The Slate's Take on Novice Runners

I was closing up my hotmail and found this article on MSN.com, "How Sluggish Newbies Ruined the Marathon":
http://www.slate.com/id/2149867/?GT1=8592
As his title suggests, the author argues that people who are casual runners have somehow destroyed marathons for the real athletes by making them less competitive. I found it a bit disheartening, and wonder how exactly one can argue that there's less of a point in running a marathon just to finish than there is in running one for time--they both seem pretty arbitrary and one person's 3:30 is another's 4:20 as far as I'm concerned. It also mentions the growth of the marathon business, this being a down side to the popularity of marathon running (or walking, whichever the case may be), but fails to take into account races that promote certain good causes, such as the AIDS marathon. If anyone else has read it, let me know what you think.
In any case, I guess it's a good incentive for me to do more than just get across the finish line, to prove a point that all newbies and casual runners aren't necessarily slouches.

Slogging through

Adam and I slogged through a 13 mile run today. It was probably the hardest run in awhile for me, although we ran our normal route. I felt a little less bad for being so slow b/c Adam said he wasn't feeling so great either. I'd say my struggles today were a combination of having missed workouts, having run hard yesterday (I usually take the day before a long run off), and not sleeping properly. So, in the interest of getting back on my mark, I am going to going to have a proper dinner with my mother, then going straight to bed tonight.
On my way home from the run, I was feeling really demoralized about my training and my ability to complete the race, but I talked with Erz today, who's very excited for me, which was helpful. I've got to work on my mental fortitude--that's 80% or something, so they say :)

A slippery slope

Six weeks from now I'll be headed to NYC for the race--I can't believe it! Unfortunately, I've been less consistent about my training recently. Ran the five miles today that I missed on Thursday b/c of a work event in the evening, and I will have to miss my cross training on Sunday to do my long run, which I postponed (normally do it on Saturday am) b/c I went out last night with some friends. I think that's the last time I have a night out until the marathon is over. My body can't handle it. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up my cross training again on Monday, which is normally my rest day. I suppose it doesn't matter so much, so long as I get my long runs in and am running and working out consistently, but changes to the schedule are a slippery slope...one minute you're rearranging workouts and the next you're missing them altogether.
Finally, my latest worry is finding a place to stay in the city--I was thinking of a hostel, but realized that after the race I will need my own room with a comfy bed and my own warm shower. But it seems all the decent hotels cost nearly as much per night as my monthly rent. Yikes!!

Thanks, Nini!

Also, many thanks, Nini, for your contributions to Save the Children and Invisible Children!! :)

Lax

I realize I've been a bit lax with my posts (though I'm not sure who's still reading this--if you are let me know :), but that's because this past weekend, I was lax in my training. I went up to Maine to celebrate my great aunt's 80th birthday, and there just wasn't time for my long Saturday run or Sunday cross training. I did the 8 mile run I meant to do on Thursday, when instead I was packing for my trip and attempting, with my roommates, to rid our kitchen of a moth infestation (gross, I know), but that was it for my activity this weekend.
I'm trying, in the words of Tim Gunn, to get back on my mark. I did my requisite four miles yesterday alone in the dark, which did wonders for my mood. Running with headphones at night may not be the safest thing for a girl, but it does give me the sense of peace and solitude that attracted me to running in the first place.

Quickies

This is just a quick note to say thanks to Brenna for her donation! The news on the training is that it continues...I did a quick 4 miles today and pushed today's 8 miler back to tomorrow when I have fewer evening errands. There's just not enough time in the day!

More help from friends

The training continues into its 11th week...I am relying even more on the help of my friends to keep me going. Megan and I did some laps in the pool on Sunday--meaning she swam like a champ and I splashed around with a kickboard and did the backstroke so I could breathe :) Adam and I ran a decent 4 miles today, but the rest of this week, I'll be on my own. That's the real test of my will, I guess.
I have also finally posted a pic, as you can see. This one, as I mentioned before, is courtesy of Will. I give him credit for his ability to capture a moment, though it's too bad he didn't have a more photogenic subject :)

The Latest

It's been a little while since I posted, so there's a fair bit to tell:
1. Went for an almost-15-mile run today that nearly killed me. I guess I'll need to get back to strength training, b/c I wasn't breathing hard, but I just couldn't get my feet off the ground. It was good to have Adam there again to push me--literally this time!! :) Also did this one in Rock Creek Park...there are so many parents with kids there. It's so cute!
2. The other day, while doing loops around my house, I saw what could have been a horrific accident. A motorcyclist decided to do a wheelie (or pop a wheelie...I dunno) on the slope on Route 1, but I guess b/c of the slope, he lost balance and toppled backward. His bike went skidding and he spun right into oncoming traffic! It was strange, I really felt paralyzed...there was no way to stop it but I couldn't turn away, either. Luckily, the cars stopped in time and he walked away unharmed. But, still, how frightening.
3. I tried (though not very hard) to put up the pictures of myself from Will. But, apparently the file sizes were too large, and since I think I look funny in pictures anyway, I may leave the blog blank after all. Sorry, Megan!

Tallies

Melissa inspired me to do a new tally of the on and off line fundraising totals...they are now:
Save the Children $914
Invisible Children $220
That's more than I could have hoped for when I started. I hope you guys all know how much your support of me and my project mean to me.

Diutissime

Well, today was the long 13 mile run, and we (Adam and I) seemed to be running "diutissime", or for the longest time (if I remember Mrs. Valerio's class well enough, though it's been nearly 10 years!). I include the Latin b/c Adam was stumping me with riddles and random word definitions and a Latin translation along the way, to keep our minds occupied. I can't really think and run (though I don't know if I would've been able to answer his questions anyway...), but it kept me entertained. I felt pretty good overall, though my legs hurt and I really can't imagine running twice that distance! But, I am now 9 weeks, or halfway, into my training. I feel as though I've made a lot of progress in that time, so hopefully the next 9 weeks will be equally productive!!