Malibu International Marathon 2011

ALAS!!! I have selected, and REGISTERED, for my first marathon! Yes folks, I have chosen the Malibu International Marathon 2011. Wow, I can hardly believe it...there's no turning back (not that there ever was!) I now have a goal visible in sight. The race will be November 13th, 2011, so I should have just the right amount of time to train. I will stay at my brother's house, with his wife Alesa and his new born baby! It will definitely be an exciting time! Stefhan will accompany me and support me along the way. I think my parents will even be there at that time to cheer me along...I will definitely need the support!

Speaking of training, I had my first 19 mile run on Sunday. I'm still not too sure what to think of it. I know at mile 9 I was pretty tired and didn't think I'd be able to make it the whole way. That was pretty early on to start feeling so tired. I have run 12, 13, 14 and even 16 miles before, but I don't know why I was aching so badly. By mile 12, I was already starting to ache a little from my waste down. By mile 17, I think the numbness set in and I was able to carry myself through the next two miles. I still can't believe how far a marathon really is. Thinking I need to add another 7.2 miles to my 19 mile run is a bit daunting. Every day is a different day, too. Sometimes I feel like I have it in the bag, others, it feels like 3 miles is actually 12 miles. I still get tired on my 3 mile runs! What's that all about!? Wouldn't one expect a 3 mile run to be a cinch after a 19 mile run? Not so!

I have been running at night because I don't dare challenge the elements by running in 90 degree heat. The evenings are nice and cool, although lately, very humid. I have run through, and after, several rain storms. These storms leave hundreds of snails on the sidewalks after the rainfall. I am constantly dodging them and have only noticed one casualty so far. The crunching under my running shoe was disgusting...it sounded and felt like I just stepped on a light bulb. The thought of the snails guts under my running shoes was pretty nauseating. I screamed and jumped a little when I stepped on him. I then said a little prayer for his untimely death and kept going. I think he tried to get out of the way when my foot came down, he was just too slow...hahahah, get it? The snail was too slow!

The knee problems have improved, although are still existent. This is probably due to my own lack of discipline and my failure to stretch as much as I was directed. The stretching really does help, I just have to me more disciplined and do it 5 times a day like the doctor ordered.

I will be taking a little bit of a running break August 13th through the 23rd, during my trip to the Oregon coast. I will still run a bit, but probably no huge long runs. I hope it doesn't set me back too much. I will keep you posted!

Thanks for reading!
Charli