I think each one of us is questioning our feelings and wondering if something has robbed us of our goal-setting abilities or stolen our desire. I KNOW if we don’t make a decision our marathon opportunities will slip away, and we will regret our decision or lack thereof.

It isn’t about running. I know I will keep going without hesitation, but will I run a big race this year? I don’t know. I just don’t know.

Stay tuned…

So, on Tuesday, I got up up an hour early. I did my cross-training (as I mentioned in my previous post). I read a little on my Nook. I got up at 5:25 on Wednesday, instead of 5:00 as I had on Tuesday, and I read and just enjoyed some quiet time with nothing scheduled, nothing that had to be done. Both days, I found that I had more energy, even later in the day when I expected to be tired from getting up early. I was more productive and accomplished more items from my to-do list than I typically do. It was great! I loved it, and I plan on keeping it up. 

However, today, I was going to get up when my alarm went off, but reset it just in case I dozed off, and thinking I’d just closed my eyes a second, I was very surprised that my alarm could already be going off again 25 minutes later. I was even more surprised that when I looked again, it was 5:55! I was lucky that I didn’t oversleep and had time to get ready for work, but I can sure tell a difference today. Looks like I might need to remember that early to bed is necessary too. 

~ Megan

A good start

It’s an early morning for me. I decided to get up an hour early to have some time to read and train this morning. My hour is nearly up, but it was a nice, peaceful start to another busy work week.

Training Marathon #3 is just getting fired up. I made a decision yesterday that I was going to do another spring marathon this year, and I chose a plan that I think will work better with my schedule for the semester. I was really going back and forth, but my husband found an app that really helped! I am not one to turn to an app, but he knew I was trying to decide and happened to run across this particular app (of course, I can’t remember the name now) that made it easy!

So, since I started in week 3 day 2 of the training plan, I did my cross-training with lifting weights, core work, and stretching. Here’s to a great work week!

~ Megan

Saturday, I ran ten miles, followed Sunday by five, and again today, another five. Of the three, today felt the best, and the weather was actually the worst. The temperature was +5* and the wind was 14 mph and gusty from the north. But, somehow, today, it felt great to be outside and running.

I am sure I have probably posted this before, but it feels appropriate to post it again. I found it in a magazine and it is taped to my mirror. As an introvert and a fear-filled one at that, these words are a reminder I need EVERY day.

I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire.

I choose to inhabit my days to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid,

more accessible,

to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance, to live so that which came to me as seed goes to the next as blossom, and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.

–Dawna Markova

I also think back over my week. My 95-year-old aunt passed away this week and her passing cannot help but bring memories of her brother, my dad, back to me. Photographs of my aunt and her sisters have been posted on Facebook and in their faces I see my father as a young boy. Stories about her bring to mind how my dad’s family grew up and how his very life is reflected in my own.

I see in the faces of his sisters those dark eyes and quiet ways. Dad didn’t talk much, but I loved when he laughed. He was not easy going nor was he patient, but he explained some important things to me growing up and I draw upon them often. I think I grew up with a different man than my own sisters. His life had changed by the time I was in my teens, and we used to sit together while I did my homework and he read the paper. We often ate breakfast together as well.

In late December, the New York Times ran an article called “The Joy of Quiet” and the piece resonated with me. It was written by Pico Iyer and I want to share a snippet of what was written:

“We barely have enough time to see how little time we have (most Web pages, researchers find, are visited for 10 seconds or less). And the more that floods in on us (the Kardashians, Obamacare, “Dancing with the Stars”), the less of ourselves we have to give to every snippet. All we notice is that the distinctions that used to guide and steady us — between Sunday and Monday, public and private, here and there — are gone.

“We have more and more ways to communicate, as Thoreau noted, but less and less to say.”

Today’s run is my scheduled long one for the week. I plan on using the time to disconnect with the world, find some solitude, and enjoy being at peace. Perhaps you will find some time to do the same. I hope so. :)

Instead, Elizabeth decided to change my plans.  She didn’t fall asleep until 11 p.m., and she woke me with, “Mama, mama,” at 4:20 a.m.  Fortunately, she is typically an excellent sleeper.  She goes to bed easily, and she is really cooperative for me.  So, I cannot complain.  I was still disappointed in last night because it was tough to head out for a run after a short night of rest.

Fortunately, Elizabeth has also started to ask to “yun.”  She goes over to the stroller and asks for me to go for a “yun.”  What could possibly provide better motivation for getting outside to run than a daughter who is anxious to get out the door in her stroller.  I have a training buddy who won’t get tired…because she’s not running. :D

Finally, I’m announcing it.  While I haven’t yet registered, I am planning to run the Cleveland Marathon on May 20.  I am looking forward to challenging myself to run a better time.  I think it will be interesting to repeat the course.  I hope it makes it less challenging.  I do find that familiar routes feel easier than unfamiliar routes in training.  I guess I’ll find out if that’s also true of a race.

Okay, here’s hoping that Elizabeth the Great is fast asleep even as I type.  Happy New Year and Happy Running!

-Carrie

Last year at this time, Megan and I decided to follow one of Hal Higdon’s training plans. It definitely helped me get stronger, but should I use the same one again? I think I need to do some serious research on the marathon itself. Once you have run one or two, the process is different. I don’t want to *just* finish, I want to run intelligently. Is that possible? The puzzlement continues.

Instead of allowing myself to skip my run, I got the laundry going, and once the dryers were running, I knew I had time if I hit the treadmill. So, I got ready, downloaded a free TV episode from iTunes, and headed to the fitness room. Fortunately, the treadmills were both open, and I was able to get my three miles in.

As much as I dislike the treadmill, I was happy to get the miles in today. The TV episode helped the miles to go by more quickly. The best part is I finished my errands, did the laundry, and finished my run!

~ Megan

Shadows on the snow

I finished my first six-mile run of the New Year. It was cold outside (+5* warming to +9*) during the run and required a face mask, but it was lovely anyway. The snow was only hard in spots having been driven by yesterday’s 30+ mph winds. The driveway had been scoured of snow for the most part, and in the yard, I had to push through heavy snow to make my loop.

Originally, I was going to run 4 miles, but I increased my goal to 5 miles because it felt good and the wind was almost nonexistent by Minnesota standards. In the end, I lost track of my mileage count and finished at 6.11 miles. The sunshine compensated for the cold, and anytime the wind isn’t a factor is a good thing!

There are a number of decisions that need to be made soon. If I am assuming a training plan, what plan will it be? Do I run another marathon, or do I just run? If I choose to run marathon number three, which marathon is it?

I am as anxious to discover the answers to these questions as anyone. I am guessing the other parts of Girls Go Running will factor in to any decisions I make. One step at a time, I guess, and remember to keep calm…

First of all, 2011 proved to be a real record-breaker for me. My total shows I finished the year with 1,520 miles of running! I am surprised since I ran only one marathon so most of my yearly total is miles I ran because I love to run. :) Cleveland was a lot of fun and as I look back it is truly one of the highlights of 2011 and of my life. Running with Carrie and Megan is absolutely the best, along with the fact that I got to see Ted and Megan finish their 5K that same weekend. Wonderful memories!

Snow-chugging fun

The last two days of the year, I logged my slowest miles to date. Chugging through the snow has worn my legs out, and I think today might be a day of rest. I wanted to run a few miles to kick off the New Year, but I will have to see. My legs may just balk too much to push them any more.

I have spent a lot of time on the road and seen considerable improvement in my time. I am not sure how that would translate to a race, but I am stronger at the close of this year than I have been in the past. That fact may just be the best achievement of the past year! :)

As you may have guessed after reading Megan’s post, another marathon is under consideration in the New Year. It is exciting to talk about the possibility, but there is also a bit of trepidation when it comes to committing to the training and devoting the time it takes to prepare. It also reminds me of what a great gift health is!

A resolution at the beginning of 2010 to take my running to a new level and finish a marathon has changed my running profile. It was not just the fulfillment of a dream, it changed how I see determination and dedication play out in my life. I believe you can do anything you set your mind to do. It might not look like you expected it to at the finish, but that should not stop you from reaching for the stars.

My inspirational running buddies!

Happy New Year to all! I wish you good health and a desire to reach for something you never thought you could do in the New Year! And, to my daughters, I say thank you for joining me on the run and for helping me believe when I faltered. You are an inspiration and the best running buddies ever. I love you!