Run, Forrest (Alicia), Run

It is time for a running post. I will probably have a few more of these in the future as training gets more intense. Let me tell you how it is going so far.

It is Hard. The end.

Alright, I will tell you a little more about what I have discovered about running.

1. The heat makes running a billion times harder to do. Thank goodness for a cold June! I think my running enthusiasm has gone down as the temperature outside has gone up.

2. I would pick running 7 miles stroller/ childless over running 3 miles pushing a stroller. I do NOT like running a pushing a stroller.

3. I think I like running without my IPOD. Although the music does motivate me/ distract me from stopping for walking breaks.

4. You really need to stretch well after running.

5. My favorite run so far was with Koby up Provo canyon- nice temperature, shaded, beautiful, good company.

6. The easiest 3 miler I have run was while reading "The Host" by Sephanie Meyer on the treadmill. I don't recommend it though- I about killed myself tripping a few times. It didn't stop me from reading.

7. Good shoes are a must! They are usually 1 to 1 1/2 sizes larger than what you normally wear. Paying a little extra at a real running store to be properly fitted is so worth it.

8. I gave up on trying to cover might lily white legs with running pants. I pulled out the short shorts and I am not turning back. It is to darn hot. I haven't pulled out the tank tops, yet.

9. Marathon training takes up a ton of time. I knew this before I committed to doing this, but I just don't know when I will do another marathon. I definitely want to do several 1/2 marathons. It is so hard to get up in the morning to go running when you are up several times in the night with a baby.

10. I more often than not live in t-shirts and ponytails. Since I am always going for a run (so it seems) I don't get dressed for the day very often. :)

I map my runs on Google Earth. It is quite fun. I guess to sum it all up, I am having a harder time doing my short runs. I love doing the long runs. I am also a slow runner. I am ok with that. So here is a sample of my marathon training:

I run every Tues., Wed., and Thurs. (short runs) and a long run every Sat. I am supposed to do cross training every Mon. I have been doing Yoga but it can be anything from swimming, biking, weights, whatever.

My next couple of weeks look like this:

Tues/ Wed/ Thurs: 3 miles/ 4 miles/ 3 miles and a long run Sat. of 9 miles
Next week- Tues/ Wed/ Thurs: 3 miles/ 5 miles/ 3 miles and Sat. run of 10 miles

The next week is similar with our Freedom Run 10K on the 4th of July!

The runs accumulate to a 10 miler on Wed. and a 20 mile long run on Sat. about 3 weeks before the marathon and then the mileage decreases as your body "rests" to gear up for the marathon. I am using Hal Higdon's marathon training schedule. Fun, fun, eh? I really love the blog Marathon Mommies. Those women are so amazing and they keep me motivated. They are very inspiring. There are other people that inspire me like the woman I saw running up the same hill I huff and puff up. She was running a good pace and she was disabled. She had to swing her legs around to just get them in front of her. She was amazing and I gave myself a little chastisement for complaining (in my head) about running sometimes. I should be so grateful that I can run!