It was not pretty....

but I did it! Pretty much everything that could have gone wrong, did.

It started out Friday night with Brayden being sick. Bobby got up to take care of him, but kids want their Mommy when they are sick. He had a little stomach bug and it was coming out of both ends. I contemplated not even going to the race, due to Mommy Guilt. But Bobby said to go, he would be fine.

I felt very tired and a little "off". Then I did something I never do, I had a fat free cappuccino on the way to the race. It was a good hour drive, and I felt like I could barely keep my eyes open so I stopped to get one, knowing full well it was going to haunt me later (it did).

I finally get to the race and get my time chip. I make one last potty break before the race, and I got my period. Oh fucking great! And I didn't even have anything. No wonder I felt "off". So I just hoped for the best and got in line with the other 30k peeps. I am having full blown cramping at this point.

The first mile went up a humongous hill. Are you kidding me? There is no way I can do this. I was like "please God, don't let it be like this the whole way". It wasn't. The course was pretty flat after that. There were many bathroom breaks due to the coffee. I knew that effer was going to come back to haunt me! I started having stomach issues at mile 11, not sure what from...great.

Anyhow, there was also a half marathon, I cannot tell you how much I wanted to stop there!! Most of the people were doing the half marathon. I was so jealous that they were done and it took everything I had to run past the finish line to continue on to 18.6 miles.

But the end finally came and I was done.....yes!! I was nauseated and tired and just wanted to get home! I was on the turnpike heading home and there was an accident that had traffic in a stand still. Are you fucking kidding me? My legs are screaming here! Thank God I at least had water in the car. I turned the car off, put back the seat and tried to rest.

I stopped to get beer on the way home (oh yes I earned those beers!) and I could barely walk to get it! Some nice young man got my beer for me and took it to the car. What a sweetheart he was!

I came home, got a shower because I stunk to the high heavens, played with Brayden a little (he was feeling better) and crashed on the couch. I tried to watch the Pitt game, but I literally could not keep my eyes open!

Distance: 30k

Duration: 3:32:25

Calories burned: A ton

I did it! My longest run thus far...

Yeah, it wasn't fun and it wasn't pretty, but I did it. Honesty, it was a fucking mind game. I got up at 6:00 after a crappy night's sleep so I could get started early. I throw on some running pants, a short sleeved underarmour and a sweatshirt and head out.

I'm in the car and see the temperature is 18 degrees. Shit! I kept on heading towards the trail. Well, let me tell you it was COLD. I just kept running, thinking it would get better the longer I run. Wrong. By mile 6 my legs were so numb that I couldn't even feel them anymore.

So I have no choice but to head home and get some thermal underwear on. I grab a half a banana on the way out and head back to the trails.

It was really tough to get started again! I kept thinking "fuck this, I can't do this today". I was still freezing and I couldn't get warm. So I turn around and head towards the car. Miraculously, on the way back, I start to feel better.

So I continue and it actually was a pretty nice run. I had a Clif Shot @ mile 10. I didn't have to take any bathroom breaks this time and the rest of the run was smooth. I am glad it's over and I plan on drinking some beers tonight!

Distance: 16 Miles

Duration: 2:59

Calories Burned: A Ton

My Longest Run on My Own

Happened last night......I thought my husband was going to have to work today, so I was set on doing it last night. I really don't like to run at night, especially on a Friday night! I am usually worn out by then. I like morning runs when I am fresh.

Besides having to go to the bathroom at mile 3, all went well until about mile 11. I started getting really tired and it was dark and I was sick of running!! But I kept pushing through and finally finished. I was pretty sore so I stopped and got some ice and had an ice bath when I got home. It felt surprisingly good!

I just worry that if I am feeling pain now, how am I going to feel when I have to run twice that distance? I really hope I have it in me to do it! I have already popped Ibuprofen this morning.

Distance: 14 Miles

Duration: 2:35

Calories Burned: A Lot!

Running for 2 hours on a Friday Night...

Is NOT my idea of a good time...LMAO! I have a very busy weekend so it had to be done. I left work and chowed down a protein bar on the way home. Picked up a pizza for the boys and was tortured by the smell for the rest of the way home.

I got my gear together...it was 48 degrees so this made me happy! I only wore a pair of running pants and a long sleeve shirt. I was trying not to hate my husband who was drinking beer and eating pizza. I grabbed my garmin and ipod and was off...I just wanted to get this over with.

I always seem to forget that the trail by the Lake is colder; and I also forgot any water or Sports Beans. I had to pee in the woods at mile 3 and mile 5. I am not used to running that late! I had been drinking water all day. By mile 8 I.WAS.STARVING. but I had nothing to eat. I just keep chugging along, by this time I was freezing my ass off because it was dark and much colder.

By mile 11 I felt like I was going to puke, but kept moving along. I finally was done..yay!!!!!

Distance: 12 miles

Duration: 2:07

Calories Burned: 1169

Winter Training Sucks.....

So I had 10 miles on tap for this weekend. Lately, I've been all about doing my long run on Saturdays, so I can relax on Sundays. And I only had 3 light beers last night (I do have some control, who knew?) and I got up at 6:45 this morning to head out for my run.

IT.WAS.12.DEGREES. Man was it cold. I wore 2 pairs of running pants, 3 under armour shirts, jacket, gloves and a hat. I absolutely hate when I have to wear a jacket to run! I don't like to feel cramped. But it's done now so it's all good.

Distance: 10 miles

Duration: 1:40

Calories Burned:1125

So I signed up for a 30k.....

because, well, it was on the weekend that I have to do an 18-miler for the Pittsburgh Marathon May 3rd. It makes sense to me, I think I would be more motivated if I had someone else to run with, plus I think that it will be a good indicator of whether I will be able to finish the Pittsburgh Marathon.

Thoughts from the seasoned runners out there? I don't plan on "racing". I'm not going to worry about the pace. I just want to go out there and do it.

The Mental Game

I think long distance running is all mental. Yeah, you need to be fit, but we can push our bodies so much more than what we do. I think it's more about breaking through the negative thoughts and just getting out there and doing it.

Last night, for instance, I had NINE beers, yes nine. Ridiculous, especially when I know I had to run 9 miles this morning! But they were going down too easily but it was fun at the time. But when I woke up this morning with that all too familiar head pain and dry mouth I was like "why did I do that"? I could have easily just went back to bed for another 3 hours. DH gave me the hairy eyeball when I asked him if we had sex last night...LMAO! Then he said, "thanks a lot, I was a stud too"!

But I got up and ran my 9 miles. It was actually a pretty good run, surprisingly!

Distance: 9 miles

Duration: 1:32

Calories Burned: 987