Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Everyone had bailed, but I was determined to get out on my own.   Started out and within a mile could feel a UTI coming on strong.   Not good, not good.  Finished lapping the block and called it done, it was miserable.   Off to the doc for antibiotics.

Oh the past few weeks have not been fun......Marathon training has take a nose dive.   I have run sparingly and will go back an add but today the impact of lack of running was realized.   Work has been extremely demanding and work stress is not always helped with marathon training.   I have been sick (due to work stress) and completely drained.   Right now I am unsure of what I will end up doing with Houston - full, half or spectator..... I am going to give it a few weeks to decide but know that if I end up with the full, it will be a slug fest.  

Met the group at the store and ended up running with Ross for 2 and then Monte for the next 5.   Two people I wish I would have met sooner.  Both are running Houston and have goals of 3:30......Bummer.  It would not have changed much, but would have helped to know there were people there with similar goals.   Monte was heading on for more at the 7 mile mark but I was sucking wind way to hard so turned around and headed back.   Took it easier on the way back and felt okay.  Lots of twinges from lack of running but all things that can be dealt with.   Next week with not be good.  I am traveling again M, TH, F and will not return until Saturday and not be able to get in a long run.  Will need to see how I can fix this.   

Avg Pace: 8:31

Yucky travel week again.....

7 easy miles - Avg Pace 9:28

Super windy this morning so I did mile hill repeats and just dealt with the cross wind the entire time.   Avg pace 8:59.

8 miles,   2 mile warm up, 4 miles 1 min on, 1 min off. 2 miles cool down.  Tried to keep the on minutes at a moderate pace. Avg Pace 8:25

This should have been the last off three 20 milers prior to Houston and instead it was the first.   With work and family demands, plus the fact that I have been sick off and on.....the training hasn't been there.  I have gone back and forth as to whether or not I run it at all, run and pace the two other girls I am going with or run it as a long training run somewhere in the 3:45 - 4:00 range.   A lot of how this run would go would make that decision.   

Met the group at the store and ended up on my own for 20 miles.....not really what I was hoping for when I paid my $100 to run with a group....I had decided to start near a 9 min mile and then pick up slowly through out and I actually did a pretty good job sticking to the plan.   The route was for 14 miles and I felt great the entire 14.   Started back out to pick up six more and the next loop ended up being 4 and I was back at the store for water.  The last two miles were long and ugly.   I was trying to loop the trails in the park but did not want to get too far out.  It was ugly and I was tired.   

I was actually really pleased with how the run went.   I felt great up through 17 and then it progressively got worse, but if you consider my training, it isn't too bad.   I am in no shape to run a 3:25 but I could eek out a 3:45 - 4:00 time.   Going to do another 20 this Saturday and a little speedwork between now and the 15th.    No real taper, maybe just a little the week of, but that is okay.  

Avg Pace 8:39

Slept in and ran at 8:00 am.....so, so nice.    It was very misty out, no real rain just a mist.   Today was recovery from Saturday and the legs were tired but started to feel better by mile 5.   My cold is making the lungs burn and lots of coughing, but I have been sick off an on for two months and it is never going to get better, just one thing after another.   Stopped at the CVS during the run and bought a new toothbrush, hoping that might help....I read somewhere it might and I am desperate.    Felt fine, just completely bored out of my mind.   I think Saturday's 20 on my own left me nothing for today.....

Avg Pace: 8:53

Slept in - I am going to pay for all the sleeping in the past couple of weeks.   8 beautiful miles in the sunrise on a crisp morning, couldn't get any better.   Wore my new shoes and I could feel the pull on my calves, they will take some time to break in.

Avg Pace 8:29

20 miles this morning - Yahoo!  Met the group for 16 and then the plan was to add on 4 more, but didn't quite end up that way.   I had Costa Vida yesterday and I paid for it today.  There is only one in Texas about an hour away and I have been wanting to go for weeks and yesterday was the day.   I should have worked perfectly between volleyball practice and violin fitting for my kids which are both up in that area.....Volleyball went long and we missed the violin fitting but made time for lunch/dinner.   

Headed out with 9 min group which pretty much dissolved quickly, caught the slower 8's but they ended up slowing way down, so another solo run.   At about mile 6 new I was in need of a pit stop and thought if I ran past the turn around I could hit the 7-11.   Ran past, crossed the river, climb the embankment, avoided a skunk all for an "out of order" sign.   Turned around and headed back and since I was all alone, it was all I could do not to focus on my discomfort.   Spotted a POP at about mile 10 - again across the river and  this time up the embankment, crossed the freeway and this was much more successful.   I was okay for the next 5 and then searched out another 7-11 and hoped to survive the remaining five.  

This week was much better than last week but at mile 14 I started thinking about running 12 more and I was a little frightened.  I felt good the last three and actually picked up the pace to pick off a group of ladies.....surprised myself a little there.  

No taper for me, just training up through the marathon. 

Avg Pace 8:35

Happy New Year!