I feel a little slammed today. The 29k alone was an adventure. I found it very enjoyable for the first 20k. I was well fueled - had gatorade and a power gel which I find really easy to eat while running. My timing for passing the McDonalds was perfect - not so I could grab a burger, but so that I could refuel my water jug and use the washroom. The last 9km were a completely different story. The last 3 were particularly painful and emotional. This is the first time I've let emotion play into this - and maybe if I hadn't been alone, that wouldn't have happened. My legs ached like crazy for the last 3 km, and for the first time I had the thought, "I might not be able to finish a marathon". If it had been today, I don't think I could have run an extra 13km. I guess that's why I found today a bit emotional. Since I'm working this afternoon, I was in a bit of a panic about the amount of pain I was in when I got home after the run, but I have now learned that Ibuprofen works like magic. Maybe it was the pill that took away the pain (maybe stretching helped), but I'll definitely be taking it with me on May 30th. I must say that I do feel very proud of how far I went today. That's a good feeling and hopefully it will be a good bargaining tool with myself next weekend when I have to run the same distance :) --I should mention that I did the run in 3hrs and 12 minutes (right on our club's goal pace).

Tomorrow is going to be a challenge. Not only will it be the furthest run yet, but I'm getting up extra early to do it and I'll be running the 29km alone. Most of our group is running in the "Around the Bay" race in Hamilton. I couldn't do this with them because I have to work in the afternoon - another reason that Sunday will be a challenge. My goal for today is to stay hydrated. I'm skipping my Saturday run. I walked Charity to work through the woods and that took about 45 minutes, so that should suffice. It's a wholesome pasta dinner tonight! I'll need that carb energy tomorrow.

Just finished another long run. It was hell. The wind was ferocious. It made the run feel like it was all uphill. This was supposed to be our "easy" week since we've dropped back to 19km. My body feels very stiff and uncooperative. I guess that's why the program eases off at this point. I think everyone in the group is feeling beat up. Ah well, enough complaining... next Sunday it's 29km, so that should be fun.

A guy in our group was hit by a car today. He's okay (although he'll probably be feeling the pain of it tomorrow). The car was turning right and the driver was looking left as Mike came upon him and he turned right into Mike. The driver didn't stick around ...so it was kind of a hit and run. The lesson for today is... always make eye contact with drivers.

The Sunday run is a bit of a blur. I am learning what "auto-pilot" feels like. In the afternoon following the 26k run, stairs made me angry. I also learned what "chaffing" means -- the hard way, unfortunately. I just got a few scrapes where my bra strap goes - didn't feel it at the time...I guess I'll have to invest in some petroleum jelly.

It was my last run with Caroline, so that was a bit sad. We exchanged email addresses and I told her I would keep her updated with what we learn and how the runs go from here on in. I told her I would not write to her immediately following the Ottawa marathon since the Stockholm marathon is a week later and I wouldn't want to scare her with any possible horror stories.

On Tuesday I was lucky enough to run a beautiful road in Bracebridge by the Muskoka river. Steve tried to come along since "it was just 6k"...and he lasted for 2 - but it was nice to have company in unknown territory.

The hill training went well - but we add a hill each week...
Some jerks stole some clothes from members in our group. We figure they must have passed us in a car as we were sprinting up the hill and then just grabbed the stuff that people had left in the ditch. The nerve! I don't know why, but non-runners in this town seem to have a chip on their shoulder towards runners.

Sunday's run (23 km in 2:46) was huge. I think I have an inkling of how I'm going to feel on May 31st. My whole body is sore and exhausted. I slept for 10 hours yesterday. I probably shouldn't have washed the kitchen floor and cleaned the bathroom after running 23 km. Oh well. My pace partner, Caroline was back and I was glad. Unfortunately, next Sunday is her last Sunday as she will be moving back to Sweden! She's planning on doing the Stockholm marathon, so I told her we'll have to exchange email addresses to let each other know how we did. After she leaves, I suppose I'll have to pick up the pace and try to stay with the fast ones.

I'm scared. Tonight we begin "hill training". I'll let you know how it goes. Wednesday's runs have become easier (8k) since now I switch the Wednesday with the Thursday (our guide book has hill training on Wednesdays, but our group wants to do these together on Thursdays).

Something odd is going on with my hip. It feels better and I don't know why. Dr. Murdie adjusted me a week or so ago, but I had my doubts about her diagnosis. I was certain I have bursitis, but she thinks it might be piriformis syndrome -- which involves a tiny muscle in the buttocks. Anyway, after her last adjustment I thought she was wrong because the pain didn't go away; however, I have been doing the chair stretch she showed me and today I think she is right because the pain is subsiding for some weird reason. Although, I suppose this could also be the calm before the storm...I hope not...Anyway, I've decided to trust my chiropractor. She is the professional, afterall.

Well, Sunday's run was amazing. I ran the furthest I've ever run in my life - 20km. The weather was perfect - Spring-like. I think I actually had the "runner's high" after I finished. It lasted for quite a few hours on Sunday. Having that good feeling is definitely incentive for those long runs. Next Sunday is 23km...This is going to be a hell week because we are beginning hill training on Thursday and everyone says this is brutal. Looks like from here on in, I'll be breaking distance records each Sunday.

I found a quote from an ultramarathoner that explains that "schizoid" feeling I've been having with my body. My attitude has been: "body, if you just get me through these next 10km, I'll be kind to you and let you soak in the hot tub at the Y..." Here is Yiannis Kouros' take:

"Some may ask why I am running such long distances. There are reasons. During the ultras I come to a point where my body is almost dead. My mind has to take leadership. When it is very hard there is a war going on between the body and the mind. If my body wins, I will have to give up; if my mind wins, I will continue. At that time I feel that I stay outside of my body. It is as if I see my body in front of me; my mind commands and my body follows. This is a very special feeling, which I like very much. . . It is a very beautiful feeling and the only time I experience my personality separate from my body, as two different things."

I took this from : http://www.lehigh.edu/dmd1/public/www-data/sarah.html