The Next Long Run

I find myself spending most of my week thinking about the next long run.  Each Saturday, I spend some time feeling satisfied that I completed the new distance (18 miles last Saturday!).  All day on Saturday, I feel like I have made that next step toward the marathon.  I feel my sore muscles and know I have worked hard.  I usually enjoy a nice lunch, and then find some time to relax.  On Sunday, I'm usually super hungry all day.  I also am usually so busy with all the chores that need done (laundry, cleaning, grading papers) that I don't have much time to think about things.  I either go for a 3 mile recovery jog or walk, depending how I am feeling, but I spend most of the day getting things accomplished.  Monday comes and it's back to work.  Along with getting ready for the next work week, I preview my run schedule for the upcoming week and think about where and how I will fit all the runs in.  Then I start thinking about where to go for the next long run, how far I will have to run, and what I will need to do to accomplish this new distance.  It's an endless cycle week after week, until the day of the big race....

This past Saturday, my friend Amy met up with me when I was just about finished with my 10th mile, then she ran the remaining 8 miles with me.  It was a nice pick me up to have someone join in on the second half of the run.  I kept my 10 miles going, because I knew she would be there to meet me at the expected time.  Then having someone to talk to kept me going for the final 8.  We ran on a nice looped approximately 5 mile course around a lake.  I though I'd get bored going in circles, but it wasn't bad.  Dave is still unable to run more than a short distance without discomfort, so he went on a 41 mile bike ride.  Afterwards, we went home and picked up Anna (Erik was at a friend's house) and went out to lunch.  Later on, I took Anna shopping.  We got home from shopping in time for dinner, and I was ready to crash.  I was so exhausted.  I didn't even really feel like eating dinner, and I was in bed by 9.  I think I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow!  Yesterday, Sunday, I was starving all day and couldn't get enough to eat.  I thought running a marathon would help me lose the last bit of weight I was hoping to lose, but I'm so hungry all the time.  I haven't gained weight, but I also haven't lost anymore.  I just keep going up and down the same 2-5 or so pounds from day to day and week to week.

Well, I better get ready for school.  Time to think about something else besides running for awhile, though in the back of my mind I'll be preparing for the 20 miles this Saturday......

Happy Running!