Running around C-Bus - marathon update

I am going to write a little about my marathon training here in this post. It has gone completely out of whack. My training days have become all messed up, and now I'm just kind of running when I can run, trying to get the most in out my runs that I can, and at least following my long run for the week according to my schedule. This week my one long run was 12 miles and I got it done on Wednesday. Today is Friday and I didn't run yesterday. I plan to run 6,6,6 this weekend.

The weather has been really pretty the past few days in Ohio. It has been all over the place the last month or so, mostly being cold and grey and rainy, but we have finally hit a streak of sun. Today is going to be an above average day of sunny and 52. All I wanted to do today is go hiking, but with my schedule being so off lately, we are taking the day off to clean the house, and making sure that I can get my run in.

I have been having a lot of pain lately, which is why I didn't go for a run yesterday. When I run (the bouncing motion I think) I get this bad pain in my low (low) abdomen. It feels associated with "female pain" but not like normal cramps or anything. So I took the day off yesterday (scheduled only a 3 mile recovery run) and did a LOT of resting. My knee also had hurt a lot yesterday, but I think it is just an ache cause I don't think it was associated to anything to running.

So on Wednesday I got a 12 mile run in. I wish I could take more pictures when I run, but I put my phone in my bra and then I sweat, so the screen on my camera gets condensation on it from being against my skin. I am sure that it is horrible for my phone, but the only arm band that we have is this chunky one that pinches my skin. I would like to invest in a nicer one so that I can actually take pictures when I run and show you wonderful people my world. But for now Ill just write about it.

I live 1.2 miles away from the Olentangy Bike Path, which is where I do all of my long runs, or run when its windy out because the path creates a nice tunnel, where as main street I live next to, high street, can be nice sometimes, but 90% of the time it can be a big hassle. The sidewalks are bad and the drivers are rude, cutting you off at every cross street. Its rare to find a nice driver that lets me go first, I can't tell you how many times I have nearly been hit, and I'm talking inches away from smashing into me.

Sometimes its really annoying to run in my neighborhood/away from my house. I was never a fan of driving somewhere and then running and then driving home. It doesn't make too much sense to me, since the purpose is to run, why not just go where you want to go by running there? I have been known to "commute" through running. Home from school, to the bank, to my moms, to the bar :). Places that I would have normally driven, but in efforts to kill 2 birds with one stone, I may as well run there, and save gas. (NOTE: If you are part of www.dailymile.com it actually has a section that tells you the stats of you runs, involving the amount of gas you have saved through your miles. It also tells you how many tvs you have powered and how many donuts you have burned. You can see my stats HERE.) But where ever I go from my house I am either running uphill or downhill. I live on a main st that travels north and south, that is 1 mile east of the olentangy river, and about 1 mile west of smaller main rd called Indianola Ave that travels north and south.  I wish I knew how to look up the elevation of it online. I know its not as dramatic as any sort of mountain city, but its substantial enough to where you dont want to have to run up and down it everyday. Sometimes you just want to run straight and flat for a long time. (However it is great for hill work!)

So that is what the path is great for. It stretches a little over 20 miles from north of the city to south of it. Its mostly flat and provides a great scene change from mile to mile. I like to say its where my second job  takes place (my 3rd... 4th...) cause I spend so much time there. From my house to the path is 1.2 miles, all down hill, which is great for a warm up, but not so great after you have busted butt on a 12 mile run and your last mile is up this stupid hill that is going to wear you out to your last breath. Its the same thing with any way I run, I either has to push uphill in the beginning or uphill at the end. Boo.

This is my favorite chilly day long run outfit. I love to layer layer layer!! Of course I had to get Bob in the pic :)

I ran a 12.77 on Wednesday, the 1.2 down to the path, then rest on the path, and I had my wonderful husband pick me up where the path meets the road. Doing my long runs on a path that I am so familiar with and like so much has really benefited me. Once I get down to the path I am able to switch into cruise control and go, zoning out for most of the run.

Running is about the memories that you make and the feelings that you get while doing it. Whether it be to complete a race, to get in shape, or just for maintenance, there is a magic to running, and I think you have to find a place that is able to give you that sense of magic, for me, thats my path. Happy running!