449 Training Miles

That is the magic number. 

The number of miles I need to log in on my feet/legs between June 24th - October 27th. 

It's a very precise number.

If you divide it evenly it's about 25 miles a week, but the program doesn't do that. 

It starts you out with 19 and your highest week being 35 miles. 

If it can be helped I do not want to miss any mileage this time around. 

I want to be better prepared.
I felt so defeated at Paris. 

I know lack of training played a huge part in it. 

I had been sick and was also recovering from a uti. 

A uti that relapsed due to my running the marathon.

This caused me excruciating pain and forced me to walk the last 4 miles. 

This time around I also want to do everything I can to keep myself healthy. 

Like remembering my vitamins & take cranberry pills. 

No uti's! 

I know it is England & it rains all the time.

However, I am hopeful that I will enjoy training during the summer vs winter.

Forcing myself out into the cold last year was extremely difficult, maybe that gets better with time.

I've also had problems with shoes, so much so I hate to ask my husband for another pair.

It seems I've yet to find the perfect pair of running shoes for my feet.

I don't know if that is due to my baby sized feet or what.

My current shoes are Brooks. 

At first I thought they were brilliant.

They felt great on and running up to 3 miles.

However, by mile 6-7 the bottoms of my feet start to hurt.

After researching and reading reviews on the shoe I have, I learned this is common with them.

When you are running 6+ miles shoes that make your feet hurt are not good.

It takes my feet about a week to recover & I don't have that kind of time during training.

Over the past few months I've done research on different shoes and looked at reviews. 

I am interested in trying Mizuno's.

I've heard a great many things about them. 

I've found a few stores that sell them and do a gate analysis. 

The hunt is on again.

I've had 2 gate analysis's - the first saying my Kswiss were perfect for me.

The second saying Kswiss were a bad shoe & giving me 3 other options.

I'm curious as to what a 3rd analysis will say. 

Honestly, if I had not started having knee & arch pain I would have continued wearing my Kswiss.

According to my last analysis I'm a neutral runner. 

However, I've experienced nothing but pain in my feet for the past 6 months.

I've seen a chiropractor about them and she is wonderful.

Paying to see her weekly is not. 

I need a shoe that does not cause my little feet pain and gives them the support they need.

What else? 

I now have a Garmin, a way to track my progress and look at my paces. 

I love my Garmin!

After a run I can load it onto the computer, look at my paces, splits and more. 

I can see where my running has improved and that makes me feel good.

My other concerns are hip & knee pain along with leg cramps & muscle tightness.

I'm hoping drinking Coconut water will help as I hate bananas and it has the same amount of potassium.

I'm also looking into ways to help with circulation - perhaps that is the issue?

I also plan to do strengthening exercises for my hips & knees.

Currently, I tape my knees & that seems to help them, a lot. 

The hip pain, is still an issue and occurs about mile 10.

I've gotten to the point where I really enjoy my 1/2 marathons - crazy I know.

I seem to find this zone and I just go. 

I love that feeling, it's the feeling that says "I got this". 

I want that feeling at mile 22 this time around.

I can run with or without people, I enjoy it either way.

Sometimes I actually prefer to go it alone, but not always. 

I must have truly gotten the running bug, as I am now headed into my 6th 1/2 & 2nd full. 

Not only that, I think about it a lot!

Every morning I think, "I should go for a run". 

I am praying that thought continues as the training begins and stretches out over the next 18 weeks.

I've come a long way.

I used to believe that I am one of the most stubborn individuals on the planet, perhaps I am. 

When you grow up hearing over and over just how stubborn you are, from everybody you know...

It's easy to believe. 

I was told by a person I respect highly that "Stubbornness prevents but Determination prevails".

Call me stubborn if you will, but the truth is I am just one extremely determined woman. 

What is that saying, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"? 

That's me. 

Paris...scorned me.

Pissed me off.

Left me feeling defeated & deflated.

Yes, I know I still completed it.

Yes, I know I took that biggest step and arrived at the start line.

Yes, I know how proud of me everyone was/is. 

I appreciate all that and more, but it does not change the fact that I let myself down.

The support I received was the best and I can only pray y'all can give me that support once again.

No, I'm not revisiting Paris, but I am revisiting the marathon. 

This time I refuse to walk away with my head down.

I will be creating a Facebook event page and asking you to join. 

This page will allow you to keep up with my training and motivate me when needed.

Cattle prods may be necessary. 

It will also allow you to follow me on race day as I know many of you that would love to actually be there.

Someday I'll run a race closer to home where that just might be possible. 

I will also be blogging along the way.

I know I attempted that last time, but well training sucked...so blogging kinda did to. 

Not this time...

I know with your support, prayers and my training I can accomplish this. 

This time I will train harder.

I will eat cleaner.

I know my weaknesses.

I know my strengths.

This time I will finish strong!

This time I will walk away smiling.