When I made out my marathon training schedule back in June I remember thinking how far away December seemed on the calendar. I wondered if I would be able to complete the longest run of my marathon training outdoors. Mother nature has certainly been showing her love to me. I’m still running almost every single run outside.

The big news of my training week is obviously my 22 mile long run. This is the longest distance I will run before the marathon. I ran it by myself as I have done nearly all of my runs. I ran a a relatively flat route because I wanted to get a feel for my pace and time because the Disney course is fairly flat.

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If I ever doubted my ability to run a marathon I don’t anymore. I knew that running to 22 miles was necessary for me to psychologically and physically feel ready for this marathon. This isn’t true for everyone training for a marathon. I think the most important thing is to do what feels right, be flexible and enjoy yourself.

On Monday I was in absolutely no mood to run at all! So I didn’t. Instead I went to the gym. Tuesday was a scheduled rest day, but the weather was decent and my husband was home so I took off for an unplanned run and ended up going for 5 miles. Wednesday I ran my 8 and 9 mile runs around home. The route is quite hilly, but I was bounding up those hills with ease.

The other night at a party my friend announced that I was a runner and I would be running a maraton. I still feel funny when other people call me a runner. Somewhere in my head I think I am supposed to look differently in order to be considered a runner. The truth is that marathon or not I would have been out there running anyway because as Marion would say, it makes me feel awesome. Runners come in all shapes, sizes, colors, ages and levels of fitness. What matters most is that we are all out there running and doing something we love. I am a runner because I run, race or no race and it is awesome!

Marathon training is going great. With the unseasonal somewhat warmer weather I have been doing almost all of my runs outside. Not one run this week stands out as being bad. In fact they were all really good runs.

I had a phenomenal 8 mile run on Wednesday. I am starting to feel like I’m hitting my groove with running. The 4 mile run on Friday was one of my fastest runs since my rib injury.

My long runs are always scheduled for Saturday, but the way I have designed the schedule I can do the long run on either Saturday or Sunday. I usually like to get it over with on Saturday. This week we had a busy Saturday. My car was scheduled for an oil change, Carlos had a birthday party and my husband and I had plans to go out to dinner. I scanned the weather as the weekend neared and Sunday looked like it was going to be a bit warmer. Rather than cramming a 22 mile run in on a busy Saturday I decided to hold off until Sunday.

I went to the gym instead on Saturday morning and did the Arc Trainer and some upper body strength training with free weights. Then I brought the car to the dealer for an oil change and enjoyed an hour all to myself in the waiting room. They have the most comfortable leather sofas. I sunk into the sofa with a cup of complimentary tea and caught up on blogs via my iPhone since my laptop had been at the Apple Store since the day before with a malfunctioning keyboard (I spilled some water on it accidentally, shhhh!). It’s all fixed now. I used to ask my husband to deal with all the car related issues, but I think I’m going to take over routine maintenance visits that I will conveniently schedule on Saturday mornings.

After a visit to Kringle Candle last weekend, my husband and I were intrigued by the restaurant there. I had this weekend off and we were able to get a babysitter so it was perfect timing. The restaurant is called The Farm Table. The restaurant focuses “on healthy, ethical and sustainable farm-to-table food practices and local vendors.” This is a photo from the week before when we went with Carlos. I wish I had some photos from inside because it was beautiful.

The Farm Table Restaurant at Kringle Candle

The funniest part of the evening was when Orlando came back from the bathroom and said, “Aim you have to go to the bathroom right now.” Me: “I don’t have to go now. I’ll go later.” Orlando: “No please go now so we can talk about it!” I opened the bathroom door and I knew exactly what he meant. It was stunning with its marble floors and counters that beautifully paired with quaint country accents of wrought iron, natural woodwork and faintly glowing antique lighting.

Dinner was fabulous. I had the Salad of Pears, Arugula and Great Hill Blue Cheese with Spiced Walnuts and White Balsamic Vinaigrette followed by Organic Roasted Delicata Squash Stuffed with Root Vegetables, Herb Risotto, Fontina Cheese, and Sauteed Autumn Greens. Orlando and I got separate desserts to share. He got the goat cheesecake with a fig spread and honey coated peanuts and I got the chocolate salted caramel dessert plate. Orlando’s was incredible. Mine lacked the salty sweet sensation I had hoped for.

I woke up feeling rested and ready to run on Sunday morning at 6am, a little later than I had planned. I had prepared everything the night before so all I had to do was get ready and go. Recap of the long run coming soon.

This week I just felt like running. My runs were good and on two occasions I ran more than the scheduled mileage because I felt like it. I enjoyed great outdoor weather for most of my runs. I ran on the treadmill twice and oddly didn’t hate it. One of the days was weather related and the other was by choice. Maybe it’s because winter is near and I understand that the treadmill and I will have to rekindle our relationship.

Next week marks a big finale to the long runs. I will attempt a 22 mile run either Saturday or Sunday depending on the weather and my schedule which is always subject to change. I’m shooting for Saturday because it would be nice to get it over and done with so I can enjoy the weekend. This will be longest run to date and it will be the furthest distance I run before the marathon. I can’t believe that marathon training has reached this point. I am thrilled with how well it is going despite the early challenges. I haven’t even run my first marathon but I have already compiled a list of reasons why I know it won’t be my last marathon:

• I have plotted about a million ways I could make the training better next time.
• I dream about running certain marathons like Chicago, the Marine Corps Marathon in D.C. and New York.
• Even better than the three I listed above, I convinced my husband with little effort to make our next trip to Mozambique to visit his family in fall of 2013 so I can run the Cape Town Marathon while nearby.
• Do not laugh but I think someday I could beat Oprah’s time of 4:29:15 in the Marine Corps Marathon in 2009. Nothing wrong with a little friendly competition O!
• I love having a training schedule. It keeps me accountable and focused. I’m a little apprehensive about not having one, but not to worry I’ve got a plan already in the works for after the Disney Marathon and it’s not another marathon (at least not yet).

I reserve the right to change any and all opinions regarding a second marathon depending on the outcome of the first. These are the crazy things I think of when running. When I’m running the actual marathon this list could turn into reasons why I’ll never torture myself this badly again!!

Have a wonderful Monday!

This just might have been my best week of training yet. I ran a lot, much more than I think I have ever run in one week.

I ran a total of 51 miles this week. To put it in perspective that would be like me running from my home in the Springfield, MA area to Worcester, MA which is about halfway between where I live and Boston.

The weather has been cooperating nicely with my training schedule. I purposely scheduled my 20 mile run this past weekend because I wanted to have some wiggle room in case of snow and icy conditions. You just never know what you’re going to get here in New England. I have a 22 mile run on my training schedule for the first weekend of December, weather permitting. I know you don’t have to go as high as 22 miles. I’ve discussed it with my cousin who has run a number of marathons and trains a group of Team in Training runners in Florida, and she agrees that psychologically I need the 22 mile run.

My runs were seriously great last week. I felt really good. I had a really bad 8 mile run the week before. This week I enjoyed an awesome 8 mile run. I did a lot of stretching this week. The half marathon on Sunday did a job on my calves with all the hills. I wanted to make sure I was in top form for my 20 mile run on Saturday. Twenty miles is a heck of a long way and deserves a post of its own. So I’ll be back with more on that in a day or two hopefully.

I’m not known for bragging or tooting my own horn if you will. I tend to undermine my achievements or let others take the credit. For some reason my running accomplishments make me so proud I want to shout it out at the top of my lungs. I’ve been so inspired by other bloggers to push myself to new fitness levels, to run races, to try new exercises on the gym and explore new foods and recipes. My words are in no way meant to intimidate anyone. I really hope that’s never the case. Quite the opposite, I hope to show others who have always wanted to run or become more physically fit but don’t think they can that anything is possible. I used to tell myself that I would run when the weight finally came off. Well the weight wasn’t going anywhere but I made the decision to start running anyway. The weight isn’t totally off, but I’m running and accomplishing fitness goals I never dreamed of accomplishing. It sounds so simple, but if I can do it then anyone can. I mean it!

At the beginning of the week I was really struggling with my runs. I ran a sluggish 4 miles on Sunday. Monday morning was worse. I had a scheduled six mile run but from the second my feet hit the ground I wanted to quit. I felt off. I pushed on for 4 miles but then I made a decision to end the run. I wasn’t giving it my all. I was practically walking at the end. I knew that the next day was a planned rest day but I could sneak a run in if I wanted to.

I set out for a run on Tuesday after my husband got home from work. I contemplated going to Zumba, but the weather was nice. It was a perfect cool, crisp fall day. I wanted to feel the leaves crunch under my feet. I ran a 3 mile loop around where I live and just like that I felt things begin to click back into place. My pace was quicker, my breathing better, and I was moving comfortably on my feet. That unplanned short run seemed to reignite the running fire. Wednesday’s run went well. On Thursday I felt ready for a speed workout on the treadmill having been inspired by Biz’s 6 minute mile. She rocks a 6 minute mile pace for one minute. Incredible! It is amazing what our bodies are capable of when we push out of our comfort zone a little bit. I didn’t get up to 10 mph but I did get up to 9 mph for 20 seconds twice! I ended up running a total of 3.5 miles and then did some upper body strength training at the gym. Friday I rested in preparation for my long run on Saturday.

I knew that I had to get the long run done on Saturday because of the predicted snow. I stopped home quickly after work on Saturday morning and changed into my running clothes. I had a 12 mile run planned. I am so bored with running locations right now. I ran out the front door and let my legs guide me. I was in the zone. I felt like Forrest Gump! I ran and ran until I reached my favorite reservoir in the next town. Turns out it’s really only about 6.5 miles away. I ran one 3.5 mile loop around the reservoir and then back home a different way. My 12 mile run turned into 15 and for the first time since I began marathon training I was sure I could have run a marathon. I really wanted to complete 17 miles. I could have done it, but my son’s soccer jamboree was set to begin in an hour and I had to get ready. I experienced the glow of my runner’s high all day long. Seriously I wanted to tell everyone I came in contact with, “Hi my name is Aimee and I ran 15 miles this morning!” I mean come on who am I? I am the girl who “can’t” run, right? Not any more. I may not be super fast or have long slender legs, but I am proof that anyone can run.

I started this blog to document my marathon training so I could look back at the journey. Although I hoped people would pop by and give it a read I didn’t count on the support I have received through the comments left here. I am truly grateful. I read all the comments and try to respond back. I also visit the blogs of everyone who comments and I have discovered some wonderful, inspiring new blogs. Thank you so much for reading.