Nov 28, 2009 - Register

Today is a big day in my training. I just actually registered for the race! I have paid money. It is great to talk a big game about running the race, but actually paying for it a different thing. The marathoon has different starting times. They put those with the same paces together. Those who want to run it in 4 hours start together, 4 hours 30 minutes start together, etc. During registration I had to decide what my pace was going to be, what is my goal time? I have figured my time based on the time I leave and the time I get home. I have been running constantly about 9 - 10 minute miles in training so far. So I put down 4 hours and 30 minutes which is about 270 minutes or bit over 10 minute miles. That is about 6 miles an hour. I have been constantly doing that so far, but I have only run 5 miles so far. Can I keep that up for 26.2 miles? I guess that is what the training will tell me. Also, if I find out that 4 hours and 30 minutes is too fast then I can always shift it down and change groups.

Do I want to get a hotel room near the start line since everything starts so early. The race starts at 7:00. I did a lot of research today on the race day. Looks like the runners park near the finish line and take a shuttle from the finish line to the start line. The finish line is at the Titans stadium and the start line is at Centennial Park. The shuttle stops running at 6 am!! Yikes that is early! To get there on time I would have to leave Murfreesboro around 4:45 or so. I don't want to get there at 6 that is the last shuttle and from reading blogs it is crowded between 5:45 and 6:00. So I want to get there around 5:15 or 5:30. That is early.

I went on-line to see what hotels are avialable. Most the hotels were already sold out or were extremely expensive ($250+ per night). But, I did find that the Lowes Vanderbilt Plaza was going for $199 per night. I went ahead and reserved a room for a just in case because there were only a few rooms left open. I'll make the final decision around mid-March.

I also began researching what I need to be eating. Lots of fruits and vegetables. I do need to do better on that front. Pasta is really good before a long run. I'll do better on this front.

Nov 26 - Thanksgiving (Are you committed?)

It is thanksgiving day. I had a busy day planned. Some days I wonder if I really have time to train as I should. We started the day eating a great breakfast (Heather always makes a great breakfast on special days) and then watched the parade with the kids, then we had rest time and I watched some football with the boys. (They actually aren't too much into football yet, but I would like to think they are - They will be some day). Then it is off to my parents house for Thanksgiving. We stayed at my parents house until 8:30. It was time to head home. We got home around 9:00 and it was time to put the kids to bed. After eating all that food and the busy schedule I did not feel like running. This was a day I felt I was making a decision was I really going to train or not. I made the decision to train. I went out around 10:00 and ran 3 miles. It actually felt good. I was glad I made the definate decision to train. Today I proved to myself that no matter I do have time to train. I can always go to bed an hour later if I need to.

Nov 6 - Turkey Day! Gobble Gobble

Nov 26 , 2009 - Thanksgiving has arrived. I need to run 3 miles today and 6 miles tonight. Our plan is to watch the parade at home and then go to my parents house for the Thanksgiving meal around 4. We'll stay for a little while at my parents house then we'll drive home, put the kids to bed and then I'll run my 3 miles. What a long day this will be. Will I have enough energy to actually run 3 miles, how will the turkey effect my running? I guess I'll figure this out today.

The cat is out of the bag on my intentions to run the race. I have told a lot of people now. I guess, I have to go through with this commitment now. Found out that Melinda (my sister) is running the half marathoon as well as Christi Tracey (a friend from Church) is running a half marathoon as well. Andy (my brother) is going to run the full marthoon as well! That is awesome. I like having a bit of competition, but I have to remember my main thing is finishing the race. I am not as worried about my time as actually finishing. I want to be able to say that I have done it and mark it off my list of things I want to do.

Nov 14 - Time start running again

Today I started running again. My neck is feeling a lot better, but still not 100%. I canceled the doctor's appointment. I decided all the doctor would say is that I need to limit my activity. I did run too hard so I don't hurt myself again. My family has been very supportive with this.

Nov 21, 2009 - First 5 mile

Nov 21, 2009 - Thanksgiving is coming up. How will I do with the holiday's approaching? I am dedicated to make sure I keep going and stick with the committment. I ran 5 miles tonight. I ran after everyone went to bed. It was just a good run. I am not too tired, but I don't know if I could have gone much farther. My legs were really heavy at the end of the run. I haven't gone to get new running shoes yet. I need new running shoes. Once I get to a longer distance I am worried I might actually hurt myself. Also, my IPOD currently only has 25 songs that I listen to. I need to get more songs in there. Plus, some of the songs are slow. Also, my headphones keep popping out of the my ears today. I haven't had this problem in the past. I never could get them comfortable.

Nov 12 - It still hurts

I haven't run since my neck popped out. Should I go see a doctor? Since we moved to Murfreesboro in January I actually do not have a doctor her in town. I called a doctor off the list to set up an appointment. The appointment is in 3 days. I spoke to Mark Follis. From what I hear he has had back problems before. He told me that the doctor won't be able to do anything for me, it just needs to get better. Right now I am having a hard time sleeping because it is so painful. Hopefully, it will get better soon. My kids have been so helpful. It is interesting when I am actually in pain my kids understand and know to help and behave. Our kids are so well painful.

Nov 10 - O No!! My back!

I have been running for about 3 weeks now. I guess my body is trying to figure out what I am doing. I have probably done my physical activity the past 3 weeks then I have done the past 3 months. This morning I got up and when I was getting ready my neck popped. Yikes! Is my training over. I can't barely move my neck around? I guess the pounding has knocked my neck out of joint. I guess tonight I'll put some heat on it to see if I can get it better. I hope this is not the end of the it.

Nov 4, 2009 - Intervals are for the birds

Nov 4, 2009 - I ran my first set of intervals today. That was tough!! I ran as hard as a could for 4 minutes and then jogged for 1 minute (That is one interval). I did that for 20 minutes. Has it finally got hard? I didn't eat right before this run. Lesson learned. I do not like intervals. In my research, to build endurance intervals are necessary. My IPOD kept falling out of my years while I was running. That was frustrating. I finally just put my IPOD in my pocket and ran the rest of the intervals without the IPOD. But, the good thing about it is that I did it when I really didn't want to.

November 1, 2009 (This isn't too hard)

November 1, 2009 - Last week I ran a total of 6 miles (2 miles on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday). I don't know what my time has been for these runs. I ran the normal course I run for the 2 miles. I haven't been extremely tired yet. This doesn't appear to be too bad. I am encouraged that I am not struggling as much as I thought I would. Next week I'll shift it up to 3 miles. In cross country in High School we ran 3 mile races.