Antsy as all get out

But mainly antsy to get out! I'm not sure what it is but I am SO excited about my trip with TheCap this weekend. I had no previous desire to go to Atlanta (did, once upon a time, think about working at CDC though), it is for a wedding in which I know no one, and it is late August and I have hair that doesn't appreciate humidity. But I'm flush with anticipation.

I think we've decided against doing the fun run there which is OK. I did though just realize a bummer about "marathon training." Do I attempt to fit in my long run (which is still mercifully short, 7mi) or say, "eff it" and make it up to myself when I get back. I'm tending to think the latter. Since it is just 7mi, I can do it on a workday without an issue. Plus it will be hot in the ATL, plus it feels like such a sacrifice to give up time for a run when you're on a weekend trip. I wish I didn't feel that way. I wish I felt like getting a run in, in a new city, is the only way to get to really see the city. I wish vacationing to me was only the means to see new things and understand others better, rather than an excuse to relax and eat and sleep to an excess. I mean, I suppose it's both but the excessive sleeping and eating is most appealing to me.

**EDIT**

Starchy here (hehe) just pointed out that the marathon that my friend is thinking about is not until February (approx 28 weeks away). I'll have to figure out the timing of the rest of my training but what it reminded me was that I can totally not stress yet and not worry at all about the long run this weekend. Thanks, DSF!

M2:week1

So. I'm on track to have done week one of Hal's novice M program.
I believe this is because it is the easy week :) But I'll take it.

Now for how I've done on the rules:

1. Fashionably Flexible: Yep! Did my long run on Friday evening. Just because it was nice out and I was feeling good.

2. Weak Weekdays: Not bad. I only wound up at the gym late one night because I'd put off running until very late.

3. Cerebral Caloric Intake: FAIL. Let me just say that there were far too many almond croissants involved AND I have been on a chain eating bend. I think it's getting better though. I grocery shopped and now have the tools I need to eat a decent, home cooked meal most meals of the week. I even succeeded in making soup!

4. Luscious Longies: 3 runs of 20+ plus miles, maxing out at 22 miles. Not there yet. But I had a great 6miler (the longest run week 1). I kept my pace between 9:30 and 10:30 (OK, sometimes 11) and it kept my heart rate steady and well under my max. I felt like I could keep running forever and I haven't felt that in a very long while.

5. Biking or swimming (or maybe light weights) at least 2x/week. I have shredded multiple times this week and am hoping to go for a ride with TheCap tomorrow.

6. Healthapotamus: Get refocused on hydration/nutrition/vitamins/supplements. This will especially mean listening to my body and not messing around with injury. Also, using the Garmin as the tool it is and being smart about my runs. Well the nutrition aspect was a disaster but I think I am learning to wear the HR monitor.


So there we are. I am still really unsure that I want to sink this much time into this but, so far, so good.

Luna Chix brick

Yesterday I did my first brick workout in quite a while. The Luna Chix were holding a swim/run brick at a local lake that is having a tri this weekend. The plan was a 1/2mile swim and a 4.5mi run. Sounded great. I needed to get a run in and I always jump at the opportunity to do a group OWS.

The swim: People were either doing the ¼ mi loop once or twice. I decided to go twice. The first loop was good; I spotted really well using what I refer to as the frog-method (lifting just eyes out of the water, either going into a breath or just as a spot). Once thing I've been trying lately is being conscious about elo9ngating my stroke. In the pool this feels awkward but OWS it feels more natural. Don't know why.

Not many people did the 2^nd lap and I happened to be out in front all alone for awhile. That was BIZARRE! It was semi-freaky and semi-annoying because spotting had to be really good when there is no one to follow J

The Run: I forgot how much I love the moment during a brick when you feel your body switch over and feel in the groove with the new sport. I hit a lap on my Garmin to note when this happened for me on this run. It was at 0.7mi. My pace before that was fine (9.5-10.5min/mi) and my breathing was under control but until then it was like my body still felt like it should be swimming. I forgot how much I love that feeling.

The rest of the run was really good. It was a pretty hilly route and some of it was on trail. My pace really stayed near 10min/mi. I started to get kind of crampy in my right leg. In some ways it felt like hamstring/knee/heel tweekiness. Not sure what that's about. Maybe it is my body's first protest against the whole marathon thing.

Absolutely, probably

So, here's the deal. I am going to run another marathon. I'm not sure when or where or if I'll be doing it specifically with someone else (but I would REALLY love the chance to be a part of my friend's (who'll need a blog name) 1^st marathon experience). But I will run again.

It's funny, now that I've run a marathon I feel like saying "I'll get around to running another one" has more credibility than before I'd run one saying "I'm totally going to run a marathon." I'm not sure why. Maybe because the fact that I have run one means that I have proven the dedication and commitment required? Maybe because now saying it comes with the weight of knowing what it takes to get to the starting line, first hand?

I am not thrilled about the idea. If you remember, Speedy reminded me why marathons are BAD. And they are. Last year I really worked for it. I did my longs runs, as prescribed; I did my midweek runs, (mostly) as prescribed; I focused on my race nutrition, as recommended. And maybe that's it. I want to know where I went wrong. I figure, if marathon kicks my butt again then it was just that I, amberpdidit, am no marathoner. And that would be OK. But what if it was just a bad day? Or maybe I should have done a program that has more long runs? Or maybe I should have run in the mornings? Or maybe, or maybe, or maybe…

I think that this is why the marathon has mystique to those who aren't just naturally gifted. There are so many parameters that have to be worked out in order to ambulate 26.2miles.

Now, the unfortunate part about doing my 2^nd one will be that now I feel like I need to have a loftier goal than survival (although I just barely met that one). So I will be thinking about that.

I'm also not sure when I want to get started. I REALLY wanted to do the Victoria Half Ironman with Team in Training. I'll have to reconcile that first off. I also have SERIOUSLY lost my ability to go long. So I'll have to start seriously assessing where I am and whether I will need more of a base.

I saw over at POM her marathon rules and I think I'd like to steal and adapt them for my new marathon adventure.

This is what I'm workin' with:

1. Fashionably Flexible: Long runs on Fri, Sat OR Sun - whatever day works best for me.
   Yes, I have been LOVING my weekends lately and would be sad to feel shackled to one particular day.
   
2. Weak Weekdays: Only 3 times per week MAX and not over 5/6 miles. I think this would help me mentally, even if not running-wise, because part of the hardship of marathon training for me was that I felt like I ALWAYS needed to run.
   
3. Cerebral Caloric Intake: There will be NO 12 lb. marathon weight gain like last year. SERIOUSLY, I have to get a grip in this area of life, marathon or no. I abused my diet while training last year.
   
4. Luscious Longies: 3 runs of 20+ plus miles, maxing out at 22 miles. I believe this is the key and, depending on when the race is, I see myself needing more than 3.
   
5. Yoga Yahoo: Continue to do Bikram at least 2 days a week - aiming for 3. For me this needs to be biking or swimming (or maybe light weights) at least 2x/week.
   
6. Healthapotamus: Get refocused on hydration/nutrition/vitamins/supplements. This will especially mean listening to my body and not messing around with injury. Also, using the Garmin as the tool it is and being smart about my runs.
   

I am actually WAY more terrified this go `round than before. I am worried about the time and energy it takes to do this. I am worried that getting through unscathed last time was a fluke and that I'll hurt myself. I am worried that I will disappoint myself this time; by not putting in the effort or not meeting the goal or letting down the people in my life by being busy doing something (relatively) dumb.

I don't want to marathon.

But I think I do.

(I fully reserve the right to renege on my decision)

 

Oh no...I may be coming down with it again

Marathon fever.

A dear friend just told me she was going to be training for a full in CA in February 2010.

I know I shouldn't do.

But I maybe want to.

Maybe