This week ended with the "Big One" - 20 miles.  But, before that...

The week started with an "easy" 60 minute run.  I ran at 9:55 pace.  Honestly, the beginning of this week feels so long ago that I don't remember much of it.  I think I ran the loop behind my apartment, at night?  In any case, the Garmin says I did it, so I did it.  :)  After work on Tuesday, I did my normal gym circuit.  Despite skipping it last week, I'm almost to where I was pre-surgery with the push-up number.  I'm at 12 in 30 seconds for the first go round.  I started dog/house-sitting for a friend on Tuesday night, so on Wednesday, I ran around the local golf course.  I tried to push it because I know it helps for the longer runs.  I ran at a 9:27 pace.  I lifted weights on Friday and then did not prepare well enough for me 20 mile run (in my opinion and in retrospect). 11:48

I woke up at 6 am on Saturday and fed the doggies, then headed to the Upper Tampa Bay Trail for the run.  Fortunately, a handyman left his headlamp at my apartment last week, so I had something for the first few miles - it was still dark out (and 64 degrees - red flag #1).  I wasn't the only crazy - there was one other group of runners, and I did see the ranger on his Toro putting the water out and clearing the trail.  I did have a bit of bad luck early on - at mile 3, my low battery indicator for my Garmin came on (red flag #2) - I squeaked another 6 miles out of it though and was able to find mile markers and time everything just right so I could figure out (and keep track of) the distance I was running.  The first 10 miles were pleasant - I watched the sun rise at mile 6.5.  And despite the sun disappearing behind clouds at mile 13 and remaining "cool," it went a little downhill from there - the run, not the terrain.  I needed to re-fill my water bottles at mile 14 (they lasted me 18 miles two weeks prior) - red flag #3.  I also stopped to use the bathroom at mile 15.5 (I kind of needed to go and I was advised to try it since I'm probably going to have to go during the actual marathon).  Side note: I've run three half marathons and never used the bathroom once each run started.  After each time I stopped, however, it was harder to get back into the running.  I pushed myself mentally until mile 18 since I knew I had run that distance before and even though I tried really hard to keep going, it felt like once I hit 18 I lost all steam.  I started walking at about 18.2 (I'm guessing since no Garmin) and walked until the end.  Even with the walking, I calculated with the time I had on my iPod that it was an 11:48 pace.

I have several thoughts about this run.

One, I suppose it is good that I experienced all of these red flags now and not for the first time on race day, but it was still a little disheartening.  Two, I realize I should have concentrated more on fluids in the days leading up to the run.  I did feel I ate well the day before, the morning of, and during the run (energy gels).  I just think more water would have helped...because...  Three, it was 20 degrees warmer than my 18 mile run and that didn't help at all!  I didn't even consider this because 18 came easier than I thought it would.  Four, London will help a lot - the crowds, the sites and the fact that it's an actual race, with other people running with me, and it's for the rhinos.  Considering all that, I'm happy, but I would have liked to done unbelievably well to give me more confidence.  But, then again, like I said, maybe I got all of this out of the way now to help me on April 13th.

My recovery period ended on Wednesday.  Unfortunately, thunderstorms ruined what would have been my first run outside in two weeks, so I ran on the treadmill at my apartment gym.  The first mile was easy; the second mile was hell; and the third mile was the last mile, so I powered through it.  My chest hurt a bit and I was staring at a wall.  Not the best return, but I did 3.09 miles and was happy to do that.

Better weather arrived on Thursday and I was thrilled to get back on the road - my loop.  I started jogging and one mile into it, I glanced at the pace - 9:06!  I really felt that I had been going so slow, but this was one of my fastest starts.  Weird.  I felt good, so I tried to keep that pace and finished with 9:21 per mile for 6.44 miles.  Score!  I did my normal weight circuit on Friday and was able to lift normally.  My incision site has healed and despite having a tight feeling there, I completed the workout.  It feels better every day.

Today, I was babysitting my "niece," Skylar - my friend's adorable daughter - and I had my 8 mile run.  I decided it was safer (for both of us) to go to Flatwoods.  I studied the map after I got lost the last time, and we found our way with no problems today.  It was a little tougher pushing a ~20 lb. baby in a ~30 lb. stroller...more of a workout than expected!  I should invent something to attach to my waist and the stroller so both arms are free to move (as opposed to one of them holding onto the stroller).  I was able to keep my endurance run pace - 10:00 per mile.  We saw a lot of vultures and two bucks - DEER!  Skylar pointed all the animals out to me.  We had a nice lunch at Panera afterward.

I'm looking forward to a full week next week - including the Gasparilla Half Marathon.

5.4 miles in 53:34

What a beautiful morning!  The high today is supposed to be 66 degrees!  I headed out at about 8 am and it was just under 60 degrees.  There was a definite chill in the air and I was glad to start running and warm up a bit.  I haven't run at this time in a while - everyone was driving to work.  In case you didn't remember, I run around an industrial park.  For me, the first mile is always the hardest.  My body is asleep and needs to adjust to "running mode."  I imagine it saying, "Oh yeah, this is what you want me to do?  Okay, give me a few minutes."  I felt pretty good after about 8/10 of a mile and pushed through the last mile.
I haven't been running regularly since September, but my first week of marathon training (the first week of December) has me running about 17 miles, so I've been trying to run more.  I've run about eight times in the last three weeks.  Not bad...but not great either.  I think it's because I know once I start training, it will be pretty grueling and so I'm giving myself a slight break.  The three months before my last race were pretty busy with training and life in general, and with the holidays coming up, it won't be any easier.  Wish me luck!

Yesterday, I went to my third hash.  It was the 7th Annual Super Soaker Hash - which basically meant that once that hash started it was a constant water fight.  I had two medium-sized water guns...and there was a pool at the end of the hash, so everyone went in - and we still were squirting each other.  It was technically a run, but I'm calling it cross training because I was carrying water guns.  Dinner was served after the pool "party" and was delicious.  I got up at 7am today for a 5 miler.  Good start to the weekend!

Yesterday, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical at the gym after work.  Today, I planned on getting up at 8 am and running, but decided to sleep in instead.  I got up at 10:30 am and was planning on going to my apartment gym, but when I got outside, it seemed so nice, I decided to run the loop.

Kind of a mistake.

I misjudged the temperature and let's just say, it was challenging to fnish the run.  I did, however - 35:46 for 3.6 miles.  It was about 85 degrees when I finished.  I was rather sweaty and it took me about 20 minutes in the A/C before I felt normal.  And like 3 glasses of water.  Lesson learned - get up earlier, lazy bones!

Just got back from a night run.  Showered, gatoraded and about to resume watching Downton Abbey.  Hello, Jimmy Kent!

Tonight's run was great.  I felt good despite starting off slow, I ended up "getting" my 10 minute/mile pace by the end, so I was happy.  I did have a few unusual occurrences.  The first of which involved me getting spooked a bit.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself (expressions are weird, aren't they?) - that sounds like I'm having an out of body experience, when I really mean my story is getting ahead of itself.  Anyway, I often encounter wildlife on my runs - frogs, lizards, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, raccoons, armadillos, vultures, turtles, sandhill cranes, and I've even had an alligator on the sidewalk directly in front of me.  Now, I know it was probably a raccoon tonight, but whatever it was made enough racket in the bushes that I thought it was something much larger.  I was definitely looking over my shoulder.  After all, there have been a few black bears within an 8-mile radius of my apartment.  Needless to say, I thought how ironic it would be to get dragged off by a Florida panther (that's a mountain lion/puma/catamount/cougar for those of you not from Florida who decided to name a mountain lion a panther and confuse the world's population forever as illustrated by when someone says, "Look at that black panther," and the genius in the rooms says, "There's no such thing as a panther," and then someone from Florida pipes in with, "We have Florida panthers!").  But I digress...it would be fairly ironic to get dragged off by an Endangered Species while I'm training for a race to save another.

As if worrying about my imminent death and dismemberment wasn't enough, with half a mile to go, I wiped the sweat off my eyelid and took out a contact.  Miraculously, since I am on a budget after all - well ... "budget" - I was able to catch it in my hand (it fell out slowly) and carried it all the way home.  Boy, am I blind!  I eventually closed the contact-less eye and ran the rest of the way like that, but gee wilickers!  I cannot see very well at all without assistance.  Maybe it's time for Lasik.

Despite my troubles, I enjoyed the run.  I think I saw two cars - well, I know I saw the cars, I think there were two - the whole time I was out there...54 minutes.

Almost time for bed...but let's see what the Dowager Countess is doing first.

I developed a cold after my recent trip to California.  Airplane germs?  Change in climate?  Who knows?  I did not feel well, so I took a few days off from running...okay, maybe a week.

I called out from work sick (not something I usually do) and with that extra rest, I felt improved.  Despite it being 11:30pm, I was itching to run.  It had been over a week and let me tell you, it's a weird feeling to want to run.

I'm pretty experienced running at night on the loop near my apartment.  Some of it is lit - I do cross the road a few times - but it is an industrial park, there is a sidewalk and there isn't much traffic at midnight.  ;)

I slapped my iPod on my waistband and was off.  It felt good to get back on the road...er, sidewalk.  It was 72 degrees and about 100% humidity, but I'm used to it by now.  Despite having the week off, I kept my normal 10 minute per mile pace, which I was satisfied with...for now.