"I Think I Can, I Think I Can"

Next to the story of "The Princess and the Pea" my next favorite book as a child was "The Little Engine That Could" Who would've know how much this story would parallel my life as an adult. My life especially these past two years has been one of overcoming seemingly the impossible. If it were not for my relationship with the Lord and His Word I would not be able to reach the top of that mountain. Thank you all so much for the encouragement, advice and all around pep talk on whether or not I should make 2010 the year I see a long time dream fulfilled. First I want to answer a question asked from the last post. Yes, I have done races, many of them. The longest distance I have run is the half-marathon distance. My most common race has been the Tulsa Run a 15k. I have done up to 14 miles in training runs but it has been a looooooong time. This year my longest run has been 6 miles due to the fact I have had one pain issue after another anytime I try to extend that distance. This is one of the reasons I have been so uncertain. Thankfully it seems these issues have resolved and I can begin in earnest to work on my running. Realistically I know that if I pursue this dream I must adjust my goals and expectations. I have usually trained with the purpose of meeting a time goal or having a PR. But if I were to do this marathon I think I will just frustrate myself trying to do that. So where does this leave me? This is my plan so far. I know that the OKC Memorial Marathon sells out. It has sold out every year and this is the 10th anniversary, so I don't have a great deal of time to sit on this. In light of my current running year, my plan is to take the rest of November to see what happens when I move past the 6 mile mark. Before I can commit to this, by that I mean put down the money, I need to work on increasing my mileage this month and building up my long run distance. I feel like since I have been able to resolve the hip pain through proper stretching I can now work consistently on increasing my weekly and long run mileage. I was so blessed by your comments that I really think I CAN marathon! So here I am anxious to see how my month goes and excited for the first time in a long time to possibly be training for such a special race. I'll keep you posted!

My plan this week;

Mon. run 4 (done)

Tue. 4

Wens. 4

Thur. 4(hills)

Fri. off

Sat. 5-6

To Marathon Or Not To Marathon That Is The Question...

So I have actually been seriously thinking about making a dream of mine to run a marathon a reality. I like most runners want this allusive distance. I want the bumper sticker that says "26.2". I want to experience that rush and all the emotions of achieving this dream. Yet, I find myself so unsure... and I think if I am this unsure then how in the world do I think I have what it takes to do this? I keep talking myself out of trying for various reasons which, I will step out on a limb and share. Reason one is I'm too old to handle this type of training now, I know stop laughing, but the truth is I have been feeling my "age" this year more than ever. Two it would require serious winter training for the April marathon I am considering. I have run through some very cold months, but most of the time I was training with someone, so the accountability got me up and out of bed in 30 degree temps, and I don't know if I have it in me to keep plugging through the cold months. Third reason is I know how hard I can be on myself to fixate on a certain time goal and having never run that type of distance, can I keep my expectations real enough to not be faced with disappointment throughout training and the actual marathon? Okay I am feeling very vulnerable letting you all in my head...Lastly I have heard that running a marathon is mostly mental so when I consider the above I'm not sure I have the mental fortitude to do it. My husband keeps telling me that the mental toughness will come with training, and I believe that because I have seen it as I have trained for other distances, but I have had such an off year running that I wonder if I can even get to that point. You see what I'm doing??? Then there is the fear of failure, which I won't even go there... I am considering doing Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. This is the perfect marathon for me because the inspiration I need to run is built right into the race. I do love the feeling that personal accomplishment gives you, the feeling when you have crossed the finish line and achieved that goal, but that is not what drives me to get out there and put in the hard work. And that makes me wonder do I have what "it" is to drive me to do this? I don't know, and that worries me. Do I need to feel that "I have got to have this" feeling in order to take on this dream? My dilemma is, I am not convinced I can do it and are my desires strong enough to take on this dream now? So, the question is, to marathon or not to marathon?

Me and My Shadow...

Now that my head cold is subsiding I am back on the running trail and back to training our black lab Shadow. He has managed 3 days of running 3 miles each day at a good (not too fast for his mommy) pace in a healing position. I don't prefer to run with him in a healing position because the chance of him tripping me is much greater, but there are still so many people on the trails it is best to keep him close. One of my worst falls happened from tripping over my German Shepherd on a run. I still have knee trouble from time to time from that hard landing. Other than my arm being a little tired the running is going well. Shadow has really surprised me for just being 1 years old. He seems really happy when he runs and I am enjoying having him by my side. If my arm can take it I plan to move him up to 4 miles next week. Any running advice from those of you who have run with pets would be much welcomed.

Do you Know What your Running Shoes Taste Like?

Well my new running partner loves running so much he actually ingested part of my running shoe this morning. Unbeknown to me he chewed off the top eyelet section of my current running shoes!!! I use that top eyelet! I only caught him when he happily trotted past me with the insole in his mouth. I guess that was the second course. I am so sick about this I can't even bring myself to try them on to see if the damage means I have to but a new pair. They are not that old, ugh! I haven't been able to run or even walk him for a couple of days because I have had a terrible head cold. But, we will get out for a walk today! The idea of having a running partner that can eat your shoes is kind of funny, kind of...

I'm a Running Clothes Horse

Okay, I will come out of the closet and admit whenever I am in a sporting goods store or running store my heart rate rises, all that spandex and thermal stuff just gives me a rush. There I said it and I don't regret it! So being the running clothes horse I am this hat is on my list of "must haves" I have pretty long hair so in the winter I am usually pulling my ponytail low on my neck to get my hat or running head band from riding up and being uncomfortable. This hat solves the problem and its pretty too. Oh be still my beating heart!

A New Kind of Speed Work

My husband and I had promised the kids that we would get a dog this year. About 5 weeks ago we held up our end of the promise and got a dog, well, actually, ahem, we got two dogs. When we started looking at dogs we found two we really liked but we couldn't agree on which one so we got both. We purchased the dogs from a rescue group. The yellow lab is between 2-5 yrs. old and the black lab is 1 year. I had it in my mind to make one of the dogs a running partner. I used to run with my German Shepherd. He was a good companion, but died about 9 years ago, so it's been a while. So last night I decided it was time to start the black lab (Shadow) for a training run. He as well as the yellow lab have turned out to be really terrific dogs. The yellow lab is more of a 65lb. lap dog so she all snuggles and sugar. The black lab on the other hand is the athlete. I knew Shadow had it in him to run at least 2 maybe 3 miles but I wasn't sure how he would handle a steady no time for sniffing pace. So last night on the trails near our house we started his first training run. He surprised me and did very well! Everything was fine on the mile out, we could hear a few coyotes off in the distance, but on the mile back it had gotten much darker and the coyotes were out in number. The howling and barking was much closer and at one point Shadow and I realized we were being tracked by one or more coyotes. We could both hear something following us in the tall brush! I was freaking out and so was he! Our training run kind of turned out to be a speed training lesson. My husband told me I could not run with him on the trail again at night. I have no problem submitting to that! Shadow did great stayed on course and kept a steady pace. He's gonna make a great running partner!

Seasonal Groaning

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, it just seems I am saying the same thing over and over. I continue to run my 4 miles consistently and without pain. I was planning to do 5-6 miles on Saturday but missed my long run because I let to many thing squeeze out my time, things that were not as important as a good run, ugh. The weather was beautiful this week until the weekend then it got really cold. With the time change coming and winter just around the corner my morning runs will become more challenging. The regular runners will begin to thin out making my runs more isolated combined with the cold weather it will be harder to motivate myself to climb out of my nice warm bed to face the dark chilly air. I have a treadmill but find it hard to do more than 3 miles without going crazy=). I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining I just like running in warm weather so much more than winter running. I have been actually thinking about running my first marathon in April but it would require me to put in a lot of winter miles...I keep talking myself out of it for that reason and also I'm just not sure I have the mental fortitude to run that long...anyway enough about the weather and my humdrum attitude about winter running. For now I am enjoying the fall colors and mostly seasonal weather.
The changing seasons always remind me of this verse; Romans 8:22-23 "We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies".
If creation longs for glory how much more we who are His children should long, groan, for the redemption of our bodies, which will mean we will be with Christ in glory! Next time you are out running look at the trees and all of creation and think upon this verse.