Planning for the marathon

I am in taper mode, so only running enough to keep loose and maintain fitness.  If you've been following along, I missed some training due to a knee injury.  The week before the marathon for me is actually being used to get back into running.  This year I had ann ankle injury that prevented me from running for the last 2 weeks before the Brooklyn Half and I PR'ed big time.  So there is an advantage to being rested and building up your glycogen.  At this point, I've put in my time and I'm not going to turn it around just by working really hard in the last week.  Even worse, I could injury myself which would make for a miserable marathon day.  (Or no marathon day.)

I've been planning and ordering my final items on Amazon, and testing items out.  I ran with my first ever arm warmers tonight.  They were not as life changing as I thought that they would be. 

I ran 2.55 miles tonight with Landon, my chiweenie.  He is an amazing runner.  He has great posture and form.  His muscles are really defined.  I'm so proud of him.  Plus tonight I could tell he really enjoyed it.  After all that running, couldn't believe that he was in the mood tonight with Irene.  :P

Tomorrow night I'm supposed to run 3 miles, and then 5 miles on Thursday.  I think that I will go to the expo at the Javitz on Friday after work.  Or I might go Saturday, but I want to avoid coming to the city and also that should be a day of rest.

Friday/Saturday I will make sure that I will do laundry if needed and start charging devices and gathering supplies.  I mom getting some really great tips, and I keep ordering additional items on Amazon.

Feeling tired but making multiple trips to Organic Avenue.

Note to self: drink more water

OMG just 7 days left until the marathon!

Yesterday, I ran a 5k obstacle zombie run with Izzy at night.  We ran as humans, trying to stray away from the zombies who were out to eat our brains and steal our flags.  There was a lot of fast running from zombies, and a lot of running on uneven dirt and gravel in the dark.  I kept thinking about how this was a very risky move just a week away from the marathon.  But actually, it was just the kick in the ass that I needed, since I have missed so much training due to a knee injury.

Since the knee injury, I have had a couple failed attempts at running without pain.  And as time was running out, I felt paralyzed with fear and anxiety, which made it hard to start again.  But I did it, and the fast sprints felt good.  I remember stopping for water and thinking we were almost finished until someone informed me that we were actually at the 1 mile point.  Ha!  

I was worried about the obstacle part, but actually there was always the option to skip it.  The only obstacle that I didn't do was the rope climb up the wall.  I did try it for a second but it just wasn't happening, I'm too weak.

Izzy and I bought headlamps as suggested so that we could see in the dark.  Izzy's was bigger and stronger than mine, and it had a strobe mode, which we used at times to disorient the zombies.  I came up with a strategy: we would jog real slow and mellow, then when we got close we would suddenly burst out in a sprint.  This actually worked better than trying to fake them out.  We were laughing and having so much fun.  And guess what...

Izzy won his first medal!  And we were survivors!  So proud of him.  Seriously, he can do anything.

Speaking of medals, I added mine to my collection.  But soon there will be an 8th.  Seriously, just 7 more days...

I ran 5 miles tonight, even though my training plan called for 7.  I felt great, but that's probably because I was so liberal with the kinseology tape.  But I didn't want to push it.  Tomorrow will be a day off, and then I will run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday will be carbo loading.  And Saturday will definitely be a day off.  I am going to foam roll every morning and every night before bed.

Speaking of tape, I have confirmed that Mummy Tape is much stickier than KT Tape, and I'm switching over.  I ordered more tape, arm warmers, and knee compression sleeves.  Forgot to order more gu gels.  What would I ever do without Amazon Prime?  

I still don't know what I will wear.  I might keep changing my mind til the last minute.

Pre-marathon jitters

11 days til the marathon and I'm freaking out.  I'm not doing what I know that I should do.  I ran 2.6 miles on Sunday and I stopped the second I felt a tiny bit of pain, even with both knees taped up.  I am not icing or foam rolling like I should.  Add an extra layer of anxiety: my 39th birthday is Friday.  Like in 2 days Friday.

I said a week ago I think that I would blog every day up until the marathon.  I thought this would keep me focused.  But I am absolutely freaking out!  Freaking out about the training that I've missed, beating myself for running too hard at the 18 mile Marathon Tune Up, and obsessing over everything I could have done differently leading up til now.  What's done is done, and my attitude does not help.  I know this in my rational mind, yet I can't stop.  And having a pity party about feeling old doesn't help either.

I've ran 18 miles as my longest run.  I've built up my base.  Now just try really hard not to be injured 11 days from now.

I'm also quietly freaking out on the inside about a couple other things that I don't really want to share on the internet.  

Maybe I need more yoga in my life.  I went to hot yoga the past 2 weekends and felt great.  If someone would open a gym and a hot yoga studio within 2 blocks of my house, this would really help combat the winter blues.

I did find a great website with tons of information and advise about running your first marathon, and all about the NY Marathon: http://www.runarweb.com/index_e.php. 

I still don't know what I am going to wear.  The weather looks like it will be low of mid 40s and high of mid 50s.

I have been thinking about the various devices that I need to charge. Will I wear earphones?  The crowds and bands along the route are supposed to be amazing and motivational.  I really need new music and playlists, I'm open to suggestions.

I can't see putting myself through this again.  Especially next year, so close to my 40th birthday.  Why the hell do I put myself through this?  All this time, effort, money, pain, and anxiety!  (I did take the time to look up the chances of gaining entry by lottery which is 8-10% and I did check out the half marathon times for qualifying which I am nowhere near close.)

I promised myself and my fiancé that after this, I will chill out.  No more new projects, classes, sporting events, for at least a little while.  Which is not a specific unit of time, and is subjective.  I have to admit, I am already secretly planning to conquer conversational spanish and my great return to knitting so I can make wardrobes for my doggies.  I keep pushing myself and pushing myself and pushing myself. 

Am I any different or better than a workaholic?

What is my point?

Really need to reasses some goals after this.