REST DAY!!!!! I LOVE REST DAY!!!!! The first thing I love about rest day is that I don't have to wake up at 5am.....but I get to sleep in until 7am....ahhh.....the little things in life! LOL!! Because you all know that around 7 to 7:30 my 5 yr old will go to me and say "Mami, the sun is out and I'm hungry!!!"

Week 4 begins today. This week, training changes a bit. Instead of running 3miles, 6 miles, and then 3 again plus the long run on Sat, I have to up the ante to 4miles, 7 miles, 4 miles, plus the long run on Sat. This Saturday's long run is a 14 mile run. I'm really excited about this because the farthest I've ever run is 13.1, so this is a challenge! 14 miles!!!!! I know I'm physically ready for them, but I'm still working with myself mentally! Running is all in your head!

Last week was awful training wise. My husband started traveling, therefore I only ran 1 day during the week (3 miles) and then nothing. It was driving me insane! My body was asking for it! And I kept eating like a beast! OH SHIT! This is when motherhood kicks in.....I'm not leaving the kids by themselves to go running at 5am even if they're sleeping, that's a NON NEGOTIABLE!!!! So, I ate :( But, I got to run 9 miles on Saturday, with my good friend Lisa. We weren't lucky enough this past Saturday to have someone bike along with us with our water, Gatorade, snacks and all the stuff, but we managed. The heat was impossible. By 6:40am the sun was already out and it seemed like he was running with us...UNINVITED...son of a bitch! I'm longing for Winter when our runs involve nice crisp cold weather mornings and we start complaining because breathing gets a bit more difficult! By then, the sun will be invited to our runs and welcomed with open arms.

I read "The Runner's Rule Book"....amazing! Funny!!!! I could relate to much of it! Therefore I have decided to embrace rule #3, (I think it is).....treat your black toenails as badges of HONOR!!!!" Pretty funny stuff in there, if you run you should read it. It will keep you on track!

As for my aunt, she starts her chemo this coming Wednesday. Lots of prayers for her and all our family, of course. She is very positive and convinced that this too shall pass. This, as usual, gets my training into perspective. Don't complain! Worse things happen to people who are better than you, so SUCK IT UP!!!!!!!!

Oh....one last thing! I have realized that I may be running 26.2 miles by myself on January 9, but I'm definitely NOT training by myself!!! I was overwhelmed with your support from my first RD and really inspired me to push forward. Your support means the world to me! Keep it coming!!!!!!!!!!

Much love and thanks for letting me share!!!

Running Diary - beginning of week 2

A month ago my aunt was re-diagnosed with cancer. She has kept such a positive attitude towards this whole situation that it has inspired me. As a mother she has built up the courage, once again, to have to tell her child (who's in his 20's...but hey!) that they are going through this situation all over again. This has to suck! I can't imagine having that conversation with my kids!

I decided to run a marathon, but before I needed to make sure that my knees were as up to it as my mind was. The problem with my left kneecap is that it sits incorrectly and, since I'm double jointed, the ligaments that are supposed to hold it in its place are stretchier than normal and not doing their job. The doctor said that the only thing keeping my kneecap where it's supposed to be are my muscles. He says I have very strong leg muscles and I should keep doing all the crazy stuff I do. In conclusion, it is safe for my knees to run a marathon.....26.2 miles.

I tried to convince a few people to go run a marathon with me and of course all I got were weird crazy looks telling me "You're the only one who's crazy enough to even think of doing one". My husband won't even come near running shoes, but he is my biggest fan and supporter. That's where I need him to be!

My friend, and expert runner, Amy sent me the training schedule as soon as she heard of my new endeavor. Thanks Amy!!! :)

My training started last week....Monday and Tuesday I ran 3 miles and did yoga at nighttime. On Wednesday I ran 6 miles. Thursday and Friday were rest days....as far as exercise was concerned, cause we all know there's no REAL rest when you have a husband,kids, and a job! I was lucky enough to convince my friend Lisa to go on the long run (11miles) with me on Saturday. That day at 5am my hubby woke up (my in-laws were in town, so they stayed with the kids) to go along with me in the car and be our rest stops...yes, that's how much he loves me. A little before 6am, I realized how much my friend Lisa supports me!!! Thanks, Lisa! :) Lisa had never run more than 6 miles before, but she wanted me to push her and I did....at a 6:4 interval she did 9 miles with me! I was very proud of Lisa and Lisa was VERY proud of herself. I finished my 11 miles and nothing hurt! I was pretty amazed, but I kept waiting for the pain to come. It didn't.....although I'm starting to lose a toe nail, but really?? It's not CANCER, so WHATEVER!!!!!!!

This week, so far, I did my cross training on Sunday (yoga). I really wanted to go swimming, but I ended up swimming in laundry :( Monday was rest day. Yesterday I ran 3 miles at a 7:3 intervals. This morning I woke up, once again, before the sun came out, and ran 6 miles. I felt exhausted by the end of those 6 miles. I'm thinking it was the sangria I had yesterday with my friend Ivett while the kids were playing...but WHATEVER it's not CANCER!!! I'm just happy to have friends to drink Sangria with!
Tomorrow I have to run 3 miles, we'll see how that goes. Saturday, I have to do 12.....ALONE! Well, hopefully Mariel will bike it with me...Oh yeah and after running 12 miles I will head out to the beach with the boys and my friends Vi, Vane and Ivett and their kids! And after the beach....my neighbors invited us to dinner. Seems like Sat will be a busy day, but I'm happy to be healthy and be able to do it all!

I have decided to share this with you guys, since I will be training alone.Thanks in advance for letting me share! Feel free to post your comments and suggestions to keep me going.

Love!