So, awhile back I was having some issues with my marathon training schedule. I had decided to follow Higdon's novice marathon training program. Then I started to read 4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon by Dave Kuehls and have decided to adapt some of his training advice into my schedule in hopes of gaining a bit of speed. He breaks the training down into 3 parts:

1. endurance phase- 8 weeks the focus is on endurance with a secondary emphasis on leg turnover
2. stamina phase-6 weeks
3. taper phase-3 weeks

The endurance phase includes a supplemental workout of quarter- mile repeats. So for the next 6 weeks I will be doing track workouts on Wednesday and the rest of the time follow the schedule from the Hal Higdon's training guide. So, this morning I met up with Terry at the track to do the 8 x 400's on the schedule. According to the "plan", I'm supposed to do the repeats between 2.05 and 2.15. I had an extremely difficult time keeping to this pace, I kept going too fast.

1. 1.43
2. 1.47
3. 1.55
4. 1.52
5. 1.51
6. 1.51
7. 1.50

Not sure how to find the right pace, but I'll try again next week. I had a blast doing the workout and it was nice to switch things up a bit. The beautiful, 65F, blue sky weather didn't hurt any either.

On the way home ,I determined that at this point I have only 2 goals for the marathon:

1. continue to follow my training schedule
2. finish in less than 4 hr 32 min. ( 4hr 15 min would be nice :o))

Wait one more:

Enjoy the Race!!

Not sure why, but I'm having a hard time writing this post but here goes...
I had a beautiful 10 mile run on Saturday am in Woodstock, CT located in the quiet corner of the state. At 6:30 I woke up to go through the "long run morning ritual" and was out the door to meet April Anne and my friend T at the Inn at Woodstock Hill. The name of our start location gives you a pretty good indication of the chosen route. Scenic and hilly. It was perfect running temps, I even wore long sleeves. The run ran smoothly as we went up and down the rolling hills chatting it up about kids, running, races and AA's mystery man in CA c/o Jeff. At one point on the route we had to walk when we "ran" into some dogs. Made me really start to consider ordering the Dazer that Jon had advertised to repel dogs. We did an out and back route and when we hit the 5 mile turn around I fueled up with gummy bears. I really want to try out the new Jelly Belly Sport Beans that Dianna had pointed out to me. My belly usually doesn't do well with sweet but the gummy bears seem to be working. Last week I used Nemo fruit snacks but it didn't give me enough oomph. We finished up the run in 1:35:49. There was no cross training on Sunday unless you consider 3 hours of driving I did as a workout. Today was rest and regroup.
This week I logged just short of my planned 20 miles. Tomorrow starts a new week of training.
Countdown update-
12 days until Hartford
29 or so to go until husband is home! WOOHOO!

Week 3 of marathon training and I'm still on track. I think from all of the partying this weekend I had a relapse into my cold. Tuesday, I roughed it out and hit the gym for some light lifting. Trying to slim down those tris! Then I hit the streets for my 3 mile run. Wouldn't you know that as soon as I got out on the road it started to sprinkle. It was a light rain so I trudged on. About 1 mile out it started to pick up but I kept going around the loop, I was almost back it started raining harder. I decided to cut the run a little short in the best interest of my health and logged in 2.64 miles.
Wednesday night I was able to hook up with the Running Chick for 4 of her 8 miles. We decided to do the Rail Trail route. The weather was great 72F but a bit humid in the woods. I controlled the conversation on the run "for a change" (kidding Di)and babbled the miles away. About mile 3 or so I discovered that I had a bloody nose and we had to stop to clot for a minute. I thought my nose was extremely runny but I kept wiping and going. It wasn't until I looked at my shirt did I realize that I was bleeding. I finished my 4 miles and bid Dianna farewell for her last 2 and then I headed to the gas station. Got to get the gas now before Hurricane Rita hits and the prices skyrocket again. I forgot how gross I looked with my blood stained shirt and as people were looking at me I realized I didn't look gross I looked really "tough" like I just ran into a mountain lion and won or like the Running Chick turned on me and we duked it out over pace! One more run for the week and then the long run for the weekend.

WOW, what a whirlwind of a weekend. My birthday was on Fri so after dropping Maggie off at school I did my 3 miles on the Greenway. I went to Walmart/ Dunkin Donuts to get my ice coffee fix and I thought I walked into a surprise party for me I was greeted by a clown making balloon animals and there were balloons everywhere and CAKE!! Turns out it wasn't for me at all it was the Grand reopening of the store. Oh well, I came home to enjoy my coffee and pumpkin muffin and watch my homegirl Martha and lo and behold she was hosting a birthday party for her 90something yr old mother! I knew it was the start to a beautiful birthday weekend.
Friday night I met up with the Family Readiness Group that is comprised of other spouses, parents, significant others, brothers of deployed soldiers in the 141st Medical Co. with my husband. We went to City Steam for dinner and a quick meeting and then headed downstairs to the Brew Ha for a comedy show. The laughs were just what I needed after last weekend. I drove home with a smile on my face as I replayed the night in my head. I had to shake my head that these people were strangers to me 11 months ago and how now I can't imagine my life without them.
Saturday, I woke up late and parched from the lack of water I drank on Friday night ;). I was supposed to meet the Running Chicks for the 2nd half of their 20 miler, which by the way they ROCKED IT! It was a very tough 10 miles for me. I didn't have time to eat my pre long run breakfast of bagel with melted cheese, I had a granola bar instead on the ride over and I was dehydrated to start from the beer intake the night before. I bucked up and just ran it. Not sure what the time was but I think I heard somewhere around 9 min miles. I had 7 on my training schedule but I had planned to do 10 in prep for the Hartford 1/2 coming up. So as I started to fade around mile 6 I decided I would run until mile 8 and then take a walk/ run to 10, it wouldn't cut out any mileage on the weeks schedule and it would prevent me from an injury or a very miserable day. I walked and drank my water and then ran to mile 9 then walked and more water and then more running until the end. I was glad it was over and vowed to myself not to plan a long run the morning after plans to go out especially when it is my birthday. The rest of the morning was spent eating and primping myself for the next birthday event.
My best buddies Jeff and Terry were having a margarita/fajita party in my honor. It was great to see my friends that trekked out to celebrate with me and we enjoyed a nice night of conversation, chips and dip, yummy fajitas and plenty of margaritas and Dos Equis and running themed birthday presents.
PHEW!
This morning I got up and realized I had one more party to go with my Dad and to pick up Maggie, so I hurried off and finished up a great weekend with Carvel icecream cake! YUM!
Tomorrow- I REST!

Thank you everyone for feeding me with the positive support when I was having a really bad day. It is still amazing to me how virtual strangers know what to say to "keep you going" and that goes for the offline comments I received as well :). I tend to be a dweller at times and I guess all of the dwelling finally caught up to me and I had enough. Enough of being a single parent, enough of celebrating occasions alone, enough of lacking intimacy... I could go on and on. After IMing with my husband in the land of sand and receiving a very encouraging email from a "friend" , I realized how far I've come in this deployment and how close it is to being over. I've done 11 months of separation I only have 6 weeks to go!!
So I've decided to put my obsessive behavior to a different cause- the marathon. It will be a the perfect distraction for the next 46 days.
I had this eye opening revelation on Monday, my scheduled rest day. Tuesday, I joined the gym to work on some "core strength" training and then I went for a 3.something run around UCONN. I'm not exactly sure of the distance as the battery on my MP3 Run died before I even hit the 1 mile marker. It was a fast, enjoyable run at any rate. I don't know if it was my reminiscing of my time at UCONN that sped the time by or the dodging of all the construction that kept me distracted.
Wednesday, I woke up to a terrible sinus cold. My cheeks were killing me and it was all I could do to get out of bed and get Maggie ready and off to school. Then I got this crazy thought that if I went for a run I might be able to clear some of the junk out of my head and sinuses. I chose a flat out and back route on the dike near our tiny Windham airport. I put in 25 minutes of running. Out and back is 2.4 so I continued to run until I hit 25 minutes thinking with my pacing that would land me about 3 miles. I didn't feel any better and nothing was cleared from my head so I headed home to try to squeeze in a nap before picking up mini me.
I had 3 on the schedule for today but considering I am not recovered and the fact that it was a torrential downpour at 8:30am I opted to come home and watch Martha make "wrapping" paper with P Diddy. I have always loved Martha but she is even more enjoyable to watch now since her release from prison. She cracks jokes and lets loose it's a great show! Tomorrow, the plan is to go for my 3 and catch up with Dianna and April Anne for 10 of their 20 mile training run Saturday! WooHoo- go running chicks!

"Its just one of those days When you don't wanna wake up, Everything is f-ed Everybody sux
You don't really know why..." Limp Bizkit
Pre Run
AHHHHHH! Just had to let that one out. It was one of those days that I wished I could just go to bed and forget it happened. Bright side, I had a nice visit with my dad and stepmother. Down side, I realized that I'm not superwoman and that I have emotions that can't always be surpressed for the greater good. My birthday is coming up and I have begun to feel sorry for myself looking back over the last year and what little I have accomplished. Granted, I have managed to continue to raise my daughter as a single parent, and without tooting my own horn too much, I think I have done a pretty good job. Other than that not much in the accomplishment department.
Run
So, I took my pity party on the road because I couldn't let my first week of marathon training go incomplete. I dropped mini me off at the neighbors and headed out for a 6 mile run on a rolling hill course. I brought along Sally my MP3 Run and blasted some Limp Bizkit, Powerman 5000 and Rob Zombie to fuel my frustration and catapult me into a damn good run.
Mile 1:8:24
Mile 2:8:06
Mile 3:8:11
Mile 4:8:31
Mile 5:8:25
Mile 6:8:51- stopped to change music to Dixie Chicks
and a little:53sec
Post Run
Beth had written about the therapy of running about a week back and I can totally relate to how good running is for the soul. I started out mad as hell and finished feeling like a Rock Star. I was able to let go of things beyond my control and realize how much stronger the last year has made me and that no matter what life throws at me, I know I can stand on my own 2 feet and be an independent woman and do it well! So bring on my birthday and bring on life. I am up for it's challenges but I'm more ready to celebrate some joy that goes along with tackling and conquering those mountains.

I was all amped up after the 20k on Monday. I was psyched about my time and PR, I loved meeting new runner friends and the Red Hook helped conjure up some of those feel good feelings. Tuesday was a recovery day to rest and relax. Wednesday, I dropped Maggie off at school (yes school, she started preschool last week!!) and immediately headed out for what I thought would be an easy 3.1. I chose a flat course and the weather was a cool 60F so the running conditions were ideal. I ran the route in 25.27! Pretty fast for me.
The first mile went by quickly as I was thinking of how nice it was to run ALONE! I love my new Cadillac stroller but there is nothing like running and not having to answer 500 WHY questions along the way. Mile 2 I started to feel guilty for enjoying my time ALONE so much. Mile 3 I kept telling myself I have earned the "vacation time" as Dianna had nicely put it and was able to relax at the end of the run and just enjoy running.
Here's where I caught the funk...
Darling Daughter decides she doesn't want to go to school and makes herself physically sick with nerves. I'm up quite a bit that night debating whether to send her to school or not. She goes to school but I don't run like I'm supposed to, I stay home and wait to hear from the teacher- she was fine! Friday morning, I'm supposed to run and instead I go and pick up muffins and bagels and munchkins and head over my sister in law's to visit my new niece!!! Much more fun than running. Saturday, I vowed to kick the funk and stop finding other things to do and went out and did 3.1 with the jog stroller. Tomorrow, I will have to do my 8 miles to catch up on my training schedule. It is my first official week of marathon training and I'm already slackin'!
Oh and in case you were wondering, here are a couple of my countdowns:
Hubby will be home in 51 days give or take!
Disney marathon and family vacation 17 weeks!

What a great day for racing!! I first I am sad to say that I missed the RBF boat. I was not able to get to New Haven the night before the race to meet all the talented, inspiring people I read about. This morning I was a bit tardy to the meeting area and only briefly got to meet Susan, Lara, Sara, David, Bill and Jon before I was off and running to the portopotty. The lines for the portopotties were very long but I managed to get through it and over to the start line in time to hear the National Anthem followed by the gun. Terry and I started our way weaving through the crowd trying to find a clearing when we found Dianna. With a quick good luck she was off. The weather was perfect for running and we found our pace as quickly as the miles were going by. I couldn't believe it when we passed the 10k mark. A quick look at the clock 55 min and change- wow! I kept a pretty close eye on the clock for the second half of the race as I realized a PR was within reach. I pulled away from Terry about mile 9 but she caught back up just before mile 11 so we were able to pull each other in. With .4 left I turned on the gas it wasn't hard to find the extra gusto with the cheers from Dianna, Susan and crew and then to see my biggest cheerleader of all- Miss Maggie with my mom right behind her hootin' and hollerin'. I crossed the line with official time 1:49:38, chip time 1:48:30!!! WOOHOO PR. I took almost 4 minutes off my time from last year! After the race I again lost the RBF. I was told we would meet near the food and beer tent. I couldn't have gotten much closer to the beer tent and the food tent was within sight. I finally decided to call Dianna on the cell to locate them for at least one picture. I had just missed David and Susan- DARN! Overall, it was a fabulous race day. I hope to be able to spend more time with some of the CT bloggers in Hartford!!!