Marathon Training = FAIL

As you might have guessed (because I did not do a big screaming post about it with a million pictures!), I did not complete the St. Jude's marathon last month. My running goals fell victim to the craziness that I call 'life' and I just couldn't squeeze in all the training miles. I had hoped to still complete the 1/2 marathon but the intensity of the semester picked up as race day approached, and those long training runs got pushed further and further down on the "to do" list.

I am such a freak about goals (and actually attaining them!) that I felt like a big, huge failure for weeks. I am still pretty sad about this failure (ok, I'm pretty sure I suffered from temporary depression...is that possible?).

But, just as He always does, God showed me the bigger picture of my failure. And that is this: There are some things in my life that I simply cannot put ahead of training and I was racing toward that line pretty quickly (running pun not intended). My relationship with Him and service to Him, loving my husband, raising my sweet boys, and keeping my job MUST be the priorities on a seemingly never-ending "to do" list. The 26.2 medal is an "earthly treasure" (see Matthew 6:19-21) and my heart was longing for that more than other things. Ok. I get it now.

So, I have my priorities in check now (well, most days anyway!). I will run when I can and do my best to make time for it, but I will not stress about it... it kind of defeats one of my main purposes for running if I stress about it.

Will I ever have time to train for a marathon? I hope so, but my boys will be older and my job situation a little more secure before I try again. Until then, when I get discouraged about my running failure(s), I will cling to 1 Corinthians 9:24-25...

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 

Training is "Officially" Underway

Last week was "unofficially" week 2 of marathon training. I logged just over 20 miles and gained 3 pounds. Uh. I'm confused. I'm eating like a horse, yes, but I'm burning crazy numbers of calories (in comparison to pre-training burn, of course). Not going to worry about the number on the scale, just the number of miles. Right?

So, today marks the "official" start of the training - it is Week 1 Day 1 of the training plan I'm using. I still have (MANY) moments when I think, "What ARE you thinking?" Those usually start around mile 3 when my body starts protesting the 100% humidity sucking the life right out of me! 

I have already tackled today's run. It was a steady 4.25 miles (9:42 pace) with some pretty good hills. Left the house around 6 a.m. and several times thought, "I could still be asleep. You're an idiot." But now that the day is rolling, I'm glad it's done, and I'm looking forward to pushing the distance a little further tomorrow (Of course, that means rolling out of bed earlier. Ugh!).

All that to say, I'm on track (I know, it's Day 1, but cut me some slack!), but still having sanity-doubting moments! 123 days to race day...

Hot, Humid and Snakes...Oh, My!

Week 1 of marathon training in the books. I still can't believe I'm really doing this. I've visited the race website several times just to "confirm" my registration.

Monday: 4 miles
Tuesday: 5 miles
Thursday: 3.2 miles
Saturday: 6 miles

18 miles total for the week - and that's about 8 miles more than last week! So thankful for the overcast skies during yesterday's long run (God answers even our "smallest" prayers!). It's been really hot and humid this week and to be honest, I am NOT really enjoying running very much right now. I know that will change in the fall, but the thought of the long runs BEFORE fall does not make me look forward to this.

So, I had my first encounter with a LIVE snake this week and didn't even know it. My neighbors came to tell me that they are pretty sure I ran right on top of a water moccasin that was coming out of a wooded area in our neighborhood. WHAT? It was fairly small (they ran over it coming to tell me it was there, thank goodness!) but it was a snake nonetheless. I think it might be time to invest in a headlamp for my nighttime running.

131 days until race day (OMGosh! That freaks me out a little!)!

I've lost my mind...

I'm committing. I wish it was to something super fantastic like saving for a vacation home in the Bahamas, or even for my boys' college education...but it's not. To most people, it will sound absolutely absurd and utterly ridiculous.

I'm paying someone else money so I can run 26.2 miles. Seriously.

December 3, 2011 - that's 142 days away for those watching the ticker - in Memphis to raise money for and awareness about St. Jude's. Could there be a greater cause? I think not. But I could just write them a check and be done...right?

Regardless, I am hoping all the 26.2 veterans will provide some encouragement and advice along the way. I'm going to need it, especially until this miserable Mississippi heat starts to give way to the cooler temps of fall.

Stay tuned...and wish me luck.

I've lost it...26.2?

The whole taking-a-break-from-training thing has not lasted as long as I had hoped. Somewhere in my crazy head (I think it was actually around mile 4 of my 6-mile run today!), I decided I want to (try to) run a full marathon...this year (What? Are my eyes reading correctly what my fingers just typed? Who hijacked my blog?).

When I started running last year, the full 26.2 was a bucket list kind of thing. You know - when the boys got a little older...after the Promotion & Tenure process was complete...when I had more time to train, really. But now, I think I want to go for it...and in 2011.

I had planned to run St. Jude's 1/2 again in December, but I'm thinking I may just go ahead and register for the full marathon. It's a great race, amazing atmosphere, great course, far from home so no one will read the police report or see the news where I had to be transported to the hospital...you know, all the great race pre-requisites for your first marathon. And if I think I can't make it the full distance, I can always turn off at the 13.1 mark and no harm done. Well, other than feeling like a complete failure, I'm sure.

Anyway. I'm putting it out there for all the world to read and comment on. I have no aspirations of qualifying for Boston with my time; I just want to finish...upright.

Marathoners - is this really possible? Have I totally lost it thinking I have time to train for this? 

Oh, dear...