The Journey to My First Marathon begins.....

James had an idea that since I actually do have people that follow my blog about my working out, weight loss and running (I can't believe that I'm that interesting or inspiring but I am flattered that people actually do read it and get motivated by my story) that I keep an updated
(that will be different) blog about my journey for training for my first Full Marathon. So I figured why not. I thought about making a whole other blog page for it...but then realized I don't have the time or energy for that so I will use this one :) !!

So as many of you know. I started a 16 week training program but then realized that the first several weeks were just repeats of what I have been doing for the past 1+ years so I signed up for another 6 week boot-camp at the gym which is 2 days/week and a 15K race to keep me going. I figured by the end of it I will be ready to get into the "real" training. So.... I have this week and next week left of boot-camp but I realized that I only have 14 weeks until the race so really only have 12 weeks left to do "REAL" training because the last 2 wks before the race will be very minimum workouts.

Saturday I did my 15K race which got me ready to start my more intense training. I beat my time by 5 minutes from last year when I ran the exact same race so I was pretty proud of myself. Had I not been sick for the previous 2 weeks and still had a lot of congestion I probably would have done even better but there is always next year. I think 5 minutes off my time is pretty good though. So, with that under my belt I started really training as of today so it's a good day to start my journey to my marathon blog. I know I can run at least 13.1 miles..a 1/2 marathon since I did that in January. Now it's time to start training to be able to run the other 13.1......sigh :)!!!

So today Monday Feb. 28th even though I was sore from the race on Saturday I ran 4 miles. Not at a super fast pace but in about 35 minutes. Slower than I would have had I felt my best but a good warm-up for the week. I would have liked to have done 6 but I'm still getting over a cold, my legs were really sore today, and I train with my personal trainer tomorrow and have boot-camp, so tomorrow is a big workout day for me. Before the race on Sat. I hadn't ran more than 14 miles in the past 2 weeks. I have been sick and in Baltimore for work and just couldn't get running to fit into my schedule. So that is what I did today. I still train once a week with a Personal Trainer and do Kickboxing every other week in addition to running. That gives me the cross training I need.

Hopefully this will help others that are wanting to either lose weight, start running or just start doing something to see how someone who has been there and started from scratch and I mean scratch did it and still does it. Until 3 years ago I NEVER ran. I started with it taking me a good 30 minutes to do a mile to now I can run long races (15K, 1/2 marathon's) at around 8:45-9:00 minute miles. I know not super fast for some runners but pretty good for me...I think.
So at least weekly hopefully several times a week I will update this on what I'm doing as the countdown to my marathon is ON...12 weeks of training to go :) !!!

Winter in Florida...if you call it that.
I used to anticipate groundhogs day so that I could "really" find out how much winter was left. Now it really doesn't make a bit of difference. I could care less if that thing sees his shadow or not. However, the Florida winters the past 2 years have not been so hot. This year I must say has been better than last but still not the 70 degree, sunny, not a cloud in the sky "winter" days I remember from the first 2 years we lived here. I guess I will take the 60 degree weather with the occasional cooler days over the winter. James and I have said if this keeps up we are moving further south. Like....Costa Rica or somewhere :) !!! Just Kidding

We have started landscaping the back yard which I know for all my northern friends seems silly in Feb. , but here it's the best time to do it. Not too hot to be out working in the yard and things grow here now. It's Strawberry season...yummmm and tomato season. It's the only time of year you can get fresh fruits and vegeatables from Florida. During the summer they come from up there :)!!! We have worked on it the past 2 weeks and are taking this weekend off. It's hard work and I now know why people are HIRED to do this!! I'm excited to see the finished product though....someday!

James' parents are here so we are enjoying spending time with them. They have a house about 45 minutes from us and will be here for a few months. We usually get together with them on the weekends.

I officially signed up for the Utah Valley Marathon on June 11th. I think I'm crazy. I don't know why on earth I would decide to do this. After I finished the 1/2 I was disappointed that I wasn't going to be spending my time training for something. They say runners get a low after a race because you train and work hard for so long for something and the excitement of the race builds and then it's over. I think that is true. So what do I do in my disappointment....I sign up for a FULL marathon. Yes people 26.2 miles. I must have lost my mind. I don't know how this is going to happen or what the outcome will be but all I can say is I've lost it. I told myself even 3 months ago that I would NEVER do a full marathon. Well here I go the money is paid so let the training begin. I'm on a 16 week training program. I think I want to do it just to say I did it. I don't really care about my time...kinda. I just don't want to put too much pressure on myself this time (like there will be a next...if I survive ) Anything under 4:20 would be great. That's around a 10 min mile. I did 9min miles in the 1/2 but I couldn't have gone another 1/2 at that pace. So time will tell. I just think I need to find another activity. I don't think people's bodies are meant to run that far but it's would be a huge achievement to finish. They say less than 1% of the population ever finishes a marathon. I would love to be part of that 1% so......train...train....train

James and I are just busy with our church callings. I'm still the Primary President in our ward. James is a financial clerk so between work/training/and church we are pretty busy. I'm going to Baltimore next week for a work conference so I'm looking forward to seeing my brothers and my best friend that I haven't seen in almost 2 years. I'm not however looking forward to the flight. I HATE flying :) So next on my list is Baltimore :) BRRRRRRRR!!!!!