What's your favorite song to run to?

Hey Everyone!

I'm trying to load my iPod up with music for the marathon!!

What's your favorite high energy song...motivational song...feel good song??

Send away!

The Killer 20 Miler

So a week and a half ago...I did my long run in the keys. Originally, I was planning on doing 15 miles. My leg had been feeling fine all week so I thought I would be fine. About 3 miles into the run, I decided that I should run 20 miles. I skipped the week I was supposed to do it because I was injured, and I really wanted to get that mileage in before the marathon.

So the first thing I did was run 5.2 miles from my house to Jeff's house. I stopped at his house for 5 minutes, talked to his mom and dad for a bit and drank some water. At this point, I felt fine. Then I ran back to my house. Around mile 9, my mom came on bike and rode next to me. Once I got to my house, I stopped for another 5 minutes, ate a lot of fruit and drank water.

I headed back out and I started to get REALLY tired. At mile 14, I literally stopped and started crying. Yes, crying. Like a stupid little girl! hahahaha. I was tired, hot, hungry, and crazy for thinking that I can possibly run 26 miles. After my one minute drama session...I kept running. Luckily, after like 5 minutes, Jeff came by in the car to see how I was doing. Perfect timing! I cried again to him. He felt so bad for me, but he told me that I can finish and that I can't give up now. He also told me my mom was about a mile or so away on bike.

I kept running and like 5 minutes later, I saw my mom. She stayed with me the last 5.5 miles. If she wasn't next to me...there is no possible way I could have finished. She kept cheering me on, singing to me, and telling that I CAN DO THIS.

I finished but I was so tired, I could have just collapsed on the floor. I got home and everyone was cooking steak and mashed potatoes. It was an amazing meal but even my plastic fork felt heavy.

I still can't believe I ran 20 miles. After the run, my stupid shin started hurting again and I haven't ran since. I've only ridden bike. I'm hoping that it will heal by marathon day....but that will be 2 weeks since I've ran. It's crazy!


Anyways, thank you Mami for getting me through this run! You were the best cheerleader ever! xoxoxo

My Padrino's Motivational Words :)

My godfather sent me (and my cousins) these emails this week: they have been absolutely inspiring :)

Hey Mararthroner!!

You are 19 days always from your run, I've decided that my role for the next two week is to motivate, inspire, and create the confidence you need to get you over the finish line. All three of you have overcome bigger things in your life and are doing the physical training, I going to help you with the mental part.. So lesson 1) whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve!! So decide right now, this very instant that you will finish this race and you will finish it strong. There is nothing that's going to stop you now. Your on a journey to see if you got the mental strength to overcome the limits you have set for yourself in your mind. Tonight when you put your head on your pillow I want you to be thinking of running that marathon for 4-6 hours and just when you think you're there a huge wall appears and it's to long to run around and to high to climb, you got no energy left but you gather the little strength that's left and break through the wall and cross the finish line now know there is nothing you can't overcome...




Another one.....

Ok girls we got a little nervousness going on and that's good, because we going to channel that into positive energy. 1st, you're not running for anyone but you, you're running because you made a commitment, you gave your word that you were going to do this and finish. A commitment is a mutual, or self-imposed obligation to show loyalty, duty or pledge to something or someone, it's a reflection of who you are; can you keep your word? Can people count on you when you say your going to do something? Your whole life is made up of commitments, you both have chosen a career, a path to your future, a commitment that requires 6-8 years of study. It's not easy but you will persevere, you overcame those classes and teachers that you thought would kick your butt. Your learned something about yourself, that if you set your mind to something, that you believe in and work hard you will succeed. Are you going to succeed or fail, as students, as a dentist, as a physical therapist, as wives, mothers and anything else you want to do? Your commitments all have to have a positive results cause that's what you build on, that's what you're going to remember when a more difficult situation happen. You going to remember committing to something that you had no idea how difficult it was going to be but you got thought it, you make it and those are the things that make you a champion in life and everything you do.

I want to share a quote with that is one of the most beautiful and powerful words I have ever read. It speaks of the our exception of ourselves. I hope you both find it liberating and takes you far in your life's journey.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Tonight's homework is to read the follow and keep reading it over the next couple of week until you make it your. (the secret)

Love you both!

The Champion’s Creed
I am a champion.
I believe in myself.
I have the will to win.
I set high goals for myself.
I surround myself with winners.
I’m cool, positive, and confident.
I’m willing to pay the price of success.
I stay relaxed and in control at all times.
I focus all my energy on the job at hand
I take responsibility for all of my results.
I have the courage to endure and persist.
I vividly imagine what victory will feel like.
I AM A CHAMPION AND I WILL WIN!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Padrino :) I love you so much and these messages have been wonderful.

You are amazing! xoxo

My first run in 3 weeks!

It took 3 weeks for my shin pain to feel better again...so I went for a 7 mile run on Monday with Ashley. I didn't feel any pain on my leg...at all! I was so excited! My body was definitely tired since I hadn't ran in so long, but it felt good to get back in the groove. We ran in the afternoon so it was too hot for my liking but I got through it! The next day I felt a tiny bit of pain, but it didn't last long.

This week was really hectic for me so I wasn't able to do anything, but my plan is to run 15 miles tomorrow. My goal is to run alll the runs I'm supposed to run next week. No excuses!!!! It's two weeks till the big day!!

I actually miss running!

This week was supposed to be the toughest week of marathon training. 5-10-5 miles midweek and 20 miles today. All I did was go to the gym once this week and ride bike for 30 minutes. ugh!

I bought this compression wrap made especially for shin splints. I've been wearing it like 4 days now and my leg feels SO MUCH BETTER. It hasn't hurt me at all throughout the day. I'm going to give my leg this last weekend of rest and on Tuesday, I'm going to try a 5miler. Hopefully it feels ok! By then it will be almost 3 weeks of rest!

My only concern is that the mileage goes down from here. I'm wondering if I feel good - should I try the 20 next weekend, or just stick to the real training plan even though I've skipped 3 weeks of it? The farthest I did was 18 miles. Let's see how I feel....

Anyways, seeing all my friends training makes me want to get up and run. I really feel useless lately. lmao.

THE MARATHON IS IN THREE WEEKS! oh crap!!!

Training gone bad!

So this past month has been a bit hectic. I don't know why I choose the busiest time of my life to train for a marathon. I have a semester left of school, I was studying like a maniac for my part 2 dental written boards, and I'm planning a wedding. I'm crazy!!! I couldn't have waited till next year when I'm free from school. lol. That just wouldn't make sense!

Anyways, I have a month left till the marathon and I'm going to try to sum up my last month.

After the 15 miler, I did a 16-miler by myself the following weekend right before my boards. I did a new path in Davie that was really nice. Unfortunately, my stomach hurt really bad that day and I had to stop 3 different times because I didn't feel good. I finished the run in 3 hours and 24 minutes.

The week of my boards I didn't do a single drop of exercise. It was a step down week. I had to run 4-8-5 during the week and then a 12 miler on the weekend...but I was so exhausted from all the studying that I didn't do anything.

The week after, I did 2 out of 3 midweek runs. My 9 miler that week was horrible...and I kept wondering WHY THE HELL AM I DOING THIS?! I was honestly sick of running. I just wanted to get the marathon over with so I would never have to train again. lol. My long run that weekend was 18 miles. My dad and I were talking about the run the day before and planning it all out. He wanted to start an hour ahead of me so that I could catch up to him and we could run the last couple miles together. His plan was to start at 5am. When he woke up though, there was a downpour outside. I went back to sleep kinda excited that I wouldn't have to run that day. But he woke me up again at 7:30am saying it's nice outside, and he was ready to run. DAMN! LOL.
I started an hour after him and headed south in the keys. This run was pretty tough. The first and last 6 miles, the sidewalks were under contruction and I was pretty much running on gravel. I didn't feel safe. Around mile 7.5, I saw my dad. He looked like he was doing okay. When I got to 9 miles, the halfway point, I felt good. Every step forward from here was closer to home! At around mile 12, I stopped at a gas station to refill my water. At every mile, I stopped for about 30 seconds and stretched out my legs...they felt like they were flopping around. I finally caught up with my dad at mile 16. We were both exhausted. I passed him and the last two miles were HELL. I really felt like I could not put one foot in front of the other. I wasn't in pain or anything....it was just pure exhaustion. I was running the slowest I had ever run before.I had never been so happy to be home. I drank water and just sat there, icing my legs. I had reached a new distance that I hadn't done before and even though I was beat, I felt good for accomplishing that. I finished in 3 hours and 43 minutes.

After this run, my right shin was hurting bad. I iced it on and off but it hurt for 3 days. When it felt better, I decided to go for my 5-mile midweek run. The second I started running the pain was back and worse than ever. I stopped, stretched it out, and tried running again but I was literally limping down the street. The same area always bothers me while I run, but it's usually manageable and after 2-3 miles, I kinda get used to the pain. I was really pissed that this was happening and I just kept running. I would have to walk every few steps though. After 1.5 miles, I couldn't take it anymore. I called my dad to pick me up because I just couldn't run like this, and I knew I was hurting myself. I got home and I could barely walk for 45 minutes. I iced it, took meds but I still feel the pain there and it has been 4 days. I plan on going to the gym and riding bike all week and then seeing how I feel by the end of the week.

I feel discouraged at this point. After not exercising this whole week, I feel useless. I really want to run again. Although it's a pain in the ass, it makes you feel so good when you're done, and I hate that I've gone a whole week without that 'feeling'.

At this point, I know I can run a marathon. I just don't want to run a marathon while I'm injured. I don't think I can take that pain for 5 hours and 45 minutes! Either way, it's a new year and I still have the same goal. I AM RUNNING THIS MARATHON. I will rest as much as I have to and do low impact training and try to lose some weight to prepare my body. Please pray that this injury goes away and I can accomplish this goal come January 30!