More on running....

So I'm a fourth of the way into my training for the marathon. I thought I should write SOMETHING about how it's going in order to keep track of myself with my own progress and maintain more accountability.

So.... so far so good. As far as my body goes, I'm doing well. I've almost got my time down to a nine minute mile. It's just being consistent about it. I've found that my ankles and shins bother me after long runs or if I don't properly stretch. Particularly my tibialis anterior and peroneal muscles. I do my best when I'm really well hydrated (like 2-3 L an hour before) and when I have complex carbs in my system two hours before hand. Last Saturday I drove 8 miles up Millcreek Canyon and ran down the canyon and two more miles to Justin's house. However, I did quit 1/2 mile early because I started to recognize that I was experiencing heat stroke. (Nausea, no sweating, chilly.) I had Justin pick me up. That run felt great through the canyon though! Lesson learned.... don't run in July at 3:00 pm when it's 93 degrees.

The hardest part so far is the mental aspect. I do so much infinitely better when I have someone running next to me. My running partner hasn't been running with me for the last month and there really aren't any takers to be a new running partner. (Hmmm... I wonder why...) Caroline, Justin and work friends have all declined. To be honest, I don't blame them.

Anyway, I just need more motivation to keep with the training. It's tough for me to get out there after a long day of work and go "yeah, I'm way excited to run 6 miles tonight!" when I could instead be watching episode after episode of "Lost" with my hot boyfriend.

What else?? I'm noticing that running is really hard not only on my muscles, joints and ligaments, but also on my body systems. My digestion is much more sensitive. I get way sick if I drink milk or have more than one serving of dairy a day. I also can't handle more than three ounces of meat or else I have horrible stomach cramps. It's also really messed up my menstrual cycle. I have no idea what's going on in that department. The doctor didn't know either. She suggested putting me on birth control... like all the other OBs in the world. I personally feel that I should only be on that if I'm using it for what it's intended for. And since I'm not married, I really have no use for it. Natural, normal cycles are healthy and I feel emotionally and spiritually unstable without them. Anyway, I think it's just the running sending it out of whack.


Welllll.... that's all I have about running. Lets see... what else is coming up? I'm going to San Diego with Justin's family in August for a beach/Sea World trip. Yay! My nanny job ends in two weeks. That's both good and bad. School starts at the end of August and I'm enrolled in 16 credit hours. Justin and I are looking at the possibility of going to Brasil in December. Provided that we're married by then.... maybe the trip could even be a honeymoon.... we'll see.

Tchau!