This week kicks off is the start of my training for the Chicago Marathon! When I trained for the Disney Marathon, we were did a four day a week training schedule (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday) which was a lot of work, but having other people to run with made it somewhat tolerable. This time I wasn't sure I wanted to run four days a week because I would be training alone and because I started having IT band issues when I ran three days in a row. I have been very vigilant about my physical therapy schedule and only missed two days while I was in Europe. All of my hard work paid off, at my recheck appointments with my physical therapist and sports medicine doc they both said I had increased the my flexibility and stability of both my hips. They also agreed that a three day a week running program with cross training (cycling and climbing) was a great idea. After searching around for different training programs, I decided to go with the Hal Higdon Marthon 3 Program. We had followed his Novice 2 program for Disney and so I was confident about his training programs. The Novice 2 program was 18 weeks long while the Marathon 3 program is 24 weeks long. I am ready to tackle the challenge of training alone for 24 weeks (!!!!!), but it won't be the same as having Ruth and Mary with me every step of the way. We had each other through the long runs and the celebratory meals after our Saturday long runs. I couldn't have done my first marathon without them. They are both hardcore women, with Ruth getting married and trying to finish her PhD and Mary only 6 months out from having her daughter Lucy when we started training. Mary even nursed Lucy at mile 14 of the marathon!
I will be modifying the schedule some to fit in the Portland Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon on May 18 and the Peachtree Road Race 10k on July 4th. The biking will be my work commute. I usually ride to work three days a week but I am might decrease to only two days a week with one or two days a week of climbing at the gym.
Recovery drink of champions
Although I won't have my human training partners, I will have Endo and Charlie to train with! They make the best running partners because they are always ready to go, always happy to go, and provide lots of motivation for me. I wish I could be as excited about running as they are. My runs always start with running a longer distance with Endo and then back to the house to refill the water bottle and get Charlie. It is great having Charlie at the end of my run because I may want to stop, but he is so excited to go out running that I have to keep going. When Sierra was around I used to walk her afterwards while I drank my chocolate milk as a cool down. I miss having Sierra around for these walks but I still have my chocolate milk.
Running partner #1
I want to thank everyone that has donated to Team Paws. I am overwhelmed at everyone's generosity. As of today, I have raised $2750, only $250 more until I am in the 9 Lives Club! This endeavor has really helped me deal with the loss of Sierra and I am so happy that we are saving homeless animals because of it.
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