Patience; the new endurance sport.

I opted for an easy recovery run.  My knees were sore all yesterday and so I wore ice packs strapped to my patellas for a couple of hours in the morning and night.  It worked, and also the epic PT hamstring stretching.  Hopefully I won't get that bent out of shape over a long run for the rest of the season.  But it was a great feeling to know the ice helped get me back to 100%.  I love my knees and feet. They take me so many places and do so much for me.  I hope they stick around for some more fun times togehter.

AP 9:34 This was such a great run. Had an extra a.m. hour and decided to call Jos to see if she and Ericka were hitting the trail with the babe. So we joined up and ran into the wind together. I felt so strong on this run, I know my decision to rest up yesterday was the right choice. I'm now upping my iron twice a day and taking it with minty fresh chlorophyll just in case what they say is true about it helping the iron asorbption. After the beating I took on Saturday, I am at least feeling more mentally ready to take on another marathon. It was a confidence builder and when I look at it in retrospect 10's were not a bad pace for me on a long run. It will be fun to run another marathon somewhere else and I'm getting excited about doing it. I may opt out of my other "spring" marathon (UVM) and head straight for NYC marathon in Oct. We'll see if I make the hit April 1st.

11:12/10:03/8:57/9:08/11:08/10:51/8:40/10:38/9:20  Can you guess which miles were uphill miles?  I have to run up so many hills around here that it's been hard to know what my true AP is.  Also, I did not intend to run 9 1/2 miles tonight.  I did this run last Wednesday and because my Garmin shut off and on during the run it counted it as 8.5 . Tonight it rained so hard and got dark so fast I never looked at my Garmin until I came home. The AP was 9:58, but it was a hard, downpour on many miles of up hill.  I'm not sad about it.  I love running in the rain, it makes me feel like such a champion. 

Last night, after I returned from my heroic 9.5 mile in the rain ,got right into my wonderful tub and immediately hit the celing when the water rose above my ribs to the place my skin had been rubbed RAW into a 10 inch thin, bloody, welted, red line under my bra.  It was a minor inconveneince last night. But let me tell you what, it was a real problem about a mile into my run today.  I spent 3/4 of a mile holding up my straps with both hands, pulling back my shoulders (as if to proudly display to passersby my ample bosom).  I really, really thought I would have to quit the run because the pain was so excrutiating.  I even tried to tuck my shirt between my skin and bra. I have not complained very much about being 6 pounds more than I weighed last year at this time, it is my own fault.  I havn't eaten as carefully, run as many miles, or trained with any skill.  But I will tell you what...when those extra 6 pounds are divided equally into each boob...I officially declare war.  I would rather starve myself than do this again.  It hurts, and I forgot until now.  I will literally need to run with moleskin across the top of my ribs until that raw red line heals and stops bleeding. ....Today, I wrote down my splits on a piece of paper on my way out the door, and then lost my paper.  My AP was something like 9:43 and splits ranged from 8:58-10:13 (on primarily uphill miles they are  20-30% grades at least).  For how strong I felt Tuesday and yesterday, I felt like the effort I put forth on the flat parts, did not match the times.  It was a little dissapointing, but I can't blame my body, I have done ZERO speed work, strides, or sprints, nada.  Good news, I found a great mile strip of trail by the river starting at the Red Hot Pink Chick's park, behind UCCU and those Riverwoods buildings.  It was nice to be so close to my river, even if it was only a few miles.

Saved gas to night ski with my kids and their friends tonight.  I had a blast throwing all caution to the wind and playing 'Red Baron' (tag on skis).  We need helments though if we are going to ski that fast in the dark, either that or I am getting scared because of oldness....it coulnd't be a bad thing though... protecting your brain.  I should wear my Garmin to see how fast I ski. We clocked some pretty scary fast races once the place thinned out toward the end of the night. I love being around 14 year olds who have no idea how many things can go wrong....they are so carefree.  I never got to be carefree. It's nice to feel that way sometimes.  

9:14 ap (Josse's Garmin said 9:04?) If a marathon was only 10 miles long, I'd be all set.  It was a great run. The downhill second half aiding in the oh so elusive negative slpits (10:00/9:15/9:59/9:24/9:58/8:48/8:41/8:48/8:43/8:45).  I felt strong and my hamstring only hurt a little toward the end and now that I'm cold. Josse and Ericka are always good to share their energy.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for next week that the funness of seeing and running a bit with Catherine, being at my sisters and running the monuments and the DC parkway is enough distraction to keep me from remembering how much I will surely want to die at mile 22.  I have to run hard and earn my nephew's respect. One of the greatest pleasures of my life was being with my children at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. My son, especially.  He put his arm around me as we walked down Boylston Street together. I cherish the memory of riding the train out of the city, my kids faces shining with pride, as they took turns looking at my medal and hugging me and slighty aware of the smiles and support of the other train riders.  I have to do that for my nephews this time--even if my performance is less stellar, I have to finish strong for their sake. They really don't know me very well. They are now big, brooding teenagers (all of them 6'5 and taller). Not much captures their attention.  This is my opportnity to show them what's what in their own city.  I may not have many opportunties to gain these boys respect.  I will need it in these upcoming years.