the good, the bad and the ugly

The Good: I ran tonight (albeit on the treadmill) and I wasn't tired and my legs didn't feel heavy...

The Bad: It was far from a reaffirming runnning experience... though it was better.

The Ugly: My left shin was tight for the entire run. I stopped twice to stretch and it helped (a little). This happened on Sunday as well, but went away eventually. I am hoping for better things tomorrow. I did try one of these tonight after my run and it felt great.

Early to bed tonight. Trying to cash in as much sleep time as possible. Four and a half days to go...

he sleeps (finally)

I finally had a good nights sleep.

I don't remember waking up, tossing or turning. I slept-in a little this morning too. I woke up feeling good as new... I am hoping that tonights run is a redemption from Sunday.

Keeping my fingers crossed...

thank you running jayhawk

I just read this and I went from feeling blah to feeling much better. Thank you Running Jayhawk - this was quite a pre-marathon present for us all.

message in a bottle...

"I'll send an SOS to the world I'll send an SOS to the world I hope that someone gets my Message in a bottle..."

I just had the worst run of my life - I'm positive of it.

On my schedule was a mere 8 miles. After 3 miles I was exhausted, my legs felt like lead, but I pushed on, thinking it would get better. I got to my turn around point and headed back. I had to stop twice for just a few seconds to stretch a little and to catch my breath...

WTF?!?!? I felt like I hadn't run in weeks! I didn't even finish my 8 miles. I cut it short by a mile. It was just too much. I even tried to push myself to finish the last mile - telling myself it was an end of marathon simulation and I had to push myself to keep going.

Nope.

That didn't work.

The other side of my brain spoke up and said, "Cut it short, prevent injury, your form is all over the place! Besides, 7 miles isn't too shabby at MP anyway." And I did average my MP for the run, but it was just torture.

I am trying to figure out what has caused this to happen. I think I know what it is and I will be fine by the marathon. I probably did something I wasn't supposed to do... but it was a good thing...

I donated blood.

Now normally when I do this, I have never had any problems running the next day. Today, though, you'd have thought I'd never run in my life! A painful experience all around and it is not settling well on my mind. Not what I needed a week before the big day...

One more MP run on Wednesday and a couple of recovery runs...I sure hope they feel better than this run...

Has anyone else ever suffered in a run like this before?

es muy frio!

It is cold outside (in case you didn't notice).

I mean seriously.

This morning is 33 degrees, but feels like 27... not. ready. for. this. yet.

Last night during my run it felt like 27, but it was apparently in the low 40's... sunny, but very windy, so it felt in the range of the mid 30's. I got a new long sleeve technical shirt on the way home and decided to try it out. I wish I could say I was warm, but it took me 3 miles to "warm up". I wanted to run outside though to prepare myself for the possibility of it being that cold at the beginning of the marathon... it looks like it just might be... a low in the 30's Saturday night. But with the possibility of it getting up into the 50's, it should be great weather - pay no attention to the 30% chance of precipitation. These are odds I can live with. I haven't had to run any of my runs in the rain when the forecast was 30% or less...

On another note, I received an e-mail on an update to the marathon movie, "Land Of The Gods" Read below for the content:

For all of you, who have patiently been waiting for a "Land of the Gods" update, please be the first to visit the film's new site - www.marathonmovie.com - which went online today complete with our most recent trailer. Also, look for the film trailer on the main stage at this year's Chicago Marathon Expo as well as on the giant screens at the finish line. -Producers "Land of the Gods: The Legend of the Marathon"

Can't wait to see this movie!