Motivated to Succeed

2:45 PM - Slept like a baby last night. Got up and helped with some chores around the house. Laundry, sweeping, clothes, etc. Drove to Albany to meet Mom, Jonn, and Harry and swap Harry's wallet for my laptop charger. Can't believe how tall Harry's getting. Loved seeing Jonny's Morgan Spurlock-esque mustache! Came home and went on the treadmill. Concentrated on trying to land on my midsole and getting my stride rate up to 180 bpm. It is a tough thing to do. I think if I do at least 1-2 of these type runs a week though my feet will get stronger. Feeling pretty good, despite only being one week out from the double marathons. Sending in some registrations and such later tonight/tomorrow for races and then have to make sure I start booking some hotels! Virtually no pain. Been listening to the second book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. I'm addicted to Katniss and Peeta and Gale!

Total Time: 49:24 Total Distance: 5 miles Average Pace:  9:53/ mile

7:20 PM - Poor night's sleep last night. Went to bed around 9pm, only to wake up to Lizzy bopping me in the face at 1:30am. She was really restless. Maybe she's going through adolescence? After all she IS a 10.5 month Saint after all! Couldn't fall asleep for the life of me. 3am came and went and then about to fall asleep at 4am and the cat this time jumped on my head. Ugh! Turned off alarms and salvaged a 15-20 min "cat" nap, no pun intended, before dragging myself out of bed.

Interesting day at school. Kiddos made me laugh a few times. Last four days with the 7th graders and then back to 6th graders. Ended up hopping on the treadmill after Emmy made a really nice dinner with black beans, coconut rice, grilled plantains/bananas and a mango/onion/cilantro salsa. Really yummy! (and healthy too!)

Ate well today. Raw oatmeal w/ raisins and sugar in the raw for breakfast, two apples for lunch with a chobani yogurt and a light n' fit yogurt. Just got to keep drinking water to stay full! Need to lose those 25 pounds!

Total Time: 48:00 Total Distance: 5.02 miles Average Pace: 9:33/ mile 

7:00 PM - Got through the day. When I got home, had a sandwich and then spent some time with Emm. Drove her to the library to pick up the third book in the Hunger Games series. I am still on book 2. I love them! Dare I say new favorite book series? Got on the treadmill to sweat out some miles. Felt pretty good. I really need to make a concerted effort on my diet. I have done well on the beer front. Only one Guinness in the last two weeks. Need to get the snacking under control though. Have also eliminated most junk food from the "arena". I need to view it as another challenge, just like conquering the inevitable wall in an ultra. If I want to make my goal races, I need to make my goal weight. 24 more pounds to go!

Total Time: 46:23 Total Distance: 5.00 miles Average Pace:  9:16/ mile

9:00 PM - Needed a run tonight. Been stressed with work. Waited for Emm to get out of work at 7 and had a nice dinner with her and then hopped on the treadmill. She was exhausted and wanted to listen to the third book of the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay. I can't wait to get to that book. Still a little over halfway through the second book though. Watched an episode of "Coal" on Netflix. Really like that show. If you ever thought you had a hard job, check that show out. It will add some perspective and bring you back to reality. What an incredibly difficult job. Trying to work on the leg turnover for the run and my trailing left leg. It is slightly weaker and I found that I am running awkwardly on that foot. I think I got to get off the treadmill this weekend and get a long run in at Taconic. That may help. In any event, did first 2.5 miles at 9:30 pace, and picked it up each .25 until the end. Did the last quarter in 5:20-5:30 pace. Felt good to go fast, as Rick Bobby would say!

Total Time: 44:00 Total Distance: 5 mi Average Pace: 8:48/ mile