I am not Air Jurek...

I know it was so sad for me to realize too. Unlike Scott Jurek I have been completely preoccupied the last few months. I have run on average once a week. Everything is about to change. I am training for the Philadelphia Half Marathon on November 21st, 2010 and then I will go on to do the Shamrock marathon again in the spring. I really do love running but my life has been all over the place and I haven't been able to make time. Things have slowed down so here I go again!

Air Lea, air!
Run Lea, run!

I'm excited to run in the snow, really I am. Also another change is that Leslie, my running partner, will be moving to DC! I know! So we will be in a long distance running relationship to keep us running lonnng distances. We are going to use this blog as a way to support and keep each other accountable.

keep on trekking on!

Okay soo... I never told you...

..I started marathon training two weeks ago!

Its been going well so far. We decided to use a training plan that schedules us to run 5 times a week. I haven't made it past 4 yet. This week I think I may be able to brake my cycle. It has been so hot and I have been so busy that I have had to miss one day each week. I am hoping to break my bad cycle.

I am in the bad habit of running real slow. I think that I just get so comfy and distracted. I just don't realized I am going so slow. When I push myself to go faster it isn't impossible to go faster but I forget to push. I need to keep my attention on it. A GOAL. Another goal is to do weight lifting and abs more regularly. I have been doing them more but not regularly. We are also working in hills this time, very excited.


I'm ready to kick-ass this marathon!

New PLAN

Sometimes I think that I run more for the calmness it brings my mind then my want to be fitter and stronger. At this moment in my life my mind is LOUD. For some reason when I’m out running it quiets and lets me enjoy the fight with the pavement. Running isn’t easy but its soooo helpful. I’m getting excited for our next challenge. We have signed up and made a training plan for the Philadelphia Marathon. It will also be my one year anniversary running. Within my first year of being able to run more than one mile I will have run 2 marathons, 1 ½ marathon, and broad street. I think that a pretty good first year.

My time goal is ambitious for the Philadelphia Marathon but I think it is also doable. I think this marathon will be much easier this time around. It was basically impossible feeling last time so there is only up from here. Yesterday I ran a very slow 7 miles. I’m really into distance but because I haven’t been running much its hard to do distance a good pace because I’m out of shape. Getting in to shape now, please.

My Love Letter to Running

Dear Running,

You have been so good to me and I appreciate the pain and the happiness that you have brought me. I am so glad I found you nine months ago. You have changed me and my life. I have decreased the amount of miles a week I have been doing significantly. Now that the Broad Street run is over I can start to focus back on distance. I don’t want to lose my speed but I want to go back to weeks where I will run a minimum of 35miles. I feel good when I run distance. I am excited about running in the summer after Broad Street. It was challenging but it felt good. I am going to use running as a way to find focus this summer as change happens all around me. I feel good and I want to keep feeling good. You help this. I miss you even though I haven’t stopped but I have been running less because of stress in other parts of my life. Running, I’m coming back to ya.
love, lea.

PACE PACE PACE

I want to change my pace. I have had a really good time running really long distances very slowly. I now am very focused on running shorter and longer runs much faster. I feel like I am re-teaching myself to like running. Running fast feels reaaaaal different and much more difficult. Today I ran 6miles at a 10min pace, which felt like a challenge. I am going to keep experimenting with challenging my natural SLOW pace and  teach myself to be much quicker. Its actually really fun to be "fast". Everyone's idea of fast is different. I think that all of my paces are considered by most runners as slow, but thats okay with me. When you run fast your body feels like its working really hard and you get home faster which is nice when you've been at work all day. Faster equals lots of endorphins!!

I think one of the things I like best about running is that there are quantitative outcomes. There are so many things that I try hard at in my life that don't have as clear of outcomes. I run more= running becomes easier. I run faster= i can run longer faster. I really like hoe the amount of self motivation can really affect how well I will improve. I work hard at running faster and I am confident that running fast for long distances will become easier. My body will rise to the challenge, thats pretty neat. As always running feels pretty darn good. Inspiring every time I put my feet on the ground.

Long Lost Blog

Okay I took a reallly really long break from my blog...BUT I'm back! I have been doing some runs nothing longer than 10miles. I am getting back into it and next weekend I will run 15miles. I am really excited because i'm going to start training to do really long bike rides too. I love this weather its so easy to be active.

Schedule:

May 2nd: run broad street
July 4th: ride bike to long beach island
Nov 21st: RUN MARATHON


I may do a lot of other things in between but thats what I am thinking at this point. I want to incorporate long runs into my schedule all summer. I am a bit afraid of the heat but i think i am working it out. Running has been really challenging for some reason but I am hoping that I will find my groove again.

Finished My First Marathon!

So I really did it. I finished my very first marathon. It wasn't easy it wasn't fun all of the time but it was rewarding everyday and every mile. Thank you again for all of your support.

The marathon: I started out strong I was running easy 12min miles for the first 14 miles, I think. And then... Something happened. My whole body started to hurt and I slowed down. I tend to get a little down on my running skills but I want to try and take the high road and be pleased with my accomplishment of finishing a marathon. I did it! I ran 26.2 miles, that is something when seven months ago I couldn't run 2 miles without stopping. So this is just the beginning. I really have learned to love running! I want to try the marathon thing again! I think I can grow off of what I have learned this past weekend and rock it next time. I cannot wait to get out there again!

WHOHOOO I AM A MARATHON RUNNER!

I could have not done this marathon without my amazing running partner Leslie and my friend's and family's support and love. Life changing weekend.