My October Adventure...

...so I have officially signed up and registered for the Lewis and Clark FULL Marathon. Yes, you read that correctly, I said FULL as in 26.2 miles...at one time, as in I will be running/walking for probably 6+ hours at one time. Am I excited? Heck yeah! Am I nervous? Heck yeah! Have I lost my mind? Heck yeah!

So far my training has been really tough due to camp, the weather and a training schedule that was a bit too advanced for me. After making a couple adjustments, like deciding to use the original training plan I'd found and deciding to do my long runs inside on the treadmill (major boring) until it cools off, I feel like I'm back on track.

This past Friday, I was shooting for an 11 mile run but because of the heat I only made it 7. As I was walking part of the run and sweating out all the liquids in my body, I got to thinking about my running, life, this year and I decided that I didn't care how fast I finished this marathon, I just wanted to finish because when December 31st rolls around this year, I *need* to look back and see the accomplishments I've made throughout 2010 (more on that at another time but just roll with it for now, k?).

The marathon is October 3. Seriously could it have been on any worst day??? This is the day after the double weddings that Matt is supposed to be in both and I'm DOC in one. BUT I picked this one because it has a 9 hour time limit which are 20 minute miles. Currently, when the heat isn't above 100+, I am running between 12-12:30 minute miles. I completed my half marathon in 2 hours and 47 minutes so if I run that first half and even walk the second half, I should still be well under the 9 hour limit (of course I'm hoping I can run more than walk). PLUS the best pacing partner in the world, Sherrie (who I met on Daily Mile) is coming all the way from Kansas to stay by my side the entire 26.2. Here we are after the half, pigtails and pink were our signature so we'll have to come up with something for this race too.

Want to know how even more awesomer (yes I just made that word up) Sherrie is? As though coming all the way from Kansas to run at a MUCH slower pace than she's used to, this woman is running ANOTHER marathon just two weeks later which classifies her as a marathon maniac! She's set a goal of running a marathon in all 50 states before she's 50 and invited me to join her in some of her races which sounds really awesome but I've got to get through this one first!

Another side note is that I just read an article about splitting your long runs. This article was suggested by an ultra marathoner (this is a person that runs any distance longer than 26.2 miles at one time), Greg-you might remember him from my half, he runs with the American Flag (a HUGE one) at every race he's in and gave me some great tips during the half to help me finish. Anyways, it basically said that for slow-pokes like myself (10 minute or longer miles) that you really shouldn't be running for longer than 2.5-3 hours at a time during your train because you're just putting more strain on your body and putting yourself in a position to injure yourself due to overuse.

Here's an excerpt from the article with the point I'm trying to make:

"In other words, no one single run is what prepares you for your race. It is the effect of training your body over weeks and months — and the ability to focus that fitness on the big day with your race execution — that will give you the results you seek. Your can reap the benefits of a 45 mile run week by splitting that long 20 miler into two efforts without suffering the consequences of putting 50 percent of your weekly mileage into one session and overwhelming your body."

The article also suggests the best way to split your long runs. After reading this article, I am not nearly as overwhelmed with the long runs coming up for me in September (17, 18 and 20 miles three weeks in a row!). As I've said before, I heart Daily Mile-it's full of great people who encourage you, help you out, explain things to you and some of them even drive across the state to run in your first marathon with you.

Okay, so this post is a little all over the place but I'm excited (if you can't tell). So for the rest of the Saturdays from now until October 3, you know where I'll be...running!