The Mental Shift

The difference between Homer (above) and the happy lady (below) is a shift of perception... I look like Homer when I am dreading what I have left, but I look like Happy Lady (this is what I decided to name her) when I think about how far I've gone or am simply enjoying those steps I am taking at that exact moment.

I started to write on Saturday after my 20 mile run and fell asleep, so let’s give it another try right now. I was aiming for 5 hours and fell short by 10 minutes. At about mile 14 I had started to negotiate with myself and came to the conclusion that 20 miles would be good. I am still planning on running 8 hours on Sunday and the justification at mile 14 said ‘alright Katie, cutting it short this week will be good, a little less pain to forget about…That way you will be fully ready for next week.’ It was a great day, a little hot, but it was good prep for July. The shade was wonderful and under the bridges there was a slight breeze. I did two full loops then an out and back from Lloyd Hall. This time I went around West river first since that will be our route as the Lone Rangers! Every water stop I visualized in my mind. I thought about the 4. Something mile Med tent in the parking lot on West River, how they have the huge light hooked up to the generator. And how I told my brother Sean, to suck it up so he didn’t get stopped as I was nearing mile 45. I laughed thinking about it.

I showered and watched the Phillies once I got home. I was really sore at the time. I had walked a lot of the second half but my feet hurt and I just wanted that Air Conditioner blowing on me as I curled up in bed. I finally nodded off in the 10^th inning around 6:30 and slept 45 mins. The Phillies lost, but my nap was amazing.

This morning I got out for a 3.3 mile run and felt great after! It was a really nice morning and the sun has been rising around 5:30, which makes for a fully lit run for me. I think all the sleep I got this weekend helped, because I wasn’t very sore yesterday. I slept a lot! Which I am very happy about because today is a good day!

Positive Outlook

OK I have been a slacker. I wanted to write last week that I was able to get my 3+ hour run in for 15 miles (2 weeks ago). Last weekend I did not get a long run in but I am happy to report that this weekend is wide open and I will absolutely be getting in a 5-6 hour walk/run. My 15 miles was majority walking. I have been in a dilemma lately, well okay I have been sleeping in the mornings and thoroughly enjoying it. I have class until 10pm on Mondays and Wednesdays which makes it hard. Thursdays I have class until 8pm so I will try to run tonight, if only a few miles. The weirdest thing has happened, in that when I am not in class I want to be studying. I rewrite my notes and make note cards most of my free time and it has been paying off. So far I have only had one test but I got an A! I will have tests June 14, 21, 27, and the final the 28^th! I have made school an absolute priority for the next few weeks. The bad thing about that is, I will only have a couple weeks to get back to the regular running before the 24 hour race. The okay thing is, I am just going to lace up, show up and see what happens. If I don’t run more than last year, no big deal.

No Matter when or where I run- I end up filthy

The 15 miles was more of a mental training. I went out there with the walk/run strategy for the first few miles and then I shut my watch intervals off and just did what I wanted to. It was a gorgeous day, around 80 degrees. For a bit there I was trying to figure out the pace I would need in order to run 75 miles but still have time to stop, etc. and I think I came up with 16 min  miles would give me 75 miles in 20 hours…allowing me 4 hours for pit stops, sock changes, food, etc..If I were to just walk, without stopping more than 30 mins at a time, I could do it.. I was also looking at the results from last year.. I did 7 laps, this year I only need to do two more than that…only 9 laps, that is all! If I subtract the nap I took between 3-5am last year I think that will be a huge factor.

Geese and their little ones

Skyline <3

This was taken on a weekday run...it's pretty before the storm

This one has a Tim Burton feel to it, eerily comforting

 The first year, when I did the relay, I remember seeing a guy smiling and power walking. He was about my age and he walked I think over 60 miles. And that honestly made me think I could do 50 when I signed up last year. I hope that maybe one day people will see me walking or walk/running and think ‘I bet I could do that too one day.’

I like running and I like the race atmosphere, I know that I am justifying my laziness right now but I am okay with that. In a few weeks I will have… you ready for this? Over 2 months off from school! No classes at all! I have been in school every semester for the past 2 years. I signed up for just one class in the fall and it is not a science so it will not be as time consuming. The next…6 months, well 5 once I am done Micro will be a good time to train. It makes me grateful for just having to work 40 hours a week. Maybe I will even pick up cooking or some other domestic activity folks do of my age….Or maybe I will catch up on all of my shows…Let me just worry about today first…