Here we are, just days away from the big day. Only 4 days left to train. Yes, I have tapered and will only do 3 short runs this week (first one this morning), but the training that's going on in my head is endless and tiring and more strenuous than the miles I run. I think running is 90% mental and 10% whatever the rest of your body can do. At least it is for me.
It's amazing how many times I find myself talking (outloud) when I run by myself, "You can do it, Rachel. For crying out loud, STOP WHINING! It's NOT going to kill you! You only THINK you're too tired to keep going! Don't be such a wimp!" Did I really just admit that I have to lecture myself OUT LOUD during a run? WOW!
Saturday was my last long run. 11.2 miles of amazing run time! I only stopped because it was dark and Ryan was following me in the car :( It was like the best ever! I have never felt so strong and alive when I run as I did that night. I'm sure there were many factors that led to my success this time, but the biggest one had to have been the food I ate for 3 days before that.
I've been following a low carb diet for about 4 or 5 months now and this last weekend was mine and Ryan's anniversary so we ate all kinds of yummy stuff that I don't really eat anymore. Pizza, ice cream, bread - lots of bread!! - waffles, muffins, and . . . need I say more? Anyhow, you can see that I was probably on carb overload for the weekend. Now, I don't intend to go back to eating all those things all the time, however, I think it's time to add some of them back into my diet - all in moderation, of course. I'm thinking that starting this Friday, I am going to eat all the same things I ate last weekend up until race time :) I plan to eat waffles for dinner Saturday and then go straight to bed so the glycogen will be nice and stored away for use the next morning :) Call me crazy, but I think it just might work!
So there you have it. 4 days left and I feel ready. As ready as I probably ever will be. Bring it on 13.1!!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Did I mention to you that I don't stick to things very well?
Well, I don't, clearly evident by the lack of blog posting since DECEMBER! Wow! But there is one thing I have stuck to - running!
As of my last post, I've had surgery to remove a nasty gallbladder which has been a huge blessing! I feel much better. The lack of the feeling of an elephant on my chest has made me feel like a new person. Praise the Lord!
I've also signed up for 2 - count them - 2 half marathons. The first of which is in 18 days, September 5th in Eugene. The next is October 10th in Portland. I've been very consistent in my training and have put in at least 3 good runs per week since signing up. Some may say 3 runs a week isn't much, but it has worked out very well for me. I've gradually increased my mileage - my longest run being 10.31 miles - and my time has been improving. Granted, I'm not out there looking for a Boston qualifier (yet!) but seeing my pace improve gives me good motivation to continue to enter those 5 and 8k's just to see my time come down. It's also a good boost to the ego :)
My endurance has significantly improved as well. Those 3 miles I used to run in 34 minutes has come down to sub-30 minutes. It also doesn't quite quench the thirst for the miles, so my easy and short days are now 5 to 6 mile runs. I'll throw some 7's in there occassionally just for kicks :)
I've lost 15 pounds since I really started training. Watching my diet and really restricting those bad-for-you carbs has helped a lot with that. They say for every pound you lose you alleviate 4 pounds of pressure on your knees. If this is true, I've reduced pressure on my knees by 60 pounds with each stride. That seems significant to me!
All in all I feel great! I feel healthy. I feel like I'm accomplishing something big. Something I would have never dreamed I could do. I remember the first time I tried to run. That .2 miles felt like torture and I could barely catch my breath. Today, I can run more than 10 miles and my dreams are big. Today a half marathon. Next year, a full 26.2. I aspire to it.
As of my last post, I've had surgery to remove a nasty gallbladder which has been a huge blessing! I feel much better. The lack of the feeling of an elephant on my chest has made me feel like a new person. Praise the Lord!
I've also signed up for 2 - count them - 2 half marathons. The first of which is in 18 days, September 5th in Eugene. The next is October 10th in Portland. I've been very consistent in my training and have put in at least 3 good runs per week since signing up. Some may say 3 runs a week isn't much, but it has worked out very well for me. I've gradually increased my mileage - my longest run being 10.31 miles - and my time has been improving. Granted, I'm not out there looking for a Boston qualifier (yet!) but seeing my pace improve gives me good motivation to continue to enter those 5 and 8k's just to see my time come down. It's also a good boost to the ego :)
My endurance has significantly improved as well. Those 3 miles I used to run in 34 minutes has come down to sub-30 minutes. It also doesn't quite quench the thirst for the miles, so my easy and short days are now 5 to 6 mile runs. I'll throw some 7's in there occassionally just for kicks :)
I've lost 15 pounds since I really started training. Watching my diet and really restricting those bad-for-you carbs has helped a lot with that. They say for every pound you lose you alleviate 4 pounds of pressure on your knees. If this is true, I've reduced pressure on my knees by 60 pounds with each stride. That seems significant to me!
All in all I feel great! I feel healthy. I feel like I'm accomplishing something big. Something I would have never dreamed I could do. I remember the first time I tried to run. That .2 miles felt like torture and I could barely catch my breath. Today, I can run more than 10 miles and my dreams are big. Today a half marathon. Next year, a full 26.2. I aspire to it.
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