Speed workout, week 2.

This morning I made a fun discovery on our treadmill: it has pre-programmed speed training workouts!  My training schedule actually had me doing a 5 mile run at my goal race pace.  That seemed a little daunting, since I've set my goal at 9 minute miles, that means I would have had to run 5 miles on the treadmill set to 6.8mph!  As I said last week, running on the treadmill seems so much harder, I'm not sure I could hold that pace for that long.  So instead, I've decided that until the weather clears up and I'm doing my speed workouts outside, I'm going to do intervals using the treadmill.  I started this morning with a 20 minute program that topped out at 4.0mph, and did that as a warm-up.  Then I did a 30 minute program that gradually works up to 6.0, then goes from 4.5 to 6.0mph in regular intervals for 6 repeats, then a gradual taper back down to 3.0mph for a couple of minutes to cool down.  This feels like a great way for me to work on increasing my speed, because it's helping me become familiar with how my body feels as I change paces, and what it should feel like to go closer to my goal pace.  Hopefully, when I get outside to run, I will be better able to gauge my pace just by how it feels, instead of allowing myself to slip back into a slower pace.  After the speed intervals, I repeated the first 20 minute workout as additional cool down, even though part of it was running, it felt like a cool down.  In the end, I did a little over 4 miles and 70 minutes total on the treadmill and then did 12 minutes on the elliptical.

Training round 2...week 2.

This morning my hamstrings are so tight, that it seems like no amount of stretching will make the tension ease up.  It's funny, before I started running, I was very flexible, probably from all the Yoga and Pilates, but because of the motions used for running, I have decreased flexibility.  I'm going to have to work on that.  Anyway, with 2 feet of fresh snow on the ground, I opted to do my run on the treadmill this morning.  I started out with a few minutes at a walking pace, then ran for 4 miles.  I did an additional 15 minutes of walking to cool down.  Then I also did 30 minutes on the elliptical, mainly because I was really into an episode of The Biggest Loser, and I didn't want to just sit and watch it...I have to keep moving!

A day of rest.

This morning I woke up pretty sore from yesterday's run.  I'm not sure if it's because it's only been two weeks since the marathon and I pushed a little too hard, or if it has more to do with the fact that I had to run "weird" because of the ice and snow on the roads yesterday.  Either way, even though today is officially a rest day, I did 20 minutes of Pilates to help stretch and loosen my leg muscles.

Yesterday on my run, probably around the point that I had to walk for a bit due to the extreme wind, ice and cold, my legs were feeling the strain and I was starting to get tired and hungry, I found myself doing a little internal pep-talk.  What I heard myself say was, "I have legs.  Use them! I have arms.  Use them!  I can breathe.  Do it!"  For some reason I was thinking about all the amazing people out there who love running so much, that they overcome challenges like prosthetic limbs, or any host of chronic illnesses in order to accomplish their running goals.  My biggest challenge is in making my un-athletic body do something that doesn't come naturally or easily.  My mindset is right, now I have to train my body to behave!  I can go the distance, if I incorporate some walking, but I'd really like to do some faster and stronger running.  That's my main mission during this second round of marathon training, and I will do it even in the freezing temperatures and snowy roads.

If you really want to get some inspiration, I mean, serious inspiration, go to this link on RunnersWorld.com and watch the series of videos about Matt Long, a NYC firefighter who returned to running, and did a marathon nonetheless, after a horrific accident where he was hit by a bus while on a training run.  He is amazing.
http://www.runnersworld.com/video/1,8052,s6-21-0-7,00.html?bcpid=2888992001&bclid=9525747001

Cold Long Run.

This morning was a kick-your-butt kind of a long run.  After bundling up in layers, and wearing my trail running shoes, hoping for more traction on the icy roads, I headed outside for a 12 mile run.  The first half I felt really good.  In fact, I didn't stop at all until mile 5.8, when I decided to walk for a minute to take some water and fuel.  At that point, I had reached what I like to refer to as the "wind tunnel", a section of this particular route that is always windy, and I mean windy!  Between the strong winds and the temperature in the teens, my face was starting to feel like it might crack if I moved my lips or cheeks at all.  Once I got past the really windy stretch, I started to run again.  I could tell by some aches and pains in my legs that I was having to change my gait to accommodate for the ice covered snow pack on the road.  There were sections that were very slick, and other parts where trucks had distributed sand and salt on the shoulder helped make the run a little less stressful.

All in all, it was a good, challenging run.  It felt nice, two weeks out from the marathon, to do a run of that distance.  By the time I reached home, my Garmin said I had done 12.45 miles, but that included a bit of a walking cool down.  I also did 25 minutes of Pilates to help stretch out my legs.

Post-holiday workout.

This morning is a rest/cross training day.  I started out with 30 minutes on the elliptical, followed by 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill.  I am hoping to get in 30 minutes of Pilates later today, but since we came home from a family Thanksgiving dinner last night with an extra kid, I don't have time to do it right now.  I'm feeling good these days, and I'm ready to do a nice long run tomorrow.

Baby, it's cold outside!

After doing yesterday's run on the treadmill, I was ready to get back outside for a 3 mile run today.  Unfortunately...

I did bundle up and head out, but I only made it through my run half way before the pain in various parts of my body from the cold helped me come to the realization that it wasn't worth getting frostbite.  So, I came back home, and did the second half of my run on the treadmill.  Now I feel good to go for the large meal I have ahead of me...Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Speed workout.

This morning my schedule had me doing a 2 mile run...at my goal race pace.  I've tried to be realistic in setting my goal pace.  Really what it boils down to is what I would like to see as my next marathon time, and I based my minute/mile pace on that.  Up until now, I have pretty consistently done 10 minute miles when doing shorter runs (4 miles or less), and my long run pace usually goes more like 11:30 - 13 minute miles, depending on how I'm feeling.  So, I've set my goal as 9 minute miles, and that is what I will be working toward.  Since we are in the single digit temperatures today, I did my speed workout on the treadmill.  I don't know what it is about running on the treadmill, but it feels a lot harder than running outside.  I started out with a 1/4 mile warm-up, with the treadmill set to a speed of 4.0, then I bumped the speed up to 6.6 mph (9 minutes per mile), and ran at that pace for 1/4 mile.  I repeated this sequence 4 times, or until I reached 2 miles, then I slowed the speed back to 4.0 and did another mile, for a total of 3 miles.  Running on the treadmill at 6.6 feels like I am really pushing hard.  I was sweating profusely and my legs were feeling a little wobbly.

After I finished on the treadmill, I also did a 30 minute workout on the elliptical, and then 35 minutes of Pilates.  I plan to do a speed workout like this at least once a week, maybe twice.  I figure, even if I can't maintain that pace for the whole 26.2, it has to help me increase my speed at least a little, and any improvement in that area is good.

Snow Day.

This morning the kids are home from school due to blizzard conditions.  My schedule has today as a cross training day anyway, which works out well.  I did a 30 minute program on the elliptical, then I walked on the treadmill for another 30 minutes while watching the first episode of The Biggest Loser season 10 on Hulu.com.  That show is always good for some intense motivation and inspiration.  Now maybe I'll go outside and play in the snow with the kids!

Let's get it started!

Today officially begins my new training schedule, starting out with a 3 mile run.  Here's what I had facing me:

I actually sat in the car for a minute, after dropping the kids off at school, and contemplated going in the house and using the treadmill for my run.  Then it occurred to me, this is what I'll be contending with for the next 5 months, so if I want to do any of my training runs outside, I might as well get accustomed to running in the snow and wind.  That part is a bit inconvenient, though I do find the snow and cool temperatures refreshing, I worry most about slipping and getting injured.  I decided to head over to the park, because even though the path was covered in several inches of snow, at least I didn't have any traffic to deal with as I ran headstrong into the blowing wind.  Later this week, sub-zero temperatures are headed our way ~ yippee!

Anyway, my run went well, and once I got going, it wasn't too bad to run with snow packed to the bottoms of my running shoes. ;)  When I got home, I did 35 minutes of Pilates.

My Running Playlist!

Stronger ~ Mary J. Blige
Poker Face ~ Lady GaGa
Naturally ~ Selena Gomez
Survivor ~ Destiny's Child
The Motions ~ Mathew West
Lift Me Up ~ Kate Voegle
Asi Es La Vida ~ Ricky Martin
She Wolf ~ Shakira
Welcome to the World ~ Kevin Rudolph
Lose Yourself ~ Eminem
Human ~ The Killers
Free to be Me ~ Francesca Battistelli
Hey, Soul Sister ~ Train
Forever Young ~ Alphaville
Welcome to the Show ~ Britt Nicole
All I Ever Wanted ~ Kelly Clarkson
This Town ~ O.A.R.
Incomplete ~ Backstreet Boys
Big Time Rush ~ Big Time Rush
Stronger ~ Britney Spears
Shine ~ Barbie and the Diamond Castle Soundtrack
Rise ~ Eddie Vedder
Never Die Young ~ James Taylor
My Love ~ Justin Timberlake
Wanted ~ The Cranberries
In The End ~ Linkin Park
Starlight ~ Muse
The Bird and the Worm ~ Owl City
Disturbia ~ Rihanna
Give It Up To Me ~ Shakira
Dynamite ~ Taio Cruz
Christina Aguillera ~ Fighter
Walk on the Water ~ Britt Nicole
Pink ~ Please Don't Leave
Running ~ No Doubt
Say ~ John Mayer
How We Roll ~ Britt Nicole
Full Moon ~ The Black Ghosts
Supermassive Black Hole ~ Muse
Summertime ~ NKOTB (Yeah, baby!)
Sweet Dreams ~ Beyonce
Cowboy Casanova ~ Carrie Underwood
Impossible ~ Kelly Clarkson
Party in the USA ~ Miley Cyrus
Cup of Life ~ Ricky Martin
Believe ~ Delta Goodrem
Stronger ~ Kanye West
Just Dance ~ Lady GaGa
Heartless ~ Kris Allen
Salvation ~ The Cranberries
If I Can't Have You ~ Kelly Clarkson

Some of these songs are movement motivators: the beat makes you get going!  Some are inspirational to me: I mean, I actually listen to the lyrics and let them soak in as I'm running.  And some are just plain guilty pleasures: maybe I should be embarrassed to admit some of them (thank you, NKOTB)!  Hopefully some of you will find new songs here to add to your lists; I know I'm always on the lookout for new workout music.  :)

One week out.

I had a talk with my local marathoner friend earlier this week.  She was telling me about how this fall, after running the Pocatello Marathon, she ran a 22 miler one week later, then two weeks after that, ran the St. George, UT Marathon, and had never felt better.  After mulling that over for a while, I decided to do a decent run this morning.  I woke up to pouring rain, but that didn't deter me, of course.  I did 9 miles.  I ran until about 4.5 miles, then I walked up a hill, then started running again.  My legs were feeling literally like Jell-O.  I was probably pushing it, but the rain helped distract me from the pain.  I was reminded of a point during the marathon last week when, around mile 20, I saw the words: "The Pain Is Temporary!  Run!"  Spray painted on the ground.

Anyway, I made it the 9 miles, with a little more walking around mile 8.  When I got home, I also did 35 minutes of Pilates, and I'm feeling a little better now that I'm out of my soaking wet clothes and shoes.  :)

Just doing whatever.

This morning I went for a walk at the park for about 3 and 1/4 miles.  I'm feeling antsy to start my new training schedule.  It feels so strange to not be regimented.  My hamstrings are feeling pretty tight today, so I thought a brisk walk would help loosen things up.

Recovery continued.

This morning I decided to do my first run since the marathon.  I warmed up a little bit before leaving the house, then I did a 3 mile run.  I wasn't necessarily pushing myself, because my legs still feel stiff and my hamstrings are still a little bit sore.  I was pleased to see on my Garmin when I finished my run that I did the run in just over 30 minutes, which equates to 10 minute miles.  Not too bad.  When I got home, I also did 35 minutes of Pilates.

Easing into it.

This morning I woke up feeling energetic once again.  After doing some research yesterday, I read that most experts suggest taking at least a week off completely from running after a marathon, then gradually easing back into a routine of some kind.  I decided to go walking this morning, and I did 3.5 miles.  It felt great to get outside.  I did find a training schedule that I think will work well for me to keep me going and help me prepare for a spring marathon, and I will start working from that schedule starting on Monday.

A new beginning.

Well, here I am, going on day 3 post-race.  I actually feel a little strange and out of sorts.  On the one hand, it feels so good to have accomplished my goal and to know I can allow myself a few days rest and recovery.  On the other hand, after living, breathing and sleeping a set training schedule for so long, I kind of don't know what to do with myself!  I did finally get motivated enough (late) this morning to do 35 minutes of Pilates, which felt really good.  My hamstrings are what I'm nursing the most right now.  The backs of my thighs are more sore today than they were yesterday, strangely.  All in all, though, I'm happy with how strong I still feel after finishing the marathon.

Now I have new goals, and for those of you who have enjoyed following my blog thus far, stay tuned.  Soon I'll be starting a new training schedule, after I do some research and find one that suits my needs.  Sometime in the next few weeks, weather permitting, I also plan to run the Pocatello Marathon route in it's entirety, just for myself.  Now that I'm confident I can go the distance, and on a difficult course like Rim Rock nonetheless, I'm curious to see what I can do time-wise on a less strenuous route, and without any pressure.  But first, I need to get my legs back...fully!  :)

It's in the details...

Now that the events of yesterday have had time to sink in, and our family has returned home from our trip to Colorado, I thought I'd post at least a few of my thoughts and memories of the marathon experience.

First of all, I have to say that as most of you know, this journey wasn't about just one day, it has been about the culmination of approximately 9 months of training, hard work and diligence.  During that time I had tried to mentally prepare myself for the anxiety or nervousness I knew I would be feeling on the cusp of the big event.  As the day approached and we were getting ready to head out of town, I was feeling surprisingly relaxed and only mildly nervous.  Unfortunately, there are some things that are out of my control, and as Murphy's Law dictates, those are the very things that can sneak in and sabotage any great man-made plan.  As I tried to get one restful night's sleep on Wednesday, before our planned early departure Thursday morning, my husband tossed and turned, until finally uttering the words : "Honey, you awake?  I'm really sick."  And sick he was.  By the time Thursday morning arrived, I had managed to eek out about 3 hours of sleep, and my poor husband was suffering some awful stomach flu symptoms.  Nevertheless, our trip began, as we started the 7 hour drive, having to make frequent stops, and I internally fretted about the possibility of me and the kids contracting the same flu and what that might mean for my race on Saturday.  For 9 months I have somehow managed to ward off virtually all illnesses, with only one head cold that I can remember during that time (during my half-marathon).  What are the odds that we would have the stomach flu run through our family the weekend of my first marathon?!

We eventually made it to the hotel in Fruita, Colorado, after a white-knuckle drive through Utah.  We tried to get settled in our room, went to the store to buy a few groceries, all the while I was feeling more and more stressed out about the looming possibilities. I was determined to not let all my hard work be for naught, but I kept thinking, how will I run 26.2 miles if I'm feeling nauseous?  That night, Thursday night, Chris started to feel better, but at around 11pm, after we had finally settled in to sleep, my husband and I were awakened to our 4 year old throwing up and crying.  Yep, here it comes.  I knew it.  The rest of that night's events are a blur.  He was up every couple of hours until morning, running to the toilet for one reason or another.  Oh, and at some point around midnight, my 9 year old also decided to join in the fun, and he also started regular vomiting.  Yeah, I think I got about 3 hours of sleep, for the second night in a row.  On Friday, our plan had been to let the kids swim in the hotel pool, relax and get ready for the race the next day. Again, Murphy thought it would be funny if the hotel pool/hot tub would be under repairs and closed for the first two days of our hotel stay. I was not happy. I'm not sure if I was more stressed about the fact that I was going on such little sleep going into race day, or worried about any twinge in my gut turning into full-blown stomach flu.

True to form, the marathon challenge continued as I mentally tried to conquer my emotions and control my anxiety level.  I spent most of Friday afternoon visiting with my friend and running companion.  We picked up our race packets in the evening, and then as our families gathered together at her home for a pre-race meal of pizza from Hot Tomatoes (at least those of us who still had an appetite), I felt distracted enough to make it through until it was time to go back to the hotel and attempt a good night's sleep.

I will say that, even though I woke up several times during the night due to nervous excitement, I actually slept pretty well.  No one was sick, and the kids all slept soundly.  At 4:30am, I felt wide awake, so I quietly got up and ate a banana, drank some water, then laid back down to try to sleep until 6, when my friend would be giving me my wake up call.  I was able to doze on and off for about another hour, but then I just gave in and got up and started getting ready.  I did some stretching, ate some raisins, got all my gear ready...and said a few prayers!  And thankfully, I have the most awesome husband on the planet.  I could tell he felt so badly when he was sick, worrying about how it was going to affect this day, but he was feeling better and stronger by Saturday morning.  He took care of the kids all day, made sure to get lots of photos of me and my running partner, the kids, the scenery, the race course, and anything else he thought we might later find meaningful, and he gave (and gives) me all the love, support and encouragement I could ever ask for.  One of the best parts of this whole experience, for me at least, has been being able to share every detail with my loving husband.

At 6:45am, my friend met me at the hotel, and we made our way over to the shuttle that would take all the runners to to the starting line.  Once I was with my dear friend, our camaraderie helped ease a lot of the nervousness and just being able to talk with each other helped the time slip by.  Once at the starting line, there wasn't much of a wait.  We were given our timing chips, which were in a strap we had to Velcro around our ankles.  It was a small crowd of runners, only about 200 of us.  Most of the Rim Rockers, as we came to be known, were more seasoned marathoners.  Those in the know would never willingly choose Rim Rock as the first timers marathon - yes, my friend and I were nuts!

Anyway, at 8am the start came, and we all took off.  I was feeling really good, but my friend, who had not had a very good night's sleep, was suffering a little bit of GI distress.  We had agreed to stick together, and just follow our bodies' lead, doing a run/walk combination as we saw fit.  Our goal was to finish, and finish together.

The weather could not have been more perfect.  It was cool - around 28 degrees when we started the race.  The sky was clear, and as the sun came up, it turned the red rock of the cliffs and canyons of the Colorado National Monument bright orange and pink.  As we made the twisting, turning 2100 foot elevation ascent during the first 11 or 12 miles, the scenery was breathtaking.  The hills were hard, I'm not going to lie.  We were huffing and puffing a little, but I was very happy with how things were going.  We were able to run a good portion of those first 10 miles, with some minimal walking breaks, particularly at aid stations, and any other time we needed them.  After we reached the high point, topping out at around 6450 feet above sea level, we were still feeling very good.  Tired, but good.  We were having so much fun and enjoying the run.  At some point around mile 13, we came around a curve to see my husband and kids!  It was a joyous moment for me, and gave me a boost in spirits that lightened our steps for a while.  After a few hugs and kisses, we took off running again.

Things continued to go well, as we used our method of running for as much as we could, then walking for a bit to catch our breath and recoup.  We made it to mile 20 at approximately 4 hours, which we were very pleased with considering all the crazy hills we had endured.  Unfortunately, at that point my companion's stomach troubles had worsened considerably.  She was so strong and tough, pushing through some very severe cramping.  We stopped at the aid stations, where we fueled as necessary.  I was starting to get worried about my friend, though.  She was having episodes of extreme lightheadedness, alternating with abdominal cramping, and I was just praying that she would pull through and we could finish strong together.  As her symptoms would come in waves of varying severity, we were able to run in spurts and gain some ground periodically on those last 6.2 miles, but unfortunately we weren't able to make full efficient use of those awesome down hills.  As we pushed through and made it to the point where we only had about 3 miles to go, I have to say that my hamstrings and the front of my lower legs were on fire, but thankfully the GI issues that I had experienced during some of my long training runs were kept under control with Imodium, and I was feeling pretty good in that sense.  At about that point we also saw my running partner's husband and kids on the sidelines to cheer us on and run with us for a minute, and again we got a much needed jolt of enthusiasm.

Finally we were on the home stretch.  Less than 3 miles to go.  The longest 3 miles EVER!  When we got to the turn off from the main road that took us down a short trail and into the park where the finish line was located, I could hear the cheering crowd and the music playing, and my heart was in my throat.  At that point, I couldn't hold back my emotions at all.  I saw my husband and kids, and with my running companion at my side, I was making the realization that we had done it!  We had gone 26.2 long and difficult miles,  running our hearts out, walking when we had to, we did it!  Though I had read many stories of other  people's first marathon experiences, it didn't prepare me for the sincere sense of accomplishment that comes with knowing we completed our goal and conquered something so difficult.

As far as my recovery has gone, I'm actually amazed at how great I feel.  I'm definitely sore, but I slept like a baby last night, and it's nothing worse than anything I've felt after my other long runs.  I'm already scheming in my head a plan for the next marathon I want to train for in the Spring of 2011, so I guess that means the running thing has gotten to me!

And finally, for those of you interested in race times, we didn't have a fast run.  Because of all that came into play, particularly during the last 6 or so miles and the walking that we needed to do, we weren't able to maintain our usual pace.  Our finish time was 5:49.  I figure, it was our first attempt, and hey, now there's definitely room for improvement!  :)

Grand Finale!!

The complete race re-cap will come in the days to follow.  Tonight, I am looking forward to a great night's sleep after an awesome and memorable day!

Day 270.

On the eve of the big day, I'm feeling nervous, but excited.  It's been an interesting, eventful day.  I'll post more about the details in the days following the race.  My superstitious side is getting the best of me, and I just want to get a few decent hours of sleep and be prepared to do my best tomorrow.  It's supposed to be pretty cold in the morning, but not snowing or raining, so that sounds good.  I did enjoy a few hours of reconnecting with my dear friend, and I know we're going to have a great time running together tomorrow.  The next time I post on this blog, I will be a new woman...a marathoner! :)

Day 269.

And......we're off!!  Stay tuned...

Day 268.

This morning I awoke to an even snowier day.  It's pretty, and I ventured out for a short 2 mile run in the white stuff.  I'm feeling so energized right now.  I feel like a little kid in anticipation of Christmas morning.  I also did 35 minutes of Pilates after my run.  Now, I'm off to start packing!

Day 267.

Portneuf Valley, Idaho

This morning I did a 4 mile run.  On these very cold, wet mornings, the hardest part is getting started.  It's a struggle to leave the warmth of the house and head out into the wind and cold.  But the great thing is, once I'm out there and have run a mile or two, my body warms up (a little!) and it feels so refreshing and cool.  It's so beautiful where we live, and this morning, the fresh layer of snow made my run feel like I was in a mint gum commercial ~ it was great!  After my run, I did 35 minutes of Pilates.  I'm feeling good and excited to get this show on the road!

Day 266.

This morning I continued with my pre-race taper, doing a 3 mile run in the rain~snow, (it was raining when I started, but was snowing when I finished)!  I never would have thought that the taper part of training would be just as difficult as doing those super long runs, but it is hard.  I feel a little slothful, and even had to give myself a pep-talk as I did my 3 miles this morning.  I'm putting my faith in the experts, though.  I'm following my training schedule, and hope I'll feel fresh and prepared come Saturday morning!

Thank you, everyone who has been following along on this journey with me; I really feel uplifted by all the support I've been receiving!  :)

Day 265.

Today is a rest day.  I'm a little surprised at how sore I am from yesterday's run.  I've read that during the taper, most runners experience some new muscle aches and pains, as the body is recovering and strengthening from all the training it's been put through.  I'm hoping that's what I'm feeling, and it's not just me being a wuss!  I like this quote of the day from Runner's World:

"Running well is a matter of having the patience to persevere when we are tired and not expecting instant results."

~Robert de Castella, World champion marathon runner

Day 264.

This morning I did 9 miles, running a little over 8 of it.  It is a beautiful morning for a run, though a little cold.  I'm shivering so bad right now that I can barely type this blog post!  Well, this is it...a few, very short runs coming up over the next few days, then early Thursday morning, we're headed off to Colorado!

Day 263.

Today is a rest day.  I feel gluttonous these days - tapering is hard!  I have to keep reminding myself that this is all part of the process and that my muscles need this recovery time.  I'm getting so excited for our trip to Colorado; less than a week until we hit the road!  Here are some pictures of the shirts I've been working on for my running partner and I and all of our kids:

Day 262.

This morning I just did an easy 3 miles.  It's been a while since I've only had a 3 miler on the schedule.  I thought it would feel super easy, but I'm still a little tired today.  A couple of days in a row with not enough sleep I think is to blame.  I was thinking of doing some Pilates today, also.  I haven't done it yet; I'm still trying to get warm from my run!

Day 261.

Today I did a 6 mile run.  I was feeling a little more sluggish than I had been the past couple of days, and my legs felt heavy.  Still, my run went well, and I was even able to incorporate some decent hills into my workout.  After my run, I did 25 minutes of Pilates.

Day 260.

Today is a cross-training day.  I'm feeling really good this morning.  I did 40 minutes on the elliptical, then I did 35 of Pilates.  I'm not sore at all today and it feels great.  Only 11 days to go...

Day 259.

This morning I had a great 4 mile run.  It's super cold, so it took about a mile before my nostrils and throat stopped burning from breathing in the frigid air, but after that, it felt refreshing.  Oddly enough after a rest day yesterday, my legs felt a little stiff and sore this morning when I woke up.  Even after some stretching and warm-up, as I headed out on my run, they were still not loosened up to my liking.  Thankfully, once I got going on my run, I felt fine.  I really love running.  It makes me feel so much stronger than I think I am.  I was able to do my four miles in just over 40 minutes ~ I love a 10 minute mile pace!  For me, that's awesome.  When I got home, I did 25 minutes of Pilates...with a space heater blowing on me...aahhh...!