Day 49: A quick long run...

After our 12 miler

The running crew is at it again - this time for a 12 miler on the Rail Trail!

Kendra, Jenna, & I started at Hanover Junction and ran south for about a mile before turning around and then heading toward the city of York!  Due to a scheduling conflict, Ben was going to begin in York a bit later and hopefully meet us halfway only to turn around and run the last part with us.  It was kind-of exciting to see where he'd meet up with us and we tried our hardest to have at least half our run finished by the time we met him (which did happen because he joined us around mile 6.5 completed).

We did the 12 miles in 117 minutes - WOW, faster than a 10 minute mile pace on a long run!  I can't really remember, but I have a feeling that I was complaining quite a bit about the pace, especially toward the end of the run.  And sadly we did not videotape afterward because Kendra had to be on her way to her next commitment for the day.  A busy day for a run!

Day 48: Unofficial run - for FUN??

Kendra is excited to be running a short distance!

So, Kendra & I were trying to decide if we should actually count this run as an official "run" or not.  It wasn't a run on our marathon training schedule, nor was it a run that will really prepare us much for our marathon, BUT regardless, we ran it, so we'll count it!  :) Kendra & I went on a weekend retreat at a nearby camp and ended up doing a short 1 mile run during our free time.  We met a girl named Monique at the retreat and reunited with a friend of Kendra's named Jonathan.  Kendra's sister, Kari, was also there, as well as her roomie, Amanda.  Somehow we convinced them all to come along for the run! While we didn't time our run, I'd say it was likely the fastest mile I've ever run.  In fact, the people at camp seemed quite surprised to see us back so soon.  Also, I could feel the alacrity of our running pace because my breathing was definitely labored till we got back. Overall, a good time - and it was really nice to know that it was a run we'd finish quickly!!

Day 47: Rain & PSU

We are learning to run rain or shine.  This is a definite sign that we are following a schedule because in pre-marathon-couch-potatoe-life, we would NEVER venture outside to run in anything but the perfect weather conditions!  Nowadays, like this night, we ran 4 miles in the rain, after 9:00pm, without a second thought.  The runners were Athena, Alex and I and we did a run to grandma's, preceded by 4 laps around the upper parking lot.  We had a slight "interference" halfway through the run, however, when we came to our turn-around spot at grandma's house.  My dad's truck was in the driveway, so I figured he wanted to run along with us!  That apparently was not his plan.  : )  He was watching a Penn State basketball game (forgive me, PSU fans, can't remember who they were playing against!) and as much as we wanted to stay for the entire game (we'll take a break wherever we can), we refrained.  We headed back out into the elements, and finished the run.  We love interferences like that, so thanks, Dad! 

Day 46: Mystery Day #2

Once again, this is another day we failed to log in our "Marathon Training Schedule" but Kendra & I know at least the two of us ran the 4 miles required of us today.  We promise to be better at logging future runs...

A quote for today:
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"  Lao Tzu

We "runners" would translate that to:
"The run of 26.2 miles begins with a single mile repeated 26.2 times!"

Day 45: Mystery Day #1

So, this running thing takes a LOT of time, in case you haven't gathered that.  In fact, we've been running so much that we've been poor about keeping track of our run details (mileage, times, co-runners, feelings mid-run, etc).  This day is one of those MYSTERY DAYS in which we cannot recall much about the run... sorry!

All that Kendra & I can remember is that we both were present for and completed the 4 mile run today. 

Hey, that's what counts, right???

Day 44: The Second Race!

Well, we skipped our scheduled long run for this week and ran the second race of the Frozen Foot Series.  Once again, Kendra & I met Leah for the run, but we also had Ben join us for this race!  AND... we had a fan club!!!  Watch the video for more exciting details :)

 

The runners!

We think we're tough...

We did it!

Day 43: We're Really Starting Somethin' Here...

Our BIGGEST running crew ever!!!

Introductions all around...back row, L to R:  Alexander, Benjamin, Kyle

Front Row: Kendra, Jenna, Athena

We say we all ran together tonight, but in truth, we ran several different routes, distances, and speeds.  HOWEVER, we all started off and ended up in the same location, so it counts right?!  : )

Tonight was my brother, Kyle's, first time running with us...Yay for another new runner!  I've never really run with him before due to his legs and feet being twice the length of mine...the strides just never even out, as hard as I try.  Tonight I actually didn't run with him either as Jenna and I took a bit of a detour and never quite made it back to the entire group. This was another "normal," 4-mile run starting around 8:40pm.  

We like to think we've started a new running club, but since that night, we have been unsuccessful in getting all 6 of these people back together.  Oh well... it was a fun club while it lasted...  

Day 42: New Running Buddy!

Have Athena and I mentioned the sickness we feel when friends of ours, who have NOT been training, can just up and run 4 miles with us??  If not, let me say it now: Athena and I feel sick when our friends can just up and run 4 miles with us!  
Cold turkey.  Shebang.  No problem.  It's sickening.


Tonight we were joined for the first time by a new running friend, Alex!  The above paragraph is not meant to dis Alex in anyway. Really its the disgust that we have for ourselves in that Day 42 of our training is the exact same day as his Day 1.


His initiation, of course, was a late night run (9:15pm) to grandma's house, complete with several upper parking lot laps.  Our time was 43 minutes.  Ben's mysteriously elusive watch finally makes an appearance, so we were graced with two new running buddies tonight!

Oh my... this is going to be interesting...

Day 41: Valentines Day

What better way to celebrate our love relationship with running than to do it on Valentines Day 2011!  It had been two days since my sneaker soles had connected with the hard macadam of the "grandma run," so what a relief to find myself once again pounding the pavement (literally), joined once again by Athena and Ben...  The run was an uneventful 4 miles consisting of the normal route with a 4-lap-upper-parking-lot-supplementation.  We started around 9:30pm.  I can't remember if Ben had his new watch at this point, but I'm assuming not since I have no record of our time.  And I have yet to buy myself a new watch.  : )

Day 40: PA & WI

A beautiful day, wasted by a run : ) 

Our long run of the week loomed over me...it was 10 miles this Saturday, and I would have to do it alone.  I was very afraid that, 1) I did not have the willpower/motivation to start the run by myself, and 2) when (not if) I injured myself running this ridiculous number of miles, I'd be all alone, dying in the freezing climate of this God-forsaken state of Wisconsin...

Ok, a little dramatic, but so were my thoughts about this run.  I was visiting my friend, Leasha (one of the blog followers!) and try as I might, I could not get her to run the 10 miles with me.  So against my AND her better judgment, I set off early Saturday morning, alone... She promised to be there when I returned.  I could give no such promises.

Nice and flat, just how I like it!

While I ran this long run on the flat and slightly snow-covered streets of Wisconsin, Ben and Athena had there own Pennsylvanian adventure... 

Hey everyone!!  Athena here :)  Well, while Kendra was off doing her own little run in a far away land, Ben & I met up for our 10 miler.  We did this nice little route through York City that my dad mapped out (ya know, so we wouldn't have to run up many hills... ugh!) and it ended up being 9.7 miles.  Check out our directions (yes, we carried DIRECTIONS for our run!) in the picture, as well as our post-run video below if you want more details!

The directions for our run...

Day 39: Sleepover

Another 3-days-in-a-row running week....but this time even worse.  Athena and I decided that we had to get in a run Thursday as well, and the only time that worked was early morning.  So after the lost and found incident the night before, Athena spent the night at grandma's house with me so that we could have another one of those delightful, pre-dawn runs.  So less than eight hours after our last run, Athena and I stumble out of bed and headed out into the great outdoors.  It was 5:15am and we had 5 miles to do.  I don't know how long it took us.  I don't know that my brain was even awake at that time.  I didn't really care what the time was then, and you can imagine how much I care about it now... ; )  (forgive the sarcasm)

Day 38: Lost and Found

So this night's run was intended to be 5 miles again, a distance I didn't look forward to then, nor do I now! (4/7/11) So trying to change up the routine from last week, Athena, Ben, and I decide to meet at the track at 9:15pm, run two miles (8 laps--greeaattt....)  around the upper parking lot, and then run to grandma's and back.  We unknowingly got split up on the run, so while Athena got in the full 5 miles, Ben and I ran about 1.5 miles and drove the rest of the way.  : )  Never fear, just like with Megan in days gone by, we eventually found Athena tonight as well...

Day 37: Back to the Winter

We hate that we are two months behind in our running commentary...but for memories sake, we will dating  these next 40 or so (!) posts based on the day we actually ran.  This might irk you (seriously, you're going back to FEBRUARY??)...and we apologize, but if it kills you that much, skip ahead and look for our 18 mile run to get to present day activities--it might take us awhile to get to that point, but here goes...

Tonight was a larger running group for our evening 4 miler.  Athena and I were joined by Ben and our newest running buddy, Jenna!  (apparently the Superbowl run did not scare her off : )  We completed the run in about 43 minutes, starting from grandma's house, to the track where we ran 4 laps around the upper parking lot, and then back to grandma's.  Ben and Jenna sprint the last half mile, and so begins a new tradition....  

Day 36: Eight miles?!?

Yes, that's right... 8 miles today!  Check out the video for more info!!
P.S.  We forgot to include in the video footage that some nice young man decided to cheer us on as we were running through Red Lion - he said something like "good job, ladies" and it was just the encouragement we needed to start our run right!!!

It felt good to be finished!

Almost finished!

Day 35: Same Time, Same Place?

You betcha.  Athena and I are likin' this nightly running thing!  Feeling a little bit more confident in this run, we were Benless, but up for the challenge.  Tonight was another 5-miler.  We did the same route as on Wednesday, just minus the parental chat, and this time adding a post-run Bible study.  It was quite an eventful night. 


 Our bodies still hate us for putting them through this...wait till we do 8 miles this weekend!


Posted by Kendra

Day 34: Trend Setting

Today was the first time we ran at night...and.....WE LOVE IT!  Not only do we get to "sleep in" in the mornings with this new trend, but we have more energy and warmer weather (if 26 degress is "warm" compared to 21 degrees...).  We also upped our mid-week mileage to 5 miles.  We have been running 2-4 miles during the week with our long runs on the weekends.  Tonight we did five miles...five very long miles...


Ben joined us this evening (wow, almost said "morning" there) since it was his day off... I'm sure he enjoyed not having to get up early today too!  We started our run at grandma's house, heading to my parent's shop (2 miles) and then back to grandma's house again and on towards the track and back (3 miles).  The sidewalks were treacherous in both the traversed towns... Naturally we blame our 1 hour and three minute time on the ice and snow that blocked our path...


So today's highlights:


Another run in the dark....but after 8pm this time! 
A mid-run visit with the parents...
A mile closer to 26.2...

We went to Sheetz post run!

Posted by Kendra