Running Tunes

I thought I would share my latest running mix. Its definitely...um...eclectic, and yes there is a lot of Kelly Clarkson (shut up, they are great songs to run to!) but these songs have a great tempo and I know if I run through the whole thing, I will have done close to 3.5 miles. Enjoy!

Love Sex Magic--Ciara (feat. Justin Timberlake)
No You Girls--Franz Ferdinand
I Do Not Hook Up--Kelly Clarkson
Since U Been Gone--Kelly Clarkson Dance Vault Mixes
My Life Would Suck--Kelly Clarkson
Never Again--Kelly Clarkson
Supernatural Superserious--R.E.M.
Don't Stop the Music--Rihanna
Breakin' Dishes--Rihanna
Don't Stop Believin'--Journey
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin--Journey

56 miles....Soooo many more to go!

So I've completed three full weeks of marathon training and I am surprised to say that I feel great! The last few weeks have been strange weather wise--super hot, then really nice, then hot again. But I've been doing shorter runs on the treadmill on the days that are too hot to run outside and getting up early enough for my long runs to beat the heat. But other than the strange summer weather, the runs have gone well and without problems. My hip hasn't hurt nearly as bad as I thought it would (I think the new shoes are really helping) and I've been incorporating speed work into my training too, which I've never done before but I can already tell that it is helping.
Speaking of speed, last week I did my long run (9 miles) with my friend Anthony--who completed the Lincoln 1/2 Marathon in 1:40 (I think...) Well at least a good 40 minutes faster than me! So I was nervous to run with him for a long run since his usual pace is quite a bit faster than mine--even if he slows down! But I think it was really good to run with Anthony--he helped me keep my pace up and we did 9 miles in 1:27! That is probably the fastest I have ever run 9 miles! So thank you Anthony for keeping me going!
All in all the first 3 weeks have been great, but I'm honestly worried about the next three weeks. I have a few "vacations" coming up--4th of July we will go to Iowa for Jeremy's cousin Liza's wedding, then the next weekend we go back to Iowa for Jeremy's 10 year reunion, THEN I leave for Colorado for a week. So when am I going to get my long runs in? This weekend I'm supposed to do 11, 12 the next and then 9. I think I can squeeze my 11 miles in this Saturday before we leave for Iowa, but I'll have to get up SUPER early. Ok, so that's part of training. Ok I think I can live with that. But the next weekend I honestly don't know how I'm going to fit 12 miles in--the weekend is packed with reunion activities and a lot of eating and drinking...hmmm...anyone have suggestions? Should I do it early on Friday? Wait till Monday? Try to run as long as I can on Saturday or Sunday and call it good?

Then there is Colorado. The good news--I'll have lots of time to run. The bad news: Altitude. I'm not sure I'm "elite athlete" enough to start high altitude training yet! I remember trying to run last year when I was in Colorado and I wanted to die after about 5 minutes! I might just try to keep up with my runs during the week and take more walk breaks? I think I can do the long run on the Sunday after I get back--and after my high altitude training week 9 miles should be a breeze, right?

I'm proud of the 56 miles I've accomplished so far and that I have felt good. I am getting nervous for the upcoming weeks of vacation and increased mileage, but as long as I'm consistent I should be fine, right? Right? Well we will see!

3,5,3,8

So this week officially kicks off my marathon training program. As I was looking for training programs I consulted a variety of sources: friends, Runners World.com, Women's Running magazine, books, blogs...the list goes on. And I realized that there is a LOT of conflicting and confusing information about the best way to train for a marathon. So I decided to go with a plan from Hal Higdon, which is what my marathon running partner/brother's girlfriend/pen pal in Texas did when she trained for Chicago a few years ago--and she survived and is even doing it again so it must work! Its an 18 week schedule which will take us right up to the day of the marathon. Our longest run will be 20 miles in week 15 and I am already dreading it!

My friend Anthony, who will also be running Chicago says that his plan includes SEVERAL 20 mile runs during the 18 week training. This makes me nervous and makes me want to throw up. I'm not so sure that is a good plan for me, but Anthony is in great shape and can totally handle it. If anyone thinks that I am way off by not doing a run before the marathon that is longer than 20 miles, speak now or forever hold your peace....

I was hoping to post the training schedule here on my blog for you all to see, but I am stupid and can't figure out how to do it...so if you really want to see it then please help me figure out how to post it somewhere.

Anyway, 3, 5, 3, 8 are the distances we are supposed to run this week. I did 3 miles yesterday, I'll do 5 tomorrow, 3 Thursday and 8 Saturday. Normally I will probably do my long runs on Sunday, but this Saturday my friend Julie is getting married and there is a good chance I will be out late that night...drinking, dancing and cake eating. The last thing I will want to do on Sunday is run 8 miles.

So there you go... 3 miles down...hundreds more to go!

New Shoes!

I FINALLY got new running shoes! I'm pretty sure I was well overdue for a new pair. I got these a few weeks ago and they have been great so far. These are Asics Gel Nimbus...which I have had before...and the name always makes me laugh--wasn't this the name of the broom or something in Harry Potter? Anyway, they feel great! You don't realize how badly you need new shoes until you get a new pair. Its like running on pillows or something. I'm not too crazy about how SHOCKING pink they are, but I think they will serve me well these next few months of training and in the marathon too!

Bondi Band

Here is my new favorite running accessory (no, not Gus...he is DEFINITELY not a good running accessory) Its my headband--its called a The Bondi Band! It is a really cute fabric headband that comes in all kinds of fun colors and patterns. Here is a picture of my favorite Bondi Band. I got one for Kim and Kayla too! I think Kim and I should get matching ones for the Chicago Marathon! Sorry the picture isn't very good--I downloaded it from my blackberry. But you get the idea....