Just Keep Swimming.....Err Running

With a disaster of a run Saturday, a 3 mile "make-up" run Sunday I left week 12 behind me ready to move forward and conquer new challenges. For week 13 my new challenge is working while training. I was in school for a few weeks in the beginning of training but the mileage then and now are two completely different things. As I entered week 13 I felt tired. I'm finding my Monday runs are tough. They are the shortest run of the week and maybe it's the mentality of "it's only 4" has me thinking is a whatever run and therefore it's tough. Today was a 9 mile run and my 2nd day back to work. (Yes, I worked all summer waitressing, but it's not the same. I'm tired when I go back to teaching on a regular, not training for a marathon, year this year is crazy.) A 9 mile run should take a little less than 1 1/2 hours and generally I run in the mornings. Today getting up at 5:00am to run 9 miles was not happening so I was forced to work all day then run. It was a disaster of a day with little issues popping up left and right and I stayed later than I expected. I left work exhausted and overwhelmed I found myself looking forward to my run so I could destress a bit. My run did just that. Each step I took gave me a greater sense of accomplishment and positive energy. I must have had some extra negative energy to burn off because there were parts of my run where I flew effortlessly (and no, I wasn't going downhill ha ha). I was pleased at how great I felt; it was a huge difference to how I felt Saturday. Maybe all the stress I had at work today was a actually a good thing...it gave me energy I didn't think I had. My stress gave me a purpose and in the end, gave me the positive feeling I need to get me excited for my 18 mile run on Saturday. I was worried that while I said "no negative thoughts" that some would creep in....no at all!

The past few weeks have been really tough at times. My mileage is increasing and my available time is decreasing, but with only 38 days until race day I have my eye on the prize and I can't back down!

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming" (well running) :)

"Running is one the best solutions to a clear mind." Sasha Azevedo