that should matter.

I hope ya'll have a fabulous week and a fantastic February!