The weeks have flown by and we are now in late August... still training.... still counting down the days..... and guess what.. it's only 30 days till race day!!! I want to jump up and down... however, I'm still staying reserved .... I want to officially be at that starting line before I will know this dream is finally real.
The summer heat has been a killer! The dew point last weekend for our 22 miler almost got me those last few miles. It was HORRIBLE to say the least! I'm so ready for some cooler weather.
Penny and I have been pretty constant on our midweek semi long run (except for this week when it's rained every day cats and dogs!)... we haven't missed a weekend long run yet.... So I give us an A for consistency so far... 😍 I'm really hoping that consistency pays off for us when we attempt these two marathons back to back. Penny has done this before... I have NOT.. I've ran a marathon and a half marathon back to back...but not 2 marathons. PLUS.. we have tours booked every day while in Europe. We play to try to see as much as we can while we are there. So it's going to be a BUSY 10 days! 😎
I am feeling pretty strong in my running. I guess it's true when you run more... you really adapt to running. I am missing my bike and swim however. Not those long bikes, but just being out on the bike for a couple of hours. I feel like I'm going to have to start over after these marathons to get back in a grove with biking, running, & swimming. I went to swim yesterday due to the rain and I haven't swam in 3 weeks and let's just say... I thought my arms would fall off. I could really tell I had not been there in a couple of weeks! 😏 Funny how fast you can fall out of shape!! 😟 But I won't let it get me down. I knew I wanted to focus on running right now, so the other will have to wait.
We've been lucky on our weekend runs to have others that have joined in for some miles. They aren't training for a marathon coming up in September, but may have marathons later in the year so they are happy to come join for 7-10 miles normally. Which is also nice to have some new conversation. I'm sure by now Penny is tired of me. 😂 I tend to not talk a whole lot while running typically... and she's used to talking. I have come out of my shell and talked more to her here lately... it helps pass the time on those long miles. 😁 I'm just not a big talker. Some probably find that odd since I share so much like in my blog or on fb... but honestly I just don't talk much in person.
I have changed up some of my nutrition due to this summer heat / dew point. I'm making a point to drink some type of good hydration each day. Not just water... but something with electrolytes, sodium, and potassium. Plus I've increased my magnesium at night when I go to bed. Sometimes your body requires those changes to combat the sweat loss your body has during those awful summer months. I sweat ALOT!
A few training pics over the last few weeks:
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| During the week we meet at Richton park which is equal distance for us from where we live to run. It sure has beat the dang hectic drive to Hattiesburg with road construction and the 5pm work traffic heading home. No traffic on the way to Richton! |
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| Check out that rainbow! God was reminding us that night that all our hard work is going to pay off... or that's what we kept saying 😍 |
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| We witnessed a beautiful rainbow appear after one night of running in the rain. It was huge and was a complete arch from one point on the ground to another... (our view) |
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| We ended up adjusting our long runs in August to the 18,22,20 .... This weekend will be 20 on 8/27/2022 then taper time YEAH! |
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| We start way before daylight to try to beat the heat. |
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| Ran into Audrey last weekend during my 22 miler.. she was collecting mushrooms and flowers to put on a spot on the trace where a running friend died a few years ago. I always think of her 2 little girls and husband when I pass that spot and pray for them. |
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| There are been LOTS of rain lately! WE had to suffer through 6 miles on this night of constant rain... thankful for no lightening! |
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| I'm thankful every day for Penny who suffers with me through these long runs! I won't lie... after awhile anything over 10 miles gets to be boring and hard work to continue doing week after week. But I know this hard work is going to pay off soon. 🙏🙏🙏🙏 So It's 30 days till race day and 27 days till travel day for us. Praying this all comes together with our flights, etc. Praying also for continued endurance and strength from the good Lord to help us accomplish this dream. We decided we needed a change of scenery this weekend for another 20 miler... so we plan to drive to the coast and run and then spend the afternoon at the IP Spa and have massages. YES! I'm looking forward to this weekend. 💓💓 |
