I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

Cross training in step class and then 3 miles on the treadmill at a 8.27 min/mile pace. Felt really good and wished for more time in the nursery. Contemplating running Ogden full this May, but 80 miles/week really scares me. I think I may just have to commit and then grab running by the horns and go for it.

Went early morning with the BBK's and did 6 miles and most of it hill repeats (funny, I accidentally typed 'hell' instead of 'hill' freudian slip I think :) ). I really want to improve my hill work, and it is not easy. I feel like a strong runner until everyone kicks my trash on the hills, I can't even catch them on recovery and they sound like they're breathing normally and I'm sucking wind! Someday, I just have to keep going, right? I must say I am better now than I was 8 months ago, so I know I can keep improving, especially with all the help I've got around me (BIG THANKS)!! I then went to the gym did 1 mile at 9 min to warm up then did  interval repeats of chest, back, legs (squats) biceps, triceps and abs. I then finished with 4 miles at an incline at 9-9:30 min miles. I'm trying to get my brain wrapped around doing Ogden full in May. I think it would be a great accomplishment and push for me. Always something new right? If I just sign up, then I have to do it because heavens knows I can't waste money (thats why I have to eat all the junk in the house and can't throw it away). Here is to a 40 mile week! JUST DO IT !!

Today I did the kick-butt, oh, I mean kick-boxing class this morning and then ran 4 miles starting at 9:30 pace for the first two, then bumped it up for the last 1.5 miles to a finishing pace of 7:40 min miles (the last 1/2 mile). It was good because I even had the treadmill at a 1% incline, where I usually run at flat. I'm excited to get my 40 miles in this week and am proud to say I've paid for the Ogden full in May. I now need all the advice and help I can get to get myself ready for it! I'm open for the advice and don't want to get hurt ramping up too fast, so please help me out all of you vetran marathoners!

Did the early work out with BBK's to get in a few extra and finished with 10! Yea, I feel good about the miles and a few of them were pushing under 8 min miles. I got my Garmin yesterday and didn't have it set to see my mile splits, but the AP was 8.48 min miles, which for having the first 4 or so around 9:30 pace I feel good about it! I'm now getting excited about Ogden and pushing myself to get 'er done. A little secret: When I was in college about 8 yrs ago a girl in my class was training for a marathon and I idolized her and thought (in my head only, never spoken) that I would/could run a marathon before I was thirty. Well, here I am I'll be 29 and am really living a goal I once wouldn't speak out loud. That really honestly doesn't happen to me. I'm ready to get training, I'm already planning on how to run while on my cruise for 2 weeks! I did Yoga after running and I don't feel nearly as tight or sore now either. I'm so up on my miles (Goal was 40 this week and with the 14 on Sat I'll be OVER that :) ) I think I'll take the day off tomorrow and spin with resistance training. I LOVE TO RUN!!!!

Did resistance and spinning today. A good recovery much needed by my foot; I've had some achy pain on the outside - top and bottom of my right foot. I think it was caused by old insoles and shoes. I've been icing it 2-3 times per day and it usually feels better around 3-4 miles, but then will ache again once I've cooled down from the run. It does seem to be getting better and it only started last Saturday, so I'm hoping it goes away soon. A good recovery day like today helps me look forward to a good long run tomorrow! I think I'll be going with Kelli and Scott on the Riverton 1/2 course, with the extra from finish to start I'll end up around 14. A great mileage week for me! I usually only have 25-30 so I don't want to increase too much too fast, so I think I'll try to stay 40-50 for a few weeks, then slowly ramp up in March and April. I don't know if this will help me for Ogden or not, please feel free to give unsolicited advice on where to find good training programs. I'm always open for advice!

Any adivce about the foot? I have gotten new shoes and insoles and it has been better lately. I think its the peroneal tendon and it looks like from reseach rest and STRETCHING your calves (the back of my legs are SO tight and I'm so bad at stretching!) are the best recoveries. HMMM? back to stretching, you'd think I'd learn some time that flexibility is as important as strength!

Thanks for the great run this morning Kelli! We did the Riverton 1/2 with Nancy and I tell you, good company on a long run makes all the difference to me. I think thats why I started running to begin with, a good hour or so to chat with fun people who love the same things you do. We ended at 14 even and finished in 2:03 with an average pace of 8:50. I must say that amazed ME if no one else. I felt pretty good most of the time, there were a few places that I felt it was all I could do to keep up, but then others where I felt GREAT! The hills on that course didn't seem to bother me as much last time, but this time I really felt them. Thats what a bag of chocolates and popcorn and carmel will do for you eaten just 10 hours before a long run (I did give in last night, darn it!). My foot didn't hurt at all this morning and I can barely feel a little ache afterward. I think the day off did more for me than I really know, I always take Sundays off as well so I'm hoping to come back Monday full of energy and optimism and no aches to use as a crutch. RUN ON!