The marathon that makes me want to stop running.

The basics:

• slowest marathon EVER.
• three miles completely uphill. with no breaks.
• twenty mile an hour winds.
• forty six degrees
• steady, heavy rain.

More details to follow. Needless to say, this was not my favorite. However I do have another 26.2 knot in my belt. That makes me smile. But really, that is it.

a little perspective, and also in honor of MLK day:

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) American civil rights leader Nobel Peace Prize winner

Redding.

Redding is Sunday. I am prepared. My foot feels good. My joints are flowing nicely. I feel like this is going to be a good course that I am really going to enjoy. My darling family is following me to the fantastic city of Redding, CA to carbo load and cheer for me. For that, I am forever grateful. I must say, that having a "real" time goal is really freaking me out.

Helpful tips?

The shake weight.

So this crazy looking thing that is toted on infomercials has caught my eye. I think that I am going to spend twenty of my hard earned dollars to see if this can really give me Michelle Obabama arms in just six minutes a day. It should be coming soon, so I will let you know. Has anyone used it? What do you think?

Running goals.

• Run eight more marathons.
• Get pregnant.
• Run my entire pregnancy.

Mobile blog test.

This is me sitting at my desk. Wanting to run. Working and seeing if I can mobile blog. Happy running!

Cold, crisp and just right.

When I come home from a run, I often say to RT and G that, "I feel like a new woman." My post run shower then makes me repeat this testament.

I love this feeling. It is honestly what started my running path. Feeling like a new woman with a new outlook is something that absolutely blows my skirt in just the right way. I still get this feeling during the winter, but motivating myself to get out the door and do it is so much more difficult. (Please note that I do not feel like a new woman after logging treadmill miles. NOT AT ALL.)

But today, today was perfect. Cool, crisp and just right. I did not have to push myself out the door. I did not have to take the big deep, dig down, just do it. I got out and by three minutes in, I knew why I was pounding the pavement.

One foot in front of the other. Before I knew it, I had gone fifteen. Fifteen mile and I think I really should have pounded out a few more.

I love that. I love running. I love it when the perfect running day comes in to play. And often, a perfect running day makes for a perfect all around day.