Music Takes Me Places

I can't believe it's been over 3 weeks since my last update! What in the WORLD have I been doing besides training for a marathon?! We had quite a few parties.  New Year's and a few birthday's...like my daughter's and then my 34th.  Wait no, I'm 36.  I think. Sorry.  I am not one of those people that fakes my age, I just stopped keeping track after 30.  Thirty starts the decade celebrations, which means I don't have to celebrate until I'm 40.

But I have been running a lot.  I have logged 156.83 miles since the start of my marathon training.  I challenged some friends to running the most miles in January. (I am winning by the way...don't tell them.) I issued this challenge to make sure I would get out there on those ridiculously cold and dark days.  It's working so far, and I am pretty sure it pushes some of my friends to run a few more miles then they would have. I also issued the 100 day burpee challenge to family and friends as well.  We are on day 19.  Don't know what that is? Google it and give it a try.  It's a love/hate thing.

Last Sunday I had one of my best runs ever.  Half-marathon distance of 13.1 miles.  It was a cold and extremely foggy morning.  I threw on my reflective vest and put the Bond Station on Pandora.  I haven't listened to them in forever and it was perfect.  Along one of the park trails I could see a shadow up ahead.  It definitely wasn't human.  It was too big to be a bear.  I kept on running toward it.  Then like something out of a movie scene, the fog parts and a huge, beautiful black horse passes through.  The music that was playing provided the perfect soundtrack to it's entrance.  It was majestic.

Athletes focus on every aspect of their training.  I am not sure what marathon runners do, but I can't think about running for that long.  Of course, it will take me a little more than twice their time to finish one.  My mind constantly wanders.  I think about work, family, shopping lists, laundry, etc.  Some days I imagine a completely differently world.  Shortly after the horse, the music to James Bond 007 came on and instantly I turned into a secret agent.  I quieted my steps and sprinted from tree to tree.  Okay, maybe that's what ninjas do, but I think you get the idea.  Next I was William Wallace, Jack Sparrow, Trinity, Pocahontas....and that gave me an idea.  What if I just started running around town in a different costume? People do it during races, but how many people do you see randomly running around town as cupid, or a superhero? Maybe a clown suit? Don't be surprised if you see an update about that in the future.  But like I said, it was one of the best runs ever.  I didn't reach my personal best, but I came close and I felt great.

I am really busy this weekend and won't have time for a long run.  I really need to get it in, so I moved it to Friday.  It was a terrible run.  My calves felt tight and immobile, my feet hurt ,and  I had aches in pains in various places.  The wind was biting cold.  It felt like skiing, except without the skis, snow, speed, and hot chocolate in the end.  Only hours later I discovered that I went out in the wrong sneakers.  How does one do that?! I have been sore since. Great excuse to get a massage!

And on a side note, still no bear.......................................................................................

                                         (My favorite sign along one of my routes.)

Please donate to my cause "Running for Research" with the Massage Therapy Foundation