Thurs. - walk 30 minutes
Friday - walk 30 minutes

Sat - What can I say? AWESOME DAY, I FINALLY DID IT! Now I'm done!
Was a little nervous the day before the race, what to wear, how to go out, etc., the morning of the race, I was just ready to get started to see what would happen. Raul greeted me at the start and we talked about not going out too fast and the race was off. I felt awesome through the 1/2 half, I stayed under control, and did not go out too fast. I tried to stay around 8:55 pace. Out of the first 15 miles, I only had 3 miles that were over 9:00 and those were 9:03, 9:02, and then 9:11. From 16-26.2, couldn't hold the pace and did not have any under 9:00. Mile 24 and 25 were my slowest miles at 9:40 and 9:46. Let me just say, without Amber showing up to run the last 8 with me, I would NOT have gone under 4 hours. I was fading fast. She stayed out in front of me, and I just tried to stay with her, it was a struggle, but she did exactly what I needed at that point in the race. It was nice to have family and friends out there supporting me. Let me say this is a lonely marathon. When we started the second loop, I could see someone about 200 yards ahead of me and then someone around 300 yards. I didn't mind that, I'm just saying if you need a lot a support, don't try this one.

I had talked with Chad the night before about the effects of a full moon on a marathon runner. I guess it is exactly what I needed, it pulled me to the finish, along with Amber, Chad, Sonja, Mackie, and Scott. It was a great day that I definitely will not forget any time soon, probably ever. It was just a GREAT day. Thanks for all of the support! Now yall know I was kidding about being done, when's the next race?

Sunday afternoon - walk 30 on the treadmill. My knees are sore today. This is strange for me because I have never had this type of knee soreness from the other marathons that I have run. It helped to walk on the treadmill and then I got into an ice bath again today, instead of just icing both knees. Feels so much better now.

Monday - I was shocked to wake up and find all of the soreness around my knees totally gone, just like it never happened. Feeling really good today. I did the free yoga class, www.yogatoday.com. It was just what I needed. It was a slower/easier class with a lot of stretching, perfect. Walked for 30 minutes with Chad late Monday evening.

Tues. - am - arm weights, push-ups, ab work and back extensions.
Tues - pm walked for about 35 minutes, maybe a little longer. Today, I was thinking that I could not even tell that I had run a marathon, but then I walked on the hills today, and I did notice some tired legs. Overall, I think I am recovering fairly quickly, but will not know for sure until I start back running. My first slow jog will be Thurs.

Wed- yoga class at The Yoga Room am
walkd 35 minutes on the treadmill pm

Thurs. - yoga class at Spiers Fitness Center and Yoga Room am
PM - ran with Amber 4 miles on rolling hills. Felt really good for my first run back. Legs are a little tired from the pigeon poses the last 2 days, and the run this evening. Overall feeling great and ready to go! Trying to pull back on the reigns and not get back too fast.

Friday - 30 minutes walking on the treadmill pm

Sat - tough run today. Amber and I ran in Bent Creek today. This run is tougher than Canebrake. The goal was to get 8 miles in. We did get the 8 miles but both of us were struggling today. We walked several times. I was struggling because of the marathon, I suppose, and Amber was sick. I was surprised with the way I felt today. Normally by now, I feel "back to normal", not today. I think part of it was just the tougher terrain, but part of it may be that I am not recovering as quickly as I want to(unfortunately I am getting older although most of the time I consider myself a spring chicken). My next run will be on a relatively flat area or one of my normal runs, so that I can determine how much of the way I felt was recovering slower, and how much was the new terrain. I hope it has more to do with the new run than my recover.

Sun.- feeling kind of bummed today, still bugged about that run yesterday. I went for an hour long walk and I felt much better when I finished. Will try to do some push-ups and sit-ups later today.
Ended the week with:
12 miles running
12 miles walking
3 yoga classes
1 day of arm weights, push-ups, ab work

I had planned to run one of the half marathons on Sat. in Mobile or Jackson, OR the 25K in New Orleans on Sunday, next weekend, but now I will have to wait and evaluate later in the week.

A couple of notes about my last report. First, when I say "normally by now I feel back to normal" I realize I am NOT recovered, it's just typically, I do not feel the effects of a marathon by now.

Second, when all else fails, look back at your training. I looked back to Jan. of this year, after the Disney marathon. I was in a similar situation then as now. I ran Disney Jan. 7th and then needed to get ready for Austin around the 3rd week of Feb. This time I ran Stennis, and want to get "as ready as possible," for Disney which is Jan. 13th. Even with the next marathon coming up, I took a full week off from running after Disney, which is probably what I should have done this time. So I will regroup and see how I feel this week.

Monday - walk 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Tues. - 5 miles - average 9:10 pace. Felt good to run a little faster again. Great run, felt really good, the cold weather numbs everything, I love that. Yoga at Spiers Fitness Center. Weights, push-ups, abs, a few squats and lunges.

Wed. - easy 5 miles jog today.

Wed. - walked 30 minutes pm. Just felt like burning a few more calories.

Thurs. - walked 55 min.

Fri - Amber and I ran 9.4 miles this evening on a fairly hilly loop. We had a good run. It was great to run hard again. We averaged 8:33 pace, but today, I stopped my watch at the our 2 water stops, so although this time looks faster than some of my previously reported times, it is not. Most of my other runs I had let the Garmin run through the water stops, which pulls your average down. We were both working fairly hard. Good run, glad to feel like I am back to normal runs. Next week I will start back with my track workouts. I am excited about that.

Sat - jogged 5.5 miles on the treadmill this evening so that I could finish my running week with 25 miles.

Sun.- walked 30 minutes.

Monday - jogged 7 miles easy, hoping to bump it back up to 40 miles this week, with a 16 miler on Thur. or Fri.

Tues. am - 1 mile w/u, 8 X 800 on the road, averaged 3:46 with equal time recovery (walk/jog), and 1 mile cool down. The goal was 3:45 so I am pleased this this workout. I ran the last 2 at 3:43 and 3:39. Felt awesome to get back to "speed." Total of 7.75 miles with my recover mileage added in. (yes Dawn, I will "have to get the other .25 later in the week. I didn't realize I was at .75 until I was reviewing the Garmin)

Wed. - yoga at The Yoga Room am, jog 4.25 on the treadmill, had to get that other .25

Thur. - walk on the treadmill 30 min pm

Fri- am 16 mile solo run. Averaged 9:03 pace and that was leaving the Garmin running through 3 water breaks. Wanted to be just under 9:00, but, hey, 9:03 will work too.

Sat. - 5 mile recovery run, slow pace. This gives me a total of 40 miles running for this week. It was nice to get back to my higher mileage and some tougher workouts this week. Will likely do an easy 30-60 minute walk on Sunday. Next week the goal will be 44 miles running, 9 X 800 workout on Monday, and a 20-22 miler run on Thurs.

Ginny, you are a machine!! You are putting great, quality miles and no injuries!! If I put in those kind of miles, I would have to super glue my body together afterwards. January 1st, I am going to begin my "abbreviated" half marathon training program and I will then post my training to boost my morale and maintain some accountability. I haven't quite chosen the program yet, but I will so and do a little tweaking, then it is off to the races!!

_________________
Catch you on the run!! Audrey

Thanks Audrey! Looking forward to your posts starting in Jan.

Sunday - walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes.
Monday - 1 mile w/u 9 X 800, and 1 mile cool down. Averaged 3:45 for the 800s, which was the exact goal. Lifted weights, push-ups, a few lunges, and some crunches. Total of 9 miles.

Tues - jog 5 miles easy
Wed. - walk 4 miles
Thurs. - jog 3 miles easy on treadmill
Friday - long run today 22 miles, Amber joined me for 12 miles.. Averaged 9:26 including the water stops. (I stopped a little to long today). Overall, felt good most of the run until the last 2. I was definitely ready to be finished. Last really long run before Disney.

Marathon training, moving/remodeling, Chirstmas parties in cramped areas = getting the crude. So I had the 22 miles on Friday and then headed to Gulf Shores for a Christmas party. Sat. - walked 1 hour, very windy but a nice walk in Gulf Shores with my sister, Linde. Sat. night, during the night, I woke up and felt a little scratch in my throat and I suspected I would get sick. Sunday morning - up early to run 5 miles to finish out my 44 miles for the week. Then back to Hattiesburg to move out of our house (across the street) so that we can remodel. Monday - up early to go to the doctor. I want to try to get better fast, no time for illness, to much work, to many runs to do. Walked on the treadmill at a snails pace for 30 minutes. Moving furniture all day. Head pounding by the evening. Tues. - Merry Christmas to everyone. Walk 30 minutes very slow on the treadmill. Will head to Mom's house, outside of Mobile this morning. Not feeling good. Hopefully, with the resting and eating today I will feel better by Wed.