Ups and Downs

Well it has truly been a roller-coaster of a week for me.  Last thursday I ran the farthest I've ever run in my life (High) then my favorite people came in for the weekend (high) unfortunatly Jocelyn got sick the morning she flew out and ended up being sick all weekend (lo).  I was happy to just have the time with my ladies but we were limited as to what we could do.  The weekend was still awesome and I miss them so much.  Having to say goodbye to Shannon and Jocelyn were definite lows in the week.  Part of me wanted to get on the planes with them and leave Colorado.  I have loved this winter in many ways and it truly has been a healing experience for me.  However I feel like it's time for me to move beyond this lifestyle and get on with my life.

Here's where the ultimate high of the week comes in, as you've read I've been slacking on my posts because I've been applying to Graduate School, well I GOT IN!!!!  My top choice school, The University of Oregon, sent me an early notification email and the first word is Congratulations!  I was floored, I didn't know whether to cry or scream or stare in disbelief at the computer screen, I may have actually done all 3 I can't recall. I so needed this news this week to lift me out of my funk and look forward again.  

This past year has been an incredibly painful one for me and I have at times not known how to feel about the future.  I have made choices on where I've gone and what I've done more so out of a need to get away.  People try very hard to runaway from their lives and reality.  I in many ways went to Alaska and to Colorado to runaway from a very painful breakup.  However I knew that no matter where I went it would be waiting for me when I got there.  That's the thing, you can run as far and as  fast as you want but life will always beat you to your destination.  I feel as though I've faced my reality and what has transpired.  I'm not totally over it yet but I'm on my way.  I am so happy to be accepted into a Graduate School program I can't even put it into words.  I feel like now I am moving on with my life in the direction I want to be going. I worked hard to get to this place and I'm going to enjoy it!

I know this doesn't have much to do with my marathon training but it's one of those things that has really affected my training.  I had an easy run yesterday, 3.5 miles and even though I didn't get tired during it I walked more than I normally would.  The only reason I did was because my mind was preoccupied with what had happened that week. I was in someways reliving some very painful parts of this last year.  I allowed worry to get in and distract me.  I feel a huge weight lifted, I have something to look forward to past the marathon and a new adventure ahead of me.  

I feel recommitted to the marathon too.  Like, "Ok now let's get down to business!"  So tomorrow I am going to go for my 8 mile run, it'll be the longest I've ever done again so wish me luck and say your prayers!

FARTHEST RUN EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so I've been a total slacker about blogging because all of my freetime has been spent skiing or doing grad school applications but those are finally over!!!!

So last Saturday the weather was really unpredictable, it went from blizzard to sunshine to blizzard to overcast.  I opted not to try and run outside and instead went to the gym and hopped on a treadmill.  I ended up doing 4.5 miles on the treadmill and HATED IT!  I'm sorry to those of you who are treadmill lovers but I loathe them.  I can handle them for sprint or interval workouts but long runs make me wanna scream.  It's amazing too because at my gym all the treadmills have little TV's on them so you can plug in your headphones and watch whatever you want.  I managed to find Cliffhanger on TBS and thought that'd be a great distraction.  I love that movie but it didn't do squat to keep my mind occupied.  It was a painful 4.5 miles, I am so ADD on the treadmill it's not even funny.  I never feel like I can set my own pace either cause I have to go certain speed and  I can't adjust based on how my body feels. I was trying to think of other things I could put in front of me on the treadmill to motivate me and I don't even think a hot guy would do it...hmmm too bad!

The past month my friends and I have been going to Yoga class on Tuesday and it's been really nice as a cross train for my running.  I know that the more flexible and strong my body is the better it will handle the running training.  This past Tuesday we did timings, that's were we had to hold poses for a minute.  We did it for 20 minutes and I was sweating by the end but I was pleased with how strong I felt.

Then today I finally had time to go for a long run, I started out and told myself, "Today is the day you will run the longest you've ever run."  I didn't know if I could actually do it but I felt pretty good.  I did my normal 5 mile loop and kept reminding myself that on the way out I go down in elevation and on the way back I have to climb a bit.  I felt surprisingly good when I hit the 5  mile mark so I knew I had to go for it.  Man I had the best mental dialogue going on.  I defiantly slowed down in the last mile but at this point who cares about speed?  I stopped into work with a HUGE smile on my face to get some water and then finished out my run.  On the pedometer it says 6.95 miles but whatever I did 7 miles!!!!!!! The farthest I've ever run in my whole life!!!!!  I'm so excited and exhausted but I feel like I'm back on track.  

Now I can relax and enjoy Shannon and Jocelyn's visit tomorrow!!!  We're defiantly going to be active and have tons of fun!  I would never have survived this past year without these two people and I can not wait to show them this episode of my life.  So hurry up Vegan and Sumara!!!!

Funk

So I finally got out for a run again after being sick for a week.  I was looking forward to a long run and possibly hitting the 7 mile mark.  I headed out and felt a little short of breath.  I was doing well until I decided to run up to the village instead of along the river.  It's 3 miles up to the village with about a 700 ft gain in elevation.  I'm not sure why I thought it would be a good idea, it was a disaster.  I could barely run and ended up stopping and walking alot. I turned around very early and headed home the long way.  I ran for an hour and only covered 4 miles, it's frustrating for me because I had been doing 5.5 miles in a hour.  I'm not sure if it's being sick or what but my legs felt like lead.

It wasn't the run I was hoping for at all.  Lately I've been in a funk, I am feeling restless and eager for something new.  I'm not sure what I need to do but hopefully my friend Becca and I are going to go to Aspen soon for a change of scenery.  As frustrated as I am about the run I will try again, maybe tomorrow or Monday, 7 miles is in my future and it's not a distant one!

Getting Healthy

Now that I am registered for the Marathon and the $100 has left my bank account I am really feeling the pressure to get in shape.  I caught a not so fun case of the flu this week and it has now become a cold which has stolen my voice for the 3rd time this winter!

I am usually an awful patient and will run with runny noses and hacking coughs but this week I tried to be good and not doing anything. Finally yesterday I was feeling better so I went to the gym with my friend Jenn.  I wanted to run but thought better of it and instead walked on the treadmill for an hour.  I walked on a 6-7% incline at about 3.5 mph for 60 minutes!  I didn't break a wicked sweat like I do on my runs but it was still a good workout.  I am hoping to do a 6 mile run tomorrow or Wednesday.  I will keep ya posted!