Once again, I'm bad at updating. I'm five weeks into training for the Mercedes marathon. I can't believe it's going by so fast.

I met one of my regular running partners this morning to run 5 miles before work. It just recently got cold (well, cold for Alabama) and there was a lake wind advisory. That along with the darkness and clouds overhead and the Halloween decorations made for a spooky run. I'm glad there was someone else running with me!

Up this weekend is the Vulcan Run. This was my first ever 10k last year. This year, I think I'm running 6 miles before the race, and then doing the run. I would have never believed that had you told me that at the start line last year!

Wow, a month since the last post! This week was the official start of marathon training. However, I've been under the weather with a sinus infection. Fun stuff! I'm finally feeling somewhat back to normal.

Tomorrow morning I'm running a 10k, extending it to 7 miles, instead of doing 9 like the schedule calls for. I've got to ease back into it. Since going on a cruise last week and being sick, I haven't been able to run like I should. But I should be back into it soon and back here with some updates. I'll try to remember to take my camera tomorrow so I can post pictures.

And just as an aside, the fall weather is finally getting here! It should be around 65 degrees tomorrow morning when the race starts. Almost time to unpack the cold weather running gear!!

Marathon!

I've finally decided that I'm going to run the Mercedes Marathon in February here in Birmingham. I spend a lot of the morning coming up with a training schedule. Click here if you want to see the schedule.

Eric's trail run injury in all it's glory...

26.2 Ways You Know You Are A Runner

1. You know how many miles there are in a marathon.
2. Your weekly mileage is how much you run, not your commute to work.
3. You know how many miles you get out of a pair of running shoes.
4. You can convert Kilometers to Miles in your head.
5. You measure your running route in your car to get the exact mileage.
6. When someone tells you their age, you automatically know their Boston qualifying time.
7. You know Grandma's as the route from Two Harbors to Duluth, not the person.
8. You can drink, blow your nose and pee on the run.
9. The problem with the treadmill is there's no place to spit.
10. You have less than ten toenails and that's normal for you.
11. Body Glide is your friend.
12. Ibuprofen is affectionately known as "Vitamin I".
13. Navigating walkers, dogs and baby strollers annoys you because it interrupts your pace.
14. When you participate in an organized event, you know not to run in your race t-shirt.
15. You have a favorite energy gel and flavor.
16. The "Picasso" above your fireplace is last year's TCM poster.
17. You have pre and post race rituals.
18. The journal you keep is in miles and pace not feelings or thoughts.
19. When you look at the weather conditions, you calculate how many layers to wear.
20. The pride you feel after a good run is worth the pain it took to get there.
21. You have more t-shirts than you could possibly wear.
22. When you hear the word "bib", you think of race numbers not babies and Gerber food.
23. The "no carbohydrate diet" does not apply to you.
24. You know that Fartlek is not vulgar terminology.
25. A hill is an opportunity just waiting to be challenged.
26. You know the phrase "you're almost there" only applies when the finish line is in sight.
.2 Your vacation destination is determined by your race schedule.

Trail running...probably not for me!

My husband and I went on our first trail run last night. It was a 4 mile run with his group. This was the first time that either of us had attempted a trail run. It was definitely a workout as my legs are sore this morning. I think though, that overall, I'm not a fan of the trails.

You have to constantly look down to make sure that you're not going to trip. And even then you might still trip anyway. I could have been about to be mauled by a bear, but I wouldn't have noticed because I was looking so intently at the ground. The pace was slowed down a lot in an attempt to stay upright.

Things were going well until we had about five minutes left. Eric was running in front of me, and all of a sudden, down he went. He tripped on a rock or root or something. It looked like he was sliding into homebase, but instead of a base there was a lot of rocks and dirt and roots. His left wrist and left thigh took most of the impact. Nothing is broken, but we think he sprained his wrist. It had a couple of puncture marks too where rocks got him.

Trooper that he was though, he picked himself up and finished the trail. He didn't have much of a choice since we were in the woods, but he did it and then went to La Paz with the group to eat.

I don't think he'll be doing trail runs again. As for me, I will try it again, if only for the extra workout, but it's not something I'll be doing on a regular basis!

The run last Saturday started out like any other summer run. Hot and humid. The route we were taking with the group was 6 miles and we were thinking about doing it twice. I really didn't want to, but knew that I probably needed to. About halfway through I started noticing some dark clouds. It was sunny when we started and I forgot to check the weather forecast before I left for the run.

About ten minutes after we saw the clouds it started sprinkling. It wasn't long before it was a downpour. Now I've run in the rain before, but this time there was lightning and thunder. And it was pretty close. A few cars stopped and offered us rides, but we only had about two miles to go (I think) so we stuck it out and just ran a little faster.

We ran by a fire department in Homewood and the firemen told us we were dedicated. It wasn't raining when we started, I think if it had been, I would have rolled over and gone back to bed! But we got thoroughly soaked.

I went to the YMCA to shower and change and made the mistake of leaving my wet shoes and running clothes in the trunk of my car for 2 days which was not a good idea! It was pretty rank in there when I took them out and washed them. I washed them twice just for good measure!