Looking Good

Marathon Training Week 2 Day 4

Ugh, what a weekend!  We leave for vacation Wednesday and Mr. Jeep and I spent the entire weekend trying to get all of our crap worldly possessions gear together.  Plus, you have to add in there that we celebrated Father’s Day Saturday evening at my parents’ house and then yesterday was Father’s Day.  It was BUSY and I am pooped.  Oh, and let’s not forget I had to run 7 miles yesterday.  I forgot that little thing.

My intention was to get up around 5:30 am yesterday to get my run out of the way.  I had hoped that by getting it out of the way early, I could be back home by the time the troops started waking up.  Then I would shower and go on a bagel run for Mr. Jeep for Father’s Day.  As all of my plans normally go, I did not get up at 5:30 am.  I think by the time I got ready, ate a Larabar, drank some water and got out of the house, it was about 6:15 am; so not too terribly bad.  The weather was absolutely perfect yesterday morning.  It was about 62° when I left the house with a slight breeze and the sun was shining.  As usual, the first 2.5 miles were hell.  I’m not sure what it is, but I always have a hard time with those first couple of miles.  I don’t know if my body is still waking up or getting adjusted to the activity at hand, but it’s a struggle.  The good thing is that once I’m past that point, I’m fine. 

The run was great and I have decided Sunday morning runs are even better than weekday morning runs.  The difference being that on Sunday mornings it’s light outside for my entire run and I get to feel the sun on my face.  Good ‘ol vitamin D!  There was hardly any traffic out and I passed a total of four people and a dog the entire way.  Plus, because it’s light outside, I get to listen to my music.  During the week I run without music, mainly because it’s dark outside and I want to be able to hear if someone is coming up behind me.  Not that someone couldn’t still come up behind me when it’s light out, but it’s still different.  And my iPod is at a comfortable volume where I can still hear things around me.

I felt really good when I got back home.  In fact, I could have kept running and not stopped at 7 miles.  I figured I really need to stick to the training plan and not get over zealous.  My time was awesome, too.  Big G (that’s the name I’ve given my Garmin) told me I averaged a 10:08 pace.  I was thrilled and even gave a “Yahoo” when I checked in with Big G at the end.  I’ll be running a sub-10 before I know it.  I’m totally not expecting that my marathon time will be even close to that, but a girl can hope right? 

Today is a rest day (as much as a Momma to a 5 year old and a 9 month old can rest).  Tomorrow I have a 3 miler scheduled, which will probably be a 3.5 miler because that’s how I roll.

I’m going to steal an idea from a blog that I read, The Bitchy Runners.  (you should really check them out, they’re hilarious)  They post pictures of themselves before their runs in the morning and usually post-run pictures as well.  I just need to remember to take the pictures when I get up at the butt-crack of dawn.  I’ll try to remember tomorrow morning.

I’m really looking forward to running while on vacation.  It will be a different location, different scenery, the possibility of a bear sighting or some other wild animal…I can’t wait!  Mr. Jeep told me that I absolutely have to carry my pepper spray with me (the explanation for what made me start carrying the pepper spray is best left for another post).  I’m hoping that I won’t get that close to a bear to have to implement the pepper spray. 

Other big news over the weekend…Clarence Clemons passed away.  So sad and such a great musician.  The news had one of the local DJs on this morning giving his editorial of Clarence Clemons’ passing and it was very annoying, as expected.  The DJ was rambling that he feels that this is the end of the E Street Band and Bruce Springsteen will now be done performing.  Blah, blah, blah…we’ll see on that one!

Happy Monday and tomorrow is the first day of summer!  Yahoo!

Heather